Monday, 3 August 2020

Architectural History of Ahmadabad City

Hello Friends , 

We have created a Youtube Chaneel of Architectural world , Where we will be sharing Architectural Presentations of Famous Architects ,  there works and History . We will be also sharing presentations of Numerous building as well as Architectural styles . 

Today we have added presentation of Architectural History of Ahmadabad City , Please check the video and Subscribe to our Architectural Knowledge channel for more valuable videos.


Sunday, 26 July 2020

Architect Mario Botta

Hello Friends , 

We have created a Youtube Chaneel of Architectural world , Where we will be sharing Architectural Presentations of Famous Architects ,  there works and History . We will be also sharing presentations of Numerous building as well as Architectural styles . Today we have added presentation of Architect Mario Botta and his works, Please check the video and Subscribe to our Architectural Knowledge channel for more valuable videos.

 

Thursday, 8 August 2019

Lessons for flood

Recent flood in Sangli and Kolhapoor is leading to disastrous outcomes in terms of living things and wealth . We can not challenge the power of mother earth , but we can learn from our mistakes and can take precautionary measures to avoid the possible damages . Here are the basic 5 things in terms of personal property development or purchase to consider to avoid damages in case there is a floor like situation  : 

1: Check the Blue line and Red line If the property you are looking to develop or purchase false within 50 to 100 m from the river or any water body always check the level of Blue line and red line marked by the Irrigation department of Govt. of Maharashtra. You can easily get the maps from irrigation departments website. 

2 . No Construction beyond blue line :   Blue line is the average level of flood within past 25 years . This is a restricted zone . You can not construct or undertake any type of construction beyond blue line . However this space can be used as playground , gardens or seasonal farming . Do not purchase any bungalow plot , flat if the building is beyond blue line. 
NDA_02.jpg

3 : Restricted construction between red line and blue line. Red line is the average level of high flood within past 100 years .This is the highest level of water level achieved during high flood . This is a restricted zone of development . If you are planning to purchase a property which false between red line and blue line , the ground floor of the property should be above the level of red line. You should avoid basements in this zone. 
NDA.jpg

4: Always take a plinth Plinth is a necessary part of any construction .  Always take a plinth level of 1'6" to 2 ' above existing ground level irrespective of any zone . 
PLINTH.jpg
5. Always consult an Architect and structural engineer : 
If you are planning to develop a property which is beyond red line, consult as Architect , he or she can help you to survey the water levels and finalize the floor level. Normal footings and generally avoided near river beds , instead of directly dealing with a local civil contractor it is better to hire a structural engineer who can study the existing soil conditions and design a suitable footings and structure above for you. 

Sunday, 3 February 2019

Fast Dry wall Construction

In India , Dry wall construction Practice is taking shape ,  though it is limited to internal spaces  , people prefer dry walls because it increases the construction speed and carpet area of the room .



Instead of 6" thick brickwork , which becomes 9" after both side plaster , we can use a 3" dry wall , which can take care of conducting or concealed plumbing also.

These Dry wall are equally fire resistant , sound proof  to conventional brickwork  but lighter in weight .  best part is we can reuse these walls if installed and uninstalled carefully. 

Each panel width is 600 mm , and height varies from 1800mm to 3000mm . We can choose any panel height to reduce the wastage . 

Bottom and Top of the panels are fixed to floor and ceiling with aluminium channels . If to be used for the floor or roof , a regular support @ 600 mm centre to centre is needed. We can use these panels for slopping roofs also with MS framing.  

#Aerocon #Drywall #Prefab 
due to these advantages these panels are used for Mezzanine floors , on in Prefab structures or for Boundary walls . 

Rates for 2" or 50mm dry wall starts from Rs.135/- per sq.ft.
Rates for 3" or 75mm dry wall starts from Rs.155/- per sq.ft.


 

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Assocham Summits Infrastructure Growth Roadmap to Finance Minister




Domestic infrastructure companies should be allowed to list in overseas capital markets through direct equity shares in a bit to spur growth, industry body Assocham has suggested to the government. “Listed and unlisted domestic infrastructure companies be allowed to list in overseas capital markets through direct equity shares as companies once listed abroad have better access to low cost funds and simultaneously they may also be allowed to set up an entity abroad to raise equity and invest the same in India, “it said in a letter to Finance Minister.
             Also, the transfer of holding to such an overseas entity from an Indian entity should be permitted at erstwhile book value, prevalent till March 31, 2010 as infrastructure projects are long-term and require high gestation, it said. Assocham president, Rajkumar Dhoot said, “Lack of availability of sufficient long term debt, dearth of equity funds, withdrawal of tax sops and absence of quick decision making are the key reasons responsible for a sluggish infrastructure growth in India.”
            Advocating the need for long term bank finance availability for the sector, the industry body has suggested for mandatory increasing the bank lending by way of incentives.  “Considering the priority status to the infra sector, a certain percentage of exposure should be made mandatory for all the banks just on the lines of export financing” it said.  “Besides, obligatory targets should also be imposed upon private sector banks and foreign banks operating in India as currently, major portion of infrastructure lending is contributed by public sector banks”.
            It suggested that banks may be permitted to issue long-term, tax free bonds for the purpose of lending to infrastructure sector at a lower rate of interest.  Provisions may also the made by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to provide interest subsidies to the banks for their exposure in this sector, it said.  Incentives doled out to the infrastructure entrepreneurs earlier, should be restored and current regulations be amended, it assed.

