Post Covid, with the hybrid work pattern, people are seeking more comfortable living spaces since they are spending increased amount of time in their personal abode. This stresses the newfound importance of natural lighting and ventilation, which dictates wider openings and slimmer profiles. Giesse – a well-known brand from Tyman International for high-performance hardware for aluminium windows and doors, addresses both of those issues thanks to its range of concealed hinges, “C.H.I.C.”, and minimal handles, “Supra7”, the perfect hardware for contemporary minimal windows; and also with its micro-ventilation system, the natural ventilation setting as standard on all Giesse tilt-and-turn kits. [caption id="attachment_49167" align="alignleft" width="300"] Schlegel Q-LON seals[/caption] New buildings have to account for the wellbeing of the elderly, being it advanced home automation or general simplicity of use when it comes to windows and doors. This is also driven by the increased availability of new technologies that are creating different...

Energy conservation, climate change, and air quality are the words that we hear frequently nowadays. Over the last few years, we have witnessed a greater focus on the quality of living. Further, due to the pandemic situation, safety and hygiene have become important considerations for occupants of the buildings. In building structures, the fenestration system plays an important functional role., Doors and windows are integral to the building structure, be it residential, commercial, or educational buildings to name a few. They act as a passage for entrance and exits for not only occupants but act as a barrier from external elements. The right balance of natural lighting, thermal control, air quality, and acoustics is desirable for people inside the building. In major cities, the trend is for high-rise buildings. Also, in individual residences, clients have become more aware of the doors and windows. Today we see a trend for wider...

Fenesta’s newly-launched Super Luxury Ultra-Slim Slider Doors are poised to meet the needs of homeowners, architects and developers in the modern uPVC fenestration market. As a market leader in fenestration products in India, Fenesta’s new range of uPVC Super-Luxury Ultra-Slim Slider Doors come designed to offer a great viewing experience and maximum visibility. The doors come with a 40mm interlock sightline, and foil finish, alongside high performance features. These doors offer inside submersible low threshold track to prevent accidental tripping and are also wheelchair friendly. Additionally, these slider doors have special handles which were designed by Fenesta Design Experts to enhance their functionality and aesthetics. Depending on requirements, the super-luxurious product can be offered in both commercial and residential projects. Talking about ‘How Super-Luxury Ultra Slim Slider Doors are taking the uPVC Fenestration Market by storm’, Saket Jain, Business Head, Fenesta points out that “today, a growing segment in the...

An exclusive interview with Phil Schneider Head - Sales EMEA, Vector Foiltec Group sharing about their journey, the products they offer in the market, the benefits of their products, and so on… Please brief us on the history and objective behind the formation of your company. With transparent roofs and façades made of Texlon® ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), the company Vector Foiltec has made a major contribution to setting new standards in recent architecture. As the world market leader in architectural foil construction and inventor of the Texlon® ETFE system, we have already completed over 1,700 international projects. Our system shapes stadia constructions, atria, shopping centres, zoos and garden parks, public buildings, swimming pools, schools, and universities all over the world. [caption id="attachment_49002" align="alignright" width="300"] Manyata Embassy Business Park Image courtesy: Vector Foiltec[/caption] Please highlight briefly your products. Our technology of fluoropolymer foils can be processed in a variety of ways....

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...

“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....

Introduction The concept of façade for buildings was introduced in India in 1990. Before that, high-rise structures were erected in conventional brick and mortar for external wall masonry. Mumbai is the first megacity that was exposed to the high-rise culture in the country due to land constraints. Local building bye-laws play an important role in the construction of buildings in India, however, the majority of these bye-laws have been influenced by the National Building Codes (NBC) which is the backbone of most of the building bye-laws. Before 2106, the NBC was silent about the façade construction besides the fire safety of the façade of buildings. [caption id="attachment_48808" align="alignright" width="300"] The use of glass façades in buildings started gaining momentum a decade back[/caption] The use of glass façades in buildings has started gaining momentum due to its transparency and relative ease in installation and maintenance besides the aesthetic value added to...

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...

