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09 IITGN-UL/Façade 10 IITGN-UL/Façade

1. Inception, motivation and requirement Such glass façade systems are typically called curtain walls and are is an eye opener to the issues faced on façade buildings.
connected to the main structural frame of the building through
Glass façade are used very commonly in modern construction. In addition aluminium-based frames of their own. A gap is always provided The Mumbai Diamond Square building did not have any fire-detection
Part I to being aesthetically pleasing, they enable better energy management of between the curtain wall and the deck slab of the building to avoid system to warn its occupants. The fire at IndusInd Bank regrettably resulted
in loss of four precious lives. Recent fires in a textile showroom at Chennai
crashing of glass in case of unwanted vibrations arising from passing of
buildings and hence, have become an integral part of green building
ABOUT design. Almost all modern commercial buildings utilize a façade system heavy vehicles and/or minor earthquakes and also to mitigate effects of (where the entire building is now being demolished) and in the Grenfell
tower at London (where a small room fire caused the entire building to burn)
thermal expansion. This gap is filled with appropriate fire stop material.
either entirely based on glass or a combination of glass and other
THE FACILITY materials. For acceptable performance, such systems must be constructed While glass façade systems offer excellent energy management has clearly demonstrated the enhanced risks of fire propagation in buildings
with a façade and also the potential for such fires to cause irreparable
advantages, they can easily become vehicles for movement of fire along
with appropriately rated materials following good installation practices.
the building. In India all the fire accidents in glass cladded buildings have damage to the main structural system.
two commonalities – very high response time to overcome the flames
and the relative unpreparedness of both the occupants and the The increasing use of glass and aluminum as a building material for
fire-authorities to deal with escape routes and save lives. commercial and residential towers and the spate of fire-incidents in recent
A number of past fire incidents in buildings indicate the risks associated past has generated critical media coverage and placed spotlight on adequate
with using façade system. The spate of fires in these structures are fire-safety pre-requisites and norms in such constructions.
continuing and taking toll on life and property. The recent fire in Noida