fensterbau/frontale india Tabloid- ISSUE III

www.frontale-india.com

Issue III / February 2014

Facade and Fenestration News for India

Lifestyle : Redefined by Energy Efficient Windows & Doors

N端rnbergMesse India Pvt. Ltd. German House, 2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India Tel.: +91-11-47168888 / Fax: +91-11-26118664 / Website: www.nm-india.com Contact : Ms. Rucheeka Chhugani / E-mail: rucheeka.chhugani@nm-india.com

Facade and Fenestration News for India

Warm Greetings Dear Readers,

Dear Readers,

At NürnbergMesse we believe in “Creating Experiences”, “Connecting People” and “Managing Knowledge”. By creating various networking opportunities we believe in bringing the Industry together, highlight important industry concerns and evoke new ideas.

Facade and Fenestration design is an integral part of a well designed Buildings. Responsibly designed and properly detailed façade and fenestration contributes significantly not only to energy efficiency ,but also in thermal comfort of the inhabitants. Energy savings by optimally designed building envelope along with other climate responsive passive strategies can save over 30% savings in annual energy bills. Whereas the idea of optimum fenestration design is now advocated by the Green Buildings, however, the availability and choice of material options , right installation techniques as well as exposure and adaptation to the latest technologies is still a challenge.

As one of the world’s leading exhibition organisers, we have been responsible for organising fensterbau/frontale- world’s leading international trade fair for windows, doors and façade technology and its Indian edition fensterbau/frontale india.

When we launched the show in 2011 in India the Industry was still in a nascent stage. The concept of system windows had not yet gained popularity and the window was still looked at as another hole in the wall. In a country as diverse as India which experiences varied weather conditions, the topic seemed to be of upmost importance and relevance. We took the show from Delhi to Bangalore in 2012 to Mumbai in 2013 and were able to gain a first-hand insight into the needs of every region.

Three years down the line, the Façade and Fenestration Industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth with the entry of many international system, machinery and hardware companies. The domestic market also looks very promising. Efforts have been made to educate the end users as also the local fabricators that how through correct installation of a window your whole lifestyle can change. fensterbau/frontale india has emerged as the meeting place for all the stakeholders of the Industry including manufacturers, processors, architects, developers, planners and building specialists. Our key focus is now also to promote the end product itself, make more decision makers understand the importance and benefits of using system windows as compared to conventional windows.

International Fenestration Forum (IFF) is an association which was formed by like-minded industry related professionals ranging from Architects, Consulting Engineers, Manufacturers, Academicians etc. with a sole objective of bringing forth and sharing with the Indian designer community about the latest technologies and best practices being followed in the façade and fenestration industry across the globe. We have been supporting fensterbau/frontale india since its inception.

The products and solutions on display at the event meet various criteria such as sustainability , energy efficiency and durability.

The industry has undergone a sea change and with rising awareness levels and increased consumer demand stands on the threshold of finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Through the fensterbau/frontale india Tabloid our intention is to help the Industry reach out to the key decision makers, feature expert articles on the latest technologies and to provide a long deserved focused platform to the Facade and Fenestration Industry.

We welcome your comments/suggestions and inputs.

With the fensterbau/frontale india Tabloid the intention is to offer the readers an insight into the latest technologies and the changing perceptions. It’s a knowledge platform which shares selected examples from across the globe where designers have either exploited or found amazing solutions through facade and fenestration designed to resolve few of the challenges of the sustainable building designs.

We also look forward to seeing you at fensterbau/frontale india now in its fourth edition at Hall 14, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from the 27th of February till the 1st of March.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition and look forward to seeing you at fensterbau/ frontale india 2014 from the 27th Feb-1st March at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Sonia Prashar Managing Director - NürnbergMesse India Pvt Ltd.

Ms. Sheetal Rakheja President - International Fenestration Forum

Visit us at fensterbau/frontale india 2014

Facade and Fenestration News for India

Façade: the face of a building The façade of a structure needs to fulfill functional as well as aesthetic obligations. It is that part of the edifice, where an architect can express a school of thought, very directly. Façade is the outward aspect of a building and many a times, it has been judged superficially as creators have exploited it for self-expression quite radically, where the “form” becomes synonymous with the façade hinting at the ignorance and neglect of the function altogether.

The living façade: Archohm Design Studio, Noida The north façade of the design Studio is double-layered glass, which is transparent. Its orientation enables its to bring in indirect diffused sunlight, perfect for working conditions for designers inside. Interestingly, the glass façade on the inside double up as a storage system,

Fundamentally, a building needs protection from weather conditions, it can choose to fit or stand out in its context. Facades are the first attribute that a person takes note of. It is the surface that normally distinguishes one entity from another – from the inside to the outside. This makes facades an important part of architecture and even more, of its expression – communication to the world at large.

Concrete Fenestrations at the Zolijns Store, New Delhi

Yielding to their imperatives mentioned above, here are a few examples of works, where the facades strive to go beyond the prerequisites. These facades of buildings designed by Archohm, housing various functions, coupled with simple, yet effective technologies in singular materials, are narratives in themselves.

Bambrance - The Bamboo Skin of a Garment Factory, Noida

where each department’s color-coded stationary is stacked. For example, architecture is brown, Interiors is orange, Electrical is yellow and Finance is red. Being transparent, the department’s files, models and samples, creates a visual collage of colors and textures that represents life at the studio inside out! The folders sift in daylight and additionally provide a barrier that helps in insulation as well.

The blank façade of Villa Agra

The Zolijns Lifestyle Design store is planned as an upside-down residence that exhibits furniture and furnishing in the apt context. Each aspect of design has derived from a play of volumes, materials and natural light and the façade plays a critical role in determining the aesthetic of the showroom inside. The Indirect diffused natural light is brought in, without the congested views of infringing neighboring houses, through concrete fins spanning forty feet. These fenestrations form the side façade of the house and create an interesting architectural language that is imposing externally and warmly welcoming on the inside.

As one ascends the ongoing flight of steps that connect the lower ground with the double volume living floor and the glazed top; three levels get linked spatially via this concrete face. It adds to the ‘art and design’ philosophy of the store.

non-heavy house structure to minimize loss of green at their farmhouse, eliminating the façade altogether.

The façade is merged and submerged within the landscape, giving this non-façade house a fifth elevation, the green roof playing as waves. This was then taken to the extreme by reducing it to zero as the top view shows a clean green patch while the house below cools and shades itself carving courtyards and skylights.

The non-façade farm house, Ludhiana This house addresses the client’s expectation of

The out of scale, exaggerated fabric weave depicts the nature of the garment export house it contains. Supplying ethnic Indian fabrics and techniques to the global market, bamboo was chosen, as it is an inherent Indian material that has been interlaced like the textile structure to form the external skin of this factory facility.

Designed to conceal the dull and uneven building below, indigenous bamboo sticks have been intertwined to create a modular system, which can be attached to any façade. This eco-friendly and dynamic surface has been naturally treated for weather protection.

The farmhouse is an interesting comment and confrontation of the relevance of facades in this context.

It is aptly said that a book should not be judged by its cover, however, more often than not, it is so. The cover is an excellent playground to provoke, evoke and inspire the outsider to understand, deceive or enchant. Much in the same manner, façades are powerful mediums of the built expression.

A tight site in an eminent neighborhood of private residences resulted in a distinct skyline and vocabulary. The house was designed to stand out in simply and cleanly amongst the ornate façades of the locality. The wooden façade of this villa helps to a blank and bold statement; using it as a tool to express style, while respecting the privacy of the owners and confronting the design typology of front gardens and glass.

