The market for doors and windows in uPVC and aluminium is steadily growing and expected to cross over Rs 15-20,000 crores by 2025. Let’s take a look at the reality in developments. Aluminium door and window systems were introduced in the Indian market in the early 80s. Thereafter, aluminium window systems saw a steady growth. They were made essentially using extruded aluminium profiles available in the local market. Components like glass were common. Other components, including beading, gasket and hardware were required to make a complete system. [caption id="attachment_42060" align="alignleft" width="217"] uPVC Windows[/caption] Over the past one decade the façade and fenestration industry across the country has become more organised and evolved in many aspects; but the major transformations were seen in safety, security and durability features. Each of these traits needs to be understood in order to assimilate the evolution of the trade. Safety in the window comes with...

Façade designs and materials have been improvised in the past years to meet the fire safety regulations in the Middle East. The façade materials should be appropriately tested and fire stopping is also very important to ensure the safety of the buildings. Specifying the correct product is vital but the quality of the installation of the product is vital too for ensuring fire protection. The safety of life is a vital aspect that should be considered during the design and material selection section of buildings. A fire-safe façade does not propagate fire but it also prevents or not allows the fire and heat to travel from one area to another. This cover story focusing on the major reasons behind fires in buildings in the Middle East, the façade material selection and design approach for a fire-safe building, the importance of compartmentation and fire stop, etc. Façade Design And Fire Safety...

The use of glass for a building façade has long been a preferred cladding for designers as a way of opening up the space and bringing the exterior inside. Glazing helps provide the necessary daylight inside a building and brings the heat into the built form. It also adds to the aesthetics and helps reduce the maintenance costs. All buildings have elements such as doors, windows, and skylights where glass is used as infills with metal or UPVC profiles. Glass today has become a lot more specialised with enhanced technical and performance capabilities that require specialist knowledge. The performance of the glass affects the ingress of heat and light so it is important to use the correct glass for the building depending on the usage and energy efficiency required. The glass comes in pure sheets which are called float glass as the process of manufacturing includes floating the molten glass...

The cladding aims to withstand external weathering and offer durability and sustainability to the building façade. The choice in design and material of a façade is determined by factors such as the size and type of building, its geographical location, weather conditions it is exposed to etc. Energy efficiency is the main concern, besides its appearance. Today, the market offers a variety of materials for façades with abundant choices in designs and patterns. Large-size porcelain tiles and high-pressure laminates are in trend for their aesthetic value and sturdiness. Exterior Clad Laminated (ECL) high-pressure laminates and porcelain wall clads are used for the majority of structures. The products have anti-graffiti properties and offer flexibility in installation. These are high-grade and high-pressure compact laminates. Inspired by the colours and patterns of natural wood, the 6mm thick, laminates come in over 200 designs in grainy bark style or plain wood patterns. Mount matt...

Cladding is one of the most important elements which ensures that the exterior of a building is protected from the elements of nature and potential sources of damage. Cladding extends the longevity and lifespan of the building. It also provides the other important benefits that include providing strength to the structure and thermal insulation to the buildings. Cladding not only protects the building envelope but also enhances the appearance of the building. It is also very important that the cladding design and the right choice of cladding material should have the right balance of aesthetics and efficiency. We interviewed the experts in the construction sector who have provided their thoughts on the cladding sector, the trends in cladding technologies & materials, the role of fire safety in external cladding systems, etc. Here are the views of experts presented in this cover story The Latest Trends In Cladding Materials [caption id="attachment_41637"...

In a conversation with Architect Rahul Kadri Partner & Principal Architect at IMK Architects spoke on his practice, some of his recently completed and ongoing projects, the changes in façade and fenestration designs over the years, latest trends in façade & cladding material and technologies available in the Indian market, the key factors to consider while designing and installing façades & fenestration, and on future façades & fenestration designs and technologies. Here are the excerpts from the interview. Please tell us about your practice. [caption id="attachment_41359" align="alignleft" width="250"] Nehru Centre, Mumbai - Embellished with window and Jalis that symbolise rose petals associated with Nehru in the popular mind[/caption] IMK Architects was founded in 1957 by my father, I. M. Kadri. His body of work over the next few decades is a reflection of changing times and imaginations as our young nation navigated questions of tradition, modernity, business and politics on...

The architectural hardware industry is gradually witnessing a new wind of change globally with the presence of several international and domestic hardware products in the market. The use of the latest technologies with different materials and finishes has increased extensively providing better quality, functionality, security, installation, look, etc. In terms of design, there has been a drastic evolution with a focus on a more minimalist and energy-efficient approach. However, challenges abound in the hardware architecture product market. The market is pervaded with fierce competition coupled with a lack of information/awareness on prices, authenticity, test, standardisation, etc., which are still few and far between. Given the huge opportunities present within the challenges, the market is relatively buoyant and positive based on the demand from the growing housing and construction industry. The demand compels us to unleash more enhanced new products, and constantly innovate and upgrade the existing products, which gestures a...

Windows and doors are an important investment in any building. They can reduce energy costs, add to curb appeal, improve ventilation and make the interiors more comfortable. That’s why it pays to learn about the major components of doors and windows. Finding the right entry door for your home is important, but so is choosing the correct door hardware. To help make your choice easier, here’s what you need to know about door and window hardware, and how to know what kind of hardware to get to complete the look and feel of your doors and windows. We spoke to many industry experts on the criteria for choosing hardware for fenestration, and this edition’s cover story summarises the details, which can make it easier to choose the right hardware products for doors and windows. Hardware may not be top of mind when choosing the right window or door for a...

