Tensile Structures that Speak!
Compatibility to diverse applications is taking the appetite for tensile structures to big proportions in the country, discovers S.D.Khan.
No matter how much we know about the advantages of tensile membranes, there's always scope for more discussion. Apart from the most talked about benefits such as lightweight, durability, translucence, eco-friendliness, recyclability and quick installation, it's perhaps adaptability to diverse applications that makes tensile fabric a standout amongst its peers.
Owing to their malleability and aesthetics, tensile membranes enable architects to express their creative side to the hilt, while builders and developers, who are usually hard pressed for time these days, are able to complete a project on time and move on to the next one. What's noteworthy is that tensile players in India have meticulously factored in these requisites in their ever evolving offerings.
Well, tensile fabrics made a foray into India more than a decade back, and started becoming visible in resorts, bus shelters, and hotels. Today, they are the first choice when it comes to stadium roofs, as the light distribution they provide is uniform, which makes sport a worthwhile spectacle. Moreover, the mushrooming of shopping malls has opened new vistas in the form of parking lots, and food courts, which are usually situated at the roof. Interestingly, facades too are getting transformed thanks to this versatility.
According to Mr. Faraz Aqil, Country Head India, Mehler Texnologies GmbH, "Tensile structures are becoming very common day by day and now you can see architects opting them for many different applications including sports venues, airports, shopping malls, food courts, and parking areas. One of the most interesting recent developments has been the installation of composite envelopes which provide temperature controlled environments for closed structures such as halls, and auditoriums. The main driving force has been the utility of these structures against normal industrial structures. They have a more urban appeal and provide a better ambience."
Mr. Ravi N Krishnamurthy, Managing Director, – Shadeflex India Pvt Ltd., says "Essentially, while tensile membranes/structures are functionally suited for widespan & light weight skylighting roof applications, they allow designers to realize signature expressions in form and combination of medium. The space created is quite a replication of natural ambience but protecting the user from the vagaries of weather. So, atrium coverage, sports facility and street canopies, building rooftop structures, landscape, entrance applications for airports, and other icon structures fall naturally in the domain of membrane structures."
Adds Mr. Glenn Renshaw, International Business Development, Gale Pacific Limited, "The recognition of shade protection is growing in importance every day. We say we are in the business of people and asset protection. It is now very well recognised that UV exposure is harmful and damaging to both people and their prized assets. Another very important consideration for the future is shading for installation purposes, reducing the need for expensive air conditioning/ electricity costs. Energy conservation will be a very important theme for decades to come."
Constant Innovation
As the society evolves and treads on the path of modernity, it's accompanied by all the peripheral constituents, for instance, construction and infrastructure. In order to keep pace with the changing requirements, the construction catalysts such as architects, builders, and developers, are always on the lookout for something new and innovative. Since these decision makers are the first ones to green flag any construction material, it's imperative that the solution providers also stay galvanised. And the most ideal way of doing that is to constantly upgrade their offerings through robust Research & Development (R&D). Luckily, innovation in tensile structures is aptly conspicuous!
Informs Mr. Aqil, "Mehler Texnologies has always been the pioneer in R&D. We have recently introduced the first hydrophobic nano-lacquered tensile fabric under the brand name Mehatop N. Other development has been the introduction of very high strength meshes for very large facades. You shall soon witness the usage of our mesh TF 600 in a remarkable project in India. I am delighted to inform you that the Indian architects are always looking for the best materials and always like to go for more advanced materials."
He asserts, "All our tensile architecture products have undergone a Life Cycle Analysis and data can be provided to concerned agencies on request. The products carry a LCA-EPD certification and are strictly manufactured under REACH guidelines. Products from Mehler are recyclable, and we use the EPCOAT technology for this purpose. The entire range of products is Flame Retardant and is now certified under the most stringent EN norms for flame retardancy."
According to Mr. Madappallath, "Serge Ferrari is always at the forefront in research and development in this field, and has always been the leader in innovation and taking the membrane industry to the next level. We pioneered the Precontraint technology, which imparted the required dimensional stability to the membranes and took care of the problems arising out of non equal biaxial forces in the warp and the weft direction. It was also the pioneer in developing the PVDF surface treatments, especially the high concentration PVDF, which imparts 25+ years life to the membrane, and keeps it nice and bright looking through this life. We are constantly evolving our materials introducing materials with varying translucency, varying textures, and improved surface treatments to meet the stringent demands of the architects worldwide."
