MAKING BUILDINGS FIRE-SAFE: BEST PRACTICES TO
Experts views on façade fire safety, the codes & regulations, the suitable materials, the right way to design the façade to make it fire-safe
Volume 3 | Issue 6 September - November 2021
Interview with Bruno Santos, Specification Manager – UAE (Oman & Pakistan), Knauf Insulation
Dear Patrons,
I am super delighted to write to all of you this time…
Welcome to our new world 2.0 where in pretty much loads of elements of our daily lives have changed and are ever-evolving from 100% Work @ Office to 100% Work From Home (WFH) to now back to this Hybrid Work from Home and Office Environment. Importance of Life and Value of Life seems to be the element all must have evolved with…
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Yours Truly
Amit Malhotra Founder - WFM and Leader - McCoy Group
Adoption of 3D Design Technologies Improve Designs, Reduce Defects & Minimise Costs
Naji Atallah, Head of Construction and Manufacturing, Autodesk
Future Façade: Blending Art, Performance and Technology
George Arvanitis, Design Director - Dubai, RMJM
Fire-Safe Façade - Requirements and Design V/S Practical Installation
Mohamed Farook, Sr. Engineer (Passive Fire Protection) - Dubai, Locke Carey
Making Buildings Fire-Safe: Best Practices to Follow
Experts’ views on Façade Fire Safety
Industry Speaks
Interview with Bruno Santos, Specification Manager – UAE, Oman & Pakistan, Knauf Insulation
Interview with Mohammed Khatib, Senior Manager, Khatib & Alami
https://edu.wfmmedia.com/
Naji Atallah Head of Construction and Manufacturing Autodesk
About the Author:
Naji Atallah leads the Construction and Manufacturing industries for Autodesk across EMEA Emerging Countries. He focuses on defining the regional vision for the industries, cultivating and sustaining the firm’s relationships with strategic industry leaders and associations as well as enabling regional designers, builders and makers to innovate through the use of technology. He has been in the engineering technology sector for nearly 20 years. Prior to joining Autodesk in 2013, he served as the Middle East Regional Manager for AVEVA Solutions and as a Project Engineering Lead for Petrofac. He holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
The process of BIM supports the creation of intelligent data that can be used throughout the lifecycle of a building or infrastructure project. The benefits of BIM are through connecting teams, workflows, and data across the entire project lifecycle - from design and engineering to construction and operations - to realise better ways of working and better outcomes. BIM allows all players from key building development disciplines - including design, fabrication, manufacturing and installation to optimise the art of façade design, improve profitability and productivity while adhering to complex engineering principles.
Architectural façades, or architectural envelopes are one of the most exciting and innovative concepts in building design, and historically one of the most challenging. Today, BIM has become central to façade design. One of the key changes that has been brought about by BIM to façade design module is the BIM parametric design. By
using parametric design methods BIM can enable computational design tools, automate the process and leverage technologies such as machine learning to develop intelligent solutions. Even though there are different design parameters in a façade design component, it can conduct quick calculations on the different parameters of the façade design model and prioritise projects that are vital. BIM brings the properties of 3D geometric modeling and the capability to analyse performance within it, which has completely revolutionised the façade design process.
BIM parametric design differs from other parametric design owing to the capability of geometric design within it. Today, parametric BIM modeling is used to deliver increasingly complex designs within project timelines and costs. Façades or roofs of large steel structures are a great example of automating the creating of a geometry. Apart from building design, other sectors such as infrastructure construction,
itself. Incorporation of computational design and Artificial Intelligence is another major trend that is revolutionising parametric design.
BIM offer parametric design as one of the methods to create models. In parametric modelling on the other hand, designers embed and inject mathematic formulas, constraints, calculations,
modular construction have started using parametric methods today.
As parametric design continues to evolve, several latest trends have contributed to further advancement of the technology. This includes integration of real time data for material and energy optimisation, production automation, lifecycle analysis of buildings during the design phase
and control functions to derive a geometric model from a series of input data. While parametric functionality is central to BIM the 3D model represents independent datasets of different objects integrated into it unlike parametric design where there is total control of the designer exists in the overall form and smaller details related to the project. To get value out of both the approaches, it is best to integrate both the elements. While the BIM model can be linked to the performance evaluation based on structured information embedded in the 3D model, the creation of the model itself can rely more on parametric design paradigms where design intent and external information can be used to generate models.
Using parametric design to assist creating a BIM model will further facilitate creation of a seamless digital workflow where intelligent data would drive project outcomes over specific tools employed.
Investments in BIM assure long term results via smarter and more efficient construction, benefiting not only the businesses practicing but the whole industry. There is considerable cost savings and time in projects including long term viability. However, some constraints remain that pose a challenge to the adoption of BIM.
BIM is a digital process that requires an investment in technology, processes and people. Looking at a small aspect of the project alone will not show the return on this investment in a short period. In a mindset shift is required for a commitment to technology adoption, manpower modernisation and for building a durable business.
Although, BIM adoption has increased there are still some businesses that have not adopted this approach. This means there might be incompatibilities within the ecosystem creating a barrier to increased adoption of the latest technologies.
Façade design has significantly evolved with the application of BIM based processes. As stated above, the primary benefit is the enabling of
parametric façade design by changing all elements of the façade into functional algorithms. Based on different parameters, façade parametric design performs several calculations and statistical analysis for modeling. In addition, the 3D virtual design in BIM helps in the communication of design data between all project stakeholders. This is done via data visualisation or by generating of multi-views of drawings related to the project. This enhances workflows, project efficiencies and help resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner.
In BIM-based parametric modeling, designs can be automatically updated when parameters of the geometric model are changed. This maintains project accuracy and minimise errors thereby significantly reducing project and cost overruns.
The façade modelling process has significantly benefited by BIM. It has helped to meet the increasing complexity of façade design and fabrication. The switch to 3D models using BIM
instead of 2D drawings facilitates accurate capture and transfer of data, besides limiting data loss. In an environment where there are different façade designs for separate projects or within a project, use of 3D Models can improve building quality and reduce waste. In addition, BIM creates information about fabrication, transportation, installation, and sequence in a façade panel facilitating its virtual assembly. This helps stakeholders in construction planning as they benefit from an overall view of the project.
The whole process thereby makes it possible to create unconventional building structures through the seamless integration of data, insights, automation and virtualisation.
Adding parametric modeling to your engineering process leads to a significant reduction in time spent incorporating design changes, as a single parameter can cascade geometric updates
throughout the model. Unlike direct modeling, designers can create parameters to sketch and dynamically size 3D objects in 3D parametric modeling.
The parametric modeling process allows for intent and relationships to be created between geometric features, which means the shape of your model changes as soon as a dimension value is modified. This refocuses efforts on designing while reducing time spent on manual tasks. With 2D and nonparametric 3D modeling, engineering intent and relationships cannot be built into the model. When design changes are required, significant time is spent manually modifying drawing views and directly editing each geometric feature that must be updated.
The 3D elements and the relationships also help
with the manufacturing of the parts. The information required to make the parts becomes an output of the model. In some instances, this information is used to directly drive the CNC and sometime additive manufacturing machines creating the parts.
As seen above, adoption of 3D design technologies can significantly improve designs, reduce defects and minimise costs. The latest advances in technologies combine data, insights, automation and enhanced workflows to improve project outcomes considerably. The acceleration of digitalisation in the current environment would further strengthen this trend and would facilitate an increased adoption of such technologies. This only bodes well for the architecture and construction industry.
George Arvanitis, Design Director - Dubai, RMJM
About the Author:
George Arvanitis is a design director based in Dubai and joined RMJM in 2020. He has wide experience across a range of sectors including masterplanning, commercial, residential, sports architecture, urban regeneration, transport, cultural buildings and technology. Having graduated from Harvard University, and George gained experience in international practices such as SOM, KPF and in AECOM, where George was an Urban Design Director up until 2013. Subsequently, he led the Urban Design Studio at Arup London delivering award winning international master planning projects primarily in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. George then moved to Dubai in 2017 helping to found the Parsons Urban Design Studio which has focused on projects within the GCC. George has a focused interest in delivering human scaled sustainable developments and environmentally responsible design approach.
At its best, the building envelope is one that should act as a seamless integration of sustainability, technical innovation, and artistic architectural expression. The manner in which a building is conceptualised and articulated in its design establishes to a great degree its overall energy consumption, from the materials used and technologies applied to conditions such as shading relative to sun orientation or its envisioning as a new urban landmark in the city.
From the onset of initial design thinking, the building facade is one that should prioritise the comfort of the people inside the building; we design spaces for people. Further, it is important that its architectural response serves to strengthen its urban setting, accommodates complementary functions and scales of use, integrates nature, and
foster a sustainable regeneration through its use of recyclable materials and energy.
In looking forward, designers need to look forward to renewed ways that unify new aesthetics, performance, and innovative technologies. Also, approaches that will respond to our recently renewed need for socially cohesive ways of healthy living and working, address the challenge of delivering low carbon resource and energy solutions, and alongside this imagine buildings that elevate through collective poetry of design language and architectural a spirit of innovation and delight.
Three projects by RMJM have showcased innovation and progressive technologies to incorporate in their expression new ways of façade innovation and
system thinking. Look forward these buildings have become forerunners of the new next generation of future trends in façade design advancement and design.