About authors - Sourabh Gupta, B.Arch, AIIA Director, Archohm Consults, is the Founder & Managing Director of Archohm Consults Private Limited, one of India’s leading architectural design firms. He is an alumnus of CEPT, Ahmedabad and Technical University, Delft, the Netherlands. With over 12 years of experience in Architecture and Urban Design, Sourabh is renowned for his capabilities in conceptualizing, designing, and detailing. With his passion and a keen insight into the diverse design fields, he leads his initiatives towards the highest level of design quality.

Mridu Sahai, Creative Consultant, Archohm Consults is an alumnus of the University for the creative arts in UK. Deeply interested in the discourse of Architecture and urbanism, she is the editor of Archohm’s in-house newsletter called the Archometer.

Facade and Fenestration News for India

Façade. Delivered in Person...

A few day ago I was in a discussion with friends about what is better - being a generalist or a specialist. The day we live in calls for specialists in every field. As life gets more complex we need specialists to decode these complexities so we can achieve more and deliver better.

The following illustrations demonstrate some of our work.

Double skin wall for a commercial building:

Facades are no different, appearing simple on the outside, a mere envelope to the major complexities of design, engineering and construction.

Decoding the complexities of façade design and engineering is not a simple task especially since facades are learnt over time through experience and getting your hands dirty. There is no text book answer for a façade nor a school that can teach you to design and deal with one.

It would not be out of place to say that more often than not, owners, architects, industry peers, etc, team up to build a project, fail time and again at achieving a reasonably good outcome at an acceptable cost and time frame. That said, there are already grey areas such as “reasonably good”, “acceptable” etc. that should be parameterised in order to be addressed. So how do you go ahead and do something that you cannot quantify or define?

And do all projects go this route? Not in the least, but many do, and when it does happen, someone, who usually is the most important piece of the business gets hurt. It is the end user, the occupant around whom the business is devised and delivered that finally does not get what he should – a high performance façade. And because the façade is the skin that he touches, feels, sees, every day that it matters all the more.

Project 1: The vision

Façade consultancy is a less understood and under-rated specialty, and one that may very often be undermined by people from within the building industry. Additionally, as in all professions, façade consultancy is a people’s business and what matters is the person and his team.

This person should be mature, experienced, have mudded his hands, be pragmatic and most of all, hold the highest levels of integrity. Because it is this person, who can deliver your Façade.

Should you bring on board the specialist only for large complex “looking” projects? Well not so. Sometimes the simplest of structures may call for complex façade design, and very often a complex looking building may need less.

A Simple looking box shaped building we are advising on in Bangalore, employs a mix of materials and a complex unitised system that will allow multi planar installation of infill panels. Add to that, ensuring structural stability to slender sized profiles, provision of thermal insulation and we are now seeing a complex system develop. In such cases, complexity is in conceptualising a bespoke system that will fulfil the requirements of the project and at an acceptable cost. In most cases, the level of complexity demanded by such projects, is not visible to the architect or developer.

On the other hand, a building with a curved façade relies upon a face sealed structural glass system that looks complex but actually is simplistic in design and build.

At FACET, our experience and know how, allows us to visualise and conceptualise pragmatic solutions to challenges. We have a holistic approach towards projects as we look at the envelope, not just the façade; our involvement extends to the complex steel structure support, roofing, new materials developed for the project, shading systems, energy and light management, acoustics, maintenance, creating aesthetic interest, etc.

There might be several ratings to measure how green a building is, but we state that true green buildings have the highest IEQ (Indoor Environment Quality) for the lowest environmental footprint possible without any compromise on the health, safety, comfort and affordability of the occupants and the owners alike. That’s how our researchers have worked on developing a full range of solutions for bioclimatic façades.

versa. That’s why they are all around the world manifested in traditional architectures in various climatic zones. Modern technologies allow architects and engineers to explore new design but the laws of physics remain the same. Today, as it was the case yesterday and as it will still be the case tomorrow, it’s key to define the passive strategies as early as possible in the project.

Although it can be challenging to define the optimal dynamic passive strategies for a building, but it is necessary.

The bioclimatic architecture aims to optimize the comprehensive set of passive strategies intask and Somfy’s experts are always ready to share their knowledge.

As worldwide leader, SOMFY has committed to volved in a construction. The building enclosure In 60 countries all around the world, Somfy’s teams are using statesolutions for help everyone with this task architects and Somfy’s is a key element of architecture and fenestrations of-the-art tools to define with investors, and engineers experts Developmentare ofalways cost effective solutions for projects to be truly green by design. ready to share their knowledge. Since have the crucial responsibility to manage the If you have any question on green buildings, sustainability or Bioclimatic Facades its creation in strategies, 1969,do SOMFY is us.continuously bi-directional flows of energies and elements dynamic passive not hesitate to contact It’s the same contact for your next project because there are no big or small improving the principles of living architecture so from the outside to the inside.

Since its creation in 1969, SOMFY is continuously improving the buildings when it comes to dynamic passive strategies. Every building principles of living architecture so that buildings can bethat truly green is a special case and each deserves togreen be truly green. buildings can beonetruly by design. by design.

A building’s life cycle Over millennia, architectsThereand engineers have might be several ratings to measure how green a building is, but we that true green buildings developed strategies to keep thestatebuilding run-have the highest IEQ A building’s life cycle (Indoor Environment Quality) for the lowest environmental footprint Now In the future ning on its passive mode for aswithout long as possible. possible any compromise on the health, safety, comfort and 80% of energy Now In10% the future 10% 10% affordability of the occupants and the owners alike. That’s how our consumption However, because the outdoor conditions and researchers have worked on developing a full range of solutions for 80% of energy 10% 10% 10% consumption bioclimatic façades. the building usage are always evolving, architects The bioclimatic architecture aims to optimize started relying heavily on operable solutions like the comprehensive set of passive strategies involved in a construction. The building Construction Activity Demolition Construction blinds, louvers and overhangs.

With its techenclosure is a key element of architecture and fenestrations have the crucial responsibility to manage the bi-directional flows of energies Construction Activity Demolition Construction nology, SOMFY turns operable into dynamic. and elements from the outside to the inside.

Today, the building itself Over can adapt its passive millennia, architects and engineers have developed strategies A building’s life cycle to keep the buildingThis runningextends on its passive mode for as long as strategies to its need of the moment. possible. However, because the outdoor conditions and the building its operation time in passive usagemode are alwaysand evolving,therefore architects started relying heavily on Now In the future operable solutions like blinds, louvers and overhangs. With its reduces the operational energy requirements of10%Today, the building 10% technology, SOMFY turns of operable 80% energyinto dynamic.

10% 10% 80% of energy can adapt consumption its passive strategies to its need of the moment. This consumption the building. Knowing theitselfenergy requirement extends its operation time in passive mode and therefore reduces of active solutions, generates opportunities the operational energy requirements of for the building. Knowing the energy requirement of active solutions, generates opportunities for substantial savings on both the active strategies substantial savings on both the active strategies employed, such Construction Activity Construction Activity Demolition as air conditioning and lighting as well as Demolition the O&M. But, even if employed, such as air conditioning and lighting reducing the energy bill of buildings is a hot topic, that doesn’t make as well as the O&M. But,a building evengreen. if Thereducing main advantage ofthe dynamic passive strategies in the& positive impacts theyCOhave on human beings.Renewable energy bill of buildings is aisFossil hot topic, thatemissions doesn’t energy Electricity consumption (KWh/yr) nuclear energy Passive strategies define architecture and vice versa. That’s why they make a building green. The of architectures in are allmain around the advantage world manifested in traditional various climatic zones. Modern technologies allow architects and dynamic passive strategies is in the positive engineers to explore new design but the laws of physics remain the same. Today, as it was the case yesterday and as it will still be the case impacts they have on human beings. of energy consumption

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All this because of a sub-standard specification, execution, or whatever else that has gone wrong.

So what should be done? Stop generalising, basing decisions on half-baked information, and do it the professional way. Bring in the specialist, bring in a Façade Consultant.