Saturday, 12 March 2011

3d views / stils


Saturday, 13 March 2010

ENERGY CONSERVATION


To achieve suitable indoor thermal conditions, one has two basic options:
either invest heavily in the purchase, installation, operation and maintenance
of HVAC systems;
or reduce energy costs by applying bio climatic principles to building
design.
The operating costs of heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting can be
significant, especially if the design and/or operation of the building is
suboptimal. Considering the fact that operational and maintenance expenses
grow with time and that problems usually get worse unless action is taken, it
makes good sense to place an emphasis on energy conservation right from
the start. In fact, energy savings add up over the years and translate into
cost savings.
Energy conservation has become an important aspect of building design and,
in some countries, a code-mandated requirement. The main objective is to
achieve indoor environmental quality, while balancing the requirements
for energy efficiency and overall energy conservation in an
environmentally acceptable manner.
Building retrofit or renovation costs are much lower than the costs for building
demolition and the construction of a new building. Energy conservation in
existing buildings is a priority, given that the lifetime of buildings is usually
more than 50 years and the existing stock of buildings is much greater than
new construction. Energy conservation measures for new and existing
buildings are already in process within several Member States of the
European Union, in accordance to the new Directives by the European
Commission on “Energy Conservation in Buildings”.
Energy conservation for heating and the reduction of heat losses are mainly
governed by thermal insulation of the building envelope. Thermal insulation
materials have improved significantly over the past decades in terms of
efficiency, safety and functionality. The current average heat loss of new
European buildings is about half of what it used to be for the pre-1945 building
stock. Nevertheless, the majority of existing buildings are poorly insulated,
since in most countries national thermal insulation regulations have been
enforced during the last decades. For example, in Greece, where the national
Thermal Insulation Code became effective in 1981, only 5% of the existing
residential building stock is insulated.
Heat losses through the building envelope are responsible for about 10-
25% of the total energy consumed in buildings, depending on outdoor weather
conditions and building materials. Consequently, a well insulated building
envelope can significantly reduce thermal losses in winter and heat gains in
summer, thus reducing energy consumption and operating costs, and
improving the indoor thermal conditions. The addition of an external cladding
façade, at an appropriate spacing from the main building “body”, on existing
and new buildings, creates an air gap that acts as a thermal buffer zone, thus
reducing heat losses in winter and heat gains in summer. Thermal insulation
5
materials should be added on the building “body”, for additional energy
savings. These rules apply to both existing and new buildings
Energy conservation for cooling of buildings is of primary concern in
Mediterranean countries. During the past decades, the use of mechanical air
conditioners (A/C) in southern European countries has increased dramatically.
This is primarily due to an increase of the living standards and the reduction in
price of A/C units. There is a clear trend of increasing sales with gross national
product (GNP) in EU member states. In Greece, sales of A/C units showed an
unprecedented increase of 900% during the late 1980s due to a series of heat
waves over a period of three years. The impact on the electric energy
consumption has been alarming. For the first time peak electric energy loads
occurred in Greece during the summer period. Similar trends have been
observed in most southern European regions, the Middle East, the United
States and Japan.
Solar control (shading) is a key design measure for minimising the heat gain
of indoor building spaces. The use of various shading devices to attenuate the
incident solar radiation can significantly reduce the cooling load and improve
the indoor thermal and visual comfort conditions. External shading is more
effective overall because the main amount of incident solar radiation is
intercepted outside the building and can be dissipated away from internal
spaces.

Thursday, 4 March 2010

new post

today post

Friday, 18 April 2008

Shopping Mall

This is our 4 th year design project Shopping Mall at Aundh.
I have designed on a basic grid pattern , with alcobond cladding..
hows the view?I did it in 1 night.....






Please comment freely..

Sunday, 13 April 2008

Difference between Architecture student and other fields student??

Seating infront of my drafting table i was just thinking of my past architecure studies and life...submissions,those late night studies , elevanth our model making , runnig for plotting , xeroxing the jurnals , computer failure befor the day of submissions....list will go on.. that was amazing..but whats the different between us and the other students like medical or enggi students? what do u think?? is there an difference??

Thursday, 10 April 2008

architectural presentation-ASPHALT ROOFING

WHAT IS ASPHALT?

A dark brown to black cementitious material in which the predominating constituents are bitumens, which occur in nature or are obtained in petroleum processing.
Asphalt is a constituent in varying proportions of most crude petroleum and used for paving, roofing, industrial and other special purposes.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Asphalt is obtained from fractional distillation of petroleum.
Felt used for paper. This felt is saturated with asphalt shingles and sidings which is used as roofing.
Stabilizers like silica, marble, sandstone etc. are combined with asphalt to control its hardness, elasticity, adhesion and weatherability.

Fine surfacing materials like talc, mica are finely ground and used to prevent the various asphalt materials from sticking together when packed.
Colored granules like natural slate, marble, granite are crushed, screened and graded to sizes.This is used to produce permanent colors.

CATEGORIZATION
Asphalt roofing is categorized as:
Organic
Fiberglass
Fiberglass based asphalt shingles are manufactured with mat composed entirely of glass fibers of varying lengths and orientations. This fiber glass base is then formulated with a special asphalt coating.

