Role of Hardware and Its Advances in Fenestration Systems Its Functionality

Advances of Hardware in Fenestration Systems

Bharti Worldmark, Gurugram Whether it is the conventional top-hung operable façade or a sliding door, the hardware is expected to function on a variety of parameters which include measuring up to:

1. The weight of the operable (nowadays requirements exceed 400 Kgs on certain requirements, even though the more volume based may go up to a maximum of 180 Kgs).

2. The size of the panel - conventional sizes now reach 1.5 m x 3m in façades top hung and 1 m x 3 m in sliding doors.

3. Resistance to wind pressure

4. Water penetration

5. Working cycles

Architectural hardware is the backbone of the fenestration industry. Whether it is the harmless small window opening in your completely secured restroom or even a large span opening in facades, the hardware around it is what defines how long the operable is going to perform.

When we mean performance, it is measured by several parameters including water, wind and even sheer functionality of the product, besides a few other lookouts that each building brings out.

From the time when hardware used to be just another item to close on the BOQ (bill of quantities), to the present days when it is closely looked upon by leading developers, architects and façade consultants as the savior of the operable in extreme conditions, the role of the product has been magnified to a large extent.

Parallel Opening Window 1.2 mts x 2.4 mts DGU at IB Blu, Mumbai While deciding on the kind of hardware to be used in operables, it is of utmost importance to consider a variety of factors beyond what is listed above. Safety plays an important role and the opening dimensions/ application of the operable should account for the occupants of a building, especially children. Today the new age hardware has solutions where the openings can be restricted with child safety measures in place. Ventilation in homes plays an important role too and while we have always been used to opening windows outwards to their maximum capacity, today you have the options of selecting restricted openings to let air in, save on air conditioning costs and yet inhibit access from the outside. This also comes in handy

DLF Downtown, Gurugram for night ventilation without compromising on security.

So be it a villa where you need to have access to your sliding window from the inside and yet also be able to lock/open it from the outside, to a pivoted window, which allows cleaning of the glass from both outside and inside from the comfort of your room, or a parallel opening façade panel which allows the plain of the façade to remain the same, yet allows ventilation from all four sides and stretches window dimensions beyond imagination (may I add quite useful for smoke ventilation too), the industry has it all. To top it, there are solutions for bottom hung vents today for up to 4.2 m height and 350 Kgs and top hung vents up to 3 m height and 250 Kgs, tested to 10,000 cycles.

As dimensions increase and demands go up in terms of safety even in terms of fire norms, the inclusion of automation solutions for both natural ventilation and smoke vents has witnessed a sea change. Not only are these systems integrated with the Building Management System (BMS), but they are also equipped to offer concealed electronic locking multipoints. While buildings continuously grow taller and modern homes turn to automation, it would be very unlikely that the fenestration industry did not gear up to this aspect. With hardware solutions now available to automate windows at the touch of a button or shall I say at the hands of a remote control unit or even at the touch of an iPad, the hardware has truly come around a complete circle.

Bottom hung operable exceeding 3.5 m height DEEPAK CHUGH

Managing Director,

LGF Sysmac (India) Pvt Ltd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deepak Chugh is the Managing Director of LGF Sysmac India Pvt. Ltd., a dynamic company, launched in 2000, offering architectural hardware solutions and fabrication equipment to the fenestration industry for over 22 years. Whether it is introducing customised façade lighting to the Indian market, to setting up new fabrication units for aluminium or uPVC windows and doors or giving solutions for hardware for aluminium and uPVC windows and doors and façade operables (including automation in smoke and natural ventilation), a focused approach is what drives him. He is a qualified Mechanical Engineer from Nagpur University.

Today LGF Sysmac not only has a panIndia presence but is also successfully operating in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Middle East with a vision to have a footprint on all the continents by 2025, growth is the keyword.

Role of Hardware and its Advances in Fenestration Systems & its Functionality

Energy conservation, climate change, and air quality are the words that we hear frequently nowadays. Over the last few years, we have witnessed a greater focus on the quality of living. Further, due to the pandemic situation, safety and hygiene have become important considerations for occupants of the buildings.

In building structures, the fenestration system plays an important functional role., Doors and windows are integral to the building structure, be it residential, commercial, or education buildings to name a few. They act as a passage for entrance and exits for not only occupants but act as a barrier from external elements. The right balance of natural lighting, thermal control, air quality, and acoustics is desirable for people inside the building. In major cities, the trend is for high-rise buildings. Also, in individual residences, clients have become more aware of the doors and windows. Today we see a trend for wider and taller doors and windows systems. The proper selection of the door and window is becoming important. There are several options available in window types sliding systems, swing systems, parallel opening windows, and skylight windows.

A wide variety of hardware system solutions are now available from indigenous and also from overseas manufacturers for doors and windows in both sliding and swing systems, be it for conventional systems or performance-based systems. However, careful consideration has to be given to understand the project requirements, like accessibility, structural requirements, performance parameters, local regulations, fire safety, environmental conditions, durability, and maintenance while considering hardware systems.

Hardware being the functional components of doors and windows, the correct selection of hardware components as per the system design and construction is needed for optimal performance of fenestration. It is no longer a case of one size fits all. Also,

Automated windows for natural and smoke ventilation Automated curved sliding entrance doors