Development of Bioclimatic Façades

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For any further information please visit: www.somfy.co.in

Project 1: The realisation, a bespoke engineering solution

Project 1: Realised Engineering, simple answers to complex requirements S O L U T I O N S F O R B I O C L I M AT I C FA Ç A D E S

About the author - Nitin Bhatia

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Intelligent buildings combine Energy savings with Comfort

Somfy has the expertise in making buildings Dynamic through its unique solutions. Somfy’s intelligent window shading systems are integrated with weather sensors over the Building Management System thus responding automatically to the Dynamic external environment, resulting in optimized air quality, visual comfort Intensité & energy savings on HVAC and artificial lighting.

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Nitin is Principal Façade Consultant, Founder and Managing Director of FACET, a leading façade consulting firm. FACET is currently working on several projects in India and Overseas including super tall buildings such as the 117 floor World One Tower in Mumbai.

Nitin has trained as an architect and has worked across disciplines including design, management, R&D and forensics. FACET has established its reputation as a high quality façade consulting firm.

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www.somfy.co.in

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Facade and Fenestration News for India

Facts – Figures – Background information: A case study of the Window, Door & Facade Industry in Europe with special focus on Germany For the German window, facade and glass industry, the last 10 years have been marked by continuous improvements in energy efficiency.

The driving forces behind this have been the new, tougher German Energy Saving Regulation (EnEV), and the increasingly demanding criteria that must be met to receive KfW support. Even if there are no tougher requirements of EnEV 2014 building owners today tend to build low-energy or passive houses – so subjecting windows, facades and glass to even tougher requirements than those set out in the EnEV. 1 Energy efficiency and changes in the market 1.1 Energy efficiency Over the next few years the focus will be on “energy-plus houses”, which need to offer not only the best possible thermal insulation, but also renewable power generation and heat recovery.

Thermal insulation in summer is also becoming an ever more important issue, because people now demand greater comfort than in the past, and heat waves are becoming increasingly common, even in central Europe. Consequently the

1.2 Market influences The window and facade industry is by no means immune to the relentless march of globalisation.

New large production capacities are emerging in Europe and overseas. These manufacturers generally serve their own domestic markets first and foremost, but if demand there declines, they will start to export. This can be seen happening at the moment in Europe: the construction markets of southern Europe are faltering, creating import pressure in Germany. But even in this age of ecommerce, the construction industry continues to function largely at a local level. Customers are generally not prepared to gamble with installation and maintenance, or risk having their complaints dealt with unprofessionally, so they steer clear of unknown online suppliers.

To beat the price pressure, manufacturers and system licensors and suppliers need to cultivate customer loyalty and offer substantial added value in the form of better technology, advice and service. They need to hold onto their distributors and those installation companies who act as distributors, and prevent customers from

also has an impact on the building methods: ever more frequently, building envelopes need to be supplied and installed as ready-made components incorporating all windows, opaque wall sections, building services, etc. This trend offers great potential for adding value and boosting sales revenues. This trend, and the fact that window units are now considerably heavier than in the past, is changing the nature of installation, sealing and anchor to guarantee the the load transference. A new kind of skilled installation professional, equipped with all the necessary auxiliary tools and lifting gear – as already existed in the facade industry – is emerging.

Building owners and architects have become more demanding, and system licensors and suppliers and window manufacturers have come up with a range of innovations to satisfy their wishes. As a result, a vast array of different designs, materials and colours are now available, with materials including wood/metal, PVC/ metal, wood/PVC, etc. However, suppliers will need to cope with this diversity of designs from a technical, organisational and financial point of view, so they will need to specialise further, and new administrative services and services relating to the management of verifications and documentation will emerge. A promising technical solution for coping with the increased demand for variety will be to design modular systems.

Proposals are presented at the international Rosenheim Window & Facade Conference 2012 and are found increasingly in practice.

- Urbanisation and re-migration from the country to the city, resulting in building infill and more small-scale construction projects - More people from all demographic groups are taking advantage of e-commerce and online advice in all product areas - Altered family structures resulting in e.g. patchwork families, new care concepts, and hence increased child safety requirements.

Accessibility plays a central role here. According to the “Living in Old Age” (Wohnen im Alter) study by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, 2.5 million senior-friendly dwellings are needed in the short term in Germany. In 50% of dwellings there are door thresholds that are perceived as obstructions, particularly at the entrance to balconies and terraces. Automatic windows and doors are a superb solution for meeting people’s desire for comfort and convenience. “Accessibility” is currently still largely understood to refer only to walking disabilities, and should be interpreted more broadly to cover other aspects such as visual impairments.

The maximum operating and closing forces in the current standards are too high for a child or elderly person, and the height of the handle can also pose an insuperable problem. A further aspect to consider is safety in use, particularly the risk of trapping fingers when closing windows and doors, overriding opening restrictors, and involuntarily opening windows in the cleaning position. Children are particularly at risk, as

Fig. 1 Development of thermal insulation in windows over time building envelope will increase in importance, and will need to satisfy more exacting requirements than before. The technical solutions needed to meet these requirements are already available; however, architects, planners and designers are generally not yet aware of them, so they are only likely to get involved to a limited extent in the detailed planning stage, and, as a rule, they will delegate these specialised tasks to specialist planners or to the manufacturer.

For window and facade manufacturers this means construction projects are becoming more complex, and planning and detailing must take account of all technical features of the building envelope – from traditional functions such as thermal insulation and protection against the weather to concerns such as shading, ventilation, daylight control and deflection, and energy generation using photovoltaics, or high performance thermally insulating components.

drifting away to international suppliers. This will require that they retain their technical advantage and offer USPs and product benefits that can be clearly communicated to customers, for example superior design, service, safety, security, characteristic values and functionality.

Even more new requirements are being introduced onto the EU market from other European countries, for example specific requirements regarding VOC emissions from building components from France, child safety requirements from Scandinavia, and energy labels from the UK and Denmark. These requirements will inevitably gradually become relevant to Germany as well.

1.3 Design and building methods The increased complexity of the requirements

Fig. 3 Demographic change and the need for accessibility are important nfluencing factors 2 Changes in society and consumer behaviour Those responsible for advertising and marketing windows and building components are still very much fixated on technical characteristic values and U-values. Looking at consumer behaviour and advertising strategies in other industries, however, it is clear that the focus is not always on saving money; it is on safety, security, comfort, convenience, design, embracing a specific attitude to life, or feeling good about living in an environmentallyfriendly way. These “new” characteristics will be madatory and should be encluded in European product standards such as EN 14351-1. The window industry needs to learn from this and emphasise the other benefits of fitting new windows, for example: safety, security, comfort, convenience, more daylight, better sound insulation, etc. The shutter industry has taken some interesting steps in this direction, awarding the Innovation Prize at the top industry trade fair R+T in Stuttgart for solutions for the simple, intuitive control of shading devices.

demonstrated by fatal accidents involving shutters, windows and doors in France and Scandinavia. As a result the EU Commission has issued a mandate for the definition of suitable requirements, in order to address this shortcoming.

2.1 Changes in society

Fig. 2 Modular window design

The following are all important consequences of demographic and social change: - Larger proportions of older people wanting higher levels of comfort, convenience, safety and security

Fig. 4 Safety risks when using windows and doors

Facade and Fenestration News for India 2.2 Consumers Premium clients, with their high purchasing power, have a major influence on the market, demanding high quality and “demographics-proof ” construction products. If a building or building product is “demographics-proof ”, this means it is simple, convenient and safe for everyone, whether young, old, disabled or able-bodied. In the future products will need to combine design with functionality in a way that permits the flexible use of buildings and building components. This is necessary as the occupants of the building age, or different requirements are imposed on it due to illness or accident, or if grandparents move in or young children appear.

