Fire Safety in Buildings- A shift in Paradigm

Page 1

Issue XIII|October 2016 www.frontale-india.com

Facade and Fenestration news for india

Fire safety in buildings: A shift in Paradigm

NĂźrnberg Messe India Pvt. Ltd. German house, 2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New delhi 110021,India Tel.: +91-11-47168888/Fax: +91-11-26118664/Website: www.nm-india.com Contact: Ms Rucheeka Chhugani / E-mail: rucheeka.chhugani@nm-india.com


EDITORIAL

www.frontale-india.com Page 2 | October 2016 | Issue XIII

Fire Safety in buildings: A shift in Paradigm

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA TAB

It’s that time of the year again, when we launch the next cycle of FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA 2017 (FFI 2017), as India’s only focused event on Windows, Doors and Facades!To quickly remind you, FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA (FFI) was launched in 2011 as an event which was not just a trade show, but a platform for exchange of knowledge, ideas and technologies by NürnbergMesse in cooperation with the Indo-German Chambers of Commerce. The last year’s event was a great success, of course, with a potential to achieve a lot more. This year, delving further into the realm of Façade design, there is a deeper focus with regards to Fire Security and Safety. In line with this theme, (FFI 2017) is planned in conjunction with FIRE & SECURITY INDIA EXPO 2017previewing, fire safety and security solutions from February 23rd- 25th 2017together with the other shows at the same venue such as the ACREX India 2017 covering HVAC, ISH 2017 showcasing plumbing systems, FSIE 2017 and the Glasspro 2017 show on international exhibition for flat glass processing and products.Together with our organizers NürnbergMesseand IFT Rosenheimas strategic partners, we promise to bring to you the best from the very best! For additional information, on any of these events, do visit http://www.frontale-india.com/ or www. fsie.in With great pleasure, and of course a lot of aims and aspirations, the team at FFI is striving hard to make this upcoming event, a success, not just in terms of knowledge and exposure, but also as a tool to bring the innovation in the domain of façade and fenestrations to the forefront, and to connect to the end-consumer of course. The current 13th issue of the bi-monthly tabloid is based on the theme ‘Fire Safety in Buildings | A Shift in Paradigm’ asan attempt to explore novel technologies, and facilitate dissemination of knowledge. With a circulation of over 5000 copies across the country, we can proudly claim that the earlier issues of the tabloid have been very well received by the industry, and has become a point of reference for this special vertical in the built environment. You can read all the earlier issues online at https://issuu.com/ffi2014 We look forward to your inputs and feedback on the same; Your inputs will add an important dimension to what is potentially a very important industry. You can contribute to the upcoming issues of the tabloid by sending in snippets of your work, projects and articles or essays to ffi@nm-india.com Save the date from February 23rd- 25th 2017, Look forward to seeing you at FFI 2017! Tanya Khanna Founder & Director, Epistle Communications FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA was launched in 2011 with the sole aim of creating a unique platform for the Facade and Fenestration Industry. As the event enters its 7th cycle, the whole industry has undergone a sea change. Leading international players have started manufacturing in India, awareness has increased, local players have modernised and enhanced their manufacturing capabilities. The end customer is also demanding products which improve the functionality of the building and are cost effective and energy efficient at the same time. This scenario offers a huge scope for domestic and international players alike, to create products especially catered towards the Indian climate and market. The last two years have also seen the Indian economy getting back on track. Encouraged by various Government initiatives including Make in India, International players are looking at the Indian market with a lot of interest both in terms of manufacturing and sourcing. India’s smart cities project, proposed to be equipped with infrastructure that offers a good quality of life through smart solutions, has attracted funding of INR 480 billion (US$7.1 billion) while the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), has acquired a total funding of INR 500 billion (US$7.4 billion) by the Cabinet. Apart from the Smart Cities project, the Government’s ‘Housing for All by 2022’ will be a major game changer for the industry. The construction Industry is on the trajectory towards renewed growth and vibrancy. Given the huge costs and challenges involved in developing 100 smart cities, it is essential that architects and urban planners work closely together with the building technology sector. FFI since its inception has been held concurrently to ACREX INDIA - India’s leading exhibition for the HVAC & R industry. In 2017 new partners will be added to the fold. ACREX along with FFI, FIRE & SECURITY Expo, GLASSPRO India ( organised by Messe Dusseldorf ) & ISH India powered by IPA ( organised by Messe Frankfurt ) will come together to form the BUILD FAIR ALLIANCE (BFA) . BFA will merge the strengths and networks of experts and provide INTEGRATED BUILDING SOLUTIONS under one Roof to create a one stop avenue for architects, specifiers and consultants. Mark your calendars to visit us from the 23rd-25th February at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida to experience this first hand. The FFI Tabloid has been your knowledge source for the latest advancements in the façade and fenestration industry. And with our current and upcoming editions we hope to give you a glimpse into the world of new technologies, sustainable solutions and path breaking innovations. Happy Reading! Rucheeka Chhugani Project Manager FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA

IMPRINT Disclaimer: All rights reserved. This tabloid is intended for the dissemination of information about the Façade and Fenestration Industry, purely for academic and informational purposes aimed at discourse on façade design. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the owner of the copyright. All content is the copyright of FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA.