TYPES OF ASPHALT ROOFING
There are 6 types of Asphalt roofing .
Surfaced rolls produced from surfaced products.
Sidings.
Strip shingles.
Individual shingles.
Smooth roll roofing from saturated felts.
Built up roofing.

ROLL ROOFING

The wood deck is first cleaned first from any dust.
Hot or cold Asphalt cement as recommended by roofing manufacturer is poured.
The starter strip which is 914 mm wide and has lengths of 43.89 & 21.95.
The strip is then nailed to the deck in 2 rows, which are staggered, and in each row the nails have cc of 304 mm.

The nailing is done on the top of the roll on an offset of 120.65 mm.
The overlapping portion on the starter strip is covered with Asphalt cement.
Then the next roll is laid on the Asphalt cement.The roll overlaps on the starter strip by a distance of 482.6mm.
This strip is also then nailed in the same way.
Roll roofing can also be laid vertically in the same fashion.

Types of roll roofing


STRIP SHINGLES

The wooden deck is first cleaned of dirt and dust.
Felt underlayment is then laid on the wooden deck.
Underlayment is provided to low,sloping roofs.The roll roofing is laid on the deck in the same way as shown above.
The tabs used for the roofing is equal to three shingles.

The starter course or course of full 3-tab shingles reversed is laid and nailed on the underlayment.
The first course is then nailed and then further courses are nailed.
Each course covers the nails of the course below it,giving it a finished appearance.
Care is taken that the edges of the tabs are staggered
This type of roofing is used for slopes of 3to 12 up to 4 to 12

INDIVIDUAL SHINGLES

·       The wooden deck is cleaned.
·       Felt underlayment is laid, the felt underlayment is in roll roofing.
·       Then the starter course of individual shingles is laid and nailed horizontally.
The starter course, which is horizontally laid on quick setting roofing cement and a starting course of quick setting cement in the vertical manner is also laid.

The next courses are laid and nailed staggering to the previous course.
Individual shingles are also found in hexagonal staple down shingles, which give a better aesthetical view and even Dutch lap shingles are also available which are kept in place by L type nails.
This type of roofing is used for roofs with pitch 4 to 12 up to 8 to 12.

Interlocking individual shingles


BUILT-UP ROOFING

·      Built up asphalt roofing consists of alternate layers of hot asphalt cement and asphalt saturated felts.
·      These layers are called 3-ply, 5-ply, etc., according to the number of layers of asphalt-saturated felt.
·      The finished surface consists of slag or various types stone chips.
·      This type of roof is used for roof surfaces with a pitch not greater than 3 to 12.
·      The life of 3-ply roofing is 10 years and for 5-ply roofing is 20 years.


5-ply built-up roofing


DISADVANTAGES

Deterioration begins early in product life-cycle as product sheds its protective granules
Susceptible to blow off in high winds
Scars easily when hot
Susceptible to mildew and moss
Environmentally unfriendly

Defects in organic shingles:
CUPPING
LOSS OF GRANULES


ADVANTAGES
Affordable Cost: Compared to other roofing products, asphalt shingles are relatively inexpensive.
Peace of Mind: Asphalt shingles have been around for over 100 years. They have a proven track record in our harsh climatic conditions.
Suitability: Asphalt shingles are available in a wide selection of sizes, styles and colours, suitable for most residential applications.

Warranty Coverage: Asphalt shingles are protected with warranty periods ranging from 20 years to Lifetime, which will suit any budget and needs.
User-Friendly: Experienced Do-It-Yourselfers can apply asphalt shingles successfully.
Low Maintenance and Easy Repairs: Other more expensive roofing products can require more maintenance, specialized tools, can be more difficult to repair and almost always require professional installation.

ADVANTAGES OF FIBERGLASS SHINGLES
Are more resistant to heat, which may cause blisters to form on softer organic shingles.
On most application, fiberglass shingles require the installation of an asphalt saturated felt underlayment.
Are more resistant to curling, which can happen with organic shingles after many years of service.
Roof assemblies covered with fiberglass shingles have a higher fire resistance rating than roof assemblies covered with organic shingles.

OTHER USES OF ASPHALT
Transportation - highways, railbeds for transit systems, airport runways
Recreational - running tracks, greenway trails, playgrounds, bicycle and golf cart paths, racetracks, basketball and tennis courts
Aquatic - fish hatcheries, reservoir liners, industrial retention ponds, sea walls, dikes and groins to control beach erosion
Residential - driveways, subdivision roads
Agricultural - cattle feed lots, poultry house floors, barn floors, greenhouse floors
Industrial - work sites, log yards, ports, freight yards, landfill ca
Waterproofing on roofs & tanks.
Used in tanking.

PASSIVE FIRE CONTROL

INTRODUCTION



Fire safety is a essential part of any building. Fire safety aspects are of two types :


ACTIVE FIRE CONTROL
PASSIVE FIRE CONTROL






Passive fire protection are those measures taken care of during designing of a structure and does not need any energy consumption.
They directly affect the architecture of the building.
Such means device the methods of assembling of components of a building such that spread of fire is limited to barest minimum.