As a result, convenience and safety are the top priorities when renovating a property or building a new one; and these attributes are being referred to ever more frequently as “Universal Design” (UD) criteria. Thus the focus is shifting away from the traditional performance characteristics of windows, doors and gates, and towards ease of use and safety in use. A case in point is the closing speed of automatic doors: doors in canteen kitchens should close as quickly as possible, whereas older people need doors that shut slowly.

2.3 Security and burglar resistance With more elderly people demanding greater safety and security (due to demographic change), vague fears relating to immigration and globalisation, and the increasing incidence of break-ins, the “old” issue of burglar resistance has gained currency once more. This is strikingly demonstrated by the increase in newspaper articles and TV reports on the topic, which now appear on virtually a weekly basis. This creates great potential for sales of relevant products, including, incidentally, the retrofitting of windows with certified components. Die Entwicklung baurechtlicher Anforderungen für einbruchhemmende Eigenschaften ist zur Zeit in der Diskussion der Gesetzgebung.The developement of building directives and regulation are discussed

by German and European legislation authorities.

With increases in component dimensions and the emergence of heavy triple insulating glass units and thermally-optimised profiles, the standards and designs for burglar-resistant components developed in history are no longer capable of achieving resistance classes RC 2 or RC 3 without adaptation. The existing principles governing burglar-resistant construction need to be adapted to reflect the new component designs, and to handle integration and fixing in a range of different wall types, notably modern, highly efficient thermally-insulating flexible external walls.

- Reducing the costs and energy use involved in operating or using the product - Reducing the amount of cleaning and maintenance required.

3.1 Raw materials and efficiency All manufacturers of windows and facades, whatever frame material they are using, face constant increases in material prices. Energy costs are a problem here: since 2010 they have gone up by around 20% (source: German Federal Statistical Office). By establishing an energy management system as per DIN EN ISO 50001, involving the systematic assessment of energy consumption, manufacturers can continuously improve their energy efficiency while at the same time saving tax: a medium-sized window manufacturer with 90 employees that pays in €300,000 of pension contributions and uses 5 GWh of electricity annually can save around €57,000 each year in taxes thanks to the “Spitzenausgleich” (eco tax cap), i.e eco-tax relief to energy-intensive companies.

3.2 Waste and recycling According to statistics from the German Federal Environment Agency, the construction industry is responsible for some 52% (construction and demolition waste in 2010) of the total volume of waste produced in Germany. In the window industry the main source of problems is modern, energy-efficient composites which can often only be separated into their original pure components manually, and with considerable effort.

Designers need to consider a product’s entire life cycle, for example the ease of separating the wood from the aluminium profile in wood/aluminium windows. Otherwise building owners and manufacturers could face serious risks, like in the case of asbestos composite materials. It can be expected that the EU Commission or the future German government will issue mandates to combat this problem.

Fig. 6 French system for the classification of VOC emissions The Chemicals Regulation (REACH) adopted by the EU in 2007 is also becoming increasingly relevant, because it deals with the authorisation and restriction of chemicals. Certified environmental management systems as per DIN EN ISO 14001 promote environmental protection and the avoidance of environmental pollution while at the same time upholding economic, social and political aims. They have many benefits including identifying and eliminating environmental risks, promoting the efficient use of resources, and improving the company’s image.

3.3 Health, hygiene and the environment

Fig. 5 ift Universal Design compass 3 Sustainability, health and the environment In Germany and other industrialised countries in the West, consumers are basing their decisions regarding what to buy more and more on health and environmental issues, and on whether products have been manufactured in a socially sustainable, climate-friendly way. Companies who incorporate the following elements in their production processes will have more success in the medium term: - Use of renewable energy - Clean, efficient production and planning processes - Avoiding unnecessary waste, minimising transport distances and material consumption

In the wake of numerous reports in the media about illnesses and allergies resulting from mould, excessively dry indoor air, insufficient ventilation and emissions from building materials, consumers and building owners now frequently place a strong emphasis on the use of “healthy” building materials and methods. The need for user-independent ventilation is reflected in the standard DIN 1946-6. A large number of manufacturers can now also help with the planning and design of ventilation systems, and offer relevant products ranging from simple rebate vents through to fan-operated devices with heat recovery. This keeps customers happy by ensuring that their windows also provide sufficient ventilation and sound insulation.

With the comparatively small area that they cover compared to e.g. floor and wall coverings, and the fact that a large proportion of them is harmless glass, windows and facades make only a small contribution to indoor air pollution from VOC emissions. However, the market and the

consumers still want reliable documentary evidence for their products. In France, various products including windows and doors already need to be declared as belonging to one of four possible VOC emissions classes. At an EU level, intense work on a harmonised European procedure continues, which in the next few years will also affect the relevant product standards.

Over the past few years the ift Rosenheim has launched a number of research projects that have succeeded in developing some practical, reproducible, costeffective possibilities for obtaining documentary evidence for windows and doors in this area. The projects have also produced findings and data that could be used for assessing and making statements about extremely low VOC emissions without the need for measurement. The requirements in the REACH Regulation go in a similar direction, demanding the declaration of all hazardous substances at each stage of the product creation process. This will present a challenge for the accessories industry in particular, as it will need to provide data on a wide range of materials including sealants, plastics, paints and adhesives.

Another aspect relevant to the construction industry is the risk posed to soil water and groundwater by chemicals leaching out of the building envelope. In recent years there have been instances of bodies of water near buildings becoming contaminated due to the fungicidal treatment of the external render or the use of facade paints designed to prevent contamination and algae growth on the building envelope. Consequently a statement or documentary evidence will in future be required for all construction products to indicate that they do not pose a risk in this area. The ift Rosenheim has launched a research project on this topic as well, to develop reliable statements, practical analysis methods and the simplest possible verification procedures for the window and facade industry.

3.4 Impulses through Life cycle assessment (LCA) and Environment product declarations (EPD) The Life Cycle Assessment as per DIN EN ISO 14040 and EN ISO 14044 analyses and quantifies the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle, in other words the product, use, deconstruction and recycling stages. These four life cycle stages can each be subdivided further into e.g. transport distances, installation/assembly, etc. The data collected are then fed into a special program for analysis and uses in calculations with the aim of quantifying the environmental impacts, for example primary energy demand. These data then form the basis for an EPD. LCAs also serve to highlight potential for reducing material and energy consumption, and the results from LCAs can be incorporated directly into an EPD or environmental management system; these are needed increasingly often by companies wishing to take part in public tendering processes across Europe.

EPDs describe the environmental impacts – for example CO2 emissions – generated in the product, use and end-of-life stages of a product.

Clause 56 of the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) demands the “sustainable use of natural resources”. Environmental Product Declarations should be used to evaluate the impacts and assess whether resources are indeed being used sustainably. For windows there are samples for an EPD available which could used by manufactures easily (download at www. ift-service). First experiences show how to use EPD for windows in the building certification process and the pros and cons are transparent.

Sustainable qualities will give impulses to the design process of windows and the functions of windows such as security and comfort will substitute the focus on the thermal characteristics of windows and curtain walls.

4 Conclusion Building components and their manufacturers are currently faced with a great deal of change.

New European mandates, changes in society, and a shift away from energy efficiency as the

main driving force behind the development of building components, all pose more and more challenges for the industry. These challenges are worth embracing, however, because windows, doors, facades, solar control and shading systems, etc. will all remain very important to the further development of buildings.

Bibliography [1] “Living in Old Age” (Wohnen im Alter) study, Research Booklet 147, German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development, 2011 [2] ift Technical Information UM-02/1 Universal Design: simple – safe – sustainable. Opportunities and implications for building components.