Nürnberg Messe India Pvt. Ltd. German House, 2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India Tel.: +91-11-47168888 Fax: +91-11-26118664 Website: www.nm-india.com Contact: Ms. Rucheeka Chhugani Issued by - FFI Editor-in-chief Tanya Khanna, Epistle communications Rucheeka Chhugani FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA Editorial Staff Nisha Tyagi, Syed Sarim Ali, Navita Sapra Mohd. Daud Malik

Erratum : Article : Malik Architects Project : RAAS, Jodhpur Picture Credits : Studio LOTUS, Delhi In the 10th tabloid : Anniversary Issue

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www.frontale-india.com Issue XIII | October 2016 | Page 3

Facade and Fenestration news for india

Record visitor numbers at FENSTERBAU FRONTALE and HOLZ-HANDWERK in April 2016 The twin trade fair FENSTERBAU FRONTALE and HOLZHANDWERK confirmed its leading position among

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE India 2016 Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mumbai

participating industries with a record number of visitors in 2016: the event held between 16 and 19

The 6th edition of FENSTERBAU FRONTALE india 2016,

facades and its Indian edition FENSTERBAU FRONTALE

March brought about 110,581* experts from the wood

International Exhibition & Conference on Window,

India.

and window industries to Nuremberg, compared to

Door and Façade Technology took place from 25th-

The Facade and Fenestration Industry in India has

108,967 on the previous occasion in 2014. The second

27th February 2016 at Bombay Convention & Exhibition

witnessed a tremendous growth over the last few

day of the event alone saw a record 38,500 visitors pass

Centre, Mumbai. Since the inception of the show in

years with the entry of many international system,

through the halls – a figure never previously achieved

2011, the exhibition has continued to grow and has

machinery and hardware companies.

by the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in a single day.

attracted Industry Leaders. The event has managed

The venue, fully booked for the event, hosted a total

to achieve a successful outcome by providing an

of 1,288 exhibitors*, more than a third of them from

effective learning platform, complemented with

outside Germany, presenting new developments and

immense networking opportunities. It gives an insight

innovations from the wood processing industry and

into the latest technology and their application. The

the fields of window, door and façade construction.

products & solutions on display at the event meet

With 794 exhibitors from 37 countries at FENSTERBAU

various criteria such as sustainability, energy efficiency

FRONTALE, 494 exhibitors from 20 countries at HOLZ-

and durability. The event also had an ‘Innovation

HANDWERK and about 110,581 international trade

Gallery’ which showcased the Facades designed by

visitors combined, this biennial combined event

renowned architects across the country.

again impressed both exhibitors and visitors with

“NürnbergMesse

the outstanding quality and volume of the top level

fensterbau

products and information available. Current industry

international trade fair for windows, doors and

is

responsible

frontale

India,

for

organizing

world’s

leading

topics were carefully prepared to provide a wealth of information in the supporting programme. About a third of all exhibitors and visitors came from abroad in 2016. After Germany, the countries with the greatest number of exhibitors at FENSTERBAU FRONTALE were Italy, Poland and Turkey, with Austria and Italy the runners-up at HOLZ-HANDWERK.Trade visitors came from 116 countries, above all Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The inaugural session powered by Geeta Group

Mr. Ganesh Pai, Theysohn Extrusiontechnik

of Companies was well attended by the façade

Mr. Jayen Modi, Baerlocher

industry experts and the design community. It was

Mr. Bharat Kaura, Shepherd Color

then followed by a session by Mr. Jurgen Benitz-

Nitin Jadev, Profine

Wildenburg, IFT Rosenheim who gave a small talk on

Mr. Jagdish Mistry, Jagdish Mistry & Associates

the success with quality of Windows, Glass, Facades and Doors. The jury for the Student’s Competition 2016

