<p>The recent Carlton Towers fire in Bangalore could have been largely contained had a new construction technology been deployed. New ideas in building technologies are changing construction dynamics. These encompass a wide spectrum of activities spanning from green initiatives to new guidelines in safety standards to conservation of power. As the environment we live in changes, so do building solutions. <br /><br />Changing times<br />Construction technology in India over the past few decades was extremely conservative in approach. However, with the opening up of the markets and the subsequent realty boom, a great need was felt to implement technologies that could speed up and accelerate construction. “These technologies include efficient and light weight aluminium shuttering systems like ‘Mivan’ to technologies developed using pre-cast construction. <br /><br />In addition to speed, eco-crisis has become an issue of serious concern, a significant part of which is caused by construction. To address these issues, “green building technologies” have gained immense importance wherein there’s a lot of focus at every level, commencing with simple systems including resource optimisation, bio-walls and roofs, water management with zero-discharge systems, energy supplementation through alternative resources and waste management,” explains Indrajit Kembhavi, Principal Architect, Kembhavi Architecture Foundation. <br /><br />For instance, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency business makes buildings more comfortable, productive, safe and energy-efficient. Their products and services include HVAC&R equipment and control systems, industrial refrigeration, fire and security systems, and services for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. In fact, products and services in this space are constantly seeing innovation like never before, compelling builders to rethink their building solutions.<br /><br />Aurigo’s BRIX 2009, the company’s fifth generation product is a comprehensive capital programme and project management system (CPMS) that completely automates the entire lifecycle of a large capital construction project; starting from estimation, planning, project monitoring, site inspection, asset maintenance and even asset disposal. Further, it integrates seamlessly with standard ERP platforms to create industry ready ERP solutions for the infrastructure and construction verticals. <br /><br />“This helps companies streamline their processes, control costs and reduce delays. The bottom line is that in the infrastructure domain, the spend on implementing IT tools provides immediate ROI. For example, even a mere one per cent cost reduction in a small Rs 100 crore road project cost is sufficient to recover the investment made in technology,” says Balaji Sreenivasan, founder & CEO, Aurigo Software Technologies.<br /><br />Drywall technology<br />Fabtech’s Saral Plaswall is a unique lost-in-place system or permanent concrete form which replaces costly steel, aluminium, plywood for work, brick laying, plastering, cement rendering and producing complete load bearing wall. <br /><br />Likewise, Saint-Gobain Gyproc gypsum plaster boards are based on a drywall technology. Gypsum is a light-weight material which is formed as the result of evaporating sea water in massive prehistoric basins and has excellent insulation properties (both thermal and acoustic) and can offer very good passive fire protection, moisture resistance, impact resistance and vapour control when used in combination with the right systems. <br /><br />Studies have shown that acoustically designed spaces can increase the overall productivity in terms of better concentration level of people working in offices, allow clearer communication in schools thus increasing the effectiveness of teaching, facilitate a disturbance free environment in hospitals thus ensuring faster patient recovery in hospitals etc.<br /><br /> “Keeping this trend in mind, Saint-Gobain Gyproc is launching its global acoustic solution, Ecophon in the Indian market. Ecophon’s mission is to contribute to a good working environment for the eye, the ear and the mind. This is done by supplying sound absorbing ceiling and wall absorber systems with well devised functions, attractive design and excellent sound absorption,” says Venkat Subramanian, MD – Saint-Gobain Gyproc India Limited.<br /><br />Trends<br />According to the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) Survey, conducted by Johnson Controls for Corporate India in 2009, more than 92 per cent of the respondents say that energy efficiency is a priority in new construction as well as in renovation projects. The EEI findings highlight the fact that business leaders are becoming increasingly aware of the need for energy efficiency and the potential impact this can have on reducing operating costs.