Ventilation is the key for #Covid19

Dear Readers, 

Hope everyone is staying safe & well. After reading many scientific articles over covid19 now most of the people is accepting it as a fact that covid19 transmission is airborne rather than by hands or, surface touch. Further studies suggest that One can easily catch Covid19 virus in poor ventilated closed space.

Quite in detail explanation- How infection spreads in Closed space

What is micro droplets & how it remain suspended in closed room or, space.

Must watch video to understand severity of danger while interacting in closed space.

I was strong advisor for Casement or, openable Door/window rather than Sliders. (Are aluminium sliding windows soundproof?) but being an old veteran in the industry as well as after losing few loved ones by this disease, I realized & recommend to everyone not to remain in air-tight meeting spaces as well as avoid meeting places where ventilation is poor. 

You can have one sound proof or, noise-safe room for study or, meditation with openable or, casement but let your all other spaces should have cross-ventilation or, use Sliders instead of Casement or, openable. 

To be continued.....

About the Author & How We Can Help

With 19+ years of experience in the glass, door and window systems industry, our team helps homeowners, architects and builders choose the right ventilation-friendly window solutions - from cross-ventilation sliders to soundproof casement systems - so your spaces stay healthy, safe and comfortable.

Planning a new home or upgrading your windows? Get expert guidance on ventilation, soundproofing and energy-efficient systems. Email us at shivendrasinghk@gmail.com and we'll be happy to help.

Stay safe, breathe easy, and keep the air moving.

- RSVP Systeme

Footnote :

1. 'Stop Swapping Air' campaign launched to slow COVID-19 spread
2. MIT researchers says Opening windows or installing new fans to keep the air moving could also be just as effective or more effective than spending large amounts of money on a new filtration system.
3. Japan has long accepted COVID's airborne spread, and scientists say ventilation is key
4. Cross Ventilation Indoors Must To Stop Air-Borne Covid, Says AIIMS Chief
5. COVID-19 predominantly transmitted through air: Lancet study

What is bullet-proof glass ?

Dear Readers,

Hope you are doing great & staying safe. Life after Covid19 will be very different. It will be new normal. Once lockdown opens, health & safety is going to be top most priority of everyone. Also work from home culture will increase... During this lockdown, regular crimes have taken a back seat. Usual crime professions like bank robberies & burglaries have disappeared. 

When we think safety inside our home, Doors & windows with bigger glass looks like most vulnerable. I have already discussed, safety against burglary and vandalism over this blog. 

Now as stated Bullet resistant glass ( Popular but improperly said " Bullet proof glass") is protection against fire-arms. In normal laminated glass, there are 3 layers of glass & PVB film. But Bullet resistant glass is combination of multiple layers of glass, PVB film & Polycarbonate sheet. 

Again number of layers for bullet resistant glass depends upon type of weapon & standard followed (Most common standard is EN 1063 ).

Test Glass sample 

One thing i would like to add, chosen frame must also comply the same standard. It means bullet should not penetrate & pass through the chosen aluminium frame also.

I was part of Hotel Oberoi , Delhi. Here BR6 category protection chosen for some VVIP rooms in triple glazed windows. The price for bullet resistant windows depends on type of protection required & on request. 

How to buy Door/window in India Part-2

When I wrote How to buy uPVC Door/window in 2013 , I was not expecting such a good response as i recieved. People from all around world appreciated my efforts. That time Door/window industry in India primarily about traditional wooden or, conventional aluminium windows & uPVC window systems were treated as a luxury. 

RIGHTLY said by C Parkinson " A luxury, once enjoyed, becomes a necessity "  

Now uPVC windows system market has reached its peak & people are also realizing its limitation as an product. During your search for Quality uPVC or, aluminium windows, You will meet both kind of sellers. Some are selling both & would like to manipulate you as per their own interest firmly in mind. It is the curse of the modern world we live in, where we are consumers and clients first, and the survival of their businesses depend on their ability to sell to us and thus grow in size. Little wonder that market is filled with ill defined products. The prevalence of persuasive sellers who will lie or, highlight only those portions of the product that appeal to you, is encouraged by our unwillingness to take responsibility.

As discussed over this blog many times, We can not use uPVC Door & window for larger sizes.  

uPVC has more linear expansion in-comparison to Aluminium windows. 

In simple words, larger (something more than 8 ft height) size uPVC Door systems is not advisable as it will have more expansion/contraction in comparison to aluminium system windows. 

Here comes the question which i would like to try to answer in this article " Which windows are better, uPVC or, Aluminium ?" 

Aluminium windows are present more than 30 years but that is conventional aluminium. If you are comparing conventional aluminium windows ( easily available at 250–300 INR per sq ft ) with some good quality uPVC windows then uPVC windows is a better product. But now technology available in Aluminium Door/window systems are much ahead then uPVC/Door window systems . Just check following pic-

Above mentioned performance values are of good quality thermal break aluminium sliding door system . If you look for similar data in uPVC windows, you would be surprised that there is no Indian or, Global player sharing the same for specific door/window design. It doesn't mean that uPVC is inferior product. Not at all but there has to be way to measure performance..