The theme for the discussion was- benefits of

comprising of the eminent Dr. Prem Jain, Chairman,

uPVC, extrusion systems for end to end PVC profile

India Green Building Council and Mr. Arjun Malik from

manufacturing, stabilization of PVC profiles for better

Malik Architecture took place at the RitikaaWood

performance and durability and color options for

lounge. Himanshu Chopra, B. Arch. Student, University

PVC profiles. It enlightened the audience about

School Of Architecture & Planning, New Delhi was

the quality, form & function, visual appearance,

declared the winner for the competition.

sustainability, insulation factor and cost of UPVC windows and doors. The panelists reached a general

Another important session was the Panel Discussion

consensus that Vinyl is the most prevalent residential

on FENEPLAST-A deeper insight into UPVC industry

window framing material and is gaining popularity

was conducted during the main event which saw

in the commercial sector due to its highly-efficient

participation from:

performance ratings.


www.frontale-india.com Page 4 | October 2016 | Issue XIII

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA TAB

The main highlight of the event was an international seminar on Fire Safety In Glass Façade Buildings organized by the Fire Safety Association Of India (FSAI) on the 26th February at the main event in Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. It saw participation from the following people: Andy Dean, Head Of Facades WSP/ Parsons Brinckerhoff, Dubai. Ar. Raghavendran, CRN Architects. Santosh Warick, Director MIDC Fire Service & CFO, MIDC. Ruchir Panwar, Business Head-Build Solution, Susten by Mahindra. Devendra Kumar Shami, Fire Advisor, DGFS, CD, HG. Peter Simmonds, MD/ Principal Building & Systems Analytics, LLC, USA. Hemanth Rathod, National Heads-Structural Glass Solutions. Saint Gobain Glass India. Rolf Schnitzler, Product Engineer-Curtain Walls & Windows, IFT Rosenheim, Germany. Gareth Whitcombe, Technical Specialist, Water & Mechanical Products, TYCO, USA. Pankaj Dharkar, PDA Consultants, Ahmedabad The aim was to discuss how fire can be controlled in glass buildings, the material replacement for mitigating opportunities, façade fire risk evaluation- understanding & quantifying the risks associated, fire rated materials and its performance characteristic, etc. It was a very informative and educative seminar. Report on Net Zero Architecture Another highlight was a panel discussion on “Net Zero ArchitectureWhy Facades Are Important” on the 27th February at the main event. The event was moderated by Mr. Ashish Rakheja from AEON Consultants featuring illustrious architects as panelists including: Mr. Puran Kumar, Puran Kumar Architects Mr. Kalhan Mattoo, Planet 3 Studios Mr. Deepak Mehta, Deepak Mehta Architects Mr. Kayzad Shroff, Shroffleon Architects Mr. Prashant Sutaria, Prashant Sutaria Architects It was well attended by members of the façade and architectural community and enlightened the audience about the advantages of Energy efficient facade and fenestration and its impact on building designs. It touched upon a plethora of topics including an increasing focus on low energy buildings, role of facades, green rating system in India, a shift in pace in terms of buildings being made, high performance building, educating the end users etc. This meet was an attempt to bring together people from various fields. The facade and architectural industry to come together and

identify how aesthetics and design trends can be reconciled with energyefficient buildings. Mr. Puran Kumar added that, “Net Zero energy building is essentially energy conservation in terms of heat and water management and the air quality management of the buildings. It is paramount that we as architects consider this as one of focus areas even though we all will have different roadmaps to achieving it.” Mr. Kayzad Shroff concluded by saying that “ Energy Efficient buildings should be made a prime focus for architecture students to ensure that we are moving towards net zero architecture.” The intention was also to discuss the potential of the window, door and facade industry in India and highlight the fact that there is a lot to explore and innovate. There was also a very interesting talk on parametric architecture and highly glazed facades regarding which all panelists had diverse and valuable viewpoints.

STUDENT COMPETITION 2016

The Student’s competition for the 6th edition of FENSTERBAU FRONTALE India 2016 was based around the topic “Redesign your Studio”. The students had to redesign the external walls of their college studio space with a fenestration system of their choice. The main aim of the competition was to see how a conventional arrangement of windows and walls can be replaced with an integrated facade system that satisfies the given criteria. 1. Energy Efficiency - The new facade system must reduce the energy consumption of the studio, i.e. lighting & air-cooling 2. Natural Ventilation - The system must allow for natural ventilation & air movement for comfort 3. Day lighting - Internal spaces must benefit from natural day light 4. Flexibility - Design it to work! College studios always take a lot of punishment from students and your design must be resilient 5. Sustainability - The materials and systems chosen should reflect suitable sustainability criteria such a sourcing, lifetime maintenance and resilience to local climate It saw participation of students from leading institutes across India and the jury for the Student’s Competition 2016 comprised of the eminent Dr. Prem Jain, Chairman, India Green Building Council and Mr. Arjun Malik from Malik Architecture, who were extremely impressed with the quality of the entries. Himanshu Chopra, B. Arch. Student, University School Of Architecture & Planning, New Delhi was declared the winner for the competition.


