According to the Society of Façade Engineers (SFE), façade engineering is the art of resolving aesthetic, environmental and structural issues to achieve the enclosure of habitable space. For countless years, buildings have been constructed primarily with all walls carrying an approximately even share of the load. With the development of structural steel and reinforced concrete, architects now had more flexibility to clad exterior walls with aesthetically pleasing materials, instead of unsightly concrete slabs. That is when the façade and curtain walls began to receive more time in the spotlight. Challenges In The Facade Industry Architectural design is an extremely competitive environment, with each project aiming to outdo the previous and each enterprise wanting their own distinctive look. In most industries, variety often leads to prosperity. But in the facade industry, it has the opposite effect. One of the largest challenges in the façade fabrication industry is the lack of standardization....

I have a confession to make: I am an inveterate science-fiction fan. I particularly enjoy reading the grand masters of the genre from the fifties to the eighties, the likes of Frank Herbert, Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov. What fascinates me in these books is the power of prediction of these authors. Many of the descriptions of the future in their stories have become today’s reality, only a few decades later, even though Asimov and others probably didn’t expect them to come to pass so soon. Let’s dive into a similar exercise, albeit at a much smaller scale, and take a peek at what the future likely holds for façades. It does not take great powers of foresight to see that building envelopes of the future will need to be highly sustainable. This is a trend that has taken the construction industry by storm and is set to stay...

A Holistic Approach To Fire Safe Facades Façade is one of the most vulnerable elements of a building, especially in case of a fire incident. With more attention to aesthetics, cost factor, energy efficiency, eye-catching materials, green concept, etc., considerations of fire safety measures have been slipped under the radar. The scenario has become more complex with the unstoppable mushrooming of high-rise buildings which pose a greater fire hazard. [caption id="attachment_35093" align="alignleft" width="217"] Vijay Kumar Shaw AGM – BD (West Zone), Alstrong Enterprises India (Pvt) Limited[/caption] The role of a façade is as complex as the building itself as it needs to strike a balance between all the parameters such as aesthetics, visual character, structural stability, solar heat gain, daylight filtration, visibility, thermal comfort, branding and programmatic zoning, among other aspects, notes Vijay Kumar Shaw, Assistant General Manager – BD (West Zone), Alstrong Enterprises India. Due to its complex nature,...

In Bengaluru, India, Schuco has opened a new showroom with an attached training centre. Schuco is a leading provider of high-quality windows, doors and facade systems of aluminium, uPVC and steel. Products from Schuco meet the highest standards of design, comfort, safety and energy efficiency. Andreas Engelhardt, Managing Partner and Matthijs Bruijnse, Senior Vice President of Asia and South America traveled to India to take part in the opening ceremony. We interviewed the two on the occasion of the inauguration,the Excerpts are below: Could you Please Share Schuco ’s Journey in India? [caption id="attachment_34672" align="alignleft" width="300"] Matthijs Bruijnse Senior Vice President - Asia & South America, Schuco International KG[/caption] Matthijs Bruijnse (MB): Now, we are entering into the second phase of our journey in India. Our first phase was when we introduced Schuco in the Indian market in 2012. It started with the introduction of the brand Schuco in India...

As urbanisation in Indian cities is continuously growing, the construction industry has also boomed, employing new techniques and materials to meet the ever-growing demand of high rise buildings. In order to protect these buildings from wind, rain, sunlight, heat and cold, façades are being increasingly used and have become an integral part of the building. Fig.1 shows some of the buildings with façades. However, in the quest of making such buildings look more elegant along with energy and cost-efficient, the construction industries are using different combustible materials in the façade, which is of great concern as far as fire safety is concerned. The magnitude of fire risk involved in these façades has already been proven by many accidents occurred across the globe. Case histories have shown that these combustible cladding's promote the fire spread on façade and engulfs the whole building within a few hours as shown in Fig. 2....