Including ift assessment system and Universal Design checklist. ift Rosenheim 2013

About the author:

Professor Ulrich Sieberath Born in 1957 Studied Wood Technology at the University of Applied Sciences, Rosenheim since 1982: Staff member at ift Rosenheim, Head of the DoorTechnology and Burglary Resistance Department since 1995: Head of the Certification Centre for Quality Management Systems and Products since 2000: Coordination of business units at ift Rosenheim since 2002: Deputy Director of the Institute since 02/2004: Director since 10/2012: Honorary Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim Additional functions and activities: • Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim • Convenor/Chairman and member of several committees: Convenor of NA 005-09-01 Mirror Committee of CEN TC33; Convenor of CEN TC33 WG1 Windows and Doors; Chairman of SG06 (Doors and Windows) and SG 06/09 D Member of mirror committee to the Advisory Group of Notified Bodies; • Member of Examination Board of IHK for sworn experts • Specialist assessor for Accreditation Bodies: - DakkS Berlin – Federal Office of Measurement (Switzerland) principally for the fields of: Components testing for windows/doors/facades, materials testing - wood/timber-based materials/glass, burglary resistance testing – windows/shutters/doors/ facades/glass/metal fittings.

Facade and Fenestration News for India

Glass Facades in Chennai: A Design Challenge Designing environmentally responsive and sustainable buildings in hot and humid climates has never been easy, especially when relying heavily on passive design strategies. This is one zone where it’s nearly impossible to reduce the EUI (Energy Use Index) passively without subjecting its occupants to a (dis)comfort level much beyond the limits of even adaptive comfort zone.

Chennai, as we know, is perfectly situated in this very hot and very humid tropical climate zone (13.0°N Lat.). So, when we were asked to design a commercial building with maximized views (hence, more glazing), our team took upon the project as a challenge and an opportunity to develop a design response that is a sleek glazed building with international appeal and yet is environmentally conscious.

The project, titled ‘Jashn’ (commercial component) is situated on a corner property on Marshalls road in the Egmore area of Chennai and comprises of approximately 30,000 sf. To our advantage, the commercial building (or rather the commercial wing of the development) was designated on a plot abutting its residential wing on the west side, thus creating an adiabatic condition on the west wall. We were left to design a building with façade exposures on the north, east and south.

The Jewel Box: The small commercial building intends to house the core team of a prominent developer in Chennai who wanted a building that could demonstrate their own aspirations and expertise and one that they could be inherently proud of.

The ‘jewel box’ analogy was an apt response of the design team to meet the client’s goals and aspirations. The end design is a building formed to maximize the FAR and clad in layers of white transparency that delicately shroud the building during the day and allow it to glow at night.

of 8mm glazing, 12mm air gap and 6mm clear glass (interior). The DGU’s properties include an SHGC value of 0.25 and the u-value of 1.6 W/ m²K, which makes it one of the highest performing DGUs available in the market. The custom frit pattern is placed not only for the aesthetic effect but also in response to the exposure of the façade to direct solar radiation and balanced with the desire for external views, especially from the executive offices on upper floors. The secondary skin comprising of channel glass (also 3m tall) span floor-to-floor and act as baffle/shading panels for the primary façade. They are placed strategically in front of clear DGUs (without frit pattern) and especially those with operable panels to minimize air drafts and sound pollution.

Internally, vertical translucent fabric window treatments are proposed to further deal with radiation and glare periodically and as required.

All in all, the façade has a textural richness in its layers where each layer is assisting in mitigating external heat loads and controlling daylighting and glare.

how a glazed building could be designed in a climate such as that of Chennai and still perform up to the standards set out by ASHRAE or ECBC (India), if not out-perform it. An important criterion is clearly in minimizing the overall WWR and being selective of the orientation where glazed facades are placed. In the case of ‘Jashn’, the existing site conditions facilitated us in completely blocking the west façade thereby allowing us to maximize glazing on the south and east façade which are the primary frontages of the building.

The building, which is currently under construction, has turned out to be a great case study for us to begin to balance the aspirations of our clients while being conscious about the environmental and energy impacts of our design.

Analyzing the Façade

About the author - Varun Kohli

Although, full energy analysis for the building was not required, the design team none the less wanted to understand the impact of high performance façade design. With previous knowledge, and looking at the building peak load profile of typical commercial office buildings in hot and humid climate of southern India, we know that the primary heat load on the external skin is contributed by direct and indirect solar radiation. The study that our team then took on was to study solar radiation transmitted through the proposed building façade and compared it to a ASHRAE 90.1 compliant base case building envelope.

Varun founded Merge Studio in New York in 2010; a studio fundamentally grounded on principles of environmentally responsive design. He is currently heading major design projects globally incorporating a multitude of typologies including commercial, retail, multi-residential, master-planning and hospitality based projects spread out in US, India, Australia and the Caribbean. Varun has over 15 years of experience with New York based architectural firms including Beyer Blinder Belle and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).

Prior to forming Merge Studio, Varun was an Associate at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), where he played a key role in integrating environmental analysis to the design process. Varun holds a graduate degree in Sustainable Environmental Design (with commendation) from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and a Bachelor of Architecture from the City College of New York. In 2010 Varun was awarded a ‘Professional Achievement Award’ by the Society of Indo-American Engineers and Architects based in New York.

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The shroud expresses a vertical aesthetic, which is emphasized by a floor-to-floor glazing, 3 meters tall. The expression is further reinforced a varying scales from the exterior channel glass baffles to the custom vertical frit pattern to interior vertical window treatments, all together creating a richness in it’s depth.

The Performative & The Poetic: Understanding the significance of the façade in contributing to the performance of a building, it was our goal to merge the poetic gesture of the façade with its performative aspirations. The layers in addition to being aesthetic are also helping reduce direct solar radiation incident on the façade, thereby reducing the external loads on the building.

The primary façade comprises of high performance DGU with low-e coating with roughly 50% of glazing with custom frit pattern. The DGU (supplied by Saint Gobain) is composed

window, door and curtain wall construction software

Two models were built in Ecotect, one as per the design and materials in the proposed building and the other (base case) with the exact same volume and the building envelope as per the prescriptive requirements outlined in ASHRAE 90.1 standard. It should be noted that the base case with 40% overall window wall ratio (WWR) is distributed on all four facades, whereas the proposed design has maximum glazing on the east and south facades, minimal (roughly 18% WWR) glazing and an adiabatic condition on the west wall. The two models were then simulated for total solar transmittance into the building and the results were encouraging. The proposed design case resulted in transmitted solar radiation averaging approximately 55% less than the ASHRAE compliant base case.

Although, this study does not use a full energy simulation, considering that solar radiation can amount to around 38% or building envelope loads in this climate, a significant reduction in solar gains through the envelope will certainly have a considerable impact not only in the overall energy consumption of the building, but also improve occupant comfort, especially at the perimeter of the building.

• Independence of profile suppliers • Interface to 3D systems and AutoCAD • Link to CNC Machining Centres • Offers & Text Processing • Optimisation • Estimation • Work Preparation • Bar Drawings • CAD • Structural Analysis

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While the method of analysis used here lacks comprehensive details, it certainly demonstrates 2014-01-29 - UAE - FfrontaleIndia - General.indd 1

29.01.2014 14:52:27

Facade and Fenestration News for India

An Energy Efficient lifestyle It is extremely important to look after our environment and its resources , which are present for our own good and are limitedly available. We cannot wait till the end when everything is depleted but instead we need to save, reuse and recycle for a healthy and better living. Incorporating changes in our daily lifestyles be it small personal ones or with the use of technology is the need of the hour.

During designing too we keep in mind sustainable aspects such as energy saving and thus its efficiency too should be considered at every step of the way.

Increased day lighting with innovative facades, structural glass to gain increased transparency, reusing/ recycling materials for minimum wastage are considered at the initial phases of design. Even during the construction stage various materials are considered , for example fly ash which not only lowers handling cost due to its light weight and being less prone to breakage, but is also environmental friendly due to a much lower carbon footprint (being a byproduct of coal making), thus eliminating the need of extra energy to be sourced. They are also comparatively better insulators with a great compression strength too.

