According to you, what should be the approach for a solid fire-safe design considering the materials, design and technologies? Life safety should sit at the heart of any construction project and be a high priority for all stakeholders. Everyone needs to understand how their roles and responsibilities affect delivery of the fire safety strategy. Ensuring a fire-safe design starts at the pre-design stage as even the earliest decisions can impact on how fire safety standards can be achieved. Taking a ‘fire-safety first’ approach to the building envelope and carefully considering how passive fire protection systems will be integrated into a construction— alongside any active technologies— is key. It is of course vital to ensure the solutions you choose are appropriate for the intended design, including checking if they are properly tested and certified to verify performance. [caption id="attachment_50797" align="alignright" width="362"] A balanced approach to developing the fire safety strategy combines...

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...

In an interview, Ar. Alejandro Stochetti talks about his design career, major projects, the latest trends in façade and fenestration designs and materials, and much more. Could you tell us about your educational background, career and architectural experience? I would start with noting the obvious. Our family, society and immediate context, as well as our life circumstances and our responses to these conditions, are our premier educators. I grew up in a poor country, in a large family, where making the right decisions on the use of resources was always critical. We needed to be efficient with the use of materials, energy and time. That required a lot of ingenuity and curiosity. I needed to find better ways to do things, achieving more with fewer resources. This was “CREATIVITY” at its most meaningful expression and purpose. By the time I had to decide on a professional career, I was interested...

A home located in Northern New South Wales, Australia, near the Richmond River in Ballina, a certified ‘classic’ passive house home has been built. It has been recently awarded the “Smart Building Ideas: Innovation” winner, sponsored by Verosol, from the Australian Architecture & Design national Sustainability Awards 2022. This location is considered sub-tropical locally (warm temperate to PHI) where the midges and mosquitoes are required to be kept out of buildings with fly screens and termites kept away through construction methods and materials. [caption id="attachment_50206" align="alignright" width="217"] Tilt & Turn window installed and water penetrations through the membrane taped to slab edge Image courtesy: BluKube Architecture[/caption] The site environs, aspects, and typology fused with a detailed client brief contributed to the final home design. With aging in place and accessibility a high priority, spaces and ideas developed into functional elements that have proven to work well post construction. Defined as...

Energy-efficient architecture Façades serve as the structural, aesthetic, ventilating, and bracing aspects of buildings. In a highly populated country like India, it’s essential to accommodate the increasing urban densities that increase foot traffic in public areas. Urban and suburban skylines have changed due to vertical growth. A 2019 estimate claims that fenestration accounts for about 65% of the 10,000 crore rupee industry. This business is propelled by technological advancements and is mostly supported by the real estate market’s explosive demand. How do we ensure that fenestration development is sensitive to the Indian context, follows the proper path, and keeps up with the rising demand? A comprehensive view of this advancement contains the solution to this query. Fenestration is now a crucial, practical component of places rather than just an ornament. One can ensure a sustainable alternative by combining the appropriate fenestration technology with passive site-responsive and context-specific strategies. [caption id="attachment_49927"...

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...

The exterior finish layer known as cladding is put in place to cover support structures and/or exterior walls. This finish layer has various advantages, including aesthetic enhancement, improved thermal and environmental performance, and protection from unfavourable outside factors. Numerous cladding system choices are currently offered on the market to make improvements in building technology and building materials. There is a wide variety of materials, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Your choice of building cladding depends on a wide range of elements, including the building's size, construction, function, budget, and location. But safety must come first and foremost. This cover story presents the views and opinions of subject-matter specialists on the topic of cladding. We asked them a few questions about their preferred cladding materials, norms and regulations, cladding for green buildings, and other topics. [caption id="attachment_49156" align="alignright" width="113"] Kaman Wong Senior Façade Engineer (UK), AESG[/caption] Trends in Exterior Wall...

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...

The façade of a building is one of its most vulnerable components, particularly in the event of a fire. Aesthetics, cost, energy efficiency, materials, sustainability, and other factors have gotten in the way of considering fire safety precautions. With the relentless growth of high-rise structures, the situation has become more complicated, posing a larger fire hazard. Furthermore, developing tall structures requires a focus on fire safety. In high-rise structures, fenestration and façade design should work together to prevent fire propagation to other portions of the structure through the external flammable cladding. Fire safety design can aid in limiting the spread of a fire as well as limiting smoke and property damage. It also means that buildings are safer for all users. [caption id="attachment_48909" align="alignleft" width="113"] Shabbir Kanchwala Senior Vice President K Raheja Corp[/caption] The story discusses a few common causes of building fire, façade/ fenestration materials’ reactions to fire, parameters...

