Glasstech Asia Newsletter

A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 | I S S U E 6
GLASSTECH ASIA NEWS
Monthly E-Newsletter on Glass
01 WELCOME NOTE
Welcome
02
03
MAINTAINING SAFETY
IN GLASS FAÇADES
Safety in design and
construction
COMMON DEFECTS
ON BUILDING
FACADES
Consequences in
failing to maintain
Glass Buildings
In the last edition of the newsletter, we touched on
the topic of safety glazing in glass facades. Following
this broad topic on safety, we will be discussing the
maintenance aspects of the glass facades. This will
wrap up the topics from manufacturing to installation
and followed by the upkeep in facades and glass in
buildings.
Heard of the recent buzzword, “SUSTAINABILITY”?
So, what is this hype all around sustainability in the
built environment?
04 REPAIRS AND
RESTORATION
04 FACADE INSPECTION
05 A GENERAL GUIDE TO
MAINTAINING GLASS
BUILDINGS
06
07
INDUSTRY NEWS
PROMOTIONS
The Building and Construction Authority and the Singapore Green Building Council
have worked together to develop the next edition of the Singapore Green Building
Masterplan (SGBMP) together with industry stakeholders and the community and aims
to green 80% of Singapore’s buildings by 2030. With less than 10 years, Singapore is
certainly stepping up on its efforts through actionable practices and education.
As part of Glasstech Asia's knowledge-based community learning, the Asia Façade &
Glass Conference, a 2-day conference will expect more than 300 professionals from the
built environment in Southeast Asia. The conference will provide a platform for the
glass and façade community to learn about the latest market developments and stay
ahead in business in this fast-growing industry and will happen on 26 – 28 October
2022 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
Theme: Climate Change and the Future of Sustainability
This theme aims to discuss about the variety of sustainable solutions to combat climate
change, how sustainability efforts have changed due to the pandemic and its impact on
the flat glass and façade industry in the region.
Registration is now opened at https://mvents.asia/GA2022
Fellow friends and colleagues in the built environment, I certainly wish that we will be
able to catch up face to face and what better opportunity than to get together in
October 2022, especially now that the city-state is fully reopened for business! I look
forward to reconnecting with you all in-person and forging new relationships.
WARM REGARDS,
ADRIAN TAN
SENIOR EXHIBITION MANAGER
TEL: +65 6236 0988
EMAIL: ADRIAN.TAN@MMIASIA.COM.SG

