Brief on Holistic Design approach for Fire- Safe Buildings, focusing on Façades and Fenestration Design? The holistic design approach to fire safety starts by first understanding how fire behaves. Fire behaves differently with different types of combustion materials and fuels. Further, it will depend on the oxygen supply to that fire and the quantum of combustible material available to burn. One also needs to understand how fire spreads in a building before we start selecting the various elements of a façade. The most important aspect of controlling fire spread is breaking the continuity of combustible material in the line of fire range. The design of the façade must be such that materials have virtually no combustible component and if for unavoidable reasons they have to be used then breaking its continuity is a must to prevent fire from spreading to other parts of the fire-safe buildings. Could you tell us...

NCL Buildtek Ltd. is one of the well-known Companies in the Building Materials Industry. Tell us Briefly About your Journey with the Company over the Years? [caption id="attachment_34928" align="alignleft" width="354"] .[/caption] In the modern era of depleting natural resources and environmental imbalances, the introduction of alternatives for traditional wood with other products is much necessary and becomes a social need. Our visionary Leader K. Ramachandra Raju anticipated this very early and introduced colour coated galvanised steel windows and doors 25 years back in India. In 1986, he started looking at various alternatives and started this company with technical collaboration of industry Secco S.p.A of Italy. The core values of this company are innovation, trustworthiness and customer satisfaction. During 2008, when the market was looking for alternative energy-efficient products, we brought down value engineered UPVC window and door systems to Indian market, and today we are the number one producer of...

AluArc, a trademark of Gurkan Building Elements Inc, has introduced movable glass systems to meet the diversified requirements of customers for space enclosures, partitions and weather protection. The systems are the result of Turkey’s oldest and pioneer system design company and of 30 years of Turkish and Austrian expertise. The company currently exports to more than 40 countries. [caption id="attachment_34350" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sibel Mutlu General Manager AluArc[/caption] Architects and designers want to bring the aesthetics and joy of outdoors and create additional living spaces to the buildings with flexible solutions. With the high stability of aluminium and creative design of movable glass systems, more transparent spaces can be created without sacrificing the durability and strength. The systems require minimal tool usage and simplest possible manufacturing and installation duration 's which create a high value for the manufacturing dealers. Moreover, the performance to investment ratio comparing to standard window system makes...

There is rarely a day that passes without a serious fire hitting the headlines and world news. Whether the fire incident is a forest, industrial or building fire, the impact on society can have far-reaching effects. Within the built environment, engaging a qualified fire engineer is always recommended to support project delivery and ensure a safe and code-compliant design is achieved. Understanding the dynamics of fire and the role of fire engineering is a key feature of a resilient design. What is Fire Engineering? [caption id="attachment_34320" align="alignleft" width="300"] BS 8414 Fire Performance Test of an External Cladding System[/caption] By definition, fire engineering is the application of scientific and engineering principles, rules (codes) and expert judgment, based on an understanding of the phenomena and effects of fire and of the reaction and behaviour of people to it, to protect people, property and the environment from its effects. Facade Engineering is also...

A building’s façade is an expressive feature. Perhaps the only visible design element to the non-inhabitants is the façade. Creatively illuminated building façades convey messages, communicate emotions, create attention and facilitate orientation. Moreover, modern lighting solutions for building façades add value to the architectural or economic merit by making a location more prominent, beautiful and safer. Achieving the status of ‘iconic and attractive nightscapes’ demands great aesthetic design sensibility. Lighting solutions also need to be sustainable, save resources and prevent unnecessary light pollution. A building is in constant dialogue with its ecosystem, and for it to be sustainable, an efficient system of façade lighting is imperative. Saving energy is an omnipresent challenge. Façade lighting must, therefore, get to grips with ecological compatibility issues. Night View Of Raipur Airport Designed by Creative Group The number of buildings that have illuminated façades is increasing sharply. Because of architectural, societal and technological changes,...