FIRE SAFETY ASPECTS



Following fire safety aspects are taken care of in passive fire protection :
(1)Internal hazards
(2)Personal hazards
(3)Exposure hazards



1) INTERNAL HAZARDS



Internal hazards are hazards related to building itself and the property inside the building .They depend upon :
• Size, shape, and height of the building
• Material and design of construction
• Contents of the building
• Maintenance of the building

Internal hazards can be countered by :
1.)Fire resistance of the structure
2.)Compartmentation
3.)fire and smoke venting



1)FIRE RESISTANCE OF THE STRUCTURE




This aspect depends on the fire rating of different materials used for construction and the general planning of the building. The materials used for construction should have fire rating as specified by the relevant bylaws and IS codes.



The structural members can also be designed to increase fire resistance of the structure . For instance, the depth of slab, columns, and beams can be increased for additional fire protection.


2) COMPARTMENTATION
The aim of compartmentation is to contain the fire within the building.This is done by minimumising possible area by choking the fire and reducing the fuel .
Compartmentation can be studied under :
Integrity of compartment wall (horizontal compartmentation )
Integrity of compartment floor (vertical compartmentation)
Structural integrity and continuity of its fire
resistance (integral compartmentation )

HORIZONTAL COMPARTMENTATION
Normally in all buildings horizontal compartmentation is achieved by formation of rooms but doors are not sufficiently fire resistant .
The fire resistance of timber door is less than that of wall. To overcome this, doors should be made of composite materials .
Fire proof compartment is a enclosure of which all elements ie doors, windows, ventilators and walls have the required fire resistance . Such compartments should be used in places such as godowns, warehouses factories etc.
Fire proof doors shall confirm rigidity to requirements specified in IS 1648 – 1961.

VERTICAL COMPARTMENTATION
Like horizontal compartmentation vertical compartmentation is similarly achieved by floor slabs . Openings to accommodate vertical circulation can be ready means of passage of fire from one storey to another like staircase, lift chamber as also holes and pipes .
Holes and pipes : The same principles and considerations of combustibility applied to groups of pipe and services both vertically and horizontally .It has been a general rule, for many years, to use a 6 inch non combustible cast iron pipe through a wall for preventing any fire hazards.


STAIRCASE AND LIFTS
It is vitally important that staircases and lifts have the same standards of fire resistance as that of rest of the building .( or at least half hour) for this:
Stairs shall be constructed of non-combustible materials throughout .
Interior of the staircase should have at least one side adjacent wall and shall be completely enclosed.
A staircase shall not be be arranged around a lift shaft unless the later is entirely enclosed by a material of fire-resistance rating as that of the type of the construction itself.
Hollow combustible construction should be avoided.

3) SMOKE AND HEAT VENTING
Smoke and heat venting can be effectively used in structures with
Undivided floor areas with ceiling heights such that in case of fire smoke layer is developed at least 4.5 m above floor level such
conditions are frequently encountered in large industrial and
storage buildings.
The design of fire venting should take care of two cases
The first has to do with limited growth fires ie fires which are not expected to growth beyond a predictable heat release ,
Second type of fire is the one which, if unchecked, will continue to grow to unknown size

In buildings such as factories and ware houses fire curtains are provided at relevant intervals and automatic or manually operated vents are provided .


PRINCIPLES OF VENTING
Hot gases rise vertically from the fire and then flow horizontally below the roof untill blocked by a vertical barrier (ie curtain),thus initiating a layer of hot gases below the roof .
The volume and temperature of gases to be vented depend upon heat release of the fire and the amount of air supply to it .
The depth of layer of hot gases increases , the fire incontinues to grow, and the layer temperature continues to rise untill vents operate .
Operation of vents within a curtained area will unable some of the unable some of the upper layer of hot gases to escape, and slow the rate of deepening of the layer of hot gases. With sufficient venting area,the rate of deepening of layer can be arreste for even reversed .


TYPES OF VENTS
Actually any opening in a roof,over a fire will relieve some heat and smoke , however the casual inclusions of skylights, windows are not reliable.
Vents may be a single unit (entire unit opens fully with a single sensor) or multiple units in rows are, clusters or groups.
If the hazard is localized (solvent storage,dip tank, etc)it is preferable that the vents be located directly above such hazards .
vents should preferably be automatic in operation ie connected in circuit with smoke detectors . However all automatic vents should also be designed to open by manual means.


PERSONAL HAZARDS
The extent of personal hazards depends upon the occupant characteristics or the conditions of occupants in the building which refers to:
Wakefullness of the occupants
Familiarity with building layout
Mobility


ESCAPE ROUTES
Escape routes play a key roll in minimizing personal hazards.
It consists of three distinct parts :
Exit access : the horizontal path from any upper floor starting from any occupied room and leading to the emergency staircase .
Intermediate exits: the vertical path that is staircase or lifts
Exit discharge : the horizontal path from the escape staircase to the final exit in the open area .

DESIGN OF EMERGENCY STAIRCASE
The following requirement should be taken care of the design of emergency staircase :
Fire escapes shall not be taken into account in calculating evacuation time of the building .
Al fire escapes shall be directly connected to the ground .
Entrance to fire escapes shall be separate and remote from the internal staircase .
Fire escape routes shall be free of obstructions at all times.
Fire shall be constructed of non combustible materials .
Fire escape steps shall have straight flight not less than 75 cm wide with 15 cm treads and risers not more than 19 cm . The number of risers shall be limited to 16 per flight .