As a focal point in the Saint Petersburg skyline, attributed to its projecting pointed design and streamlined curved facade, the Lakhta Tower design has been inspired entirely by the city’s baroque architecture and water-filled canals, while incorporating several innovative efficiency features. The mixed-use tower includes commercial office space as well as retail, leisure, and residential developments, and occupies a unique position on Saint Petersburg’s cityscape. A majority of the tower’s space is occupied by the global energy company, Gazprom, and serves more than 5,000 employees, and roughly 3,000 visitors a day.
Sitting at 462 meters tall, the Lakhta Centre is the tallest building not just in Russia, but in Europe, and serves as the headquarters for global energy giant, Gazprom. Situated on a 330,000m2 ex-sand storage yard, the Lakhta Centre features a park,
social and cultural facilities, offices, and a car park with a 2,000 vehicle capacity.
The prototypical frontage of the Lakhta Centre incorporated the largest volume of glass ever used on a high-rise building with 16,500 curved glass panels installed, and have been fitted with automatic shutters and valves that have been designed to reduce heat loss. Keeping it in line with the theme of water and life, the glass facade through LED technology has been designed to change colour depending on the position of the sun, giving the impression of an animate object.
The tower’s organic ‘spire’ shape symbolises the power of water, while the façade allows the building to change colour depending on the position of the sun, conveys the impression of a living object. The building’s design incorporates several innovative efficiency features, including an ‘intelligent’ glass facade that provides both natural ventilation and thermal insulation, and specially designed microclimate air conditioning.
Beyond the exterior of the Lakhta Centre, it is
more than just a work of art, but a functioning development.
The tower incorporates 90 floors – 87 elevated and three underground – with a total of 34 elevators placed throughout for ease of mobility. Recently, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has awarded the Lakhta Center the Audience Awards 2021 for Best Tall Building 400 meters and above and for Best Tall Building in Europe. The Center has also won the CTBUH Construction Award 2021 and the Category Awards for Façade Engineering.
Located on the exhibition site of the greater ADNEC masterplan in Abu Dhabi, the Capital Gate ‘Feature Tower’ is distinguished by a dramatic steel and glass facade with a prominent organic form. Capturing within its volume the main natural elements of surrounding ecotones – the sea and the desert - these form the main premise of the tower which in its plan form resembles a swirling spiral of sand.
With its cantilevered tea lounge and open-air pool deck, the tower provides a unique presence on the skyline of Abu Dhabi and creates a memorable identity to the exhibition centre. A sculptural sealike cascading stainless steel envelope flows down the front and at a low level forms the hotel entrance canopy, curving over the existing grandstand and acting as a solar shading device for both the building and the grandstand seating.
A free-form internal atrium with a dynamic glass roof brings natural light and space deep into the tower. External lighting is designed to minimise both light pollution and energy consumption, based on a combination of low-level landscape lighting with façade lighting comprising a net of compact LED clusters integrated into the design of the steel glazing system. At over 160m tall, the building stands 35 storeys high and offers over 16,000 sqm of high-quality office space, as well as Abu Dhabi’s first Hyatt hotel, ‘The Hyatt@Capital Centre’.
Further to the building’s organic form, each of the evolution
floor plates has a distinctive shape and dimension. The form of the ascending floorplans transition from a ‘curved three-sided’ to ‘curved four-sided’ throughout the height of the building. To deliver its rounded and slender form, the floor plates are incrementally offset providing a diversity of how the building is perceived from the different orientations.
To deliver the envelope and the organic shape of the tower, the diagrid nodal arrangement of over 12,500 glass panels and over 8,200 steel sections supported the diamond-shaped façade which was over 2 stories high. Bracing the panels against the wind were intermittent supports at each floor level.
Both passive and active sustainability measures were applied, through the low-emissive curtain wall glass and the double-skin façade, along with sun shading, smart and efficient mechanical and energy control systems in combination with a series of other measures in its construction.
The organic and curved form reduces its carbon footprint through its efficient use of steel, glass, and concrete, and through its low irrigation green roof and support through a district cooling system
and other smart building systems reducing the overall energy consumption of the building. Capital Gate tower is the first of its kind of building that has set new benchmarks due to its structural innovation through a pre-cambered core and its diagrid system both externally and internally. Structurally, this building sits on an intensive distribution of 490 piles which were drilled 30 metres underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind, and seismic forces caused by the distinctive lean of the building. The Feature Tower has been an exemplary example of RMJM’s design and supporting engineering capabilities. In January 2010 Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi was recognised as the world’s furthest leaning manmade tower by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The City Palace Tower addition to ‘Moscow-City‘, a major initiative by the Russian capital to create a central business district on a former industrial zone, three miles from the Kremlin. The sensual, organic form of the building, which was designed by RMJM in collaboration with Scottish artist Karen Forbes, mixes passion and drama with a conventional square footprint ideal for offices and other commercial uses.
The twisting tower provides approximately 85,000 m2 of retail and leisure facilities and 85,000 m2 of offices and public functions, including a registry office – indeed the inclusion of the registry office for civil marriages inspired the architect-artist team for the conceptual form of the building. The spiraling 246-meter Evolution Tower is located in the Moscow-City high-rise business district on the Presnenskaya Embankment along the Moscow River.
The new multi-function center occupies a 2.5-hectare area, 80% of which is a landscaped terraced civic plaza. The plaza is an integral part of the development, forming its central open public space. It includes a 10-meter-high ceremonial staircase, leading from the embankment and the pedestrian Bagration Bridge over the Moscow River to the higher terraced levels, as well as landscaped areas with green lawns, trees, water features, travelators, and feature lightboxes.
With new methods of utilizing computational design to help streamline along with Artificial Intelligence, Generative Design can use to adhere to certain design principles and parameters to produce a number of design options along with robotic technology. The RMJM office in Dubai has collaborated with Digital Blue Foam (https://www. digitalbluefoam.com/), a start-up company cofounded by Sanjay Vijay Patel a recent professor at the Dubai Institute of Design Innovation and MIT graduate. It was founded on the principles of “fast &informed designed”, the notion that architects need to move past intuition and leverage science and method to drive the best project outcomes.
Today Digital Blue Foam is part of a growing movement seeking to digitize the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry to drive greater sustainability, higher design quality, and livability.
As a challenging, multi-layered architectural system, digital façade construction is changing the way in which buildings will be delivered in the
future. In Dubai for example, the government and municipality are looking to create Dubai as a hub for 3D printing and as a global center aiming to deliver 25 percent of all future buildings. There are guidelines that have been established with plans for a first skyscraper in the imminent future.
For other buildings such as those by Arachne which seeks to redefine through 3d printed components digital fabrication. Enabling such fabrication systems has changed the way we correspond, how we connect, how we inhabit life and work and has influenced the manner in which we can re-envision architectural form.
Leave the building healthier than when you arrived…
Following the recent pandemic wellbeing is a growing trend. Imagine at the end of the workday that one will feel more energized, relaxed healthy than when they arrived at the workplace. The physical environment of the building all the way from
the quality of indoor air quality (removing pollutants such as CO2 and Volatile Organic Compounds (emitted by carpets, paint, furnishings), to natural light, nature, and sense of space, all the way to the variety of workspaces to a choice of amenities such as meditation rooms, healthy cafes and prayer rooms.
New buildings will need to incorporate better acoustics and lighting, understand how humidity, temperature, furniture, finishes such as carpeting, and even dust particles can impact employee health — and even beyond health, performance. Improved workplace quality leads to improved health and productivity.
Going forward as we blend working and living within our new vertical cities, as our workplaces have evolved, we have re-imagined and design our workplaces to be easily accessible, healthier, and support our future wellbeing.
About the Author:
Mohamed Farook, Sr. Engineer-Passive Fire Protection - Dubai, Locke Carey
Mohamed Farook is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate with Additional Diploma in Fire & Safety Engineering. He Accomplished his Masters in Project Management. Farook is Civil Defense Accredited Engineer for Passive Fire Protection systems evaluation and inspection. He is a member of National Fire Protection Association. He has over 11 years of experience with expertise in passive fire protection systems and external façade evaluations and inspections. He is proficient with codes and testing standards handling Numerous High rise and Iconic projects.
Façades during olden days was only an architectural building cover. Those beautiful architectural building covers became the eye-catcher in the course of any fire incident. Those façade elements had such chemical characteristics which contributed severely to the high Intense and fast propagating external fire. Such characteristics of those façade elements created a necessity for designing the fire-safe façade.
Façades, nowadays are designed considering the importance of limiting the external fire propagation. Passive firestop systems are intermingled with façade designs to achieve the minimal fire spread. Materials specified to be used on the external façade is being carefully chosen considering their fire performance characteristics.
Fire tests according to various standards are adopted for testing the materials to find out its characteristics such as ‘Reaction to Fire’ and ‘Resistance to fire’. The development and Introduction of new Fire-safe products in the market that are suitable for external envelope supports the designers in achieving fire-safe façade without compromising the architectural magnificence of the building. These products feed the architect’s/ consultant’s/engineer’s brains in supporting the development of more unique shaped façades without compromising fire safety. These products are tested according to various fire tests and classified based on various standards.