Maintaining Safety
Safety in the design and
construction of Glass Facades
Over the last few decades, large buildings and especially
skyscraper facades were arguably more simple and easier to
maintain with their windows open. In the 1950s, however, glass
curtain walls became common as a part of building
envelopes, and windows became a fixed part of building
envelopes. Keeping them maintained required access from
the outside, which became more difficult since windows did
not open anymore. The need for building maintenance
systems arose as a result.
Back in the day, maintenance equipment could easily be
accommodated in flat roofs and suspended platforms could
move up and down on facades when buildings were built with
flat roofs and straight angles.
In today's world, periodic building maintenance is as important
as ever, but designing safe and aesthetic access systems has
become increasingly complex. Think about famous Sydney
Opera House, Burj Khalifa in Dubai or Petronas Twin Towers in
Kuala Lumpur.
Gradually, buildings started becoming an art with the complex
shapes and curves. Architects of these buildings must
consider façade maintenance and cleaning systems from the
very beginning to ensure safety and aesthetics are not
compromised.
On top of the complex shapes, even relatively small buildings
that contains many components requires regular inspection,
maintenance, and repair. In terms of maintenance, most
people understand the importance of maintaining roofing
systems and HVAC systems, but often times than not, the
importance of maintaining the façade of a building is
overlooked.
Most people understand that roofing systems such as heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) need periodic
maintenance, but too often the façade of the building is
overlooked in terms of maintenance. In the absence of regular
inspection and maintenance, problem such as rust, spalling, or
sealant can go undetected for long period of time.
Therefore, a comprehensive and regular maintenance
program is crucial for keeping a building safe and in good
shape. Façade access systems are essential to perform
inspections and maintenance on heights effectively.
As a general guide, there are two types of
inspection in accordance to Building and
Construction Authority:
The full visual inspection
is conducted from ground level or other
suitable vantage points in order to
observe and assess the condition of the
entire building façade.
The close-range inspection
uses probing tools, non-destructive
testing or a combination of those tools
to examine the building's façade with
close-up visuals and tactile
assessment (e.g. touching physically).
For façade inspections, the Competent
Person must obtain the Commissioner
of Building Control's approval before
adopting any technologies - such as
robotic automated tapping devices,
automated scanning equipment,
Infrared and ultrasound scanners, etc.
A U G 2 0 2 2 | I S S U E 6
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According to a report from News
Channel Nebraska...
considering the COVID-19 situation, the 2022 report cited
that the global Automated Facade Cleaning System
market size is estimated to be worth USD 61 million in
2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 294.3
million by 2028 with a
CAGR of 30%.
C O M M O N D E F E C T S
ON BUILDING FACADES
CONSEQUENCES OF
FAILING TO MAINTAIN
Glass Buildings
Facades are the "skin" of a building, and much like the skin
on your body, they are crucial to its appearance and
health. However, nothing lasts forever, and buildings are no
exception. Throughout the life of a building, all surfaces
deteriorate, reducing the building's visual appeal and
becoming a health hazard. It is possible for elements to
become weak and detach, posing a danger to people and
objects below.
It is the legal responsibility of owners and occupier to
ensure the safety of their buildings, regardless of whether
cities require periodic façade inspections. Building owners
should use a professional or expert who specializes in
façade to catch problems early. In the event that visitors,
occupiers, neighbors, third parties, or property are injured,
or damage is caused, an owners may be exposed with
serious liability. Moreover, installing facades from a reliable
expert is only the beginning. To achieve their intended
working life, all facades require some maintenance. Early
detection of defects can mitigate expensive repairs or
replacement later.
DID YOU
Know?
In an era when buildings are
becoming taller and more
valuable, it is more important
than ever to maintain and
clean façades properly.
Building owners generally
develop maintenance plans
for internal properties, but
neglect external façade
elements, which are often
inaccessible. The appearance
of a poorly maintained
façades and dirty windows
can annoy building
occupants, leading to a
negative impact on building
value and rental returns.
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Repair &
Restoration
Depending on the type of damage, different types of
repairs are required. The most common façade repairs
include replacing joint sealants, repointing mortar joints,
re-pinning masonry, patching or replacing masonry units,
or even partially rebuilding walls. Furthermore, addressing
water-leakage issues may require masonry removal to
install through wall flashings, the replacement of copings,
or the repair of roof-to-wall interfaces.
Subsequently, it must be noted that in terms of façade
maintenance, different types of buildings present different
challenges. For example, concrete façades are typically
exposed to moisture, causing it to be damaged and have
poor masonry quality. This problem can be solved by
coating, hydrophobic, and painting.
On the other hand, glass facades are prone to scratches,
often caused by grime etching into the glass. They also may
be stained by water leaching mineral deposits that cause
mist lines or shadows. Therefore, this problem must be
prevented by regularly cleaning the glass.
Façade inspection
Façade inspection is a complex process involving numerous
elements.
Historical analysis is the first step. – "What has been done
over time to maintain the building", and "what has been
done to upgrade or modernized its façades"? – If possible,
the restoration team should review original blueprints and
other relevant drawings and reports.
Before addressing the façade’s physical condition, it’s
imperative to understand the façade’s original
construction, including what materials and design
approaches were used. Additionally, all related
documents must be reviewed. These includes the prior
improvement programs, or maintenance work
performed throughout the building’s lifespan.
Not only the history of the building is important, but also its
context. Restoration professionals can better understand
its nature and façade by knowing when it was built.
Buildings constructed before 1870 usually featured loadbearing
construction.
Meanwhile, between 1870 and 1920, most buildings featured
framed structural systems, curtain walls, and newly
developed cladding materials. Modernism and
postmodernism evolved following 1920, each with their own
characteristics. When restoration professionals know the
structure's history, they can determine what steps to take
next.
A comparative exterior assessment is conducted once the
historical research is completed. An expert restoration
professional conducts the initial assessment using
scaffolding systems, boom lifts, or even rappelling systems
to gain a close-up, hands-on view of the façade elements.
To examine a building's veneer's cavities and anchorages, a
façade professional may use a borescope, just like a doctor
uses an arthroscope. In order to develop an action plan, the
restoration team takes photographs to note any damage.
Alternatively, methods such as observation through high-

