Never Going with the Wind

Each year Aluterra SK reinforces its rank among the companies implementing state-of-the-art facade solutions. The higher our rating, the more the number of floors in the buildings clad with our walling. Along with this, we often have solved the problem dealing with selection of certain system fitting the architectural concept the best.

At first glance, it’s pretty simple: we get the objective from our client. It features all regulations to be followed (GOST, construction regulations, recommendations wind loads, fire safety code and energy efficiency requirements, etc.). The objective is the basis for necessary calculations determining the selection of systems and materials meeting all customer requirements in line with the domestic. The facade to be erected should be safely operated during at least 50 years (the period till first major overhaul).

But what happens on getting a “mission impossible”, which is positively absonant? Let’s examine, for example, the wind load recommendations, which are crucial for any tall design, directly affecting reliability and cost of work we do. Receiving these, we often have no idea how to operate numbers and what physical quantities we would to work with. Someone specifies the peak loads, which feature neither in SNIP, nor in MGSN; someone keep in mind the average values, which are obviously below the true parameters of maximum wind pressure.

There were some cases when the data prescribed such high wind speeds on the lower floors that there was no way to arrange there any opening elements, because these would become endangering and perfectly out of control. In other cases, at a height of 20-25 storeys the load was presumed to be trifle so that following these values in our designs we’d soon see the serious failures of façade structures.

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Informa tion provided by Aluterra SK