All said and done, does aesthetic appeal still rule over functionality? Mr. Madappallath expresses, "I will slightly differ on this aspect as even in the early stage rarely were there projects which used membrane structures purely from aesthetic point of view. Membrane structures have always been preferred due to their various advantages described above in addition to aesthetics. On the environment front, again Serge Ferrari has been the forerunner due to the development of the TEXYLOOP recycling technology, which converts the fabric at the end of its life cycle, back into its original raw materials i.e. Polyester and PVC which are reintroduced into the industrial cycle, thus having a highly favorable impact in terms of resources consumed in the Life Cycle Analysis. This was one of the reasons why Serge Ferrari's membrane was chosen to replace the 40,000 sqm roof membrane of the Kuala Lumpur stadium, which needed to be replaced in less than 15 years, as the original membrane had deteriorated very quickly."
Meanwhile, Mr. Krishnamurthy opines, "Aesthetics has always been a consideration in tensile structures, but now it's more about functionality. Shadeflex's tensile membranes provide shelter from the environment, translucency in general, possibilities to design light effects, can be used as medium of communication with its eye-catching character and endless form possibilities, are lightweight & durable, utilized for large/wide uninterrupted spans. Moreover, we ensure short building time, off-site manufacturing of structure, less site interruption time, simplicity of maintenance and easy repair or replacement."
Mr. Renshaw apprises, "We lay special emphasis on R&D, and all Gale Pacific 'Synthesis' knitted tensile shade fabrics are lead free , phthalate free and independently certified by both Greenguard and Oeko-tex. Not only do our products give a benefit to the environment in energy conservation, our production methods are environmentally sound and ISO 9001 accredited. Our HDPE fabrics are fully recyclable at the end of their life span."
New Domains
Growing infrastructure, booming population, and limited resources! This is the undeniable reality of modern India. And when we talk of limited resources, time tops the list. Quick completion of projects is of paramount importance. As the demand for sustainable infrastructure is increasing, it's unveiling unexplored territories for the tensile fraternity.As Ms. Dake rightly points out, "The demand of infrastructure projects in growing urban spaces such as airport terminals and rail stations is increasing day by day and one needs large column free spaces in a short time. Also many such projects are located in densely populated areas. Cities are evolving, growing, and becoming dense. Challenges are how to attract people to live in, invest in, and participate in the city. Recycling urban spaces helps to nurture healthy city life and make people feel connected. Places that resonate with people are sustainable places. And tensile structures could be a solution to keep the city spaces resonating and recycled."
"Infrastructure", adds Mr. Madappallath, "is growing at a rapid pace, and the market in India for fabric structures is still at a nascent stage. There is tremendous scope for growth and we are confident of maintaining our leadership in the market in the future. In fact, as the market matures, people will start to realise the advantages of high quality materials especially for tensile membrane structures. We are highly confident that more and more customers would be ready to go for higher quality even at a slightly higher price, rather than low quality products at slightly lower prices, to avoid situations like the KL stadium. Thus the focus should be on educating the customer on the technical aspects which will enable them to take the right decisions."
Keeping a watchful eye on the developments, Gale Pacific too is eying a healthy share in the pie. "As the importance of shading becomes better known within the Indian community, we will be concentrating our efforts on areas such as housing projects & building development; local, state & national government departments; government authorities such as the Airports of India Authority, Public Works Authority, international schools / schools / kindergartens, municipalities ( for public spaces, playgrounds and sporting precincts); car parking and storage; and restaurants and outside eating areas."
Mehler, on the other hand, sees transport as a lucrative avenue. "This sector still uses very traditional industrial structures and can be one of the most vital areas," observes Mr. Aqil.
"In my opinion," asserts Mr. Krishnamurthy, "currently the rate of infrastructural growth in India is slow. While transport hubs, institutional building atriums, food courts, some industrial applications and sport venues continue to be the major demand hubs, newer applications shall include facades and very large span roof structures."
Tensile structures are surely here to stay, and will continue to shape imagination!
