• Identify the specific performance requirements: The design team can do this by reviewing the project requirements, building codes, and other relevant standards. • Select the appropriate glass type: Based on the performance requirements, the appropriate glass type like Low-E glass, laminated glass, or tinted glass is selected, which can be used for thermal insulation, laminated glass for sound reduction, and tinted glass for solar control. • Determine the glass thickness: Based on the performance requirement, the thickness is decided. Thicker glass can be used for sound reduction while thinner glass can be used for thermal insulation. • Incorporate insulation materials: Insulation materials such as argon gas in the glass units enhance thermal insulation. • Design shading systems: Louvers, vertical fins, and brise soleil can reduce solar heat gain. • Optimise the glass façade design: This can be done considering the orientation of the building, the surrounding environment, and the...

The choice of glass for a particular project will depend on several factors, including the desired performance characteristics, design aesthetics, and budget. Here are some common types of glass and their ideal applications: • Annealed glass: This is the most basic type of glass often used in low-rise buildings or interior partitions. • Tempered glass: Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is more durable and resistant to breakage than annealed glass. It is often used in applications where safety is a concern, such as doors, windows, and other building openings. • Laminated glass: Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that is made up of two or more layers of glass, with a plastic interlayer in between. It is often used in applications where safety is a concern, such as skylights, balconies, and exterior walls. [caption id="attachment_51615" align="alignright" width="362"] DLH Park, Mumbai[/caption] • Low-E glass: Low-E...

The use of glass in the construction industry was first seen around the early 1800s during the rise of interest in greenhouses and conservatories. At this moment in time, glass was considered a luxury item as it was not entirely available to the general public due to its high costs. However, the cost significantly reduced during the latter stages of the industrial revolution around the mid-1800s. Crystal Palace, built in 1851 by Joseph Paxton marked a new era in the use of glass. The advantages of the use of glass in high-rise buildings are plenty. It is lightweight, allows for larger openings increasing the vision towards the outside, it contributes to natural light filtering the indoor spaces, glass has the ability to keep out solar ingress and also contributes to ventilation channeling it through the indoor spaces. Types of Glass Facades There are many types of glass façade systems such...

Energy-conserving and efficient glass façades and fenestrations are essential for creating sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Glass is a popular choice for building façades because it allows natural light to enter the building while providing thermal insulation. However, without proper design and technology, glass façades can also contribute to heat loss and gain, resulting in increased energy consumption. The benefits of an energy-efficient glass façade include improved energy efficiency, reduced reliance on artificial lighting, and increased occupant comfort. However, they can also be more expensive than traditional building envelopes and may require additional maintenance and cleaning due to their large surface area. Here are some ways to make glass façades and fenestrations energy-efficient: [caption id="attachment_51424" align="alignright" width="399"] SR Crown Hall- Mies Van Der Rohe Image Credit: architecture.org[/caption] 1. Massing & orientation: Orienting and developing geometry and massing of the building to respond to solar positions. The orientation of the glass in...

In a conversation with Gaurav Oswal Director, Kelegent he talked about their products & projects, major trends in the architectural hardware industry, and so on. Here are the excerpts… What is the origin story of Kelegent? [caption id="attachment_50880" align="alignleft" width="255"] .[/caption] We started as a small stainless steel kitchenware manufacturing company in 1984 - at the time, I don’t think any of us imagined where it would lead! I have to commend my uncle and my father for having the vision to see the future of fenestration, and the opportunity it offered and to have the agility as entrepreneurs to trust their instinct, to work hard to lead us to where we are today. Listening to our customers is the foundation of our business and it has guided us in every venture we undertake. It was the same in 2000 when we pivoted to producing sophisticated architectural hardware – in...