Addressing the performance and functional aspect of architecture and after successfully completing 15 editions in various cities of India, Zak World of Windows was held in Visakhapatnam, at the Novotel on 2nd August 2019. The event was a great success which saw a turnout of more than 200 people in attendance. [caption id="attachment_33999" align="alignleft" width="300"] Azaan Ahmed Director, Zak Group Giving the welcome Address[/caption] The ‘Jewel of East Coast’, Vishakapatnam, is now being developed as a ‘Smart City’ by the Government of India under the 100 Smart Cities project. The aim of the Mission Smart City is to efficiently utilize the available assets, resources and infrastructure to enhance the quality of urban life. With Viashakapatnam’s heritage of art, architects have long sought to communicate their craft through their buildings. Being one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, modern pace and development have completely changed the face of this city...

Modern technology has given us much better alternatives. Along with many other building materials, the doors we install are wonders of engineering and design. They are aptly designed and well-insulated to provide a thermal barrier between the weather and your home or office, at the same time providing a beautiful entry setting. You can even get doors with large glass panels that use low-E glass technology to deliver excellent thermal performance. Thus, doors and windows play a major role in boosting the energy efficiency of any building. They may also provide some of the biggest energy savings. This edition’s cover story is all about the right designs and proper installation techniques of doors in order to provide the utmost acoustic and thermal comfort within a building. It also elaborates on the performance evaluation of different door configurations to enhance energy conservation. We spoke to the experts on the above-mentioned topics,...

Geeta Aluminium, a one stop source for midsegment and premium ‘Aluminium System Windows & Doors’ has recently opened its Window Display Centre at Salt Lake City in Kolkata. This new Window Display Centre offers an entire range of aluminium system windows i.e. slim sliding, openable, combination, tilt & turn, sliding folding, etc. with depth of the profiles running from 25mm to 52mm to suit different conditions of opening sizes, wind load, smooth operability and of course affordability. [caption id="attachment_33789" align="alignright" width="362"] This New Centre Offers an Entire Range of Aluminium System Windows & Doors[/caption] Each system window with its unique properties shuts out disturbances like water, mosquito, noise, dust, water thereby ensuring good functionally and safety, filling your home with complete comfort. This vast range with value added services (both pre and post sales - “Geeta Support System”) along with un-matchable supply chain pan India makes it convenient for customers...

Aluminium extrusion, being a cost-effective material, has become one of the most preferred choices in construction. Extruded aluminium materials are known to be the most versatile in application as well as in production. Aluminium is one of the most malleable materials and allows complex shapes, hence it can be used in various structures. It also allows more options in design without sacrificing the strength and durability of the end product. There are numerous benefits the aluminium can provide to a building. The Middle East's construction and building industry has adopted aluminium extrusion as an important material for their buildings. In this cover story, a few of the big players from the Middle East Extrusion industry have shared their views on aluminium extrusion as one of the most sustainable and versatile building materials in the region. Benefits Of Aluminium Extrusions Used As a Building Material [caption id="attachment_33604" align="alignright" width="300"] Hilal Mahdi...

Please Elaborate on the Use & Benefits of Aluminium Extrusions Used as a Building Material, with a Focus on Whole Building Design, Sustainability and Application Possibilities. The architectural building façade uses a wide range of aluminium extrusions. Architectural aluminium is mainly produced by an extrusion process, which provides nearly unlimited freedom in designing of simple to complex shapes suiting to the building requirements. This gives a great freedom to the architect to design pleasing elevations and forms by keeping functionality and sustainability intact. Modern designs can be produced in 3 to 4 weeks’ time through die cutting and extrusion process. Aluminium extrusions being non-corrosive in nature, provide highest surface finish and possibility to enhance with the exotic finish applications like anodising and powder coating. [caption id="attachment_33626" align="alignleft" width="360"] Double Skin Unitized System[/caption] Aluminium extrusion material compliments 50 to 100 years design life of building façade requirements. Also, being non-corrosive in...

Choosing The Right Industrial Doors Industrial doors come in many forms, shapes and sizes, and it can be a daunting task to choose the right one, taking all the technical aspects into account whilst ensuring that it is fit for purpose. [caption id="attachment_33295" align="alignright" width="300"] Industrial Doors Come in Many Forms, Shapes and Sizes[/caption] Finding the best industrial door for your environment, however, is so essential for the smooth running of day-to-day operations and brings about a number of business benefits: • A rapid-acting door system helps to streamline a safer traffic flow at busy openings • A quality, energy-efficient industrial door can minimise heat loss and save you a significant amount on your facility’s energy bills • Using the latest technologies, an industrial door system can enhance levels of security for any working environment Key Factors While Choosing the Right Industrial Doors? Whether you need a secure high speed...