Garden to name a few. In Dheeraj Corporate Park a complex glazing system has been incorporated. The façade too uses optimization techniques to arrive at an optimal arrangement of glazing to maximize its thermal comfort performance while minimizing construction and operating costs. Meanwhile for all our high rises including our mixed used development project – Shreepati Garden, early studies have been done along with climate analysis, wind studies in order to improve the proficiency of the building life.

Facades too are designed with a lot of care and study today, to ensure building design not only for the people but also the environment. Sun path analysis is done to ensure selection of the right type of glazing, spandrel panels are designed to avoid glare, sun breakers are integrated to cut out the heat and allow diffused light to pass through the glass. An example of this is reflected, in our designs – Dheeraj Corporate Park and Shreepati

Keeping in mind various factors such as the surrounding and others like height and location of the building , various energy efficient features are also incorporated during selection of the amenities.

Apart from wind harvesting, today rain water harvesting and recycled water is incorporated in almost every building for the use of gardening and ancillary purposes, helping save one of our most important elements – water, in its purest form.

While considering cladding , concrete and brick are some of the options , depending of course on various other factors. Concrete is incredibly strong and durable and requires very little maintenance. It is also a great insulator resulting in saving building energy. Brick cladding helps create different patterns with different colored bricks. They are lightweight, easy to work with, good insulators and don’t need much maintenance either. One could also consider wood cladding as it is an environmental friendly choice and sustainable wood is also a good natural insulator.

Solar energy can also be harnessed with the help of the solar panel technology or the latest breakthrough - solar heating pergolas which are made up of rods that have a liquid present in them that heats up due to solar energy . These rods are connected to a hollow beam. Water from the overhead tanks is distributed throughout the building through down-take pipes. These pipes are further connected to the beam so that the water will thus heat and then distribute throughout the remaining structure.

Even while considering an elevator, a micron 10 technology especially in the case of high rises helps with lower electrical consumption , while assuring higher speeds. Most of the electricity is consumed when the lift starts and stops. But in this case it works on a grouping mechanism which is programmed in such a way that it makes way for greater creative use of the elevator placement and improved traffic handling capabilities which helps reduce waiting time between elevators.

The bus bar technology helps electrifying the building with laser cables exiting the meter room but with greater current carrying capacity, saving cost as well as the wastage of excess power.

Sensors are placed especially in public areas like gardens and passages to reduce and economize the consumption of electricity. LED lighting is the choice of the hour with its longevity as well as energy saving feature due to production of negligible amount of heat which in turn helps control electrical bills especially due to air-conditioning.

All of these are just some of the features which are being considered not just for an aesthetic appeal but also for a healthy living and safe environment.

As more and more people become aware of the

challenges ahead, efforts have been made by various organizations to popularize ‘green construction practices”. BIM (Building Information Modeling) and its application on projects from the start to ensure quality design towards sustainability. Furthermore owners are also showing strong commitment to deliver advanced design with increased budgets.

About the author - Ar. Reza Kabul One of the foremost talents in the realm of Indian architecture, Ar. Reza Kabul’s foray into the industry was quite by accident. A random experience of viewing books on architecture proved catalyst enough for a switch from engineering to architecture. After proving his abilities as an associate for three years, he set up ARK in 1988. Mr. Kabul’s exemplary efforts has imparted a reputed identity for ARK, Nationally across India and Internationally in countries like, Mauritius, UAE, Africa, Sudan, Russia & Bhutan.

He has envisioned and successfully executed a string of path breaking projects centered on the design philosophy of ‘liberating spaces’. ARK has handled projects for virtually all the leading names in Indian real estate and continues to enjoy the trust and appreciation of the industry with projects that continue to set pioneering benchmarks in architectural design. Today it has proudly set up offices in Pune and San Francisco turning another global leaf in his already existing designs world over.

Optimizing energy efficiency through Building Envelope and Radiant Cooling About the author - Ashish Rakheja The Regional Managing Director, Building Engineering, India, AECOM. He completed a Mechanical Engineering degree from REC Allahabad followed by M.Tech in Thermal Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi. He is a seasoned consulting engineer with vast design experience in all types of projects including IT Campus, Hotels, Hospitals, Industrial, Institutional, Commercial and Airport buildings.Mr. Rakheja heads a team of engineers and has worked on projects all over India including design, liaisons with client and assistance in project management on behalf of clients. He is also involved in training budding Architects in the field of Building Services as a visiting faculty at the School of Planning & Architecture (SPA) and Vastu Kala Academy, New Delhi for the last several years.

Today, a wide range of fenestration products are available suited to the individual specifications of a project. Efforts are being made to improve the energy efficiency and performance of a building resulting in increased productivity and lower costs. One can optimize building energy use by appropriate use of daylight, glazing and shading mechanisms as well as natural ventilation. Additionally, radiant heating and cooling systems can also be useful to effectively control the surface temperature.

due to release of heat from heat sources like lights, equipments and occupants, in a conditioned space, while external loads are due to heat gain in a conditioned space from external sources like building envelope and infiltration of outdoor air.

The concepts of radiant heating and cooling have been in practice for many years and was used as early as 2000 years ago by the Romans for floor radiant heating and thermal mass heat storage.

Streamof water was run through channels in walls and floors to cool palaces in the warm summers in Turkey.

Total heat gain through envelope is due to conduction gains from roof, wall and windows and solar gains from window glass.

Generally, recommended WWR (Window to Wall Ratio) in buildings is 40%. However, today due to aesthetical reasons, the WWR can even go up to 75% making glass a crucial element of the building envelope. Hence glass should be appropriately selected to reduce HVAC loads.

Radiant cooling is a temperature conditioning system and unlike the Conventional air conditioning units which control air temperature, Radiant energy travels through space cooling the objects rather than the air.

70%-80% of the heat received from the glass is converted to radiation. Radiation heat results in higher radiant temperature of various surfaces in the space. Radiant cooling helps to reduce this increase in radiant temperature. A conventional HVAC system can do the same, however the energy required is much more as compared to radiant cooling.Radiant systems are suited for all types of commercial buildings- hospitals, schools, airports, hotels, etc and are not limited to new buildings, but can be incorporated in already existing buildings as well. They are also not limited to specific geographic or climatic conditions and have a universal applicability. This system is also energy efficient as less energy is required to circulate water than air.

In a typical building, lighting, equipments and HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning) are the primary consumers of energy with HVAC being the largest consumer.

HVAC load can be classified into two fundamental categories: Internal and external. Internal loads are

The building envelope is the interface between the interior of the building and the outdoor environment, including the walls, roof, and glass. Building envelope is one of the major contributors of heat gain in a building; hence, for reduction of HVAC loads, it is crucial to optimize the envelope.

By focusing on the building envelope to effectively reduce the outdoor climate fluctuations, and then finding the most energy efficient methods of transporting heating and cooling energy around a building is the key to energy efficiency.

A great example of a building where radiant cooling system has been used efficiently is the Software Development Building 1 (SDB-1) , in the Infosys Pocharam campus in Hyderabad . The building is split into two symmetric halves, with one half cooled by conventional air conditioning, and the other half by radiant cooling. The area, number of occupants, orientation, envelope

and lighting – are similar in both halves and therefore the building is ideally suited for comparing two different technologies. The building windows are fitted with a high performance glass in double glazed glass unit, enabling to reduce the solar heat gain to 1w/sqft. Furthermore the quantity of air required in the radiant cooling side of the building is 1/5th of the conventional side, as cooling is done through alternative means such as concrete slabs.