Zak Doors & Windows Expo - one of the leading exhibitions in South Asia for doors, windows & façades segment is going to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 12 to 15 December. The expo is organised by Zak Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd - the leading event management firm which organises the façade & fenestration industry exhibitions in over 16 countries. [caption id="attachment_34621" align="alignleft" width="300"] ZAK Doors & Windows Expo 2019[/caption] The show alternates between Delhi and Mumbai every year. The 16th edition of Zak Doors & Windows Expo, the 11th edition of Zak Aluminium Extrusions Expo, and the 17th edition of Zak Glass Technology Expo is expected to witness a huge gathering of industry leaders, architects, builders and consultants. China, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Austria, and Korea are the few of the participating countries for this expo who are going to be displaying their products. The...

Aluminium doors, windows and curtain walls are considered to be the technological and architectural elements with designed functions to interact between two inside and outside environments and are supposed to guarantee general comfort within the home. The main functions between others are mechanical properties, air, water and wind resistance, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, light and shade, ventilation and safety. Current Trends In Aluminium Windows, Doors & Curtain Walls In Context To The Acoustic And Thermal Performance Nowadays, an important element in the design of low energy buildings is the use of high-performance windows coupled with passive solar design strategies. As energy efficiency becomes more important, north Indian designers sometimes look to Europe for energy-efficient standards and technologies, such as the passive house approach. However, comparing European and Indian windows is complicated by the significant differences between European and Indian energy performance rating standards. The different evaluation methods and boundary conditions...

Asahi India Glass Ltd. (AIS), India's leading integrated glass manufacturer, brings to you AIS Glasxperts (AIS GX) - a full-service offering that provides complete glass, window and door  Glass Solutions for aesthetic, safety & security, energy efficiency, acoustic and privacy needs. At Glasxperts, we have the technical expertise, creative outlook, and trusted AIS name to bring you all the spectacular possibilities of glass to enhance the aesthetics of your interiors. AIS Glasxperts 360 Degree Glass Solutions Starting with expert and customized guidance for site assessment and design consultation to customized guidance for product selection and purchase as also installation, project management, and post-installation support, AIS GX aims to provide a hassle-free experience with world-class quality control at each stage of the value chain. Products and Solutions Glass, by nature, is a flexible material, and lends itself easily to any shape. This, coupled with the different types of framing - uPVC,...

Global warming and constantly increasing pollution is leading to threatening consequences in terms of its effect on our health and our resources as well. The advancement of technology and machinery invented for our comfort and benefits is harming us along with our surroundings. For example, the heat from air conditioners, noise and other pollutants from industries and much more. Initiatives are required to make a living which is less harming and emphasizing on optimum utilization as well as preservation of natural resources. Fenestration plays a key role in the architecture. Its impact on the well being of the occupants and on the environment is very crucial. We spend most of our time indoors, whereas its effects on the outside are overwhelming. [caption id="attachment_33503" align="alignleft" width="300"] In Residential Spaces, Fenestration is the Most Sought After Part[/caption] Every-time we consume loads of energy in terms of natural resources directly and indirectly. The...

Tell Us About Your Practice and Design Approach? John R Harris & Partners is one of the first European practices to operate in the ME region with the founder of the practice late John R Harris establishing the practice in UK in 1949. In 1960s, John R Harris & Partners were invited by then Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum to develop a master plan for the rapidly growing city of Dubai. Since the establishment of Dubai offices in 1960s, the practice has been delivering several significant projects in the region, which include Dubai World Trade Center, Ruler’s Diwan, Dubai Hospital, Al Baraha Hospital, and recent landmark projects including LOB Tower 17 & 18 in JAFZA, Mirdiff 35 Mall, and currently the under construction Sports Society Shopping Centre. The practice has recently joined forces with Aukett Swanke Group Architects - UK, which has greatly increased our...