Façade elements are tested individually as products to verify their fire performance characteristics. Also the intended façade elements are tested as an assembly to verify the fire propagation. Every country adopts various standards or has its own regulations and test standards for façades. There are various tests available for verification and classification of façade systems, ranging from small scale tests to full-scale tests depending on the nature of the product and location of use in the façade. The authority having jurisdiction in every country such as civil defense and/or fire and rescue services department frames and authorises the acceptable standards and tests for respective façade elements and assembly.
For the understanding of the non-fire professionals, the ‘Fire rating’ and ‘Fire retardance’ can be explained as below:
• A ‘Fire-rated’’ also known as ‘Fire Resistance Rated’’ product will have the ability to completely resist the fire for some period of time.
• Whereas a ‘Fire Retardant’ product will only have the tendency to slow down or stop the spread of fire or to reduce the intensity of the fire.
A fire-safe façade doesn’t mean usage of FireRated products. In the event of a fire, an enormous amount of smoke and energy is generated and there must be an escape for this energy and smoke to get released if the smoke management system is absent/failed/inadequate. Else, this energy and smoke will get pressurised which creates the threat of blasting. Also, this high-pressure energy and smoke will strongly affect the firefighting team trying to enter the building for rescue.
Hence, a fire-safe façade requires only fireretardant products.
The adverse effects that were felt on recent fires pushed the engineering community to design firesafe façades whereas the practical installation of the designed façade at project sites is still under the improvisation stage. The message of fire safety in façade installation must be conveyed more loudly to the installation community for achieving more quality and fire-safe installations in order to accomplish an intended fire-safe façade. Installation society is still found to be using some combustible elements on the façade designed with fire-safe intention. Some examples are, using combustible wood or PVC packings, combustible backer rods, combustible gaskets, and sealants, etc. This definitely makes the installation noncompliant with the tested design.
If these items are expected to be used as part of the installation then, those must be tested as
full scale assembly. The passive fire stop systems such as perimeter firestop and cavity fire and smoke barriers were introduced into the façade design so that, more efficient fire safety can be achieved on façades. But, poor installation of such
firestop systems does not give expected effective results in the event of a fire. These non-compliant installations are probably due to lack of budget or lack of training or lack of knowledge or due to lack of time.
Hundreds of technicians and labours will be involved in façade installation on every project. Lack of knowledge and skill is the primary reason for poor-quality installations. Technicians and labours of Installation contractors should be educated about the importance of fire safety on their installations, and they should be trained for installations complying with tested assembly.
The un-planned fast track projects also experience poor quality installations due to lack of time. Hence, planning the project time frame
and providing a sufficient time frame will enhance the quality of installation. Lack of budget also plays an important role in the selection of nontested combustible products by contractors for installation. Hence, considering the budget for fire-tested products is an important requirement to achieve fire-safe and quality installations. Paying attention to these lacking areas and involving fire consultants from the design stage will be the remedy for improvising the quality. Also, engaging the fire consultants for inspection during the construction stage will eventually deliver an effective fire-safe façade.
In any building, fire safety is of the utmost significance. Fire safety should always be taken seriously, and there are many of simple techniques to minimise the risk of a fire. The design stage is where fire safety for façades begins. The architect, in collaboration with the other technical disciplines, should guarantee that the design aesthetic intent is met while maintaining the requisite technical performance.
The usage of fire-safe products and technology is critical. Extensive research and testing are frequently used to develop these items and technologies. Each component of the façade system should be tested for fire resistance.
In this cover story, the views and suggestions of subject-matter experts are presented. We tried to get their opinions on façade fire safety, the codes & regulations, the suitable materials, the right way to design the façade to make it fire-safe, and so on.
There are a number of reasons why fires start in buildings, i.e. shortage in electrical circuits, gas (barbecue), smoking, and hot-work, says StefanGerald Renner, Regional Manager, SVT Middle East FZE. The most common in the Middle East is the human factor: ether accidentally, or poor craftsmanship, or caused by ignoring certain standards regarding fire safety. Fire security measurements are mostly victims of the so called “Value Engineering”, what has in this area of the world a different meaning. It is important to understand that this is the wrong place to save money, we talk here about human life, and in the unexpected event of fire it will get even more expensive. We should actually invest more in fire protection rather than cutting costs.
He adds, experience shows that fire outbreak can be expected at any time. The fact that fire has not occurred in many buildings for decades does not prove that there is no danger. It is only a stroke of luck, whose end may arrive by any chance. That means that a fire outbreak can happen anywhere and anytime, but then the building must be prepared to stop the spread of fire. The most important risk reducing method is correctly built and sealed compartment walls, correctly fitted fire doors, correctly sealed pipes, cables and ducts, correctly sealed floor slabs, and the use of correctly façade materials and compartmentation of the façade. Summed in other words - passive fire protection.
According to Raja Sajad Hussain, Managing Partner - Principal Consultant Fire and Life Safety, SHE Fire Safety Consultancy, cigarette butts, ill-maintained or faulty air conditioners, poor electrical connections and extensions and fake electrical appliances are the leading causes of fire accidents. Fire incidents in commercial and industrial establishments are also caused by improper storing of goods and inflammable materials.
Carelessly discarding cigarette butts should be avoided. One should choose and install good quality electrical connections and avoid using substandard extensions. Loading them with energy higher than their capacity can also trigger blaze. With the advent of winter when residents use water
heaters in bathrooms, explosions and fire accidents increase. To avoid any mishap residents must not put on the water heaters for long hours.
Anam Asad, Senior Associate - Fire Engineering, Design Confidence Consultancy - Dubai believes that the common causes of fires in the region include cooking equipment, electrical, smoking, and candles. Cooking unattended in the kitchen is considered to be the most common of all in homes and apartments. Electrical fires are also very common and have increased with the use of electrical equipment. Within the USA alone, 10% of the reported home structure fire between 2014 and 2018 are linked with an electricity-related fire hazard. Lighted cigars, cigarettes, and other smoking materials can start fires if disposed of improperly. These are also responsible for almost 9% of the reported office fires. The common causes of façade or cladding fire are generally a fire from external ignition sources such as improperly disposed of garbage, burning charcoal, cigarettes, etc. Other sources include the welding sparks from maintenance works near the combustible cladding or sheesha coal left in the balcony.
The fire risks can be reduced by implementing a combination of measures including engineering controls such as adopting fire safe designs, adopting fire-safe materials, and adopting fire safe installation, administrative controls such as controlling the ignition sources in and around the building.
The two most common causes of fires in the Middle East are faulty wiring leading to electrical short circuits and carelessly discarding cigarette butts, opines Padmanabhan Kaushik, Senior Fire Consultant, Vortex Fire. A fire source coupled with improper fire safety design in a building could lead to a major fire accident. To reduce fire risk, it is imperative that the building design complies with the statutory and regulatory requirements. Once constructed, the building management or operator shall implement a comprehensive emergency response plan with a pyramid of trainings, drills and exercises that are needed to educate all the occupants about their roles and responsibilities. Further, during the lifetime of the building, it is
important to carry out fire safety audit at regular intervals to ensure that fire risk is kept as low as reasonably practicable.
Stefan opines that a correctly designed passive fire protection concept will stop the spread of a fire by creating fire-resistive compartments/sections within the building. Which allows residents to escape the building, keep the fire outbreak limited to a certain area, and allow fire departments to arrive and extinguish the fire without major obstacles. Howsoever, the role of façades in fire has been unclear, and that globally. Following Grenfell London fire, what caused dramatic and unnecessary fatalities, a clear-cut role has emerged: Façades must also protect occupants by preventing fire spread to the interior of buildings, therefore a compartmentation of façades is a design key.
Raja opines that the buildings need to be designed to offer an acceptable level of fire safety and minimise the risks. Fire safety design can help to reduce fire spread and contain smoke and property damage. It also means safer buildings for all end users. The fire safety strategy forms an integral part of the design and must be integrated from the point at which a building project is identified.
The main design options to ensure fire safety are:
• Prevention: Controlling ignition and fuel sources so that fires do not start.
• Communications: If ignition occurs, ensuring active fire systems are triggered and occupants are informed immediately.
• Containment: Ensuring fire is contained to the smallest possible area.
• E xtinguishment: Ensuring that fire can be extinguished quickly.
• Escape: Ensuring that occupants of building are able to move to safer places.
- Raja Sajad Hussain, Managing PartnerPrincipal Consultant Fire and Life Safety, SHE Fire Safety Consultancy
Anam opines that a fire-safe building highly relies on a fire-safe design and adopting the right design systems to meet the fire safety goals and objectives. A fire-safe design can help improve the safety from fire for the occupants immediate the fire, save the occupants who are away from the
fire, reduce structure, and limits smoke damages to a smaller portion of the building. All of these design measures greatly help towards achieving the fire safety goals and objectives of the code/ owner/ operator. The design measures include both active and passive measures to prevent, suppress, and control the fire into a fire area thereby allowing the occupants to evacuate to point of safety in a safe manner. The measures including adopting a sprinkler suppression system, automatic smoke ventilation, cavity barriers, limited combustible materials, etc.
Kaushik urges that the fire safety must form an integral part of the building design right from the planning stages. All project stakeholders are responsible for fire safety of a building. All parties must actively collaborate from the planning stage up to the building handover to ensure a fire safe environment is provided to the building occupants. History has shown that improper fire safety design could lead to fatalities during a fire and extremely expensive for the owners to rectify the design and get the building back in operation.