www.frontale-india.com Issue XIII | October 2016 | Page 5

Facade and Fenestration news for india

From the

Fire Safety in Buildings A Shift in Paradigm Syed Sarim Ali

editorial

Buildings today are required to ensure fire safety

human psychology during fire. The easier a building

measures by law, but the efficiency with which the

design, the better would be the access to fire exits

plans are executed and the evacuation process can

during a mishap. The designs need to analyze

be as quick as possible, is a matter of great concern.

the responses of the masses through dedicated

Often, in spite of all the conventional strategic

research work. If the designs are study - based, then

measures, a building design fails to provide maximum

the predictability of human behaviour definitely will

safety to people, and this is not just hazardous to

increase. For example, a closed public space such

the ones inside the premise, but also to ones in the

as a theatre, a store or a mall that has the capacity

neighbouring buildings. Thus, the rationale behind the

to accommodate a large number of elderly people,

development of code of conduct, when the alarm

children and families. Their age and the amount of

goes off is something that the authorities must be

panic to fire would decide their choice of exit or the

serious about from the very beginning.

immediate step to tackle it.

Human behaviour is a complicated phenomenon

Buildings with uncomplicated layouts have a quicker

On 23 June both Belgian production sites

and human minds often surprise us with its unexpected

access to fire-affected areas and in addition to this,

(Hooglede-Gits and Diksmuide) received the

responses when they sense danger. And that is why, it

there is a need of provision for hose valves and fire

2016 annual certificate of the West Flanders

is of utmost priority that architectural designs carefully

extinguishers. Adequate spaces must be included in

Charter Corporate Sustainability.

scrutinize the possible ways that would sync in with

the design, so that one can easily approach these

Sustainability is and remains the central thread

facilities.

of Deceuninck’s company policy as an integral

The building construction requirements specifically

part of our vision “Building a Sustainable Home.

lay out rules of allowable height, occupancy type,

During an academic session 45 companies were

construction type and so on, and these legal matters

awarded the annual certificate for the year

are to be given most attention by the designers and

2016 of the West Flanders Charter Corporate

architects. Of course, a fire detection and notification

Sustainability

system is the very least expected in any building, but

Minister of Finance, Budget and Energy. The

this is not where all the work is done. Post-evacuation,

West-Flanders Charter Sustainable Development

through the exits, the area where people are to be

is an initiative of both the Province and the

accommodated, falls under the planning procedure

Chamber of Commerce of West-Flanders as well

as well. Well-lit fire exits and a strong power backup

as the audit company Bureau Veritas. The West-

when the regular source of electricity would disrupt

Flanders

fire, will not ensure safety, but also less chaos as it is

has been developed in partnership with the

the last thing needed when a fire breaks out.

enterprises and the Province of West-Flanders.

It is not enough for a building to be large and beautiful,

The purpose of the charter is to reward the

surrounded by greenery with a provision of space

sustainability efforts and accomplishments of

for kids and a gym for the fitness conscious. Modern

companies and organisations.

technology and full proof architectural planning

DECEUNINCK

is the only way through which the very foundation

received the annual certificate for the 17th year

of a building can be strengthened. Only when the

in a row. The compound and recycling site of

buildings would be equipped with grade A quality

Deceuninck in Diksmuide received the annual

equipments with a check on its durability, which

certificate for the second time. During the

further adhere to green standards, they can stand

annual evaluation the company’s performance

upright against natural and man-made disasters. Why

on 10 different sustainability topics is audited.

take a risk when prevention has always been a better

In 2016 there was a special focus on corporate

choice since time immemorial?

governance, human resources management,

team’s desk Deceuninck awarded the 2016 West Flanders Charter Corporate Sustainability

by

Charter

NV

Bart

Tommelein,

Sustainable

in

Flanders’

Development

Hooglede-Gits

proudly

energy consumption, impact of transport, the management of various emissions such as safety and health etc...