In an Interview with WFM,  Sayed Anwar Ali Country Manager, Giesse S.p.A. talks about his company, its growth, various products, facilities, the evolution of fenestration and the architectural hardware industry in India, the company’s contribution to bringing about the current revolution in the fenestration sector, some of their major projects, and the future of façade and fenestration industry in India. Excerpts from the interview... Please tell us about your company SchlegelGiesse, and yourself? How long the company has been in this business in the Indian market? [caption id="attachment_40538" align="alignleft" width="217"] Reliance Twin Towers – Navi Mumbai: For this project, we supplied top-hung multipoint locking hardware and it was tested for 4.75 KPa wind pressure[/caption] SchlegelGiesse came into being in 2016 as a result of the business integration between SCHLEGEL, a leading English company operating in the sealing systems market, and GIESSE, an Italian company specialising in aluminium window and door...

As our fenestration industry is becoming organised with the growing awareness of system windows and doors in India, system companies and fabricators are increasingly on the look-out for innovative and out-of-the-box window and door systems that are well-engineered for performance and at the same time appeal to the end-users in terms of modern design aesthetics and ease of use. Conventional sliding and openable window/door systems that are available in the market are still in demand for projects and price-sensitive markets because either the volumes are high or the lack of appetite for paying more. Here, the focus is more on the pricing. There is very little scope here for promoting innovative solutions because innovation comes at a price. Current Trend in Architectural Hardware Systems [caption id="attachment_40270" align="alignleft" width="300"] Friction stays[/caption] The last few years have seen an exponential increase in demand in the retail segment for architectural systems that are...

Every architectural design comprises various elements that combine and integrate to give the desired look and feel to a place. While each and every element has a distinguished and well-defined role to play, one can certainly not ignore the profuse relevance of doors and windows while designing the façade of a building. With the advancement in the industry in terms of hardware and technology, there have been significant changes that have transformed various aspects of architectural hardware doors and windows. Let us take a look at various innovative designs, materials and technologies pertaining to architectural hardware for doors and windows: Criteria For Selection Of Architectural Hardware [caption id="attachment_40250" align="alignleft" width="217"] Use of aluminium to build doors and windows has become very common in metropolitan cities[/caption] Today, with changing trends in architecture, hardware has become design oriented, which means architects prefer to choose hardware which does not compromise the designs rather...

A façade is a term used to define the exterior face of the building, usually the decorative one, that faces the street or the main entrance, and which is supposed to protect the interior spaces from the exterior elements such as dust, temperature, rain, wind, etc. However, with the newer buildings increasing in height and assuming a form of a tall tower, all sides of the buildings assume equal importance. Façade is probably one of the most important, and yet, understated aspects of building construction. Most people associate façade with aesthetics and an unnecessary cost to the project, which could be easily curtailed – and usually it does so. However, a correctly designed façade is an element that would not only increase the value of the building but also could pay for itself over a period of time. More than a century ago, buildings were designed with a solid stone...

Architectural hardware like hinges, locks, catches, knobs, and handles are especially included within the basis of any house. They are known to serve very important and practical functions in your doors and windows but also help in achieving decorative motives and improving the aesthetics of your room, home, or building. Architectural hardware is required for opening, closing, and locking the doors and windows. Besides these functions, they also play a very important role in keeping the occupants safe. Every infrastructure, whether it is a residential or commercial building, is incomplete without hardware products. There are lots of things that should be considered while choosing hardware products for your doors and windows. In this cover story, we interviewed the architectural hardware industry experts to bring you in-depth knowledge of the industry and to keep you updated with the norms and specifications that play a key role in the selection of the...

Since graduating in architecture in 1996, Andreas Geyer is involved in the execution of prestigious façade projects mainly in Asia. His first project was with seele in 1997, the Shanghai Grand Theatre, at that time a cutting edge cable truss construction. From 2007 until 2015, as the Technical Director and then as Managing Director, at Schueco - South East Asia, he was primarily looking into aluminium curtain wall-, window- and door systems. In 2015 Andreas Geyer returned to seele and is now responsible for the South East Asian, Indian and Australian markets. Examples of recent projects in the region executed by seele are the gridshell roof of the Chadstone Shopping Center in Melbourne, the luxury façade and Wisdom Hall on ICONSIAM and the rooftop features on the MahaNakhon, both in Bangkok. Façade construction specialist seele develops innovative methods and design principles to realise all-glass constructions in architecture. All-glass creations by...

In the contemporary architectural scenario, with the easy availability of large format structural glass, the tendency of indiscriminate use of glass as an external façade material, with no proper material audit and decision making, has resulted in poorly functioning buildings with huge energy demands and carbon footprint. In the present context, understanding the process involved in auditing a strategy for combining glass and natural building materials is of paramount importance. Officers Bachelor Accommodation for ONGC at Nazira, Assam The parameters one may use to audit the use of natural materials with glass fall under some broad categories: - • Energy conservation • Cost-effectiveness • Aesthetics • Building typology • Site context and vernacular • Façades and human behaviour Energy Conservation The plaster has a thermal conductivity of 0.18 W/Mk. Brick has a thermal conductivity of around 0.77 W/Mk. Normal window glass has a thermal conductivity of around 0.80 W/Mk and...

In order to create a stage for industry experts and stalwarts from all over the world to exhibit their smart solutions and innovations that will offset the problems that exist in the realty industry, the expo on glass, doors, windows, façades and aluminium extrusion technologies is organised annually in a grand manner. The Zak expo has become synonymous with the latest innovations and advancements, and has been serving as a launch platform for manufacturers, traders, experts and suppliers from doors, windows, glass, façades and aluminium extrusion industry over the last one and half decades The Expo was held from 12-15 December 2019 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi The 16th edition of Zak Doors and Windows, the 11th edition of Zak Aluminium Extrusion Expo and the 17th edition of Zak Glass Technology Expo - a leading and one of the comprehensive shows of the doors and windows, façade, glass and aluminium...