Here we have also to consider a correct design and the use of the right materials/systems to prevent the escalation of fire spread. The fenestration has to bear two functions: a) design, and b) performance. Sometimes these two functions don’t go hand in hand, and this is when consultants have to decide what is more important, says Stefan.
Raja believes that fenestration is an integral part of façade design and refers to openings, such as windows, doors and skylights in the building envelope. It plays an important role in assuring the fire safety of a building. Fires can originate internally and spread to exterior façade through openings on the exterior walls such as doors, windows, shattered glazing because of flashover.
Anam opines that fenestration plays an important role in the overall aesthetics or the performance and hence a fire-safe design of fenestration is highly important towards achieving the fire safety objects of the buildings. Fenestrations are the arrangement and design of the windows, doors, skylights, and
Courtesy: ArchDaily
other glazed elements of the buildings. There are multiple fenestrations design options and product options available in the market. Based on the fire strategy of the project, the selection and installation of the correct option can greatly help in reducing the external fire spread from one building to another and or within different levels of the building.
Kaushik says, fenestrations or window and door openings on façade play a significant role in the fire safety of building and its façade. Fenestrations provide a pathway to the flames to the exterior walls and cavities. Installing cavity fire barriers around the openings can restrict the flame and smoke spread from building interior to the cavity space.
Stefan says, passive fire protection should stop the spread of fire and keep the impact limited to a certain area. Active - like fire sprinkler - is to suppress and to extinguish fire. Unfortunately, sprinklers require annual service and maintenance, and statistics show that this is a common cause to failure. Other active installations are fire alarm systems which warns residents and allowing them to escape. There is nothing worse than an escape route under fire and smoke. Even clearly signed and easy to access portable fire extinguisher could already help to stop a major outbreak.
According to Raja, passive fire protection and
active fire protection perform fundamentally different tasks that are equally important. Passive fire protection refers to fire resistance measures which are all about preventing the spread of flame and resisting ignition in the first place and requires no action to work. This resistance is generally structural and designed to compartmentalise building and isolate a flame by using fire resistance walls and floors. Examples of passive fire protection are fire doors, fire walls, fire floors, dampers, fire proofing sprays and paints.
He adds, active fire protection on the other hand takes action in order to put out a fire. Active fire protection refers to systems that involve a triggered response to a fire. Active systems are initiated by the flame or smoke and the response may be manual like using a hand operated fire extinguisher or automatic like a sprinkler system or gaseous fire suppression system. Examples of active fire protection systems are fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire blankets, sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, etc.
Both active and passive fire protection measures are required in combination within the building to achieve the objectives of fire spread, says Anam. Passive fire protection divides the buildings into fire compartments both vertically and horizontally which helps to limit the fire to the given compartment for a certain duration. This approach provides enough time for the building occupants to evacuate safely and for the firefighters to control and extinguish
the fire. Whereas active fire suppression systems focus on suppressing the fire or extinguishing the fires. The active fire protection systems can be manual or automatic. The system generally includes detection, suppression, and ventilation.
Kaushik describes, active fire protection systems help in detecting and suppressing a fire; whereas passive fire protection systems help in containing the fire spread within the building. Some examples of active fire protection systems are fire detection & alarm system, fire sprinkler system, standpipes, etc. Examples of passive fire protection systems include compartmentation, fire doors, fire stopping, etc. When designed correctly, the two systems work together to alert occupants of the building and contain the fire so that the occupants can evacuate quickly and safely.
Stefan explains, one can easily differentiate the reaction between combustible and incombustible materials. Whereby you have also to distinguish the incombustible materials between low-flammable and non-flammable. For the resistance must we also consider the ability to prevent a significant temperature rise between exposed and unexposed sides in a fully developed fire situation. Whilst the reaction to fire is critical in the early stages of a fire outbreak, the resistance to fire become critical the longer the fire rages.
One of the problems here is that combustible materials are cheaper than flame-resistant materials, what allures many clients to agree on “value engineering”, and that is clearly the wrong approach to this subject.
According to Anam, a fire-safe cladding system shall consider fire properties of the material being used and their key reaction to fire like ignitability, combustibility, flame spread, and reactions of droplets and smoke. Also, the importance of fire-resistant materials, so that a façade must not propagate fire, it must not let the fire or heat travel from one area to another and it should not disintegrate in the presence of fire for a reasonable amount of time
Raja and Anam explains that the European classification standard EN 13501-1 ranks construction materials in 7 classes with regard to their reaction-to-fire behaviour: A1, A2, B, C, D, E and F. To understand this classification, it is important to consider the generalised sudden combustion or flashover, which is the moment when combustible materials that were not involved in the original fire begin to burn.
• Class A1 & A2 includes products that do not contribute to the development of a fire
• Class B includes products that have very little contribution to fire
• Class C includes products that have limited contribution to fire
• Class D includes products that have a contribution to fire
• Class E includes products that have a contribution to fire and are only able to resist ignition by a small flame for a short period.
• Class F is for products that have shown no performance criteria.
They further explain that besides this reaction-tofire classification, the classification system will also rate smoke (class s1 to s3)
• S1. Low opacity and smoke production
• S2. Medium opacity and smoke production
• S3. High opacity and smoke production
And dripping (class d0 to d2)
• D0. Produces drops or particles
• D1. Produces drops and/or non-inflamed particles
• D2. Produces drops and/or inflamed particles
Anam defines fire resistance as the ability of the material to sustain the impact of an external flame within the performance criteria up to a certain duration. The classification is below:
• R: Suppor ting Capacity of the constructive element to resist mechanically, without losing its structural properties.
• E: Integrity of the construction element to prevent the passage of fire and hot gases into an area not affected by the fire.
• I: Isolation of the constructive element to
prevent the temperature increase in the face not directly exposed to the fire.
Kaushik delineates, reaction to fire and fire resistance are two key aspects to fire testing that get misinterpreted commonly. Reaction to fire tests are conducted to evaluate how a material will contribute to fire growth. Materials and systems are classified into different classes such as Class A1, A2, B, C, D and so on depending on their performance. Resistance to fire tests are conducted to evaluate the ability of a material or system to resist the passage of fire, smoke and temperature from one side to the other. The classification usually contains a number such as 15, 30, 60, 90, etc which denote the time in minutes up to which the parameters were met.
In a building, the fire compartmentation walls, floors, fire stopping systems, fire doors etc. are required to be fire resistant for a period as defined by the building design. Materials such as interior finishes, floor covering, façade systems, etc are required to meet certain reaction to fire classification.
Stefan says, the worst case is for example a small impact like an undiscovered electric shortage inside a household device, then the furnishing catches fire, windows start bursting and the flames reaches the façade. From there, the fire spreads vertically from floor to floor. Inside the building the fire sneaks through cable-, ducts- and pipe
penetrations in walls and floors to other units like apartments, offices, escape routes and staircases. When fire breaks out, then it should stay inside a certain area and mustn´t spread in the whole building and to the external façade. You can protect human live with simple measures like proper passive fire protection, active fire-fighting systems and operational fire protection arrangement.
The intersection of the exterior wall and the floor assembly provides a number of different paths that may allow a fire to spread. Each of these paths is addressed by different test standards, elucidates Raja. Various international codes and standards establish different requirements for each potential path and addresses the means to protect the paths and to prevent the spread of fire.
With ineffective curtain wall and perimeter void fire protection, fire can spread through the space between floors and walls, through the window head transom and the cavity of the curtain wall, or through broken glass or melted spandrel panels.
Conceptually, the easiest way to look at the three paths for the fire to spread to adjacent floor levels at the exterior wall are:
• Through the void spaces created between the edge of the floor and an exterior curtain wall - these are protected by perimeter fire barrier systems
• Via the voids or cavities within the exterior curtain wall, with fire spreading by a path within the concealed space of the exterior wall,
Cavity barrier test rig
or along the outer surface of the exterior wall - these are protected by assemblies compliant with NFPA 285,
• By leapfrogging (i.e. spreading to the exterior and then impinging on an opening in an upper level) - this mechanism is currently addressed prescriptively.
Anam believes that multiple fire scenarios within the build can propagate to an external façade fire. These primary fire sources can include a fire in the apartment, a fire in the balcony, a fire in the kitchen, any attended grills in the balcony, etc. As illustrated in the below exhibit, an uncontrolled primary fire can propagate to an external fire engulfing the cladding materials which rises vertically and also horizontally to another floor creating secondary fires. The secondary fires can be on the lower floor as well due to falling flaming droplets and debris.
He adds, numerous fire protection and prevention measures can be opted to reduce the flame spread vertically and horizontally. One of the
most important protection measures is to have a sprinkler system within a building to suppress the primary fire. This helps in reducing the peak heat release rate of fires and thereby reducing the flame intensity and damage to the interior and exterior of the building. Other measures such as selecting noncombustible or limited combustible materials with an acceptable level of fire resistance and reaction to fire properties, installation of cavity barriers, and installation of spandrels.
Kaushik notes, fires that originate internally could spread to the exterior via the openings in the external façade such as windows and doors. A flashover could also lead to fire spread to exterior. A properly designed fire sprinkler system should normally be able to suppress a fire and prevent flashover. The other fire safety feature that could prevent fire spread from one floor to another externally (in other words “leap frog effect”) is to incorporate a horizontal or vertical fire resistance rated spandrel arrangement in the façade design. Having a façade built-up of non-combustible
materials is another way to prevent external fire spread; however, this is not always possible as non-combustible materials may not provide the appearance that the developers expect.