DESIGN FOR RAMPS
The following requirements should be taken care while designing the ramps :
Ramps with slope of not more than 1 to 10 may be substituted for and shall comply with all this applicable requirements of required stairways as to enclosure, capacity and limited dimensions. Ramps shall be surfaced with approved non-slipping material . Provided that in the case of public offices , hospitals , assembly halls etc. the slope of the ramp shall not be more than 1 to 12.
The minimum width of the ramps in hospitals shall be 2.25 m
Handrails shall be provided on both sides of the ramp.
Ramps shalll lead directly to the outside open space at ground level or courtyards or safe place.


DESIGN FOR LIFTS
The following requirements should be taken care while designing the lift :
All the floors shall be accessible for 24 hours by the lifts . The lifts provided in the building shall not be considered as a means of escape in case of emergency.
Grounding switch at ground floor level to enable the fire service to ground the lifts cars in an emergency shall also be provided.
The lift machine room shall separate and other machinery shall be installed therin .


3)EXPOSURE HAZARDS
Exposure hazards can be resisted by:
a)Isolation from neighborhood structures
b)Access for outside emergency services
c) Proper site planning

a)ISOLATION FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD STRUCTURES
For controlling exposure hazards the distance between buildings play an important role.
The factors which govern the distances are :
occupancy and corresponding fire load ;
Type of construction , which shall be correctly related to the first load and/or the occupancy ;
Height ;
Location ,(i.e. residential or industrial estate )
Front wall facing a road way , street or similar throughout fare;
Back wall , that is , the wall farthest away from the front , and facing the rear space


A)ISOLATION FROM NEIGHBOURHOO STRUCTURES
All the buildings, excluding those with abnormal fire loads having ground or ground and first floor , of construction .
distance between front walls of opposing buildings 9m min
Distance between back walls of opposing buildings 6m min
Sides between back walls of opposing buildings 6 m min


b)ACCESS FOR OUTSIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES
Following points must be taken care of while planning access ways :
The access for fire brigades .
The facades which may be accessible from these roads depending on the number of occupants in the buildings
The height of the building ( less or more than 8m )
The use to which the building is put
Its interior design ( compartmented or in zones )

c)SITE PLANNING
In the site planning , following work station should be kept in isolation with respect to main structure as they involves special fire risk .
Garage areas .
Loading bays
Waste disposal areas
Areas containing central heating plant
Fuel stores
Areas containing refrigeration plant other than small units and display cabinets .
Medium and height voltage transformers.
Ventilation plant rooms .

THE END

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

Sustainable Architecture in and around pune city

Abstract:- "Architecture presents a unique challenge in the field of sustainability. Construction projects typically consume large amounts of materials, produce tons of waste Sustainably designed buildings aim to lessen their impact on our environment through energy and resource efficiency”.

Purpose and Methodology of research:- Sustainable building involves considering the entire life cycle of buildings, taking environmental quality, functional quality and future values into account.
 In the past, attention has been primarily focused on the size of the building stock in Punes city. Quality issues have hardly played a significant role.
 However, in strict quantity terms, the building and housing market is now saturated in most countries, and the demand for quality is growing in importance.
 Accordingly, policies that contribute to the sustainability of building practices should be implemented, with recognition of the importance of existing market conditions.
 Both the environmental initiatives of the construction sector and the demands of users are key factors in the market.
 Governments will be able to give a considerable impulse to sustainable buildings by encouraging these developments.
 The main objectives of the sustainable architecture are:-
1. Resource Efficiency
2. Energy Efficiency (including Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
3. Pollution Prevention (including Indoor Air Quality and Noise Abatement)
4. Harmonization with Environment (including Environmental Assessment)
5. Integrated and Systemic Approaches (including Environmental Management System.

4). Introduction:-
"Sustainable building" can be defined as those buildings that have minimum adverse impacts on the built and natural environment, in terms of the buildings themselves, their immediate surroundings and the broader regional and global setting. "Sustainable building" may be defined as building practices, which strive for integral quality (including economic, social and environmental performance) in a very broad way. Thus, the rational use of natural resources and appropriate management of the building stock will contribute to saving scarce resources, reducing energy consumption (energy conservation), and improving environmental quality.
The idea of environmental sustainability is to leave the Earth in as good or better shape for future generations than we found it for ourselves. By a definition, human activity is only environmentally sustainable when it can be performed or maintained indefinitely without depleting natural resources or degrading the natural environment.

• Resource consumption would be minimal
• Materials consumed would be made ENTIRELY of 100% post-consumer recycled materials or from renewable resources (which were harvested without harm to the environment and without depletion of the resource base)
• Recycling of waste streams would be 100%
• Energy would be conserved and energy supplies would be ENTIRELY renewable and non-polluting (solar thermal and electric, wind power, biomass, etc.)

Three dimension of sustainability:-
1. economic
2. environmental
3. social
1). Economic dimensions of sustainability:
· Creation of new markets and opportunities for sales growth
· Cost reduction through efficiency improvements and reduced energy and raw material inputs
· Creation of additional added value
2). Environmental dimensions of sustainability:

 Reduced waste, effluent generation, emissions to environment
 Reduced impact on human health
 Use of renewable raw materials
 Elimination of toxic substances

3). Social dimensions of sustainability:
· Worker health and safety
· Impacts on local communities, quality of life
· Benefits to disadvantaged groups e.g. disabled
4.1.1 Importance of sustainable architectutre:-
Buildings are significant users of energy and building energy efficiency is a high priority in many countries.
Efficient use of energy is important since global energy resources is finite and power generation using fossil fuels (such as coal and oil) has adverse environmental effects.
The potential for energy savings in the building sector is large.
4.1.2 Assumption
Energy efficient building design is location-dependent. The local climate must be considered when selecting appropriate design strategies.