<br /><br />Evolving trends in building solutions include speedy construction techniques to turn around more built-up space in a shorter time frame, involving pre-cast, pre-fabricated, aluminum shuttering technology and the like. Reliance on machinery and modern equipment to maximise quality and reduce error is also being seen. <br /><br />Most importantly evolution of green design practices to improve efficiency and performance of buildings has taken precedence. <br /><br />“There is a growing demand for renewable energy - solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic. Reason is not just the rising energy prices but also the growing awareness of the economic and environmental impact. The result is a cleaner source of energy, reduced emissions, less cost volatility, greater energy independence, all while you operate with cost reduction,” says Pramoda Karkal, Vice President & Managing Director, India, Johnson Controls. With the upsurge in infrastructure investment, infrastructure companies are realising the role technology can play in increasing profitability. <br /><br />“The one big advantage for the Indian infrastructure companies is that as first time technology adopters, they are not burdened with legacy IT investments. They can leapfrog into the latest feature rich, easy to use, standard solution available at a cost that is a fraction of what it was a decade ago,” opines Sreenivasan. <br /><br />“People are moving towards modular systems. We at Fabtech started this trend way back in 2002, when we launched our modular Pre-Fabricated, Pre-engineered sandwiched partitions in India (replacing brick and mortar internals for the pharma industry),” says Asif A Khan Director Fabtech Technologies Pvt Ltd. <br /><br />The green equation<br />An obvious and much needed aspect is that of conserving the environment. Says Krish Murali Eswar (COO BCIL), “we have been attempting to bring back the spirit of living into our living rooms. Our floors are made with natural materials that consume less energy to manufacture or process; our walls are coated with chemical-free paints; our ceilings are fitted with energy efficient lighting that consume much less energy while giving you better visual comfort; the fenestration - the windows and doors - open out to natural-light and bring in fresh-air; the terrace gardens ensure that the air is cool always.” <br /><br />BCIL’s air conditioning system is either a chemical-free air handling system or an ammonia-based system that does not hurt the planet. Their newer buildings come with dual plumbing system where the water that drains from the wash basin goes to a treatment plant. <br /><br />The treated water fills the flush tanks in the closet. The flushed water then is treated in a central plant and the treated water is used for campus irrigation and other external washing purposes. “Glass can save as much as 35 to 40 per cent energy by allowing entry of natural light, preventing harmful rays and controlling room-temperature. <br /><br />As a result, the need for high performance glass in green buildings has increased tremendously,” adds Mukul Somany, JMD, Hindusthan National Glass Group. <br /><br />The ideal solution for any building is to ensure that the activities involved in buildings are sustainable. Few such activities include site maintenance during construction, water efficient design, energy efficient design and monitoring, materials used in construction, solid waste management and proper maintenance of indoor air quality during construction and post occupancy of the building. These solutions can be implemented a marginally incremental cost of 3-5 per cent.<br /><br />In fact, practical studies indicate that implementation of such solutions can result in minimum energy saving of 14 per cent and water savings of 20-30 per cent, while occupant productivity can be enhanced by as much as 16 per cent. <br /><br />Says Sriram and Lt Col (Retd) A K Beri MRICS, Managing Director- Property & Asset Management, JLLM, “as sustainable buildings demand intelligent building controls, it is essential to ensure that all technologies and systems that operate these structures work effectively and efficiently. <br /><br />Therefore, it is critical for the facilities management team to ensure that in addition to cursory maintenance, extensive and regular checks are run which helps reduce capital repairs, unscheduled shutdowns, and extends equipment life which in turn extends the life of the facility.” <br /><br />“Studies have shown that putting an Intelligent Building Management System in a facility has an impact of reducing operating costs by nearly 10-20 per cent over what could have been – without compromising on quality,” says Milind Godbole, Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions (India). <br /><br />These systems are extremely effective as there a greater efficiency at both production and operational levels, while at the same time reducing costs through optimization of resources, water and energy conservation, and also apart from savings, enhances lifecycles while reducing cost of maintenance. And as Lily Tomlin once remarked, “the road to success is always under construction!</p>