As the 21st century is marked by rapid urbanisation, it is pertinent that the cities are growing vertically upwards with high-rises and skyscrapers marking the skyline of the city. The modern architecture for building envelope has evolved over the years, thus moving from minimalistic glass usage for building aesthetics to an enhanced aesthetic using a glass façade system keeping the performance of the overall building intact, thus giving a unique identity to the building. When the façade stands tall resisting its assets and occupants of the building against natural forces like heat, wind, seismic forces, drift, etc., the challenge lies in the right selection of the system which delivers enhanced building performance without compromising safety. In doing so, a major challenge awaits when the perimeter joint poses a threat to the rapid spread of fire and smoke in case of a fire incident. Typically, a non-fire barriered perimeter joint between...

Glass is primarily or fundamentally used for seeing through the glass as well as for capturing natural light. Glass is chosen by designers because of its better aesthetics as well as to see through. The goal of fully Highrise buildings became a glittering reality during the era of contemporary architecture and the international style, producing stunning facades, permitting interior and exterior connection, and honouring fantastic vistas. Apart from adding beauty, it offers several other benefits. The structural load is reduced as a result of the glass’ lightweight. Due to its transparency, it lets in the most natural light possible, which reduces the need for power. Glass that meets the right specifications for reflection and thermal insulation will undoubtedly increase efficiency. Last but not least, glass roofs and facades offer unhindered vistas and contribute to the building envelope being interactive. However, in the modern era, due to stricter construction codes and...

What is the demand for glass in niche and low-rise applications? Recently, glass has been used on building façades more frequently, accounting for a larger portion of the façade area. While this approach has been adopted for a while in a high-rise, commercial, and office buildings, we are now seeing it in residential and other domestic low-rise buildings as well. The need for a better view of the outdoors and more natural daylight to enter the building is, in my opinion, the primary driver of such high demand for using more glass in façades. While improving daylighting entering through the façades can greatly reduce the need for artificial lighting and accordingly reduce the associated energy consumption and heat dissipation, however, increasing GWR (Glass to Wall Ratio) in buildings’ envelopes can have adverse effects such as increased solar heat gains and glare, particularly in hot climate zones like the Middle East...

Performance Requirements in the UK Market – The Challenge of Our Time We live in unprecedented times. Again. There have been many challenges in our industries past, with revolutions and technology being used to bring us to the modern façade we see today; the implementation of technology by Bessinger (and then latterly by Pilkington) to give us float glass; the introduction of Double Glazing (DGU’s) by Haven in 1930s via the “Thermopane”; the collaboration of Pilkington and Flachglas Group giving us the first commercial Low-E glazing coatings to name but a few. These leaps in technology solved the issues of their time; however, we once again stand on the precipice of the next essential evolution in the UK façade industry. This need for evolution - or even revolution - is due to a perfect storm for a revolution due to the perfect storm in terms of technical requirements; new research...

Among the many innovative façades, we have built, one of the most innovative façades with SAGE USA glass is currently under construction in Bangalore, India. Bagmane Developers and Glass Wall Systems are delivering their vision for smart façades in India. The world’s largest smart/ electrochromic glass project, Rio-Business Park is a 1.6 million square feet commercial building in Bengaluru. Glass Wall Systems was chosen as the building’s façade fabricator. “I am always striving to set up a trend in the futuristic technology within the building façade industry. Regarding the creative possibilities of the façade at Rio Business Park, this project uses intelligent glass, which automatically tints throughout the day and reduces glare while regulating temperature. This technology gives the building a luxurious feel and offers energy savings. Our strong R&D and teams have developed a strong united curtain wall system with an easily integrated IGU cable and connections along with...

The construction industry alone is responsible for 40% of the total energy consumption of the world and is projected to grow with the increase in population and housing demands. In this situation, it is necessary that the development and growth are sustainable and green in consideration of the environment around us. This is the very reason why concepts like sustainable building design, energy-efficient and green buildings, net zero building, and energy-positive development are the need of the hour. These concepts will help in reducing the building footprints on the ecological system. Traces of fenestration in India can be found from the 3rd century where Indian architecture has given serious thought to fenestration in architectural designs. However, the usage of high-performance glazing in façade and fenestration is still at its nascent stage. At 2.1 KG per capita glass consumption, India is currently way below the global average of 5 kg, which...

