Quality Management Practices in Structural Glazing for

Facades: Benchmarking and Implementation Framework for

Indian Construction

THESIS

May 2024

Guided by
Dr. Luke Judson

Submitted by
Saksham Adaulia
SPA/NS/BEM/2022/892

Department of Building Engineering & Management,

School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi
1) INTRODUCTION

Glass facades are becoming more and more common in the fast-paced world of
Indian construction, completely changing the way facades are planned and built. The
skylines of Indian Metros are dotted with high-rise buildings clad in glimmering
glass, spelling out affluence and style. The usage of glazing in building exteriors has
significantly increased due to rising urbanisation and extensive infrastructure
development.

Glazing systems is critical for optimising natural light in buildings, resulting in a

brighter and cosier interior environment. Effective utilisation of natural light reduces
the demand for artificial lighting during the day, resulting in reduced energy
expenses and enhanced comfort for occupants. Apart from enhancement of
Functional performance, it reduces the weight of building envelope significantly.
Complementing this emphasis on natural light is the Indian construction industry's
growing attention to sustainable design concepts.

As per the article “Trends in Glass Glazing in India”, MGS Architecture (2009), The
costs of structural glazing typically fall within the range of 10% to 25% of the total
building cost for commercial and high-end residential projects.

In order to guarantee performance, safety, and durability in structural glazing, quality

management becomes crucial.

Quality in construction projects depends on clear design documents, well-defined

quality control methods, proper materials and workmanship (Jha, 2015). Inspections,
testing, and sampling are common quality control methods. Quality assurance
focuses on preventing defects, while quality control focuses on detecting them.

Overall, successful construction quality management requires a comprehensive

approach encompassing planning, execution, control, and continual improvement,
while adapting to the specific needs and challenges of the construction industry.

2) Keywords
Structural glazing, Quality Management
3) Research Gap
 The costs of structural glazing typically fall within the range of 10% to 25%
of the total building cost for commercial and high-end residential projects.
 Glazing works shall thus conform to quality expectations w.r.t aesthetics and
customer satisfaction.
 Limited comprehensive studies are available on quality management
practices specific to structural glazing in the Indian context.
 CPWD has recently included Structural Glazing works in DSR, DAR and
Specifications, but still the expertise of installation, fabrication and quality
assurance is under the Suppliers and Vendors. Thus, a more standardized
framework is required from govt. organizations.
4) Research Questions
 What are the critical quality factors influencing the installation and
performance of structural glazing in Indian construction projects?
 How do prevailing quality management practices compare to international
standards?
 What are the key barriers and challenges in establishing robust quality
management frameworks for structural glazing systems in India?
 How can a benchmarking framework be used to guide improvement in
structural glazing installations?
5) Aim

To develop a quality management framework for structural glazing also,

benchmarking against international standards and best practices.

6) Objectives
I. To understand the various types of Glazing Systems and analyse the existing QM
practices.
II. To identify the deficiencies and challenges of existing quality control measures for
structural glazing.
III. To validate these performance requirements through case studies, and identify the
areas of improvement.
IV. To recommend expected performance standards and mitigation strategies to achieve
desired results.
7) Research Methodology

Figure 1 Research Methodology (Author)

8) Literature Review

Benchmarking