Stefan believes that the most important object is to prevent the spread of fire. If there are openings for passage of flames and hot gases, the fire may spread very rapidly. Fire barrier systems are very important design components for the compartmentation of the façade. In case of a ventilated cladding systems, the barrier has to withstand a sudden and direct flame exposure, that means that the fire protection
measurement must work within a few seconds, and regretfully a lot of existing systems needs too long to react. In addition to this must the fire barrier also withstand the impact for a certain time. The best fire barrier system will not work when only one part of the system is combustible i.e. cladding panels, joint sealants or the thermal insulation.
Raja opines that the perimeter fire barrier systems are an important part of effective fire-resistance and smoke-resistant compartmentation systems. It is a building construction detail installed to protect against the passage of fire, hot gases, and toxic smoke through the voids between the floor slab edge and a curtain wall. Perimeter fire
barrier systems must be designed and tested not only to verify that it functions properly but also to resist interior propagation of fire through the gap between floor and exterior wall for a period equal to the floor’s fire-resistance rating. Real fire experience has shown when there is ineffective curtain wall and perimeter void protection, a fire can spread through the space between floors and walls.
While proper design and testing of perimeter fire barrier joints is critical, poor installation and maintenance can lead to unacceptable real-world performance in fires.
The perimeter fire barrier system is a unique building construction detail installed to protect against the passage of fire, hot gases, and toxic smoke through the voids between the floor slab edge and a nonrated exterior wall, says Anam. Perimeter fire barrier systems are used to resist interior propagation of fire through the gap between floor and exterior wall for a period equal to the floor’s fire resistance rating. Perimeter fire barrier systems are an important part of effective fire-resistance-rated and smoke-resistant compartmentation systems. They have been developed for fire and life safety protection at the important exterior wall gap. The perimeter fire barrier systems are considered by the applicable building codes well which mandates the
installation of approved perimeter barrier systems with fire rating matching that of the corresponding floors.
Perimeter fire barrier systems are installed at the gap or void spaces between a fire resistance rated floor and an exterior curtainwall or façade assembly, says Kaushik. The purpose of a perimeter fire barrier is to restrict the passage of flame and smoke internally from one floor to the other through internal gaps. If perimeter fire barriers are not installed, the unprotected gaps at every floor slab edge creates a chimney like arrangement for the fire to spread rapidly from floor to floor.
According to Stefan, the choice of materials should be according to the use of them. The materials should be picked and judged according to what they are tested for and what the design is to achieve. Materials must be fire tested accordingly the use.
Cladding and cavity materials shouldn´t be combustible, the components should have sufficient and provable fire resistance/burn-through time and prevent fire from escalating on outer surface of façade.
Raja says, material selection for building envelope
is often complex. With wider options available, the selection of the right material requires wider knowledge. The usage of appropriate materials and understanding its characteristics and overall assembly is critical in achieving fire safe designs.
While selecting the façade material, we must keep in mind that they are non-combustible and should not propagate fire. Since it is the outer skin, fire can easily spread to multiple floors very quickly. Different products have different parameters for performance requirements. The materials selected should be certified and listed for the use. To validate the design of the system which will beat at later stage implemented at site mock-up tests should be conducted.
Anam opines that within the exterior envelope of the building, the designers need to choose appropriate measures to achieve the required level of fire safety in design and installation. Material such as fire sealants are used to seal these joints and gaps and thus prevent the spread of flame, smoke, and deadly toxic gasses, and together with the penetrants and the fire barrier, maintains the fire rating of the system. Such fire sealants are installed in penetrations through the fire barrier wall. The other material includes expanded polyurethane foam fillers (PU). PU foams are inherently combustible but offer fire-stopping properties when used in narrow voids or gaps. It is thus critical that the manufacturer’s instructions are strictly followed while using it as it may have life safety implications if used incorrectly. Intumescent sealants are used for their ability to expand when exposed to excessive temperature and therefore provide a much tighter gap seal. Intumescent sealants are ideal for use with plastic conduits and pipes and as gaskets within fire doors.
Kaushik points out that there is a general misconception that a certified and approved product can be used as required. It is critical to understand that all product approvals and listings are specific to the application. The materials or products used in fire safety systems must be tested and certified for the intended use. For example, a product tested for resisting fire for 60 minutes as a dry wall in vertical installation cannot be used in
horizontal application where a fire resistance rated ceiling is required. Similarly, a fire sprinkler listed for use in light hazard occupancy cannot be used to protect high piled storage warehouse. A fire life safety strategy for the building should define the fire performance criteria of materials.
All incombustible and fire-retardant materials are considered as fire safe façade material. Important parameters are: burn through time, falling debris, droplets/melting, cavities that immediately stops flames, embers and heat, compartmentation and movement during fire (shrinkage and twisting), noted Stefan.
Raja suggests some of the rules given below that should always be followed:
• Know what your local code requires: This is a critical first step
• Specify to meet code requirements: Once you understand the code, you should select the right products and systems
• Avoid improper substitutions: This starts with the specification. Contractor/consultant should ensure that there are no inappropriate substitutions on site that run contrary to the spec and code.
• Install it right: It is impor tant to understand a building’s façade system is not a single system, but rather comprises of exterior curtain wall, glazing, joints and barriers. Method statement clearly defining component list and the manufacturer’s installation instructions need to be strictly followed.
• Verify the installation was done right: Quality assurance is critical. Inspection shall take place in successive stages as installation proceeds
Anam explains that the key parameters defining the performance of a fire-safe façade are fire resistance and reaction to fire. These parameters focus on characteristics such as combustibility, smoke release, toxicity, ignitibility, etc. He classifies it into following pointers
• Fire behavior rating: The first component of the Euroclass rating is the A-F classification that a curtain wall product is awarded relating to its behavior when exposed to heat and fire.
This classification is on a scale, with A-rated products performing the best, and F-rated products performing the worst.
• Smoke Generation: In addition to the A-F rating, for classifications of A2 and lower, an “s” value is also attributed to represent the amount of smoke produced during the first 10 minutes of the product being exposed to fire. Smoke is an important element to consider due to the extreme damage it can cause to buildings and the health of individuals when it is inhaled.
• Droplet Production: The final element of the fire classification is the “d” value which represents the number of flaming droplets which are released from the product during the first 10 minutes.
Kaushik specifies that in recent past, Middle East region has witnessed a high number of façade fires particularly due to the presence of combustible cladding on many high-rise towers. Some of the parameters that define fire performance of a façade material are it is reaction to fire classification, selfignition temperature and calorific value. In addition, the façade system as a whole assembly shall meet the acceptable criteria of a full scale fire test.
According to Stefan, the codes suffer from a lack of new and updated fire tests, but this is a global problem. The positive side is that the authorities in the UAE have constantly improved the standards and are focusing on this topic, pushing the industry to use proper façade materials and systems. It’s also important that projects and the installation process get regularly inspected and controlled if the design and materials/products used are according to the specifications.
The best elaborated codes and standards cannot avoid a fire outbreak, but they should prevent the spread of flames and so protect human life.
Raja explains that every region has its own building codes of practice which are upgraded regularly. While specifications and strategies for ensuring fire safety in buildings vary from one code of practice to other, most of them are based on prescriptive based
approach and are derived from similar fire safety principles. In prescriptive based approaches, fire safety in buildings is provided using a combination of both active and passive fire protection systems. Active fire protection systems like sprinklers, heat and smoke detectors etc. are designed to detect and control or extinguish fire in its initial stage and are more important from life safety perspective. Whereas passive fire protection systems like structural and non-structural building components are designed to ensure structural stability during fire exposure and to contain fire spread.
Anam mentions, the current fire safety codes for the building in the region do take into account limiting the external façade or cladding fire as one of the key measures towards achieving fire-safe design in taller buildings. Many research and previous data have shown that the external cladding fires have a more detrimental effect on the life safety and property protection of high-rise buildings over a low-rise development. I believe that along with codes and authority having jurisdiction, the fire consultant/ design team/ installation team/ inspection team plays an important role in achieving a successful façade fire strategy.
He mentions a quote which says ‘It’s not enough to be up to date, you have to be up to tomorrow’. The codes consider the learning from previous fire incidents, however, as the use of new technologies and new materials are increasing with the demand for more efficient urban buildings, the fire codes in the region need to foresee the risk associated and incorporate relevant requirements and be future proof.
Kaushik says, almost all codes and standards in the Middle East region are derived from internationally recognised National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Building Code (IBC) codes and standards. The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice has the most detailed prescriptive requirements for façade fire performance of any international codes and is periodically updated to reflect the latest fire standards and façade materials. It also includes requirements for product or system approvals and specialist inspections during construction stage.
“The fire safe design will lead to less reduced risks of fires to spreading”
developing but it also allows people to escape safely in case of fire and allows firefighters to access the buildings effectively.
What is the role of fenestration design in fire safe buildings?
Most building design aspects have a fire safety component so does fenestration design. Fenestration design can have an influence on the vertical fire compartmentation, fire spread and in some cases to the fire escape.
The façade designers are now liaising more and more with the fire engineers to make sure that their design meets the safety standards.
Could you please explain some of the common causes for fires in Buildings in the Middle East?