INVITING ARCHITECTS AND CONSULTANTS TO CONTRIBUTE ARCTICLES AND PROJECTS THAT DEMONSTRATE FACADE INNOVATION write to us at: ffi@nm-india.com


ADOBE CAMPUS, Noida SWBI Architects

Planned to be the Research and Development center for Adobe Systems, an American multinational computer software company headquartered in California, United States, the campus is conceived as a highly utilitarian and functionality-driven office. A pioneer in digital media, Adobe as a company has historically focused upon the creation of multimedia and creativity software products, with a more-recent foray towards rich Internet application software development.The brief was to plan a world class Campus for over 2000 IT professionals in an energy efficient sustainable Office space. Aimed to be at par with global norms, the office campus sets out to achieve new benchmarks for workspaces in the rapidly developing work culture in India. Within the design, yet, there are provisions, avenues, methods and expressions to be incorporated artistically, aesthetically and in a refined manner to achieve a healthy and vibrating work environment. An extensive research and study of Adobe’s current, newly commissioned Facilities was undertaken bythe Design Team, before arriving at the finaldesign Solution. Planned on a 7acres siteof about 4,00,000 SF

usable area with a phased approach to construction, with2 phases. Each phaseis complete with a large Data Center,labs, meetingand collaboration spaces,security and ancillary support functions. Adobe is a Spanish word for sun dried clay bricks – a basic building block and with the client background in Design, Media & other Geometric software, a “Back to Basics” design philosophy was adopted using terracotta as the primary material expressed in a modern contemporary style using geometric designs & compositions. Conceptualized with an approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment with a LEED platinum rating, that was originally applied by Adobe for gold, Emphasis is laid on Recreational facilities – both outdoor and indoor, that manifest in spaces such as the Multi-purpose Hall,Gymnasium, outdoor court for spaces, Recreational spaces and agenerous size Café. The main spine, designed on a grand scale running through the entire campus overlooks the water and Landscape, connecting both the phases through landscaped courts and streets, creating an inviting and encouraging micro-climate while acting as a visual and physical buffer to the main building. The throughout theyear shaded, outdoor recreational activity zone is located towards the North Side to achieve optimum light and shade. An Extensive Horizontal Parasol isprovided above to cut out the high altitudeSouth Sun in summers, while allowing for the low altitudewinter sun, at the same time enabling an uninterruptedview of the extensive landscaped gardens.

Project feature

Sanjay Wadhwa, Principal Architect, SWBI Architects B.Arch Fellow, Indian Institute of Architects, IIA Member, Indian Green Building Council, IGBC

Sanjay Wadhwa is Principal and Design Head at SWBI Architects, with over 30 years of experience in Architecture, Design,Planning and execution in the Built Environment industry pan India across the diverse segments of Corporate, Institutional, Hospitality, Residential, Masterplanning and Commercial projects. Under his leadership and employing Best International industry practices, SWBI specializes in the domain of projects in Workplace Design, greenfield IT campuses and interiors.Founded in 1987 by Sanjay Wadhwa along with Bina Wadhwa, SWBI Architects is a multi-disciplinary, Design Consultancy Firm with a Pan-India presence, where bespoke customized solutions are a high point, backed by an excellent bandwidth of Professional Resource and related Infrastructure. Offering sensitive and innovative design solutions across a diverse range of User Groups and core markets in Architecture, Interiors, Planning and Engineering, SWBI works across varied typologies. Rooted in the green principles of Sustainable Buildings, most of the Firm’s work is towards achieving highest level of sustainability revolving around reduced carbon footprint as well as employees’ wellbeing. Having Won several national Design Competitions (both open and limited) such as the Award-Winning Office Building for MP UrjaVikas Nigam at Bhopal, which was a landmark in passive solar architecture, Sanjay has also handled overseas projects in countries such as Germany & Portugal including designing India Pavilion at Expo-2000, Germany. Passionate about creating Designs which are “Wellbeing @ Workplace” centric, Sanjay speaks regularlyat various Industry forums and through his work at SWBI, has won Awards & accolades includingthe “Pinnacle Interior Architect of the Year Award”.

Sanjay Wadhwa



www.frontale-india.com Page 8 | October 2016 | Issue XIII

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE INDIA TAB Fire Safety of Building Designs A Psychonomics of Human Behaviour Ar.Krishna Rao Jaisim, Jaisim-Fountainhead, Bangalore

perceptions of risk, the actual fire, etc.), a general

the most important factors when considering the

comprehension of reactions, reaction times, “flight”

safety of a building. An issue that should be, and

behaviour and so on do at least provide a general

usually is, factored in at the design stage. By law,

direction for designers. That people will generally “hit

today, most buildings are required to ensure safety

the panic button” is a given. Providing the best solutions

measures. However, whether there is a rationale

and control measures in such a situation is what is

to the measure, how those are implemented, and

necessary. When you consider this psychonomics of

whether they are indeed deployable in a crisis is

human behaviour when faced with a fire, it seems

entirely another matter.