‘Auto Smoke Vent systems’ (ASVs) form part of the passive fire protection of a project’s ‘Fire Strategy’. Product Certification and System Design principles can be categorised by codes under ‘Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation systems’ (SHEVs) – EuroNorms-12101 code of practice and system Planning, Design, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and Maintenance - BS7346-8. Installation to Handover and AMCs must be carried out by a ‘Manufacturer Authorized Installer’ Partner. [caption id="attachment_48900" align="alignright" width="362"] One Lodha Place, Mumbai[/caption] The Strategy using tested, Auto Smoke Vents (AOVs) is to aid naturally in the release of hot black smoke generated during the incipient stages of a fire’s lifecycle and designed based on the ‘Fire Strategy’ drafted for each project. The Design - Ideal Dimension and Location of the vents, 1.0m – 1.5m ‘wide’ to 0.6m – 1.0m ‘tall’. We Suggest, Bottom Hung Open Out (BHOO) Smoke Vents strategically designed closer to the false ceiling, reducing...

What are the common causes of building fires? Building fires occur due to misuse of spaces for functions and uses not intended or planned and designed. National Building Code of India prescribes the requirements of life safety, fire prevention and fire protection, and are well-detailed each of 9 occupancies. Causes of fire: A building planned and designed for specific occupancy is used for alternate occupancy and the fire load risk increases. Misuse and malfunctioning and overloading of MEP Services such as air conditioning systems, short circuit in electrical installations Please throw some light on various façade/fenestration materials reaction to fire.   [caption id="attachment_48883" align="alignleft" width="145"] Openable panel[/caption] National Building Code of India specifies the fire resistance rating of the materials to be used in façade in Part 4 and new section 8 in Part 6, and also the active fire protection system for the glass assembly (glass and framing) used...

“Using an untested product is like driving a busload of people on a moonless night without headlights. It may be proceeding in the right direction but there is no guarantee that it will reach its destination safely.” The sad reality in India today is something like this bus. We all realise that we have taken fire safety in buildings very lightly. Every aspect of this critical issue has been taken very casually, be it legislation or effective implementation and enforcement of the guidelines and laws. And the result of such a lackadaisical attitude resulted in countless people losing their lives which could have been saved had a proper set of rules been put in place and enforced by the regulators without any dilution. The seriousness of fire safety gains even more importance today with the growth in the number of high-rise modern buildings which are mushrooming across our urban landscape....

In an interesting interaction Sreenivas Narayanan and Uday V Shetty from Siderise talk about their company’s major projects and milestones since bringing 45-years of expertise to India in 2017, their passive fire protection solutions, the need and techniques for designing fire-safe façades, the challenges faced by the industry during the pandemic, and their ambitions for helping India set the benchmark for safer buildings in South Asia for the coming years. Please brief us about your Siderise’s journey in India? What are the milestones you have achieved? [caption id="attachment_48726" align="alignleft" width="217"] Boulevard Heights, Dubai[/caption] Uday V Shetty (US): Siderise expanded into the Indian market in 2017. In collaboration with All Arch India Pvt Ltd, we have successfully completed 150+ projects PAN India with more than 30 underway today. The journey since our first project in 2018 has been very exciting, reaching a point where Siderise India Pvt Ltd is now incorporated...

What are the common causes of building fires? Electricity is by far the most common cause of fire outbreaks as it happens quickly, and unexpectedly & is often related to ignorance. The second most common cause of fire outbreaks could be human errors. Burning candles that are forgotten, the forgotten pot on the stove, smoking indoors - human error is responsible for many fires in commercial and residential spaces. Overheating and Arson are some other causes of fire. Please throw some light on the reaction of various façade/fenestration materials to fire. [caption id="attachment_48689" align="alignleft" width="300"] Palace of Justice, Antwerp, Belgium: fire-resistant glazing installed Credits: AGC GLASS EUROPE[/caption] The reaction of façade/fenestration to fire is its contribution to a fire to which it is exposed through its decomposition. It is concerned with the combustibility and ignitability of building materials, and it can be used to calculate how much energy they contribute...

Could you please explain some of the common causes of fire-safe fires in Buildings in the Middle East? There are numerous ways a fire can be initiated and continued. However, according to statistical data, the most common causes of fires are associated with “cooking” and “electricity.” Smoking and “deliberately caused or intentional” are also some of the other major causes of fires. In order for a fire to occur, three elements must be present, referred to as the fire triangle, i.e., heat, fuel, and air. Fuel is everything that can burn, even people can be fuel. If fuel is available and heated enough to reach its ignition temperature, it can start burning in the presence of sufficient oxygen (air). The combustion process is exothermic (producing heat) in nature which causes a chain reaction and adds another element to the “fire triangle”, called “chain reaction.” Now, the fire triangle changed to...

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...