How can fire risks be reduced?
Fires are mostly caused by human error and a fire usually starts small before it becomes large and uncontrollable if the proper action is not taken or if the fire spread mitigations are not in place. Fire spread mitigations are fire detection and alarm, fire extinguishing and fire control and passive fire protection. All these need to be maintained and malfunction of one of those systems can cause fires to develop.
Please explain the role of design in fire safe buildings?
A design that incorporates fire safety measures will lead to reduced risks of fires spreading and
What are the passive & active fire safe protection methods?
Fire proofing of materials; making sure that separations (walls, doors, other openings) are made in such a way that fire and smoke cannot pass for a certain time period and making sure that building materials do not contribute to the fire spread all fall under t he umbrella of passive fire protection. Active fire protection are measures that requires a certain action which can be for instance make a sound when smoke or heat is detected or release of fire extinguishing products in case fire is detected.
Reaction and fire resistance: How are materials classified in the event of a fire?
Materials are classified according to their flame spread rating and smoke development. There
SPANDREL REQUIREMENTS
915mm minimum or tested as per project Metrials to be minimum 60 min. fire resistant
are products that hardly or don’t spread flame or produce smoke and there are products that produce burn rapidly and produce a lot of smoke. Products are classified as class A, B or C (or Class I, II and III) according to different institutes such as ASTM or BS or EN.
Apart from the products, there are also tests required for a complete wall or façade assembly.
The flame spread rating should not be confused with fire resistance rating of walls and structures. The fire resistance rating is usually expressed in hours and defines how long a product can resist
a fire under a certain standard fire test.
What scenarios could cause an internal building fire to spread to the external façade and other parts of the building? What protection measures are in place to control fire?
There are two possibilities for an internal fire to spread to the façade to other parts of a building.
The first one is the leap frog effect where the fire spreads from one opening to another opening in the wall. For the purpose of fire spread, an opening can also be a glass window as glass might burst when in exposed to fire (Figure 2Right Image).
The second one is the chimney effect the fire spreads between the floor slab and the façade wall (Figure 2 - Middle image) or simply through the cavity between the external wall and the cladding (Figure 2 - Left image).
The protection measures in place are the previously mentioned product specification related to flame spread and required fire ratings of floor slabs, especially when it comes to the connection between the floor slab and the façade. Also putting fire breaks or fire barriers in the cavities between the external façade and cladding are techniques that are applied to prevent the spread of fire.
What is the importance of ‘perimeter fire barrier systems’ in the prevention of fire spread?
The perimeter fire barrier system refers to the prevention for fire spreading through the gap between the façade and the floor slab. The fire barrier element or system should be of the same fire resistance of the floor slab and should be fitted properly in the space between the floor slab and the façade element.
The perimeter fire barrier system should prevent fire spreading from one floor to another through the floor slab.
Brief about the choice of materials considering fire safety.
As mentioned before, materials must to meet
the requirements regarding flame and smoke spread. These requirements are specific to the occupancy of the building and to the height of the building.
More stringent material requirements apply for a high-rise hotel or a hospital as compared in a low rise factory.
What do you think about the current fire safety codes for buildings in the region?
The current fire safety codes in the various jurisdictions in the Middle East have become well developed regarding façade fire safety in the last couple of years. The main reasons being that there are a lot of high-rise buildings
or buildings with special façade features are constructed and still being constructed and, unfortunately, several façade fires happened in recent years.
As a result of a number of façade fires, the UAE fire code has been overhauled in its 2018 edition.
There is also an ever-increasing awareness not only with the various civil defence authorities but also amongst the building owners, property developers, contractors, and designers when it comes to fire safety.
People start to understand that building that are not fire-safe have significantly less value.
Bruno Santos, Specification Manager – UAE, Oman & Pakistan, Knauf Insulation
About the Author:
Bruno Santos is the Specification Manager at Knauf Insulation, leading the technical specification efforts in UAE, Oman, and Pakistan and helping construction professionals on designing and execute sustainable, safe, and energy-saving buildings. With more than 8 years in the construction sector, he has experience in engineering design, project management, and business development. For the past 4 years, he has been helping architects, engineers, and contractors in the UAE with high-performance solutions for their projects, including cost-saving thermal and acoustic insulation solutions, productive MEP systems, and efficient façade design.
In an exclusive interview with Window & Façade Magazine, Bruno talked about the journey of Kanuf Insulation, their goals & strategies, and so on. Excerpts…
Knauf Insulation has more than 40 years of experience in the insulation industry. How has been its journey so far?
Knauf started operating in the insulation industry upon the acquisition of the first Fiber Glass plant in Shelbyville, USA, back in 1978. In 2002, after years of consistent progress and growth, Knauf Insulation was founded and in 2013 the company expanded its presence to the Middle East, operating from our local plant in Abu Dhabi. Since its establishment, the company has been an essential part of the regional industrial fabric and a major partner to some of the most prestigious developers. We are delighted to have contributed with our energyefficient solutions to landmark projects across the GCC but also to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Africa, and East Asia. Decades of hard work and consistent high quality have placed Knauf Insulation as a market leader and a name that is synonym with dependability.
To drive change towards a more sustainable industry, we have developed ECOSE® Technology, our unique bio-based binder used in the manufacture of all our Glass Mineral Wool products. Our Mineral Wool made with ECOSE® Technology contains no added formaldehyde or phenol, meaning that our insulation generates very low levels of dust, increasing the comfort of those handling it. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, so it is kinder to the environment too.
Knauf Insulation was awarded the first Indoor Air Comfort Gold Standard certificate in 2010 from Eurofins Scientific for its Mineral Wool products with ECOSE® Technology, completed as part of the Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold standard testing and certification. Knauf Insulation Mineral Wool with ECOSE Technology is certified as an
‘outstanding material’ according to the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) indoor air quality emissions regulations and has been excluded from any ‘hazard’ classification under standards related to the classification and labelling of chemicals.
What products and solutions do you offer? Please tell us about your fire safety products?
Knauf Insulation is the market leader in thermal, acoustic, and fire-safe Mineral Wool solutions. We offer a wide range of products designed to meet the most demanding requirements, from building regulations authorities to the design needs we receive from developers, architects, and consultants. All our products are non-combustible, release no odours, no toxic fumes, and do not contribute to fire development at any stage. Our Glass Mineral Wool range is unparalleled in thermal,
fire, and acoustic performance with products developed for interior partitions, façades, roofing, soffits, pre-engineered buildings, and HVAC systems.
Fire safety is a priority for us. We have conducted several third-party tests on our products, individually and as part of system assemblies, on applications where fire performance is fundamental such as is the case of façades. All our products are certified by Fire Safety Authorities across the region.
Could you please tell us about some of your clients or the projects in which your products have been used?
Knauf Insulation is proud to have been a partner in some of the most iconic projects throughout the
Address Sky View, UAE
world. In our region, our team works closely with consultants, architects, and developers to help turn visions into reality.
Some of these success stories include the Pipe Insulation at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the first park outside USA and home to the UAE’s first dedicated marine research providing world-class facilities to support regional and global conservation efforts. The nature of the project involved a need for highly efficient thermal insulation for chilled water piping coupled with fire safety.
Knauf Insulation also partnered up with the developers and contractors of the outstanding One Za’abeel in Dubai, providing thermal and acoustic solutions for various applications. One of these applications involved the development of customised products able to perform under semiexposed conditions.
The list of successful contributions ranges from Airport projects including the Abu Dhabi Airport or the King Abdulaziz Airport in KSA, Landmarks including the Coca-Cola Arena and the Louvre Museum, Education projects such as the Khalifa University and the Abu Dhabi Future Schools, Shopping Malls as the Yas Mall or the Meraas Outlet Village, Mixed-use building such as the City Walk, Downtown Views, and many others.
Could you please tell us about your manufacturing facility and capacity?
Knauf Insulation is present in more than 40 countries and has 27 manufacturing sites in 15 countries. In the Middle East, our manufacturing unit located in Abu Dhabi is a dedicated plant to produce Glass Mineral Wool products. At the heart of the facility, furnaces and melters provide a continuous flow of
The façade insulation at Royal Atlantis was trusted to Knauf Insulation, where solutions depending on the energy efficiency requirements were designed and delivered.
molten glass which is transported to high-rotational speed spinners producing microscopic thin glass fibers. Curing ovens ensure the bond between the fibers and the thermosetting resin binder is longlasting, after which the products are dimensioned as needed and finally packaged, ready for the next shipment to jobsite, logistic hubs, or any other location.
The facility is capable of more than 7M sqm annually, with planned upgrades upcoming.
Today the market demands are significantly different than just a few years back, and we have been seeing several products flooding the market from all over the world, trying to solve the same problems. Striking a balance between competitive pricing and the right solution is always an interesting challenge.
Within the current market conditions, Knauf Insulation has been able to find a competitive edge over its competitors’ thanks to the nature of our own company values.
Taking care of what really matters drives us to be as geographically close to our customers and our communities as possible. That way we have an immediate response to support queries and we are able to do it personally. Manufacturing locally and controlling the supply chain in its entirety enables quick lead times and deliveries during construction stages while reducing our carbon footprint. Knauf Insulation has dedicated technical and commercial teams to assist our partners during concept, design, and installation periods, reducing time lost in the search for various solution providers.