Does performance data matter to us ? Yes, definitely yes . Just check Air tightness of the system. Highlighted one is the performance measured of this particular sliding system. Air tightness “Class 4″is equivalent to Dust proof Door (yes proof - not dust resistant; must buy to keep our homes safe from severe dust pollution in India ). These performance values also shatter your MYTHS about aluminium systems. ( Pl check thermal insulation values & performance against wind pressure).

I have prepared detailed comparison in aluminium vs uPVC system. Please check-    

Now even uPVC Brand like Fenesta diversified & introduced Fenesta aluminium system.  

As requested , do not become the product sellers make money from so you are not taken for a ride by clever salesman. Be clear that your need is the primary driver of your decisions. Marketers define needs that you did not know existed. When and how did we allow someone else treat us hapless victims.  Pl do not be gullible about what a product will do for us.  

Slimline Aluminium system at Sector 40 Noida

In this particular project, we needed minimum sightlines as per brief received from architect. We had proposed thermal break aluminium systems from spain which has 20~25 mm ( approx. 1 inches) sightlines. This particular product is thermal break system which was required as high thermal insulation performance desired.

More details about this project

2 Track 2 Panel Sliding Door 

Case study: soundproof doors and windows to isolate DJ sound in Delhi

Since 6 years, I am writing over this social platform with my limited knowledge about door & window systems. I try to share new learning in simplified manner. This particular project, I did in 2013 but did not share over here as would like to see results over period of time. In my industry, patience is the key. Our product life cycle is too long in comparison to rapidly changing world around us. Years we treat like a months, Months like hours... When someone invite me for professional consultation as well as to make optimal choice, deep down , I know that the customer's choice of uPVC or, Aluminium Door/window is going to last for min. 15-20 years. Sometimes people make a choice based on low cost as for them " it is just a frame and glass."  Well, both frame and glass of a modern window differ drastically from their ancestors. It can protect you against unwanted sound, dust & rain & does not require any maintenance for life long. Some uPVC & aluminium window manufacturers are still using product where the contents are not met as per international standards. Such window cost cheap and at first sight do not differ from their more expensive analogues. But it is just matter of time. In a few years the Indian climate with its parching summer sun, severe winter and sudden temperature fluctuation will do its job.

In this particular situation, Mr. Girja shankar was making a sound studio near GK II, Delhi. His concern was low pitch sound in between room. Being an expert in acoustics- He knew basics of sound. ( Pl check my following article to learn basics of Sound)

In brief, The movement of sound through air can be likened to waves on the surface of water.

Higher the frequency, more high-pitched the sound

Generally when we do soundproofing, we try to bring outside noise level as per following international regulation for acoustic comfort

Acoustic comfort required as per International standards

Sound spectrum

The sound spectrum provides full details of the acoustic performance required & achieved. It is almost 6 year, Mr. shankar & the Depot Records (Pl check link to see sound studio over Google maps & check reviews) is also one of our satisfied customers. 

Definitely few articles on such a complex topic can not cover all the aspects and describe all the important details. Specialists who work with me will be glad to visit your place and give you a professional consultation as well as help you to make the optimal choice. 

  

What is Thermal Break Aluminium ?

Doors & windows are available in all kinds of material e.g. wood, aluminium, uPVC, GRP & Steel. The choice of material has repercussions on the structure and the design of door/window. Locally extruded aluminium sections are in use since more than three decades.

Local extruded non thermal openable aluminium window

Non thermal sliding aluminium window

Thermally break aluminium consists of inner and outer shell that are crimped by heat-insulating plastic profiles ( i.e. polyamide strip).

Thermal Break Casement window 

Thermal Break Aluminium Sliding Door 

Thermal insulation of a thermally broken aluminium Door/window is far better than non thermal aluminium Door/window. U-value of of non thermal aluminium Door/window frame is approx. 6.1 W/m2K. But in thermal break aluminium Door/window frame it is approximate 2 W/m2 K.

Does it matter ? 

If we are using Double Glazed Glass , the performance of Door/window will be approx. 30 ~45% less in non thermal aluminium Door/window.

Let us check an example of a openable Door of size in width 3 ft ( 915 mm) & height 8 ft ( 2440 mm). Let us compare it with 3 kind of material- Non thermal aluminium Door, Thermal break aluminium Door & uPVC Door made up using Class "A" uPVC profile ( as per EN 12608).  

Glass specification are as following 24 mm Double glazed glass - 6 mm toughened clear glass + 12 mm air ( or, argon filled gap) + 6 mm toughened clear glass- U value  of glass is 2.8 W/m2 K.

U value of window (Uw) is combination of U value of glass (Ug) & U value of frame (Uf)

Casement Door

Uw Value with local extruded non thermal aluminium openable Door

Uw value with Thermal break Openable Door

Uw value with uPVC Openable Door

The U-value of non thermal locally extruded aluminium openable Door is approx. 55% more than Thermal break aluminium Door as well as uPVC openable Door. That means energy efficiency during winter as well as in summer ( Thermal break creates heat break) will be extremely POOR in non thermal aluminium system.