<p>The recent Carlton Towers fire in Bangalore could have been largely contained had a new construction technology been deployed. New ideas in building technologies are changing construction dynamics. These encompass a wide spectrum of activities spanning from green initiatives to new guidelines in safety standards to conservation of power. As the environment we live in changes, so do building solutions. <br /><br />Changing times<br />Construction technology in India over the past few decades was extremely conservative in approach. However, with the opening up of the markets and the subsequent realty boom, a great need was felt to implement technologies that could speed up and accelerate construction. “These technologies include efficient and light weight aluminium shuttering systems like ‘Mivan’ to technologies developed using pre-cast construction. <br /><br />In addition to speed, eco-crisis has become an issue of serious concern, a significant part of which is caused by construction. To address these issues, “green building technologies” have gained immense importance wherein there’s a lot of focus at every level, commencing with simple systems including resource optimisation, bio-walls and roofs, water management with zero-discharge systems, energy supplementation through alternative resources and waste management,” explains Indrajit Kembhavi, Principal Architect, Kembhavi Architecture Foundation. <br /><br />For instance, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency business makes buildings more comfortable, productive, safe and energy-efficient. Their products and services include HVAC&R equipment and control systems, industrial refrigeration, fire and security systems, and services for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. In fact, products and services in this space are constantly seeing innovation like never before, compelling builders to rethink their building solutions.<br /><br />Aurigo’s BRIX 2009, the company’s fifth generation product is a comprehensive capital programme and project management system (CPMS) that completely automates the entire lifecycle of a large capital construction project; starting from estimation, planning, project monitoring, site inspection, asset maintenance and even asset disposal. Further, it integrates seamlessly with standard ERP platforms to create industry ready ERP solutions for the infrastructure and construction verticals. <br /><br />“This helps companies streamline their processes, control costs and reduce delays. The bottom line is that in the infrastructure domain, the spend on implementing IT tools provides immediate ROI. For example, even a mere one per cent cost reduction in a small Rs 100 crore road project cost is sufficient to recover the investment made in technology,” says Balaji Sreenivasan, founder & CEO, Aurigo Software Technologies.<br /><br />Drywall technology<br />Fabtech’s Saral Plaswall is a unique lost-in-place system or permanent concrete form which replaces costly steel, aluminium, plywood for work, brick laying, plastering, cement rendering and producing complete load bearing wall. <br /><br />Likewise, Saint-Gobain Gyproc gypsum plaster boards are based on a drywall technology. Gypsum is a light-weight material which is formed as the result of evaporating sea water in massive prehistoric basins and has excellent insulation properties (both thermal and acoustic) and can offer very good passive fire protection, moisture resistance, impact resistance and vapour control when used in combination with the right systems. <br /><br />Studies have shown that acoustically designed spaces can increase the overall productivity in terms of better concentration level of people working in offices, allow clearer communication in schools thus increasing the effectiveness of teaching, facilitate a disturbance free environment in hospitals thus ensuring faster patient recovery in hospitals etc.<br /><br /> “Keeping this trend in mind, Saint-Gobain Gyproc is launching its global acoustic solution, Ecophon in the Indian market. Ecophon’s mission is to contribute to a good working environment for the eye, the ear and the mind. This is done by supplying sound absorbing ceiling and wall absorber systems with well devised functions, attractive design and excellent sound absorption,” says Venkat Subramanian, MD – Saint-Gobain Gyproc India Limited.<br /><br />Trends<br />According to the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) Survey, conducted by Johnson Controls for Corporate India in 2009, more than 92 per cent of the respondents say that energy efficiency is a priority in new construction as well as in renovation projects. The EEI findings highlight the fact that business leaders are becoming increasingly aware of the need for energy efficiency and the potential impact this can have on reducing operating costs.