The building windows are split into upper and lower panes to let in the natural light and provide outside view. They are further fitted with louvers and fins to provide glare free atmosphere during working hours.

In today’s time and age where resources are limited, we need to find such alternative solutions to increase building performance and make optimal use of the available resources.

Witness the best of HVAC and fenestration technologies and experience how the right combination of the two can affect the whole performance of the building envelope. Visit ACREX India 2014 and fensterbau/frontale india 2014.

Facade and Fenestration News for India

Solid Wood Windows - That Warm Natural Feeling

Everybody Loves Wood. Most architects, designers and consumers worldwide will agree with this statement. Besides providing a premium aesthetic, wooden windows also provide several performance benefits. Being a strong material, extra-large sizes of sashes are made possible with wood, which are not otherwise feasible with some of the other materials used for making windows. Energy efficiency and security are two other advantages which are critical in Indian tropical conditions, given that many parts of India experience extreme outdoor temperatures with indoor temperatures being controlled by heavy air-conditioning. An efficient window will therefore provide significant savings on air-conditioning costs. A well-designed wooden window can accommodate a much thicker glass, allowing for a combination of insulation along with security.

Traditionally in India, windows and doors were almost always made of Teak wood due to Teak’s durability, termite resistance, strength and long life. But people gradually moved away from wood due to several disadvantages associated with wood.

Old, seasoned hardwoods like Teak are getting increasingly scarce. Currently, the Teak available in India is mostly sourced from plantation forests and harvested at a young age of 18-20 years rather than 75-80 years that has historically been the norm.

This leads to a host of common problems such as swelling and shrinkage (which causes jamming of doors and windows during monsoon), premature degradation, warping, cracks, fissures etc. In addition, at the current rate of deforestation, tropical hardwood forests will be extinct within the next 30 years. As a result, consumers and designers have moved to other materials like aluminium, plastic etc. with wood finish.

Besides sourcing of quality timber, consumers and architects in India also face issues with good quality workmanship, efficient profile and wastage of wood when windows are made at site, quality of polishes and life of coatings etc.

However, modern technology provides sustainable solutions to meet the increasing demand for wood.

Thermal and Sound Insulation: Timber windows can provide excellent thermal and sound insulation. Leakages of air and sound can occur from a window in 4 ways: 1. through the material of the window: Wood being a natural insulator, it does not allow any thermal or sound energy to pass through.

2. From the glass: Value added glasses that provide excellent thermal and sound insulation are now available. However, they tend to get thicker for higher insulation levels and therefore the window shutter may not be able to accommodate such a thick glass, particularly if the window shutter is very large. Wood being a stronger material, it can accommodate a much thicker glass as compared to other materials. In addition, there is also some scope for leakage through the gap between the glass and the sash members, which needs to be secured with glazing gaskets.

3. Between the sash and Frame: When a shutter closes, it may not be in contact with the frame completely and may allow some air to leak through.

This is particularly critical with carpenter made windows as the sash and frame members may not be exactly straight, not allowing the sash to be in

perfect compression with the frame.

Modern techniques of thermal and sound insulation require excellent workmanship, which with wood is possible only with sophisticated machines.

Modern designs include 2 gaskets that seal the gap between the sash and frame and provide double sealing. These gaskets are maintained under compression on all sides by multi-point locking systems. Also, the material used to make such windows needs to be strong as if it bends or warps (possible with uPVC or aluminium if the material is weak and with timber if the wood is unstable), it will not be able to seal sufficiently and therefore will allow leakages.

Whilst it is definitely challenging to make extra-large window shutters, it is definitely possible as proved by RitikaaWood on several projects. They have made windows with each shutter of 12’x12’ size), working perfectly in the hot weather of Delhi as well as in very wet conditions of Amby Valley near Lonavala. These windows can be operated with equal ease during summer, Monsoon and winter.

years (including coating life) and a timber warranty of 50 years. This has been made possible by combining modern manufacturing practices with wood modification technologies have made it possible to use faster-growing soft woods and yet obtain performance characteristics at par or superior to hard woods. Accoya, for example sources wood from fast growing, certified well-managed forests and modifies

RitikaaWood is the first and largest Indian company that provides complete window solutions with wood, including product design and engineering, manufacturing and installation on site, all to European standards at Indian prices. RitikaaWood provides Factory Made, Factory Finished European quality windows which come with a product warranty of 5

the wood with acetylation technology to achieve performance characteristics that far exceed that of Teak. That is 100% renewable sustainable supply of high performance timber. Best of all, Accoya timber comes with a performance warranty of 50 years.

4. Between the Frame and the Wall: This gap needs to be sealed with either silicon or foam sealant to prevent leakages.

Extra Large Windows: If you have a very scenic view from your property and do not wish to interrupt it with multiple small sash members, wood can help best. Extra-large size Lift-N-Slide window shutters provide an unobstructed view.

Whilst wood is a strong material and can take the load of extra-large sizes, it is extremely critical, especially for the wood to be perfectly stable. If the wood warps or bends even to a small extent, the window shutters will jam and cease to operate.

Facade and Fenestration News for India

A Portal to Life Not many a times has this subject been broached, becauseas designers we have developed a tendency to ignore and sideline the voids on an elevation that we call ‘windows’. As I sit down to write this piece, I start to wonder and reflect upon every single time I actually looked at and observed a window in detail.

(It would be rather blunt to state the ‘but-obvious’ here regarding the function of external fenestrations. I would prefer to instead share some observations instead)

Back when I was studying, my hostel room had three openings – all floor to ceiling in height, varying only in widths and positioning. Each window allowed a different quality of light to penetrate into the room. Each allowed for a different amount of air to pass and each had a different purpose altogether.

The largest was where I had installed a desert cooler, to be used during the sweltering summers and to allow for the circulation of air and then there

was a smaller slit window at the other end of the room. These windows also allowed for different views of the campus – the larger one looked right outside into the compound overlooking the dining mess (which at some point had been painted to cut the glare) and the smaller ones opened up straight into the greens with the forest reserve serving as their backdrop.From the outside, you would look at these fenestrations as a symphony of punctures in a simple brick and plaster building orchestrating the character of the façade.

Let us take a time leap here.As I sit at my desk right now, I have sunlight warming my feet on a cold winter morning. I wonder what to make of this window that I am gazing at right now. This ‘portal’ is the link between all spaces public and private.

‘This’ is what connects me to the outside world the honking of the cars, the lazing constructions workers, the rumbling trucks down there…

This noise – both visual and audible is a part of our lives now. As we keep exploring ways to disconnect from and reconnect to these very elements that define our everyday living, I am left wondering, if what we really need now is in fact a new window.

But how do you improve upon such a basic building block. How can a window be a window but not be a window at the same time? How do we redefine a fenestration in a manner that it allows it to express itself truly without breaking this connection?

The experiences that I’ve shared until now have been about fenestrations aging from 15-60 years old. A window served very humble purposes back then. Glazing and fenestration systems were neither required to be, nor were this evolved or accessible back then. Not even architects, let alone the general population saw any use of such systems in their designs.

On the other hand, today, it seems that we are a noisier people in general. We’ve become louder both literally and figuratively. At the same time we’ve become more demanding, more resourceful (albeit technologically dependent). A fenestration now, thus must answer to a much larger and complex pool of challenges that come along with our urban lifestyles. Everyone wants the sun, no one wants the heat. Everyone wants the view, no

one wants the noise. Everyone wants the air but no one wants the dust. A window system must, now, address these issues in addition to catering to the aforementioned spatial qualities of a space and the aesthetics of the façade.

The advancements in science and technology have taken unprecedented leaps during the last few years and the humble window has evolved from a lead encased, silver washed, stained glass systemfrom the Medieval times to a much more articulated and complex fiberglass framed system that uses glazing ranging from noise insulated to sun ban to solar powered and all the way up to fire insulating glass!