When deciding on safety

quite obvious that fire protection engineering must

measures to employ in the fire safety design aspect of

be involved in building design. Systems that detect,

architectural design, it is imperative that the designer

contain and control or even extinguish a fire must

has an understanding of the behaviour of building

be considered and incorporated as far as possible,

occupants in case of an emergency / a fire. Thus, the

thus ensuring at least some degree of protection of

following is an attempt to understand human beings

life and property. Planning for fire protection involves

when they are faced with a fire, the characteristics

understanding how and where fires may be started,

of fire protection engineering, and how both these

whether manmade, natural, wildfire or incidental

affect building design.

and it is for the designer to understand the various

Psychonomics, quite literally, is the study of the factors

placements of potentially hazardous materials and

that govern human behaviour. A relatively new area

provide necessary solutions. Of course it is imperative

of study, it is related to the field of Experimental

the designer does this additionally bearing in mind the

Psychology. For the purpose of this article, and, in a

legal requirements as well as the need for creativity

manner of speaking, the development of fire safety

in design.

methods and requirements is aresponse to the

Some fire safety design requirements that ought to be

study of human psychonomics in the face of fire. A

compulsory in any kind of building are:

Behavioural Design approach helps when developing

1. Ensuring Fire Engine Access – Buildings with

non-invasive

requirements

uncomplicated layouts ensure quicker access to the

while preserving architectural characteristics. It is

fire-affected areas. Additionally there need to be

indeed a task to provide adequate and innovative

provisions for fire hose valves and provisions for easy

wayfinding

occupants

accessto safety equipment such as fire extinguishers.

while not compromising on the architectural value

Adequate space and approach for fire engines and

of a building. However, this article will not touch

their apparatus should also be incorporated.

upon architectural niceties, but rather take into

2. Designersand architects should consider the legal

consideration the practicalities of escaping a fire

building

based on the nature of human beings when in such

recommended construction type, allowable heights

a predicament.

and area helps implement fire protection measures.

to

techniques

building

to

building

construction

requirements.

Keeping

to

Similarly paying heed to the occupancy type, the Human behaviour in fires is mainly understood through

fire ratings of materials used for the interiors, and fire

the evaluation of real-life and simulated incidents

control systems in place are also important.

such as fire drills.Studying this behaviour teaches

3.

designers what to expect and therefore reduce

while designing a building in order to address the

the risk of exposure.

The predictability of human

exit stairway locations, how many people these

behaviour depends on the kind of factors in play.

accommodate and where they let out – ideally in to

With study-based design control of the factors, the

a safe assembly area.

ability to predict behaviour increases. For example

4. A fire detection and notification system are ideal as

understanding the time taken by occupants to react

at the very least these detect the hazard and provide

to a fire notification allows designers to decide where/

mass notification.

how far away/how close fire exits should be placed.

5. A fire extinguishing system placed where the

The kind of occupancy of a building also influences

appropriate people have easy access to it.

human behaviour and therefore design choices.

6. Emergency systems – so that when regular electricals

For example, a shopping mall is more likely to have

etc. are shut off, there is emergency power, lighting

families, children, elderly folk, all of which affect

and lit-up exit signs.

how and where individuals choose to escape and

The design team have their job cut out for them in

therefore their escape time also. While it is impossible

the balancing act that they must engage in. While

to predict every action of every individual because

planning for every kind of fire eventuality, they must

of

additionally be mindful of every building’s sustainability

numerable

variables

(personal

experiences,

Egress

Requirements

should

one has to pay attention to the durability, green standards and the product’s lifecycle cost. Of course, for most projects, companies and governments, there are prescriptive codes and standards that the designer must adhere to. These are usually exhaustive and specify in detail how fire protection systems are to be designed, installed, tested and maintained. All these laws, policies, sustainability requirements and

The means to escape in the face of fire is one of

solutions

goals. For example, in selecting fire resistant materials,

be

considered

so on, have each evolved from that basic reaction of a human being to his environs. One lone human being is one matter, a building full of them is quite another. As countries and governments have grown to place a higher value on the life of their people, the preservation of human life is a priority when designing a building. It is not sufficient that a building is pretty, large and surrounded by green landscaping. It is imperative, today, that buildings are equipped against all manner of natural and manmade disasters as far as possible. With respect to that sentiment, architects, building engineers and designers must be very aware of the kind of psychonomics that gives rise to various design needs and requirements.