powered binoculars and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
inspections may be used as well.
There are other investigative methods besides visual
observation. Sounding is a process which involves tapping on
façade sections with hammers to determine if there are voids
underneath the façade exterior. Restoration professionals are
trained to identify the different tones during sounding, and to
determine what each tone means with no damage to the
façade. In general, mason's hammers are used to sound
concrete, brick, and stone exteriors, while wooden mallets are
used for terra cotta exteriors.
Among the other non-destructive testing methods are
ground-penetrating radar (GPR), which can be used to
examine the façade behind the surface; sonar, which can be
used to determine the condition of interior sections through
impact-echo and impulse-response methods; water
absorption with RILEM tubes, which can detect water damage;
and infrared photography. It is possible to detect different types
of façade deterioration using all of these testing methods.
A GENERAL GUIDE TO
MAINTAINING GLASS BUILDINGS
This cannot be stressed enough - identifying potential problems and addressing them before they require
expensive repairs. Thus, an assessment and maintenance program must be established. The most common are
programs that establish regular assessments of building façades every five or ten years. These programs are
particularly common at universities, government buildings, commercial building portfolios, and other complexes
with numerous buildings or historic facilities.
A long-term maintenance program can benefit any building. Early assessment of the structure's condition allows
restoration professionals to create a hierarchy of issues to address and plan restoration work more effectively. This
allows some parts of the project to be deferred, or deterioration to be corrected before serious damage occurs.
While complex, façade evaluation and restoration are essential to the maintenance and long-term viability of any
building. The façade must be properly maintained and restored, no matter what the structure is, whether it is a large
and highly utilitarian building, a historic landmark, or something in between.
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Industry news
Guardian: Design
with glass, 6 trends
Read more
The newest iconic building designs are a
feast for the eyes, inside and out. Yet the
competition is fierce to also offer a
technological feast, whether that’s to
meet the WELL Building Standard or
provide the most digitally integrated
building system. Click to read more.
Hegla: Creating
added value
together
Read more
“Creating added value together” is the
motto under which the HEGLA Group
showcased at the glasstec exhibition in
Germany. “We have focused on the here
and now, and want to show solutions that
our customers can use to create
sustainable added value,” said Managing
Director Bernhard Hötger. Learn more
about their solutions here.
Digitalization
Transforms The
Façade System
Read more
The advent of media/digital facades is a
key trend gaining popularity in the façade
systems market. According to the façade
system market research, the increasing
demand for the digital façade is driving
the demand for its implementation across
the façade system market. Learn More In
The Business Research Company’s Market
Analysis.
Overheating in
Domestic Dwellings
– Overcoming the
challenge
In this series of articles on Part O and the
up-and coming changes, Gurprit Bassi,
Wintech’s Associate Director, Façade
Engineer & Sustainability Lead examines
the issue of overheating in domestic
dwellings. Find out more here.
Read more
A U G 2 0 2 2 | I S S U E 6 0 6

GLASSTECH ASIA X PERAFI WEBINAR #8
APPLICATIONS IN
FACADES AND BUILDINGS
Safety and Technology
20 OCTOBER 2022
2.30PM-4.30PM JKT (GMT+7)
3.30PM- 5.30PM SGT (GMT+8)
9.30AM - 11.30AM CET
Sponsored by:
P O W E R E D B Y B A U & B A U C H I N A
P O W E R E D B Y
B A U & B A U C H I N A
Visitor
Registration
Open
REGISTER NOW

The Glass Hub of Southeast Asia
Asia Façade & Glass
Conference 2022
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Climate Change and the
Future of Sustainability
26 - 28 October 2022
LEM YANG LIM
HEAD (CERTIFICATION)
SINGAPORE GREEN
BUILDING COUNCIL
KEN YEANG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
T. R. HAMZAH & YEANG
Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, Singapore
Powered by BAU & BAU China
GLASSTECH ASIA 2022
FENESTRATION ASIA 2022
The Glass Hub of Southeast Asia
MARINA BAY SANDS CONVENTION CENTRE, SINGAPORE
26-28 OCTOBER 2022
P o w e r e d b y B A U & B A U C h i n a
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!
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