Today, you can afford the luxury of letting the light in but leaving the stench out. You can, even, let the sun penetrate a room,while on a parallel, capture and harness that energy and transform it into a usable form by generating electricity right at the

window itself. All this without affecting the quality of sunrays echoing across the breath of the rooms

or marring the little bits of green that we all love to rest our eyes upon.

These changes and advancements not only positively affect and aid our lifestyles but they underline a rarely observed and often ignored fact that a window in itself is architecture. ‘This’ is what defines the mass that we call a building –whether from the outside-in, or (even more importantly) from the inside out – in creating that spatial quality about a space which otherwise would be just an empty box.

About author - Apoorv Kaushik

A graduate from the Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh, Apoorv started his career in Los Angeles interning with the Pritzker winning firm Morphosis Architects – while working on the some of the most prestigious projects like the 300m high Phare Tower in Paris and the Shenzhen Tower Competition in China. After his return to India and completion of his studies, he joined Architect Hafeez Contractor in Mumbai and worked on the development of high end residential and educational campuses in Lavasa and Mumbai. Apoorv has now been heading projects at Studio Lotus for over 2.5 years and has been successfully involved in the construction of projects of varying scales and typologies - right from Farmhouses, City Residences, Commercial Developments and Public Buildings to Master Planning. A young and enthused architect, he enjoys penning down his thoughts and maintains a pictorial blog on Pinterest apart from nursing his childhood love for motoring.

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Facade and Fenestration News for India

Solar windows & Lifestyle Lifestyle is way of life or a style of living and these days we can improve our lifestyle with the numerous available gadgets, solutions and resources in and around our homes. One such resource which can improve our life to a huge extent is solar power.

Gone are the days when it was very expensive to harness solar power and lot of space was required on your roof or garden for the whole process. Solar control window film has been around for years but these days you can easily enhance the façade

is natural lighting. Solar Luminance requires ZERO artificial lighting during daylight hours, yet, can be fitted with LED, CFL, Induction Lighting, Fibre Optic, and Incandescent Lamping for day and/or night use, to meet all of your lighting needs and requirements.

Solar power has seen massive development in recent years and is becoming more and more cost effective, but using solar power is not only about from the monetary point of view, but also about doing the right thing for the environment.

For comfortable and quiet living, home owners should invest in UPVC double glazed windows and then you no longer have to worry about noise and dust outside your home.

of your house with solar control window film, because recent innovations and price reduction has delivered films that are more useful for the house owners and developers. Current solar films can block out about 55% of the sun’s heat and about 99% of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation.

Developers these days are focussing on investing in green technologies which will improve lifestyle of the home owners and also save the environment, because every little effort counts.

In current years Indian developers are starting to focus on additional saving options for their buildings so that buyers will gain.

By investing in such technologies, one can save a lot. For example electricity consumption will reduce as building will gain power from the foils on windows. Additionally one can also charge phones and other gadgets directly from window frame and I guarantee you that it will be best possible gadget in your house.

A step further from solar window foil is solar doors and solar panels on the roof. All these little details can really improve your lifestyle and of course as an addition to this cost effective saving option, you can upgrade your lighting system to LED technology from companies like Spettro Luminaries and I guarantee you that it will not just affect your lifestyle, but also your bills will reduce very drastically.

Another great gadget, this time for your bungalow

We at D.Construct Projects Management are currently designing few eco-friendly projects around the world such as schools around African continent. One such project is where we have planned that each school complex will be totally sustainable and will even be able to sell electricity to the local grid. Also we are working on a massive eco-friendly resort in United States which will not just be a resort, but also provide an eco-education curriculum about green technologies.

The world is accepting more eco friendly technologies and that is great news for our planet. Hopefully in near future every new construction will be equipped with some eco-friendly gadget/ solution.

About author- Lenny Schutz

Hybrid at its Best: Now in India

Rhenocoll launches Rhenometal AC.1

Senior Building Systems India. brings in hybrid technology from UK

Every year we always eagerly look forward to participating at fensterbau/frontale india . This year we will be present in New Delhi from 27th February to the 1st of March 2014.

Now you can have both with our innovative high insulation composite Hybrid Systems.

Aluminium on the exterior for durability and low maintenance, wood on the interior for a natural look and feel. The perfect blend of practicality and aesthetics across a full range of windows, doors and curtain walling, provide a sustainable solution for today’s modern buildings.

Sustainable: Made from 100% recyclable aluminium and a choice of responsibly sourced engineered spruce or oak gives the façade a long lasting performance guarantee with benefits of low U values.

Stunning: Hybrid Systems have been used to stunning effect, winning the prestigious architectural design innovation award in 2013. UK. Developed in the UK and now assembled in india for the first time, the standard spruce version is available reducing lead times. Ideal for both newbuild and refurbishment projects.

Please visit our website www.seniorarchitectural. co.uk for more information. for any further information in India . Please call: Mr Mukesh Dhiman on. 9820064296

is the director and co-founder at D. Construct project management Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai. After his 10 year versatile global career in advertising, management, sales & marketing and architectural designing skills he has created trend setting landmarks in the space designing and functionality aspects of real estate in India. In addition to being awarded by GE money awards, Lenny also specializes in CAD and 3D conceptual designs thus enjoying his passion for Functionalism and minimalism.

Rhenocoll is a German firm specializing in producing coatings and adhesives for various surfaces.

The firm focuses on purely water based eco-friendly products. The Indian market would be the next step for Rhenocoll. In India, the market potential as regards to water-based paints and lacquers is growing.

Rhenocoll has coatings for various surfaces such as Glass, uPVC, Wood Coatings and Wood Protection Systems.

The latest product from Rhenocoll is “Rhenometal AC.1 one of the few single component water-based coatings for aluminium – which we will present at fensterbau/frontale india in New Delhi. The AC-1 has attracted great interest in the Indian market.

Apart from our other strong product lines for Glass, Wood and uPVC coatings, the Rhenometal AC-1 is the first of its kind for Aluminium water based Coatings. The biggest advantage in using AC-1 are: · Capital Investments are less to coat metals with AC1. · Less hassle to obtain pollution clearance certifications for using AC1 · Extremely easy to use. · Scratch Resistant. · Is available in all the RAL colours as well as Metallic Shades. · 15 Year Warranty against fading ,rust and climatic weather changes.

Rhenocoll, Germany, has taken further steps towards strengthening their presence in the Indian market. Mr. Ranvir Ranjit, our new Country Manager for India, is your first point of contact for any questions regarding our product range. Furthermore, we are in the process of building technical help and support in throughout the country, where Rhenocoll customers can be serviced within a short period of time.

Rhenocoll India Pvt Ltd will be incorporating its presence in the Indian market during the summer of 2014.

Mukesh Dhiman CEO, SBS India

Lennart Johnson MD, SAS- UK

Please visit our stand at the fair – we are looking forward to seeing you at fensterbau/frontale India.

Marc Hermann, Area Sales Manager India / Middle East

INNOVATIVE BUILDING SYSTEMS

innoVAtiVe sYsteMs on A globAl scAle

DESIGNED TO PERFORM ALUMINIUM WINDOW, DOOR AND CURTAIN WALLING SYSTEMS The AluK Group is a global leader in the design and manufacture of a wide range of performance aluminium building systems, combining years of experience in the development of innovative solutions that improve our living and working environments. AluK not only delivers the highest performance products but also the service and project support to facilitate successful specifications and installations.

Our aluminium window, door and curtain walling systems have been specified in some of the world’s most prestigious buildings and offer superior performance alongside outstanding design.

www.aluk.in AluK Building Systems Private Limited Regus Millenia, Level 1, Tower B, No. 1 & 2 Murphy Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore - 560008, India T: +91 80 67654210 | F: +91 80 67654222 | email: info@aluk.in