4.2. BASIC PRINCIPLES
4.2.1 Climate and Site
Climate has a major effect on building performance and energy consumption. Energy-conscious design requires an understanding of the climate.
Buildings will respond to the natural climatic environment in two ways:

Thermal response of the building structure (heat transfer and thermal storage).
Response of the building systems (such as HVAC and lighting systems).
To gain the maximum benefits from the local climate, building design must "fit" its particular climate.

When faced with unfavourable climatic conditions, optimal siting and site design may solve all or part of the problems. Site elements to be considered include:
Topography - slopes, valleys, hills and their surface conditions.
Vegetation - plant types, mass, texture.
Built forms - surrounding buildings and structures.
Water - cooling effects, ground water, acquifiers.
The six important aspects of architectural planning which will affect thermal and energy performance of buildings are: [see Figure 2]
Site selection
Layout
Shape
Spacing
Orientation
Mutual relationship
Architectural and landscape designs should be closely integrated. If possible, should provide wind breaks in cold winter and access to cooling breezes in summer.
4.2.2 Building Envelope
Elements of the building envelope (= "protective skin"):
Walls (exterior)
Windows
Roof
Underground slab and foundation
Three factors determining the heat flow across the building envelope:
Temperature differential
Area of the building exposed
Heat transmission value of the exposed area
The use of suitable thermal mass and thermal insulation is important for controlling the heat flow. Remember, the envelope components will respond "dynamically" to changing ambient conditions. Some people also consider the "embodied energy" (include energy for producing and transporting) of building materials when making the selection.

4.2.3 Building Systems
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are installed to provide for occupant comfort, health and safety. They are usually the key energy users and their design is affected by architecture features and occupant needs.


While being energy efficient, HVAC systems should have a degree of flexibility to allow for future extensions and change.
To achieve optimum energy efficiency, designers should evaluate:
Thermal comfort criteria
Load calculation methods
System characteristics
Equipment and plant operation (part-load)
Lighting systems is another key energy user and additional cooling energy will be required to remove the heat generated by luminaires.
Energy efficient lighting should ensure that:
Illumination is not excessive.
Switching is provided to turn off unnecessary light.
Illumination is provided in an efficient manner.

General design strategies for lighting design:
Combination of general and task lighting.
Electric lighting integrated with daylight.
The use of energy efficient lamps and luminaires.
Use light-coloured room surfaces.
Other building services systems consuming energy include:
Electrical installations
Lifts and escalators
Water supply systems
Town gas supply system
4.3. Technologies
4.3.1 Passive Cooling and Sun Control
Passive systems - internal conditions are modified as a result of the behaviour of the building form and fabric.
General strategies for passive heating and cooling:
Cold winters - maximise solar gain and reduce heat loss.
Hot summers - minimise solar gain and maximise heat removal.
Correct orientation and use of windows.
Appropriate amounts of thermal mass and insulation.
Provision for ventilation (natural).
Strategies for shading and sun control:
External projection (overhangs and side fins).
External systems integral with the window frame or attached to the building face, such as lourves and screens.
Specially treated window glass, such as heat absorbing and reflecting glass.
Internal treatments either opaque or semi-opaque, such as curtains and blinds.
For hot and humid climate like india, extensive shading without affecting ventilation is usually required all year round. Shading of the east and west facades is more important.
4.3.2 Daylighting
Daylight can be used to augment or replace electric lighting. Efficient daylighting design should consider:
Sky conditions
Site environment
Building space and form
Glazing systems
Artificial lighting systems
Air-conditioning systemsThe complex interaction between daylight, electric lights and HVAC should be studied carefully in order to achieve a desirable .

Advanced window technologies have been developed to change/switch the optical properties of window glass so as to control the amount of daylight. There are also innovative daylighting technologies now being investigated:
Light pipe systems
Light shelves
Mirror systems
Prismatic glazing
Holographic diffracting systems

4.3.3 HVAC Systems
Energy efficiency of many HVAC sub-systems and equipment has been improved gradually over the years, such as in air systems, water systems, central cooling and heating plants.
Energy efficient HVAC design now being used or studied include:
Variable air volume (VAV) systems to reduce fan energy use.
Outside air control by temperature/enthalpy level.
Heat pump and heat recovery systems
Building energy management and control systems.
Natural ventilation and natural cooling strategies.

Thermal storage systems (such as ice thermal storage) are also being studied to achieve energy cost saving. Although in principle they will not increase energy efficiency, they are useful for demand-side management.

4.3.4 Active Solar and Photovoltaics
Solar thermal systems (active solar) provide useful heat at a low temperature. This technology is mature and can be applied to hot water, space heating, swimming pool heating and space absorption cooling.The system consists of solar collectors, a heat storage tank and water distribution mains. An integrated collector storage system has also been developed recently to eliminate the need for a separate storage


Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity using a semi-conductor device. The main advantages of PV systems include:
Reasonable conversion efficiencies (6-18%).
PV modules can be efficiently integrated in buildings, minimising visual intrusion.
Their modularity and static character.
High reliability and long lifetime.
Low maintenance cost.
In practice, PV technology can be used for central generation or building-integrated systems (BIPV). The systems can be of the standalone type, hybrid type or grid-connected type. Although the cost of PV is still high at present, it may become cost-effective in the hear future.