Ado India Pvt Ltd was established in 2014 to meet the marketing requirements of Adopen Plastics & Construction Industry Limited in Indian uPVC market. Semsettin Hazar joined Ado India in 2015 as production GM with 16-years of experience in uPVC industry. In 2 years he was appointed as production and marketing GM and finally at the beginning of 2019 he became Managing Director of Ado India. Adopen Plastics has been established in Turkey in 1956. It has 12 manufacturing facilities in 6 different countries, having 160,000 tonnes of production with above 2700 employees, exporting more than 70 countries, Adopen is in the list of first 500 companies in Turkey ranking 242. The main business of their companies, besides other construction materials, is uPVC window and door profile manufacturing. Other construction materials manufactured include flooring materials (LVT), aluminium profile, wooden composite door, uPVC window and door accessories, composite reinforcement profile, etc....

Two Effective Measures Which Enable You to Increase the Energy Efficiency of a Building Insulating profiles and spacers made from engineering plastics provide thermal separation that ensures energy efficient buildings in terms of windows, doors and façades. With high-rise buildings in particular, architects and planners are keen on using aluminium windows. Aluminium profiles have very high execution accuracy, they enable customized design possibilities and are extremely lightweight. In addition, aluminium as a material naturally has high chemical resistance and is mechanically resilient. The disadvantage of aluminium, however, is that it is very good at conducting heat. According to the standard DIN EN ISO 10077-2, aluminium has a thermal conductivity of ƛ = 160 W/mK. As a result, thermal separation of the aluminium profiles becomes necessary. How Does Thermal Separation Work? Heat is energy which by means of thermal conduction, convection and radiation, always flows in the direction of the lower...

In conversation with the team of Window & Façade Magazine, Khan shared the journey of Emirates Glass and what they are planning to achieve in the near future. Here are the excerpts… Please brief us on the history and objective behind the formation of Emirates Glass ? Emirates Glass was established in 1997 by Mr. Khalid Bin Kalban to become the leading provider of energy-efficient architectural glass in the Middle East. Since its inception the company has been an integral part of Dubai’s growth and evolution, having supplied glazing and expertise for many of the most iconic buildings across the city. However, Emirates Glass has also expanded its international presence and we are proud to have supplied our solutions to GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, but also to Azerbaijan, Turkey, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, East and South Africa and even Canada. Building an impressive project...

As our industry continues to evolve, harnessing and embracing new technologies and materials, our buildings morph and adapt, and our role as façade designers also changes. In the beginning, it was simple; a wall that supported the roof or floor with a hole to let in the air and light. There might be a door or a shutter to keep the rain out but very simple. Glass is a naturally occurring substance. It is disputed whether the Egyptians or the Mesopotamians developed techniques for making glass, but it was not until the Romans started to develop new ways of making glass that glass started to be used to create windows. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Venetian artisans kept skills for glass making alive during the dark ages - in parallel with those in India and China. Techniques and chemistry of glass continued to evolve through the Middle Ages...

Jignasa Pravinbhai Suthar has over 8 years of experience in the façade industry. She has closely worked with McCoy 8m hardware division for technical support since 2015. Currently, Jignasa Suthar is responsible for Product Manager in McCoy Soudal in Delhi/NCR. After completing her graduation from Sardar Patel University, Gujarat in 2007, she started her career in façade industry working as an estimator at Perfect Glaze (India) Pvt. Ltd. Later she worked at Reynaers Aluminium NV as a design engineer & estimator, and at Kawneer (an Alcoa company) as a technical support engineer. She has in-depth knowledge of window and door systems. After finishing her MBA in Marketing and HR from Gujarat University, she joined McCoy in 2015.

Having acquired a degree from the University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom, Mr. Manish Bansal is the current CEO & Director of Window Magic, a leading uPVC brand in India, today. Manish is a successful business leader prospering in the building and construction equipment industry. He played a significant role in transforming Window Magic into a profitable venture. His clear vision, commitment to quality standards, market & consumer foresightedness added new insights to Window magic as a company. Manish carries a distinct expertise in global strategic management including development, expansion, and turnaround initiatives. His belief and understanding of future market trends have helped in popularizing uPVC & aluminium windows & doors system in India. Manish has successfully established a reputation of being a dynamic, visionary, and strategic leader of the industry.