Energy Efficient Facade Systems [caption id="attachment_33174" align="alignleft" width="225"] UAE Fire Code Engineering September 2018[/caption] Energy consumption in the Middle East countries has been rising over last four decades. The residential building sector alone accounts for more than 50% of all delivered energy consumption, and half of this is attributed to use of air conditioning for cooling. Better building design triggered by better ventilated  facade performance could drive down this energy use considerably. In recent years, ventilated facade systems have found widespread use in various climatic zones due to their high energy performance, rich variety of available design solutions, reduced effect of solar radiation on indoor micro climate, good noise reduction properties, and possibility of rapid building repair and reconstruction. The ventilated cladding however, is just the façade. From an insulation perspective we are interested in making sure that beneath that façade, there is something working hard to ensure the building...

This article may be a bit too late as balconies seem to have almost disappeared from apartments with RERA kicking in. In most projects, flower beds seem to have faded out too, except in luxury apartments and stand-alone buildings. To retain the charm of balconies and enjoy a good ‘cuppa coffee’ or early morning tea, it’s important to have good quality doors. Balcony doors can be classified into three main types but are not limited to only these. Types Of Balcony Doors : Sliding Doors a. Two Track Two Shutter Sliding Door – The classic, always best suited for openings of around 1800 to 2000 mm X 2100 to 2400 mm. The Two Track Slider offers 50% opening with close to 900 to 1000 mm opening to enter or exit the balcony with ease. [caption id="attachment_33076" align="alignnone" width="774"] Balconies Add a Lot of Charm and Character to the Building Elevation[/caption]...

What is meant by a Sustainable and Efficient Fenestration? What are the characteristics and key features of sustainable façades and fenestration? Ideally, all fenestration should have a small carbon footprint when processed and/or manufactured; should use renewable energy; should not be wasteful with raw material resources; should have a similar life cycle as the whole building envelope; should be fully recyclable and should provide a contribution towards energy and carbon dioxide reduction. In addition, the latest state-of-the-art fenestration should be ergonomically in operation, especially for the ageing population; safe and secure in use; offer optionally traditional or modern appearance and should be, more importantly, cost effective! Complying with those desired attributes is a tall order for any of the known fenestration materials. The industry has not found the ‘perfect’ frame material yet that ticks all those boxes. Choosing the appropriate or most suitable fenestration solution in terms of frame material...

Lingel, a German-based window customer first and door company, recently launched Smart Li at the Ace Tech exhibition in Delhi. This smart Lingel windows is its latest innovation which has various features to make life easy and comfortable. Lingel Windows Smart Li is a break through when it comes to window and door technology with special features. It has smart phone-application as control panel and received all important information and development on the mobile phone. It features inbuilt security system, which is controlled by WiFi sensor, there are no wires required and it works on finger sensor. It can control the opening and closing of doors. The inbuilt air purifier indicates the presence of pollution amount in the room and when the filters need to be changed. It also has smoke detector that detects when any fire mishap occurs. The inbuilt rain sensor is a useful add on which provides...

Deceuninck, one of the leading producers of uPVC profiles for doors and windows, has come up with a unique shift and sliding doors system ‘Legend Slide’ in the Indian market. Legend Slide combines simple operation of lift and slide system and with the exceptional sealing capability of tilt and slide. The door system offers in various formats, such as outer frame of 149mm, 76mm sash with 5 chambers in class B, TPE weldable gaskets and glass thickness options from 24mm up to 52mm. Sash movement occurs with guide locking parts and running car sets on different axis. The continuous all-round seal and the guiding and locking elements in all four corners of the sash ensure a tight seal for stringent energy efficiency requirements. Besides, the system is tested for air permeability – EN 12207 – class 4 – 600 pascals, water tightness – EN 12208 – class 8A – 450...