Façade Engineering

Façade analysis is increasingly important in achieving best value building envelope solutions using best technology in component design, as well as meeting building regulation requirement and performance objectives. Faber Maunsell Buildings Division along with Wintech have joined to provide a total façade consultancy services to clients and design teams.

Background

The expertise of Faber Maunsell structural, mechanical & electrical divisions including the specialist environmental modelling section together with Wintech's capabilities in curtain wall and cladding work have joined together to provide a range of services to all construction professionals including contractors and building owners.

Faber Maunsell and Wintech have provided specialist façade advice and services for many prestigious buildings both in the UK and overseas.

It is now common for many buildings to make use of fully glazed façades to maximise the environmental benefits of daylight and user interaction with the external environment.

The thermal comfort for occupants in areas with a high level of external glazing can give rise to many problems such as:

• Cold downdraughts
• Discomfort glare
• Cold radiant asymmetry
• Hot radiant asymmetry

Faber Maunsell use an in-house specialist team to carry out detailed analysis of glass and frame combinations to produce solutions that provide the correct balance between light transmission and solar gain.

Software

Faber Maunsell use many types of computer software to deal with the analysis of window solutions, these include:

• FloVent for CFD analysis
• APACHE for Dynamic Thermal Analysis
• THERM 2.1 for 2D conduction modelling
• WINDOW 4.0 for detailed glazing combinations
• RADIANCE for daylighting analysis
• ModelIT for setting up 3D models for thermal analysis
• Suncast for solar overshading studies and solar penetration
• MicroStation for CAD images and visualisation
• Schedule Simulator for Animations

Services

The range of services listed below can be provided as a total package or on a call off basis depending on the requirement of the project.

• New Building Concepts
• Evaluating Existing Buildings
• Pre-Tender stage (including Conceptual Proposals, Part L Compliance (Part J, Scotland), Preliminary Design, Cost Advice and Specification Preparation)
• Tender Stage Advice (including Assessment of Contractors Proposals, Programming Advice and Cost Advice)
• Design Services (including Bespoke Design Solutions, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Analysis, Thermal Modelling, Acoustic Analysis, Lighting Evaluation and Structural Analysis)
• Manufacturing Stage
• Assessment and Monitoring (including installation monitoring and testing)

The building design and validation service is designed to complement and strengthen the skills inherent within the traditional design teams in the Buildings Division.

For more information on our experience and capabilities please contact Ant Wilson.