Pros and cons of glass facades

28 Jul 2022 CW Team

A recent fire in June 2022 at Dev Complex, a hospital near Parimal Gardens in Gujarat, retrained the spotlight on glass facades and the ensuing problems of ventilation, fire evacuation and fire safety. Following the incident, the Gujarat High Court directed the Gujarat government and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to do away with non-fire-compliant glass facades. Seventy-five people, including 13 newborns, were rescued.

Another fire occurred at a commercial complex in Mundka, in Delhi. The building had a single point of entry and exit along with a fixed glass facade, both critical aspects in this mishap.

Fire risks aside, glass facade systems impact the environment. The seamless integration of the building into the built environment, clean and non-obstructive lines, visual connectivity, indoor and outdoor connectivity via complete transparency they offer often make these towers hard to discern for birds, with many flying into glass facades.

For instance, recently in Surat, a flock of about 40 rosy starlings hit the highly reflective glass wall of the Surat District Cooperative Bank. On a larger scale, glass buildings have a considerable impact on their immediate environment. “It is just like the greenhouse effect,” Neeraj Kapoor, Founder and Managing Director, Kalpakrit, explains. “We have heard the term being used for the planet but glass replicates that effect at a building level. Once heat is trapped inside, it needs to be thrown out, which is where air-conditioning systems come in.”

To read the full article, CLICK HERE

Infrastructure Energy

17 Dec 2025

Vedanta Aluminium Uses 1.57 bn Units of Green Energy in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, recently reported consumption of 1.57 billion units of renewable energy in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its 2030 decarbonisation roadmap. The company also achieved an 8.96 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to FY21, reinforcing its leadership in India’s low-carbon manufacturing transition. During FY25, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its renewable energy portfolio through long-term power purchase agreements, strengthening its strategy to source nearly 1,500 MW of renewable power over the lon..

Oberoi Group to Develop Luxury Resort at Makaibari Tea Estate

EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, has announced the signing of a management agreement to develop an Oberoi luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The project marks a key milestone in the Group’s long-term strategy of creating distinctive hospitality experiences in rare and environmentally significant locations. Established in 1859, Makaibari is one of the world’s oldest tea estates and is globally recognised for its Himalayan landscape, primary forests and exceptional biodiversity. Spread across 1,236 acres, the estate houses one of the world�..

GHV Infra Secures Rs 1.09 Bn EPC Order in Jamshedpur

GHV Infra Projects Ltd, a fast-growing EPC company in India’s infrastructure and construction sector, has recently secured a Rs 1.09 billion work order in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Awarded by a reputed group entity, the contract covers end-to-end civil construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, along with high-quality finishing works for a large building development. The project will be executed over a 30-month period, with defined benchmarks for quality, safety and timely delivery. The order strengthens GHV Infra’s footprint in Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub known fo..