About the author Prof. Ar. Krishna Rao Jaisim is a name to be reckoned with in the field of Architecture. He is an Architect, Professor and Patron all in one. Born in 1944, Prof. Jaisim completed his studies in architecture in 1966. His thoughts, ideas, and convictions draw inspiration from the timeless novel The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. The compelling philosophy of Rand’s writings compounded with the teachings and encouragement of Ms. Sheila Tribe at the Madras School of Architecture shaped Jaisim’s inimitable approach and passion towards his calling. Other sources of inspiration from the star-studded constellation that is Architecture include Mies van der Rohe, Buckminster Fuller and Geoffrey Bawa. Ultimately he formed his firm JAISIM-FOUNTAINHEAD in 1970. Prof. Jaisim was most recently awarded the NDTV Award for Lifetime Achievement in April 2014. Other awards he has won include the Award for Dedicated Services in the field of Civil Engineering by CIVIL-AID in February 2012, the JK Cements Chairman’s Award in August 2011, and the Award for Best Commercial Architecture by CNBC Awaaz Crisil Real Estate Awards in 2008. Prof. Ar. K. Jaisim has authored and presented over 150 papers, and been published in national and international media. He has made over 1500 presentations on Architecture and related areas on just as many forums across the country and abroad.

Krishna Rao Jaisim


www.frontale-india.com Issue XIII | October 2016 | Page 9

Facade and Fenestration news for india

Fire Safety in Tall Buildings

Ar. Reza Kabul ARK Reza Kabul Architects, Mumbai

As we evolve into a nation of vertical cities, there is a dire need to understand and enforce fire safety in the high-rise towers

About the author

state-of-the-art fire fighting systems. The structure contains a mix of spaces

One of the foremost talents in the realm of Indian ar-

and users, including retail, commercial,

chitecture, Reza Kabul’s foray into the industry was a

entertainment,

and

random experience of viewing books on architecture

residential. Keeping in mind the safety

that proved catalyst enough for a switch from engi-

of the occupants, a four hour fire rating

neering to architecture. After a brief stint at a prom-

arrangement has been provided with

inent architecture studio in Mumbai, he set up ARK

an intelligent addressable fire alarm

Reza Kabul Architects Pvt. Ltd., India in 1988, and fur-

system that can pinpoint the exact

ther expanded with ARK Studio Pune in Pune, India

location of the fire across all levels

and ARK Studio Inc in San Francisco Bay Area, USA.

hospitality,

and spaces. The lift well, lobbies, and Evolved structural forms, high-rise buildings, and mixed-use projects

staircases are pressurized with the

Reza Kabul has envisioned and successfully execut-

present several unique challenges that are not found in traditional

help of pressurization fans located on

ed a string of path breaking projects centred on the

low-rise structures. Every additional levels results in a direct increase

the service levels. This system protects

design philosophy of ‘liberating spaces’. He has han-

in the number of people that need to travel vertical distances to

escape

fighting

dled projects for leading names in Indian real estate

evacuate the structure. This emphasises on the need for expert risk

shafts against the ingress of smoke

industry, and continues to enjoy the trust and appre-

analysis, longer egress times, evacuation strategies, fire department

by maintaining pressure within the

ciation with projects that set pioneering benchmarks

accessibility, smoke movement, and fire control.

spaces. The drencher system has been

in architectural design.

Often the fire engineers and consultants are on board when

adopted for the car park podiums,

matters related to fire performance technology come into play, yet

while the emulsifier system is put in

A speaker for ‘Marcus Evans Tall Buildings Confer-

architects should not leave it all up to them. When it comes to fire

place for electrical equipments such

ence’ in Seoul, Korea (2008) and a pioneer in tall

performance technology architects should not leave it all up to the

as transformers. Standard fire safety

buildings, Reza Kabul has been listed in the Limca

fire engineer. Knowing the pros and cons of various construction

instruments such as voice evacuation

Book of Awards (2003) for Shreepati Arcade, the tall-

materials and how they can affect the design is essential.

systems,

and

est building in India. His signature projects are spread

Over the years, the cost of fire protection and safety has decreased

breathing apparatus, and extinguishers

globally in United States, India, Mauritius, United Arab

drastically because of the new products and increased competition

are available on all levels across several

Emirates, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Bhutan, and Kenya.

in the market. While several fire-retardant coatings and measures

zones.

are applied on site, there has also been an increase in the built-

High-rise

in fire retardant properties of products themselves. Intumescent

significant attention towards fire safety

coatings, paint-like materials that expand when heated to form a

over the years. We need to highlight

char, provide excellent insulating properties and are widely used.