How to sound proof windows in India ?

Hi everyone, It is bit complex article, needs your patience to read. I will try to explain my knowledge & 14 year experience of soundproof windows in the simplest and most intelligible form, and on the whole in the sequence.

By soundproof windows, i mean unwanted sound proof or, better word to use is NOISE-PROOF. Now check following info to understand NOISE ??

To make a room noise- proof , we need to bring outside unwanted sound level ( i.e. noise) under 50 dB. To start with, We need to understand few basics…

Most of the time the problem is traffic noise which is low & medium frequencies.

Sound is measured on logarithmic scale, not on arithmetic scale.

In Sound 60 * 2 is not equal to 120 as sound is measured on logarithmic scale not arithmetic scale. Few more examples for clarification

For our ear, difference of

• 1 dB is virtually inaudible.
• 3 dB is barely audible.
• 5 dB is clearly audible.
• 10 dB is equivalent to a 50% reduction in the perception of the sound intensity.
• 20 dB is equivalent to a 75% reduction in the perception of the the sound intensity.

This difference of 20 dB or, 75% reduction is generally possible. I can say that it is better results of using noise proof windows.

I presume that i have covered WHAT part of the problem, now try to cover HOW it is possible part of the question.

There are two ways by which we experience noise, one is air-borne noise, other is structure-borne noise.

By Door/window, we can control air-borne noise, not the structure- borne noise. There are two aspects of noise reduction via Door/window.

Frame/sash material specification - All Door/window should be air tight. Let us define air tightness as following

• If you are choosing aluminium as an material in sash/frame then go with thermal break aluminium with multi point locking. In India, all thermal break aluminium door & window systems are imported from europe & you can find their acoustic performance or, noise insulation in their performance table as mentioned following -

 

You can see acoustic performance 35~39 dB in above performance table.

Pl note that non-thermal break system in aluminium are not as good as thermal break system. Even most of the products from renowned brand like alumil, schüco, reynaers, technal & other european make are not tested for acoustic performance or, noise insulation in non thermal version. Main reason for low product quality is due to price pressure of Project market. Also locking in most of the opneable & sliding windows are single point lock which again ensures poor noise insulation.

• If you are choosing uPVC Door/window as a material, go with Class A according to EN 12608/ or, GB/T 8814 ( wall thickness min. 2.8 mm) uPVC profile which gives approx. 42 dB noise reduction; These figures are for frame/sash irrelevant of glass      ( Few European names to choose Aluplast, VEKA, Koemmerling, Rehau, Deceuninck, Salamander) . To know more about material specification read following link How to buy uPVC Door/Window in India ?

Don’t forget multi point locking in all uPVC Door/window which will ensure sash/frame alignment & avoid any kind of air leakage.

• If you are choosing Wooden Door/window as a material, go with brand which share performance table mentioned acoustic performance or, noise insulation.

Also worth to mention never go with sliding for noise insulation as conventional sliding door/window can NEVER be noise proof. ( It has less air tightness than as compare to casement system)

Gaskets make Casement or, openable superior product than Sliding for noise insulation.

Glass performance specification- There are few insights which i would like to share with you

• 12 mm glass has a better noise insulation rather than 24 mm ( 6 mm clear glass + 12 mm argon filled /or, air gap + 6 mm clear glass).
• Dissymmetrical Double glazed unit e.g. 23 mm ( 6mm clear glass+ 12mm argon filled/ or, air gap + 5 mm clear glass) has better noise insulation then symmetrical 24mm Double Glazed Unit.
• Acoustic PVB has better noise insulation rather than Normal PVB laminated glass only for high pitch sound. For traffic noises or, low pitch sound, both behave equally same.

Glass specifications are based noise insulation or, Acoustic comfort required as well as on selected uPVC/or, Aluminium/ or, wooden system's allowable glass thickness, weight capacity of available hardware.

Bottomline -The factors that affect the level of unwanted sound insulation provided by noise proof windows

• Air tightness of Door/window
• Aluminium/uPVC/Wood windows material specification
• In-situ sound performance also varies due to acoustic condition of environment ( type of sound source, location in relation to said source, etc. )

If you want to know more about noise insulation, Pl check following articles written by me   ( I have written these articles almost 4 years back just to share my knowledge & on-site experiences without promoting any brand on this blog -Doorwindow Basics. This blog is created to help people understand Door/window system & choose according to performance & functionality required, not on the basis of attractive advertisements claiming no.1 company in India )

• Discover how one can improve noise free comfort at home………..
• Case study-Noise insulation of A Home @ Unitech South City , Gurgaon
• Case study-Making Absolute Quiet Home in Jaipur near Railway Track
• Case study-Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, MG Road, Gurgaon

Given the complex nature of sound proof windows, assistance from industry experts or, speciality consultancy or indeed test on site to be used may prove useful.

P.S. To reduce structure borne noise, noise barriers must be installed. Pl check following link to read more Barriers to filter out train noise near Jamia University - Times of India

Do you want any help for unwanted sound proofing. You can write to me on shivendrasinghk@gmail.com. I can share my knowledge, experience for noise insulation.