Piramal Aranya is situated in a very propitious location, right next to the Veer Jijamata Udyan and with proximity to the eastern waterfronts. The Aranya towers are perceived as very elegant, tall and sleek structures. They will redefine expectations of living within the centre of Mumbai. Connections with the city are enhanced with incredible unobstructed views of the entire Mumbai peninsula, making sure the architecture isn’t a barrier to connecting with the city. ‘Columns’ are swapped for blade walls and the windows are maximised to the full width of the living and bedroom accommodation. Full-height corner windows have also been incorporated into the design for some of the apartments providing a panoramic view of the exteriors. Full-width glazing of the façades maximises daylight with operable sliding window systems for ventilation. For curtain walls, openable windows have been provided as per the CFO requirement. This has been done without sacrificing the...

As more and more sky-high multi-occupancy buildings emerge across India’s densely populated megacities, it is not only crucial that curtain wall façades are designed and constructed to withstand constant movement but that the passive fire protection measures incorporated within can accommodate this movement. With clean lines, sleek glass surfaces and technological glazing innovations, curtain walls offer an ultra-modern aesthetic, floor-to-floor natural daylight and excellent weatherproofing. Unlike more traditional wall constructions, curtain walls are not part of the building’s supporting structure. [caption id="attachment_49326" align="alignright" width="140"] Curtain walled buildings may require bespoke perimeter fire seal solutions to manage varying depths between the façade and floor slab[/caption] They are a non-loadbearing and self-supporting vertical enclosure or envelope that separates and protects the internal environment from external climatic conditions. This makes them highly susceptible to movement caused by wind and rain loads, seismic sway, occupancy loads on the floor slab and thermal loads that...

What are the major trends in exterior wall cladding? The major trends include a greater focus on whole lifecycle carbon assessment, as well as in the increased deployment of technology. The first aspect involves sourcing more local materials, which unfortunately isn’t always possible, using materials with high recycled contents, and materials or systems offering reduced operational carbon. The second aspect focuses on improved efficiency in design, reduced wastage, and improved integration between the design and manufacturing aspects. What is the most preferable cladding material? This is a vast topic that could elicit an entire article in itself. There are many factors to consider when designing a façade or selecting a cladding material, including structural, thermal, aesthetic, environmental, acoustic, cost, maintainability, durability, availability, logistics, and many other performance requirements when designing a façade, and they often contradict each other. The most preferable cladding material differs from region to region or climate...

One of the dominant features in modern buildings is the ‘curtain wall’, which is a complex amalgamation of components that include spandrel and safing insulation, spandrel glass, vision glass, aluminium frames (transoms & mullions), back pan, anchors, etc. Alongside the external elegant factor, these curtain walls also play a critical role in the energy efficiency and sustainability of the building. But from a safety point, such structures enveloped by a curtain wall system pose an additional challenge to the fire safety of the building. For the design and construction of curtain wall systems, the building regulatory system and the adoption of various national or international test standards can have a critical impact on the performance of a façade, in case of a fire incident. Avoiding or compromising the edge of the slab opening with no systems or a non-tested system can potentially lead to a catastrophic inferno. Perimeter Fire Barriers...

One of the most vulnerable aspects of building design is the façade. Because the majority of the populace is unaware of the material’s performance, they frequently misunderstand the importance of façade design, particularly in limiting or spreading fire spread. Fire safety has traditionally been overlooked in favour of beauty, energy efficiency, cost, and other factors. However, in light of current market trends, this has progressed beyond only the aesthetic aspect and now plays a larger role in light conveyance, acoustical execution, and efficacy. [caption id="attachment_48393" align="alignright" width="113"] Mayank Sharma Market Development Manager - Façade & Airside (Asia-Pacific), Knauf Insulation APACq[/caption] It is about the universal understanding of the reality that any possible fire threats can only be mitigated when façade systems, materials, and testing are given the attention they deserve. The emphasis should be on a comprehensive approach to examining the performance of façade materials, components of façade design for...