and emphasize on is the frequency of

Shreepati Arcade, standing at 153 meter tall, was the first high-rise

conducting mock fire safety drills; they

designed at ARK Reza Kabul Architects, and the then tallest in India

are an important part of the fire safety

(2002). To ensure fire safety, we integrated the latest of its time, fire

procedure. It helps the occupants

proof Korean bus-bar technology. It acted as a tested fire barrier

understand what they need to do if

and functional endurance in case of fire to ensure a high degree

there is a fire, and how much time do

of safety. Parts of the structure were also clad in glass mosaic tiles

they have to complete a successful

as they are heat resistant, protecting it from fire against latent heat.

evacuation. Implementing this will help

The added advantage was that this material is crazing resistant and

drastically reduce the loss of life in the

keeps the structure safe from hairline cracks below its surface.

case of a fire outbreak. As it is rightly

Our design for the upcoming mixed-use high-rise Altitude, which

said, don’t let your dreams go up in

stands at 383 meter tall, is equipped with modern and responsive

smoke – practice fire safety!

routers

and

sprinklers,

buildings

fire

fire

safety

have

garnered

Ar. Reza Kabul


on each floor so that people can read and take shortest distance to safely reach out in the open. All

FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS

fire exits signages should be clearly visible in case power supply is cut off .Fire Extinguishers should be

Neeraj Dar, Neeraj Dar And Associates, Delhi Buildings are designed by architects and engineers to withstand earthquakes and external pressures to prevent damage to the buildings so that it may live longer. But what about preventing it from internal damages such as fire, which can destroy property

placed at places with firefighting equipment and

by day and extensively used in peak summers which consume huge amount of electricity.

As a result

electrical consumption increases to a very high level and it becomes necessary to keep a check on the condition of wiring and the maintenance of electrical

and cause major casualties?

equipment.

Accidents of fire in a building take place due to many

Accidents of fire can happen due to our own faults

reasons, One is when the electrical wires supplying electricity are overloaded beyond their capacity resulting in

overheating of wires . Due to this, the

insulation around the copper wire starts burning and spreads to places in a short time whereever wires are running. All the flammable materials coming in contact with this catch fire easily which accelerates the burning and spreads to every corner of the building. As a result, burning of so many different types of materials produces lethal smoke and this takes many people’s lives by making it difficult to breathe and suffocate to death before any emergency help arrives. Therefore, a small fault due to wiring can also result in serious accidents. To prevent these types of incidents, proper current carrying capacity of wires according to their load must be calculated and ensured by the electrical engineer. In our country, the number of

air conditioners are increasing day

also.

should be maintained and checked regularly. Public address system and Fire alarms should be in working condition at all times with periodic checks and regular maintenance. Whether it is a residential or commercial building, a low rise or high rise building, we must ensure ourselves

All buildings must have periodic inspection

of buildings to check any illegal violations from the approved plans. Although architects design buildings in accordance to building norms and fire codes but in due course of time people make illegal extensions and change the original plan to grab in more space

by having effective fire preventing features in cables and wires, false ceiling, partitions, doors and even switches. Fire safety devices and firefighting equipments are necessary which help in case of emergency situations. Therefore, fire safety in buildings is an essential part and should never be neglected.

for their personal benefit which may result in heavy casualties in case of fire. No deviations from the original building plan should be allowed so as to have a proper plan in place in case of emergency which helps firemen to access the building and reach out to every room even if it is dark. We also see vacant spaces in corridors of commercial buildings being obstructed by storing materials which are flammable and can prevent quick exit of people towards fireexit. All floor Evacuation plans should be displayed and marked with arrows showing fire-exit

in case

of any eventuality .These plans should be displayed

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION FOR FIRE & SECURITY

About the author Born in 1968, Neeraj Dar completed his Bachelor’s in Architecture from Institute of Environmental Design, Vidya Nagar, Gujarat. He started his career in C. P Kukreja Associates & S R Sikka Associates and went on to work with Ansal Properties & Infrastructure ltd, Delhi for 7 years. Neeraj Dar & Associates provides Architecture Planning, Designing and construction assistance to their clients for High End residential, Commercial, Group Housing, High Rise Apartments, Schools, Hospitals and Institutional Buildings in Delhi & Gurugram. Neeraj Dar has keen interest in developing latest, trendy & architecturally appealing building elevations. His 20 years of professional experience in designing and construction adds to his client’s satisfaction.

IEML • Greater Noida • Delhi NCR

Organisers:

www.fsie.in

Secure not just the ‘living’. But ‘life’ itself.

NEERAJ DAR




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