4.4. Evaluation Methods
4.4.1 Bioclimatic Design
The integration of design, climate and human comfort -- the bioclimatic approach to architectural regionalism -- was first proposed in mide-1950s by Victor and Aladar Olgyay.
Their intention was to highlight the belief that architectural design should begin with understanding of the physiological needs of human comfort and take advantage of local climatic elements to optimise these requirements naturally and efficiently.
Building design itself is conceived as a natural energy systems that restores environmental quality to its site.
The aim is to creat a supportive and productive environment that ultimately can contribute to sustaining the regional and global environment.
4.4.2 Building Thermal and Energy Simulation
Nowadays, building energy design often require the analytical power to study complicated design scenerio. Computer-based building energy simulation will provide this power and allow greater flexibility in design evaluation.
The simulation method is based upon load and energy calculations in HVAC design. The purpose is to study and determine the energy characteristics of buildings and their building systems.
The cost effectiveness of any energy conservation measures will be a compromise between initial, maintenance and energy costs. Simulation techniques can provide the tools for assessing different design options based on their energy performance and life cycle costs.4.4.3 Building Energy Audits
Building energy auditing can be defined as "measuring and recording actual energy consumption, at site, of a completed and occupied building (expressed in units of energy, not monetary value); fundamentally for the purposes of reducing and minimising energy usage".
Energy audits identify areas where energy is being used efficiently or is being wasted, and spotlight areas with the largest potential for energy saving. They are useful for establishing consumption patterns, understanding how the building consumes energy, how the system elements interrelate and how the external environment affects the building.
There are different approaches to conducting a full building energy audit, but the following stages are often adopted:
Stage 1 - An audit of historical data
Stage 2 - Survey
Stage 3 - Detailed investigation and analysis
A proper energy audit is useful for more than energy conservation goals. Energy audits can be employed to assist in areas such as:
Establishment of data bank and consumption records.
Estimating of energy costs.
Determining of consumption patterns and utility rates.
Establishment of an operational overview.

. Conclusions
Building energy design challenges building designers to think about climate, orientation, daylighting, and the qualities of environment as part of the initial design conception.
It also requires the architectural and engineering disciplines to work as a team early in the design phase and to conceptualise the building as a system.
Architects and engineers who incorporate energy design concepts and methods into their design projects can play a significant role in reducing energy consumption and achieving sustainable energy structure for our society.

Monday, 31 March 2008

IMPACT ANALYSIS OF MODERN MATERIAL ON ENVIRONMENT -ALUCOBOND CLADDING FOR BUILDING FACADES

Acknowledgement -
I would like to take this opportunity, to express our gratitude to all those who have been instrumental in the completion of this report.
I express my thanks to our subject teacher Ar. A. V. Dixit. It was because of them I was able to select the right topic for the subject.
I would like to thank all my friends other people who have directly or indirectly assisted me in some way or the other for successful completion of this report.



- Introduction -
Modern Trend:

In the recent years, builders and architects have mainly preferred Alucobond as a construction material to turn their ideas into reality. For every project, strategy is to achieve a smooth completion lies in an early co-ordination between vision, architectural plans and the many possibilities which unique panels give to fabricators and installers. Part of the success of Alucobond is due to its durability and resistance against corrosion.
Alucobond adapts perfectly to the building’s contours. It can easily be cut and shaped, without having to compromise on the factory applied surface finish. Whether soft curves or straight lines rising into the sky, Alucobond provides an economical design. The superb properties of this material boost inspiration and offer a whole new range of innovative solutions to the building designs.
In India Alucobond is extensively used mainly in the construction of office buildings in the major cities. Thus, it has become modern building material and now has form a corporate identity.

Inspiration :
Designers and builders are attracted by the extraordinary flatness of Alucobond. Alucobond is unbeatable when it comes to colour consistency, excellent formability, flatness, rigidity, weather resistance and ease of maintenance. The combination of all these advantageous characteristics makes Alucobond one of the most versatile materials for interior and exterior design.
Alucobond also inspires new horizons in interior decoration, be it for galleries, reception areas, passage ways, shops, airports, banks or trade fairs and exhibitions. Through the use of exclusive colours and innovative shapes, this material offers impressive decorative solutions for the creation of outstanding and unique interior designs.


The graph above shows that Alucobond panels achieve required rigidity with minimum thickness and deadweight as compared to the other materials.

Need of research:

Nowadays Alucobond has been extensively used in the construction and its use is going to increase in the future. Thus there is need to check the sustainability of the material towards the environment and its impact on the nature.
The effects of Global Warming have created the need of research on such extensively used products in different fields all over the world. The worldwide organizations are studying impact on these materials on the nature. All these research is based on the life-cycle of such a materials.
Also there is need of research on the worldwide use of the Alucobond. The use of Alucobond is efficiently proven suitable for the climate in the cold countries. But its use in tropical countries like India needs to be study to check its suitability.

- Case Studies -

In India, the major cities like Pune, Bangalore are getting developed with a predominant growth of information technology sector and its associated infrastructure. All these IT structures are coming out with the extensive use of Alucobond enveloped exterior giving it corporate identity.

These buildings are producing impact of modernization on the surroundings. There is need to study its impact on the users associated with the buildings. Also there seems lack of natural ventilation system. For the users of the building following questions needed to be ask.

