Today, as the city skyline is constantly being refreshed and architectural art is becoming increasingly sophisticated, curtain walls are not only the “face value” of building facades, but also a comprehensive embodiment of safety, performance and quality.
As a key player in the curtain wall industry, SUNFRAME has always adhered to the concept of “building brands with quality and promoting development with standards”, and has practiced and continuously improved its quality management system in many iconic projects. We are well aware that a high-quality curtain wall project cannot be separated from full-process and all-round professional control. From the design phase to the construction implementation, from data management to inspection and supervision, every link determines the final quality and safety.
This article will combine SUNFRAME’s practical experience to explore how to avoid glass curtain wall problems from five key aspects, further creating high-quality curtain wall projects.
Curtain wall engineering requires precision and rigor, with safety and quality as the highest priorities. It is necessary to establish a complete enterprise curtain wall engineering quality assurance system, including organizational personnel or departmental responsibilities, implementation and inspection details of the entire engineering process, quality work reward and punishment regulations, etc. So that it can foster a company-wide culture where creating high-quality engineering projects is a natural and proactive behavior, leading to significant improvements in overall quality management.
Curtain wall engineering design is paramount. Without good design, there will be no good engineering. Good design works need to be guaranteed by the following conditions:
2.1 A lead designer with proven expertise.
2.2 Designers thoroughly familiar with all relevant standards and codes. Designs must strictly adhere to industry regulations, avoiding any significant deviations.
2.3 The review procedures for design documents must meet the requirements. Reviewers must meticulously examine all documents, providing detailed feedback and approval only after necessary revisions. Approval personnel should also be familiar with standards and codes, ensuring comprehensive quality control at every stage.
High-quality projects must prioritize safety. Safety comes from accurate calculations in the design stage and correct implementation of design documents during construction. To ensure accurate calculations, the following issues should be noted:
3.1 Firstly, curtain wall designers should carefully analyze the stress state of curtain wall components, and then correctly and reasonably select calculation parameters.
3.2 Secondly, they should calculate strictly according to the current national and industry standards and specifications.
Strictly use the current national and industry standards for calculations. Since 2008, the standards for building curtain wall products, inspection standards, materials and other related standards and specifications have been revised and updated. Design documents should be kept up to date according to the current standards, and the mandatory provisions in the relevant industry specifications should be implemented without compromise.
3.3 Thirdly, they should utilize appropriate calculation software and thoroughly review the calculation process to guarantee completeness and accuracy.
Engineering data is a true portrayal of the project. Through engineering data, we can understand the ins and outs of the project, distinguish the quality of the project, and trace problems or accidents through engineering data. Many companies often do not pay attention to the collection and collation of data, hindering quality improvement efforts.
The data of excellent projects also represent the image of the company. The more data is accumulated, the more it can prove the performance and ability of the company. And it can further boost business growth. To do well in the data management of curtain wall projects, we must start from the following aspects:
4.1 Specific regulations for data organization and archiving should be established and strictly enforced.
4.2 A full-time data clerk who has received special training and has a data clerk certificate should be arranged to be responsible for the collation and filing of data.
4.3 The company’s quality inspection department and the project manager should regularly check the collation of data during the implementation of the project, and correct problems in time.
4.4 Project management personnel should have a relatively thorough understanding of the relevant requirements of curtain wall projects and retain various data according to relevant requirements.
Due to the complex construction environment of the building curtain wall project site, the personnel allocation, construction process and construction operation are all different. In order to do a good job in the on-site construction quality management, it is recommended to focus on the following aspects:
Before the construction of the excellent project, the following things should be done:
①Carry out the scientific planning according to factors such as the scale, type, cycle, and technical content of the project.
②Prepare the construction organization design.
③Determine the members of the project department and the construction and installation team, clarify the responsibilities and obligations of mutual cooperation, and carefully organize the construction.
The quality of raw and auxiliary materials is directly related to the overall construction project quality. According to the design and contract requirements, a list of raw and auxiliary materials should be listed. For special materials and materials with important requirements for structural safety, a strict procurement control procedure should be formulated to control the source of materials. What’s more, the purchase and inspection work should be done in strict accordance with the requirements of the project contract and the material inspection specifications. In terms of material control, the construction project department should communicate with the designers frequently to avoid the situation where a certain project design uses 6063T6 profiles and the project purchase uses 6063T5 profiles.
To ensure the quality of on-site installation, we must implement thorough pre-installation controls. This involves three levels of briefing: Engineering to Project Management, Project Management to Installation Foremen, and Foremen to Workers.
During the installation process, the project manager and project quality inspector shall carry out control and inspection in accordance with the requirements of the corresponding process regulations, and keep good process control records.
In addition, during the installation process, the “three gates” of inspection, namely the first inspection, hidden project inspection and finished product inspection, should be strictly implemented. The first piece of the installation process must be inspected by the operator and the quality inspector, and it can only be put into batch installation after passing the inspection. What’s more, the quality inspector needs to conduct random inspections on each process and correct problems in a timely manner.
Only by strengthening the engineering testing and supervision mechanism can the internal quality of the excellent project be ensured. Key projects in the project should be subject to key control, such as the pull-out test of curtain wall projects, compatibility test of structural adhesives, air tightness, water tightness, wind pressure resistance and plane displacement, thermal performance and other test items specified in standards and specifications. Production should be carried out after passing the test before construction.
Besides, the design department should be contacted in time to correct and prevent problems found in the test to ensure compliance with the engineering design requirements.
Secondly, the enterprise engineering department should follow up and supervise the responsible personnel for the excellent project arrangement to correct possible improper behaviors of the construction project department and ensure the construction quality.
As an important element of modern architecture, the quality and safety of glass curtain walls are crucial. Because it impacts not only the building’s aesthetics but also the trust placed in it by its occupants. From design to construction, from materials to testing, the rigorous control of every link is a solemn commitment to the quality of the project.
SUNFRAME is willing to work with colleagues in the industry to promote the quality of curtain wall projects with high standards and strict requirements. And so every building can not only shine in the city skyline, but also can withstand the test of time and safety. Only by striving for excellence can we achieve excellence. Contact us for a quality curtain wall solution!
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