KOEMMERLING uPVC windows and doors are eco-friendly, energy-efficient and appealing choices that have always stood the test of time. The uPVC material has come a long way, and now homeowners trust uPVC system windows & doors to an extent that they choose them over other materials like wood available in the market. KOEMMERLING uPVC windows and doors are highly energy-efficient. These system windows and doors have a low carbon footprint. Well, the carbon footprints are a measure of quantity of CO2 emitted by a household or an average person per the used resources. The more you use fuel and electricity in your house, the higher the carbon footprints. Since windows and doors made with uPVC come with better insulation, there is less need to use heating and cooling devices for a longer duration, as there are no gaps in the possible leakage areas of windows and doors due to tight...

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...

India’s leading manufacturer of Metal Composite Panels, Aludecor, and world’s leading manufacturers of rolled Zinc materials, Nedzink, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to galvanize the use of sustainable building material solutions. The two giants of the building materials segment are all set to revolutionize the Indian construction industry by introducing environment-friendly and sustainable solutions. [caption id="attachment_48448" align="alignright" width="217"] Ashok Kumar Bhaiya CMD Aludecor[/caption] Nedzink’s partnership with Aludecor is a milestone in India's building material sector. Nedzink from the past 130 years is providing Zinc in buildings for façades and roofings across the globe, and this sustainable metal has enormous potential in India's underserved but growing market. Aludecor who has been offering unique façade products for over 20 years, is enhancing its sphere of influence and adopting innovative sustainable solutions. The two giants have decided to team up to bring rolled Zinc products to India, leveraging Nedzink’s renowned world-classlass zinc...

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...

Tell us about your practice and design approach? NORR is a multi-disciplinary Architecture & Engineering practice with offices across North America, the UK, and the UAE. NORR has been established in the UAE for 33 years, with a significant portfolio of work across the Middle East. Championing the convergence of art and science, our approach to design is truly collaborative, combining the experience and specialist knowledge of our architects and engineers, in combination with external specialist designers and clients to deliver comprehensive and holistic solutions to design projects. In the role of Lead Consultant, from design inception to completion on-site, our team is carefully selected to ensure the best possible outcome of each project, combining local knowledge with global expertise. [caption id="attachment_48368" align="alignleft" width="292"] Grasshopper scripting | Image Courtesy: NORR Group[/caption] Could you please tell us about your journey in the field? How did you think of becoming an architect?...

In an exclusive interview with  Sam Robinson Managing Director - Middle East, India & South East Asia, Hydro Building Systems talked about the journey of Technal, the products they offer in the market, the benefits of their products, and so on, checkout the excerpts here Please brief us on the history and objective behind the formation of your company. Created in Toulouse in 1960, TECHNAL®, a French brand is part of the Hydro group. In the Middle East, the company has its headquarters ‘Hydro Building Systems Middle East’ in Bahrain, which mainly operates in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and supports the South Asia region mainly India and South East Asia. With over 40 years of experience and around 100 people in Bahrain & Dubai offices, it is also the technical hub for the South Asia region for Hydro Building Systems. [caption id="attachment_48274" align="alignnone"...

As India undertakes rapid development through urbanisation, including the creation of smart cities, the shortage of suitable land parcels has led to immense vertical growth in residential and commercial structures. Although vertical development partly resolves the problem of land scarcity, it creates the heat island effect, exacerbating the overall challenge of global warming. Fenestration solutions and other products that are not environment-friendly further compound climate change consequences. Against this backdrop, using the right fenestration products could help in promoting sustainable solutions, partially mitigating the heat island effect. Sustainable Fenestration Solutions The significance of these solutions is apparent when one knows that buildings account for almost 40% of the yearly global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as per the World Green Building Council. As a result, when designing and constructing buildings, sustainability should be one of the core concerns. Fortunately, well-designed fenestration solutions provide extra heating in winter by trapping ambient heat...

According to a study done by Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, currently, buildings account for more than one-quarter of the total greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). If we are to mitigate the effects of having more buildings on the environment, green construction is the answer and material selection plays a major role here. Cladding is an element that is generally reserved for the last during the material selection process. We forget that it’s the first line of defence of a structure. New-age materials are fast replacing the conventional masonry-based cladding. But some of these materials are so ubiquitous that there is a dearth of freshness in the buildings we see daily. Double Skin Facade Sun Shading System: [caption id="attachment_47995" align="alignright" width="362"] Sails in white - Sattva Galleria Bangalore[/caption] The double-skin facade is a system of a building consisting of two skins placed in such a way that air flows in...