Knauf Insulation’s commitment to sustainability pushes us to develop and deliver solutions that help developers achieve the highest scores on green
building rating schemes including LEED, BREEAM, Estidama, and Al Sa’fat.
Lastly, as a UAE-based company, we contribute to the industrial sector development and local economy, promoting growth and a better future for the region we live in.
What are the major oppor tunities for your business in the Middle East?
The insulation business has significantly developed in the last couple of decades. We have seen a plethora of petroleum-based insulation products flooding the market and gaining share in the process, oftentimes where fire safety concerns and standards were not as high as today. Renovation, a segment not so typically seen locally, is expected to grow in the upcoming years, and the advent of energy efficiency codes (Local Green Building Codes, LEED, and BREEAM rating schemes) throughout the region demand fire safe thermal insulation where it was not previously installed or where regulations were lenient.
At Knauf Insulation, we aim to deliver net-zero
embodied carbon products and solutions, has set a goal of reducing the embodied carbon of our products by 2025 by 15% compared to 2019. As net-zero carbon emissions are becoming an increasing concern of building designers, including façade design specialists, we help architects and engineers select optimal solutions that meet the required thermal transmittance values while reducing the carbon footprint. Glass Mineral Wool with ECOSE Technology, as a lightweight product that is 70% less energy intensive to manufacture, is the ideal solution for high acoustic and thermal performing building envelopes.
Dubai’s EXPO 2020, with more than 25 million worldwide visitors expected to attend the innovation and technological showcase, is poised to boost the local economy and capture international investment, cascading to several economic sectors.
The fast construction development of Saudi Arabia is captivating, with several iconic projects being launched, while just next door the FIFA World Cup will be hosted in Qatar next year, again providing several opportunities in the construction sector.
How do you see the Building and architectural market in the Middle East for your fire safety products?
The global impact of COVID-19 has been staggering, with Passive Fire Protection products also recording a decline across the globe, affecting the Middle East as well. However, the market is projected to grow above 4% in the next 7 years while the demand returns to pre-pandemic levels.
Recently, significant local fire outbreaks have raised the question for better and stricter fire safety measures. This is pushing the demand for high-quality and fire-code compliant products as the desire for taller buildings keeps rising. The increasing popularity of net-zero carbon initiatives and the green building rating schemes drive the expectations for high building performance and occupant safety. Efficient thermal envelopes, high-level air and water tightness, and fire compartmentation are building aspects that
increase the necessity for more thermal insulation and proper firestop that will increase as the buildings grow taller.
Knauf Insulation offers a range of sustainable non-combustible products aligned with the latest fire and life safety codes. As an insulation market leader, we are always keeping up with the industry practices and market demands - our specialised Fire Safety team is constantly developing new and better solutions.
The pandemic had a major impact on the delivery of projects. As liquidity and capital management were prioritised, the investments were reduced across the market due to the dwindling cash flow of developers and contractors. Large public listed construction and real estate companies saw sharp declines in the rating evaluations leading
to increased financing rates and risk, to the point where financing was less sustainable with new developments halted to date. The significant exodus of manpower lead to declining retail spending, a decrease in rental income due to the rising unit availability, and a reduction of rent values.
Some construction projects have been indefinitely delayed or canceled, while the rising building materials prices and inflation rates are causing supply chain bottlenecks in funded projects and reducing interest in moving projects from plan to development. Mid-level and small-cap manufacturers and contractors have been specially targeted, with bankruptcy and company closing being a reality for the past year and a half.
Insulation, especially in this climate, is deemed fundamental. Being a local manufacturer is an asset for our partners as our production lead times and delivery costs can be significantly more competitive.
Although the outlook is not yet completely clear, with a large fully vaccinated population entering
the post-pandemic era, we are seeing consumer confidence increasing, employment growth, and expectation of new construction contracts.
What do you think about the current fire safety codes for buildings in the region?
The building codes have been developed significantly in the latest iterations, adopting the best-accepted industry practices, and relying on independent certification agencies overseen by local authorities and reliable third-party experts. New regulations are being developed and we expect even stronger requisites on fire behaviour of building materials.
Glass Mineral Wool, as a non-combustible material, is completely aligned with the fire codes for any application. In façades, extensive system assembly tests and individual combustibility classification tests are mandatory, but that is not the case for other building systems.
Petroleum-based products, allowed by the fire codes to be commonly used as insulation materials for applications that may include roofing and HVAC
systems, do not fall under the non-combustibility classification and the usage of these products represent a fire hazard with potentially serious consequences for building occupants, facility usage and overall building performance. The current fire behaviour requirements for these types of products (e.g. surface burning tests) are limited in scope, demand performance, and do not adequately mimic the real-life fire developing conditions. It is our understanding that the fire codes should be updated to better reflect that and we are developing efforts to raise this concern.
What sustainability means to you? How sustainable are your products?
Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at Knauf Insulation. Our commitment is to constantly find new ways to drive change, develop solutions that reduce the environmental impact, and care for what really matters: our people, our customers, our communities, and ultimately, our planet.
At Knauf Insulation, sustainability has always been indispensable to our long-term growth and we are proud of our achievements in the last decade, but we are now determined to be even more ambitious. In October 2020, we have launched our new sustainability strategy “For a Better World”, setting challenging concrete targets for 2025 - including decreasing accident rates by 55%, sending zero production waste to landfills, and reducing the embodied carbon of our products by 15%.
Our strategy is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. Knauf Insulation is also a signatory of the UN Global Compact which is a public commitment to operate in line with UN SDGs, ensure sustainability is at the heart of our DNA and report annually to the UN on company progress.
Solutions such as our ground-breaking ECOSE® Technology, our revolutionary binder with no added formaldehyde, and our green roof solution Urbanscape® have both transformed the market with their eco-credentials and helped achieve the
highest scores on green building rating schemes while being fully compliant with Estidama and Dubai Green Building Regulations. Our Glass Mineral Wool is manufactured with a minimum recycled content of 50%, the majority of which is post-consumer content, and its raw materials are harvested within a 500km radius.
We are also supporting our customers as they navigate an ever-changing landscape of demanding green building requirements and increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
As demand for thermal and acoustic insulation grows, our outlook is optimistic. Knauf Insulation looks forward to expanding its presence across the region, with investments planned on strengthening staff and improving production capacity.
Our aspiration is to be the region’s most trusted insulation partner providing high-performing and smart insulation solutions and services. We are increasing our team’s numbers in regions where demand is surging faster to better support our clients and project developers, developing products aimed to reduce installation costs while fulfilling the fire and energy efficiency regulations and special solutions that will drive building designs to better integration between the natural environment and
architecture.
Improving our facilities is how we seek to decrease our carbon footprint, production, and transportation costs. We plan to invest in production automation and efficient packaging by bringing new highefficient equipment that will speed up production while decreasing manufacturing costs.
Our people are our biggest asset. We are committed to zero harm and building a culture of health, safety, and well-being. Training and development plans will ensure a strong community of engaged, committed, and focused employees, armed with extensive technical knowledge to be able to participate in our future decision making and to enhance our customer support.
What would be your one piece of advice for the new entrants in the industry?
Today the market is increasingly competitive. With the onset of globalisation, it is easier to source products across the world, with an impact on the price level and profit margins. To be competitive today, an entrepreneur needs to set a longterm vision and have significant investments in technologies that can lower costs while being fully aware of the geographical and social-economic demands of the region in the company plans on operating. What works in one region may not be the right approach in another.
To be successful in the insulation industry, a new company should design a strategy that involves establishing priorities and right approaches, thinking long-term rather than running to grab short-term opportunities. The business plan must integrate the investors’ ambitions with the more grounded realities of the environment it is set up in, retain the right talent and establish a decisionmaking framework to align the policies with the needs the company must serve.
Nowadays, it is also fundamental that the company culture reflects the mission, vision, and goals of the enterprise.
“The most interesting advances in the future are likely to relate to carbon fiber composites”
About the Author:
Mohammed Khatib, Senior Manager, Khatib & Alami
Mohammed Khatib is a detail-oriented and innovative architect with experience collaborating on hospitality, commercial, retail, mixed-use & high-rise projects with an internationally renowned architectural firm. He has knowledge understanding and using of OBC and broad experience in using international design codes and standards such as NFPA, IBC. He is recognised for producing high quality schematic design, design development, construction & tender documents; obtaining building permits; material selection; specification & site follow-up for multiple concurrent projects in the Gulf region.
Here are the excerpts from his recent interview with Window & Façade Magazine…
Tell us about your practice and design approach?
Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary design firm with a strong track record across the Middle East and Africa region. As well as architects, we employ experts from across the built environment spectrum, including planners, engineers, environmental specialists, project managers and technologists. This has a strong influence on our design approach because it gives us an opportunity to work in a practical and holistic way with colleagues from across the business.
What inspired you to become an architect?
My love of architecture started when I was a child. I was always fascinated by building design, wondering about adding some elements to the buildings as well as the materials used in the construction of buildings. This interest grew into thinking about how we could make buildings better, especially for the people who use them.
I presume you connect a lot of art and architecture in your projects. There is a strong connection between artistic styles and architecture. We are led by our discussions with clients, as well as local authority requirements.
Most clients will provide us with an idea about the building style they are looking for to be reflected in the design, such as modern classic, Art Deco, modern or postmodern styles.