<br /><br />Evolving trends in building solutions include speedy construction techniques to turn around more built-up space in a shorter time frame, involving pre-cast, pre-fabricated, aluminum shuttering technology and the like. Reliance on machinery and modern equipment to maximise quality and reduce error is also being seen. <br /><br />Most importantly evolution of green design practices to improve efficiency and performance of buildings has taken precedence. <br /><br />“There is a growing demand for renewable energy - solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic. Reason is not just the rising energy prices but also the growing awareness of the economic and environmental impact. The result is a cleaner source of energy, reduced emissions, less cost volatility, greater energy independence, all while you operate with cost reduction,” says Pramoda Karkal, Vice President & Managing Director, India, Johnson Controls. With the upsurge in infrastructure investment, infrastructure companies are realising the role technology can play in increasing profitability. <br /><br />“The one big advantage for the Indian infrastructure companies is that as first time technology adopters, they are not burdened with legacy IT investments. They can leapfrog into the latest feature rich, easy to use, standard solution available at a cost that is a fraction of what it was a decade ago,” opines Sreenivasan. <br /><br />“People are moving towards modular systems. We at Fabtech started this trend way back in 2002, when we launched our modular Pre-Fabricated, Pre-engineered sandwiched partitions in India (replacing brick and mortar internals for the pharma industry),” says Asif A Khan Director Fabtech Technologies Pvt Ltd. <br /><br />The green equation<br />An obvious and much needed aspect is that of conserving the environment. Says Krish Murali Eswar (COO BCIL), “we have been attempting to bring back the spirit of living into our living rooms. Our floors are made with natural materials that consume less energy to manufacture or process; our walls are coated with chemical-free paints; our ceilings are fitted with energy efficient lighting that consume much less energy while giving you better visual comfort; the fenestration - the windows and doors - open out to natural-light and bring in fresh-air; the terrace gardens ensure that the air is cool always.” <br /><br />BCIL’s air conditioning system is either a chemical-free air handling system or an ammonia-based system that does not hurt the planet. Their newer buildings come with dual plumbing system where the water that drains from the wash basin goes to a treatment plant. <br /><br />The treated water fills the flush tanks in the closet. The flushed water then is treated in a central plant and the treated water is used for campus irrigation and other external washing purposes. “Glass can save as much as 35 to 40 per cent energy by allowing entry of natural light, preventing harmful rays and controlling room-temperature. <br /><br />As a result, the need for high performance glass in green buildings has increased tremendously,” adds Mukul Somany, JMD, Hindusthan National Glass Group. <br /><br />The ideal solution for any building is to ensure that the activities involved in buildings are sustainable. Few such activities include site maintenance during construction, water efficient design, energy efficient design and monitoring, materials used in construction, solid waste management and proper maintenance of indoor air quality during construction and post occupancy of the building. These solutions can be implemented a marginally incremental cost of 3-5 per cent.<br /><br />In fact, practical studies indicate that implementation of such solutions can result in minimum energy saving of 14 per cent and water savings of 20-30 per cent, while occupant productivity can be enhanced by as much as 16 per cent. <br /><br />Says Sriram and Lt Col (Retd) A K Beri MRICS, Managing Director- Property & Asset Management, JLLM, “as sustainable buildings demand intelligent building controls, it is essential to ensure that all technologies and systems that operate these structures work effectively and efficiently. <br /><br />Therefore, it is critical for the facilities management team to ensure that in addition to cursory maintenance, extensive and regular checks are run which helps reduce capital repairs, unscheduled shutdowns, and extends equipment life which in turn extends the life of the facility.” <br /><br />“Studies have shown that putting an Intelligent Building Management System in a facility has an impact of reducing operating costs by nearly 10-20 per cent over what could have been – without compromising on quality,” says Milind Godbole, Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions (India). <br /><br />These systems are extremely effective as there a greater efficiency at both production and operational levels, while at the same time reducing costs through optimization of resources, water and energy conservation, and also apart from savings, enhances lifecycles while reducing cost of maintenance. And as Lily Tomlin once remarked, “the road to success is always under construction!</p>