# What does users inside feel?
# Does these buildings lack natural ventilation?
# Are the users comfortable with artificial ventilation?


- Interviews -

Amod Kamate, Computer engineer at Infosys, Hinjewadi IT Park, Pune.
“ The building really looks amazing from outside..! and from inside all the working spaces are air conditioned. So its very comfortable inside.” he said.

Shantanu Limaye, Software engineer at Infosys, Hinjewadi IT Park, Pune.
“ I don’t know about the need of natural ventilation but air condition has to be there inside. For the equipments like electronic machinery, computers etc. they needed to be protected from the dust.” says Shantanu.

Shailesh Jadhav, Maintenance dept at Infosys, Hinjewadi IT Park, Pune.
“We have to spent more money for air conditioning but it helps to reduce cost of maintenance of machines. Its like that every advantage is associated with certain disadvantage and vice versa” ,says Mr. Jadhav.

‘ The building has good aesthetics’ , the common reaction of user as well as from people in surroundings. The buildings with the combination of glass n Alucobond have certainly created the impact of modernization on the surrounding areas.

- Discussion –

Sustainability towards the environment :

Sustainability involves much more than just the environmental compatibility of a product. Instead, a broad range of sustainability aspects must be taken into account over the entire life cycle of the product, such as social impacts and long-term impacts on resource availability, climate change and consumer behavior, which can be triggered indirectly by the use of the product.
Life cycle thinking :
Life Cycle Thinking is an approach to address and analyze all the activities in regard to risks, opportunities, and value creation in order to find the best overall solutions.

At each stage of the product or service life cycle, there is resource consumption (as indicated by the green arrows) and production impacts (as indicated by the blue arrows).

A life cycle of a product starts with raw material extraction, continues with the fabrication of the products, assembling of the final product as well as its use and maintenance, and concludes with the end-of-life operations. This last stage includes recycling of materials and, after adequate treatment, final disposal of waste.

For recyclable products such as aluminum products, a life cycle can be modeled cradle-to-cradle by a product system where the recycled material can substitute primary material. Only the material that is lost at the different stages of the life cycle needs to be replaced by primary material.
Aluminum’s recyclability: the energy required to recycle aluminum is only 5% of that required to produce it from ore, and at the end of a building’s natural life, almost 90% of its aluminum is recycled.
According to the Green Building Council, an upfront investment of 2% of construction costs in green building designs, on average, results in savings of 20% over the lifecycle of the building—i.e., 10 times the initial investment. While aluminum boasts many lifecycle and environmental advantages, its “green value” in a given project is evaluated based on its performance in a specific application.

2. Impact on users of the building :

‘ The building has good aesthetics’ , the common reaction of user as well as from people in surroundings. The buildings with the combination of glass n Alucobond have certainly created the impact of modernization n corporate identity.
Need of Air-conditioning:
The no. of users working and visiting is more for such type of buildings. Thus the heat generation inside the building is also more. Also the industries have no. of electronic machinery, computers etc. which contributes a lot in the generation of heat. Therefore the use of air conditioning is must for these kind of buildings.

3. Innovation towards the energy generation :

Technology is a key part of the solution for sustainable development. Innovation and technology are tools for achieving higher resource efficiency and a reduced environmental impact. There is need of research and development toward enhancing the sustainability of production processes and developing sustainable products.
A Future project of Engineered Products showcases a photovoltaic module building application, where building facades are used for solar-based electricity production. The use of these special building and facade surfaces extends the application beyond simply protecting the building from weather impacts and providing aesthetics to also being used to generate electricity by transforming sunlight (photovoltaic). Assuming that the technological challenges of manufacturing competitive photovoltaic facade components can be solved, such modules could enable a widespread integration of sustainable energy generation into modern buildings.


- Conclusion -

Aluminum’s recyclability: the energy required to recycle aluminum is only 5% of that required to produce it from ore, and at the end of a building’s natural life, almost 90% of its aluminum is recycled. In the total life cycle of aluminum, the recycled material can substitute primary material during the production. Only the material that is lost at the different stages of the life cycle needs to be replaced by primary material. Thus aluminum proves its sustainability towards the environment.



The functions of these office buildings have removed the scope for natural ventilation. The more no. users and electronic machines, computers etc. which generates lot of heat inside these buildings. For the amount of heat generated in such buildings, natural ventilation may not be worked out efficiently. Thus the need of artificial ventilation aroused and the no. of openings on the building facades reduced. This would have led the designers and architect to envelope the buildings facades with Alucobond for good aesthetics.



Now there is need to reduced the economical load on the artificial ventilation by sustainable energy generation system. Technology is a key part of the solution for sustainable development. Alucobond panels can be manufactured as a photovoltaic module building application, where the building facades are used for solar based electricity production. Thus the use of these special building facades extends the application beyond simply protecting the building from weather impact and providing aesthetics also being use to generate electricity from sunlight. Such a module could enable a wide spread integration of sustainable energy generation into modern buildings.

- Abstract-
Nowadays the alucobond panels are extensively used to cover the external facades of the building for better aesthetical values because of its inherent properties. Thus alucobond has became modern building material. In the future its use is going to increase.
Thus there is need to study the impact of such material on environment and its sustainability towards the environment. Further the material can be look forward for the energy generation module. Also there is need to study its impact on the surroundings communities or people.
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