In the end, we provide different design options with different design ideas and styles reflecting what the client wants, and then we develop the preferred option by the client.
As architects, we have to satisfy the client and the end-users. We always need to find solutions to meet the design intent, the durability and the construction program.
transmittance glass to bring more natural light to the office space, and considering energy savings and thermal comfort by using double glass with low-emissivity coating. Other important factors were the acoustic performance of the glass, as well as its safety function.
By comparison, in the residential floors, the considerations for glass selection were different with respect to various criteria. For instance, the locations for glass vision panels were selected to fit the proposed furniture layout, while for visual comfort we selected large windows with good light transmittance and low indoor light reflectance, which helps to avoid the mirror-like effect at night.
Another interesting challenge was Al Habtoor City, a high-rise hospitality project in Dubai that has a classical, Art Deco theme. It is a huge project for which we were working on the design parallel to the construction. To meet the construction program, we used different systems for façade construction and
One of the boldest projects I have worked on in the UAE was Bay Square, a mixed-use project in Dubai with about 550,000 m2 BUA. The client was looking for a contemporary modern design that maximised the levels of transparency in the façade. The challenge was to create consistency in the façade with the different functions in the same building (Retail, Offices and Residential).
We achieved that with the careful selection and sizing of high-performance glass taking into consideration the function in addition to the need to control the heat gain while bringing enough natural light for the internal spaces.
A key aim was to create a thermal comfort zone for the office floors, because this has a direct impact on users, enabling them to be more efficient and productive. We therefore carefully selected the glass location, and the type of glass. Different criteria were considered such as maximising the amount of vision glass, choosing high light
different materials to suit the proposed systems, taking into consideration the design style which was another challenge to use the proper materials fit for the design style.
Could you please tell us about the latest façade and cladding technologies and materials available in the UAE market and those you used in your project?
New technologies and systems tend to reach the UAE quickly, and this is reflected in the materials used in building envelopes.
It is great working in the UAE market because clients here tend to be quite open to new ideas and ways of doing things, but even so, there is always some hesitation about using materials for the first time in the region, even if they are proven elsewhere.
This is understandable, of course, because anything new represents a risk, and there is no denying that the environment in this region is much harsher on outdoor materials than most other parts of the world. Clients, therefore, tend to want to see mockups, and to test them as much as possible.
The choice of material depends on the function,
location, client acceptance, and, of course, budget, while maintaining the look and feel of the design intent. We are currently working on various projects in the region and North Africa which include a lot of man-made stone, treated wood, and different types of render cladding systems. They are beautiful products to work with because they give a sense of being natural and user-friendly, and they meet the design intent and the project function. Some of these materials need maintenance. Where possible, therefore, in the touchable area we focus on using low maintenance materials which meet the budget and are relatively heavy-duty and durable, while in other places away from people, the materials still need to be durable and low maintenance, but they don’t need to withstand the same impacts so we can usually find something with a similar look at a lesser cost.
What are the key factors to consider while designing and installing fenestration?
I always consider the following factors in the selection of fenestration, glass, and the system:
• The building function
• The required light amount
• Physical performance
• Energy characteristics
• Thermal per formance
• Acoustic performance
• Safety and security
• Fire performance
• Sustainability requirements
• Constructibility
• Construction program
• Design to cost
For example, residential or hospitality projects need to avoid the potential for high indoor reflection which will be unpleasant at night due to the mirror-like effect. This is less important for office buildings since they will be used primarily in the daytime while having a high light transmittance is a very important factor for glass in office spaces.
You also need to think about installation. We want as much work as possible to be done in the factory so that when the product arrives on site, it only needs to be fitted. This reduces risk while improving the quality and speed of construction.
Could you please brief on the technological benefits of the well-managed façades?
There is now an increasing focus on façades due to the growing importance given to exterior walls, in the context of energy consumption and options of producing clean power.
Having a high-performance façade leads to reduced building energy consumption, and improves comfort for a building’s users.
In addition, façades can use technologies such as advertising screens, which will increase the income generation potential of the building for the owner.
What are your views on the future façade and fenestration technologies as well as materials?
The façade forms a separating and filtering layer between the inside and outside. The key considerations are always environmental friendliness (C2C), durability and performance. I am currently involved with three projects which are aiming for LEED Platinum standard, but even for other projects we always use LEED measures as the benchmark, even if not required by the client.
I always keep in touch with industry trends. Inevitably, for new materials to be more attractive they need to be more durable with a better thermal performance. Other considerations are maintenance, speed of construction, manufacturing process, impact on the environment, and weight and transparency. Some of the most interesting advances in the future are likely to relate to carbon fiber composites, which can be incredibly light, strong and flexible. I am also excited by technologies such as transparent photovoltaic panels which can generate energy for a building. Imagine the impact that this could eventually have.
How do you go about choosing the material of façade and cladding?
The façade is the building face and is the first line of defense for a building; building envelopes offer protection from the weather and keep the building secure. The more divergent the outdoor climate and indoor climatic requirements are, the bigger the technical efforts required to meet the requirements of people inside the space when considering issues such as air temperature; relative humidity; the air temperature in the zone adjacent to the façade; air flows reaching the body; and acoustic levels.
Then of course you have the issues of aesthetic design, performance, building constructability, budget and local authority regulations, the site location and how it interacts with its surroundings. When we bring these factors together, we are able to narrow down the options available, and this informs our recommendations to the client.
What is your advice for young and upcoming architects?
I always tell emerging architects to read, keep learning, be inquisitive and build their understanding. They should pay attention to what others with more experience are doing, but don’t be afraid to bring fresh ideas and challenge the accepted wisdom. Preparation and research are always essential, and that never stops regardless of age, stature, or experience. The Address Residences, Dubai
Emirates Glass LLC has signed an agreement with Feather Friendly Technologies Inc., based in Canada to be an authorised dealer of Feather Friendly® Bird Collision Technology across the UAE and the GCC region. The products, constructed of bird friendly materials, meet specified design standards and are intended to reduce bird strikes.
The partnership highlights the rising awareness and need for sustainable bird-friendly glass in architecture, providing architects a newly tested and safe glass choice for building façades providing good balance between transparency and reflectivity.
“With the modern building façades evolving at a rapid pace and with glass continuing to
make up more and more of the external building envelope, it is likely that the number of birds affected by the glass collision problem, leading to fatal impacts, is on the rise and this technology is an answer to this problem. Our partnership with Feather Friendly Technologies Inc. is not only aimed at providing a solution but is also aimed at reiterating the company’s support towards larger environmental issues”, said Rizwanulla Khan, Executive
President, Emirates Glass LLC.
“Unfortunately, our buildings have become a death trap for billions of birds each year,” said Paul Groleau, Vice President, Feather Friendly Technologies Inc. “This technology comprises of enhanced pattern that’s more visible to birds than it is to humans, which helps to prevent these collisions and ensures maximum transparency, while maintaining the aesthetical appeal of glass in architecture”.
Feather Friendly® Bird Deterrent Technology is designed to protect birds while enhancing the building’s design. It is an easy-to-use and unobtrusive window application that is barely noticeable to humans but highly effective in allowing birds to ‘see’ the windows, allowing them to avoid deadly collisions.
Alpago Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate specialising in the ultra-high-end segment in the Middle East and Europe, has appointed Foster + Partners to design its newest luxury residential project in Dubai.
The official awarding ceremony of the project was attended by Alpago Group’s top officials, Chairman Ridvan Ayyildiz, Group CEO Syed Azeem Mehroz, Foster + Partners Partner Dara John Towhidi, and Alpago Properties Project Director Onur Eyisoy.
Located at the West Beach, The Palm, the 10-unit ‘Palm Flower’ development by Alpago Properties features one residential unit per floor. Each unit encompasses from 9,000 to 18,300 square-feet and features an expansive double-height living space.
Each unit will have its own private infinity edge swimming pool and wraparound garden terrace. With floor-toceiling windows, each unit has expansive views of The Palm and the Arabian Gulf.
The Palm Flower’s double height lobby grows from planted reflection pools, leading to underground parking pods that reveal a private car showroom. The entry space culminates in private lifts that open into the residential units, generating a personalised arrival experience.
The assessment of the UAE’s climatic conditions has influenced the Palm Flower design to optimise sustainability and building performance. It features an integrated ultra-efficient air distribution system and biophilic design to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment.
Dubai has launched its 1-4-star rating systems for its buildings. The rating system assesses each building in the emirate on a set of well-defined parameters. A new rating of a “4Plus” has been also added that can inspire developers and landlords to keep in mind the sustainability aspect.
The 4Plus was introduced in line with the UAE’s commitment towards meeting global targets on climate change and emissions. As of now, about 1 per cent of Dubai’s buildings are in the 4Plus category.
The star rating system provides an incentive for building owners to try and aim for a higher category, informed sources say. As of now, 4 Star ratings have been assigned to around 20 percent of existing buildings.
Currently, there are 18,000 buildings in Dubai assigned with a rating. These include residential buildings, offices and other real estate types. But villas and government buildings are excluded from the ratings as are hotels, because the latter have their own classifications.
The latest addition to the ratings, the 4Plus, will prove decisive going forward. Developers in the UAE are veering towards including the latest sustainability features into their projects and not only focus on the design and interiors quality of their properties. The issue of carbon footprints and associated environmental aspects will all figure in the 4Plus classification.
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