Saint-Gobain’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2010. No other manufacturer of glasscontainers or fibre glass insulation has ever received the Partner of the Year award.

According to the announcement, through a wide range of energy-awareness programs, process improvements and energy management practices in 2009, Saint-Gobain businesses in North America were able to reduce their energy usage by 2.2 percent–equivalent to the amount of energy needed to make nearly 486 million glass bottles or enough fiber glass insulation for more than 100,000 typical U.S. homes. The company’s energy-use reduction equalled a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 70,000 tons last year.

“We’re very proud of the contributions made by employees throughout our organization which made this award possible,” says Gilles Colas, general delegate for Saint-Gobain in North America. “As the world leader in building materials, energy efficiency is central to our ‘habitat’ business strategy. This is demonstrated in our strong focus on sustainable development and environmental responsibility in the products we supply and in our manufacturing processes. The Partner of the Year Award underscores our commitment to limiting the environmental impact of our manufacturing processes and protecting the health of the communities where we live and work.”

“Saint-Gobain is leading the fight against climate change through greater energy efficiency,” says Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.  “Saint-Gobain’s robust energy management program is a model for others and affirms that energy efficiency is our most cost-effective climate strategy.”

The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards recognize efforts to use energy efficiently in facility operations and to integrate superior energy management into overall organizational strategy.  Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

The State Chief Minister, Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi visited the assembly complex and congratulated officials for the attainment of green rating. The State Government has sanctioned Rs. 426 crore for the core complex and about Rs. 280 crore for the other blocks.

Green Features of the TNLA

The TNLA complex was awarded the aforementioned certification for adhering to guidelines of green buildings on site management, water efficiency and reduction in the use of water, energy efficiency, enhanced indoor air quality and conservation of materials and resources. The selection of the site for construction had already imparted 16 points to the building, said Deepa Sathiaram, director of En3 Sustainability Solutions.

The buildings within the assembly complex will use less water, consume less energy, preserve natural resources, generate less waste and provide a healthier environment for occupants as compared to conventional buildings. The entire site has been planned with provisions for open and landscaped spaces to promote bio-diversity.

Exteriors

The architecture of the exteriors of the buildings within the assembly complex is such that it minimises heat ingress. A large landscaped space has been maintained that keeps the surroundings cool by shading walkways, roads and car parks. The buildings have shaded windows, energy efficient glazing and screens that incorporate traditional ‘Kolam’ designs.

Green Roof & Water Management

A combination of a reflective roof and a green roof insulates the roof, filters water from various forms of precipitation and reduces heat islands that may form on the exteriors. Rain water harvesting with bore holes & RWH sumps is facilitated; recycled water is used for gardening. Being in a water-deficient city, an air cooling system was chosen for the complex instead of a water cooling system.

Daylighting

• All blocks within the TNLA have a courtyard; this maximizes daylighting
• The buildings’ envelope design supports daylighting
• Aluminium panels with perforated holes are used to control direct heat while allowing light to penetrate
• Low emissivity clear glass is used to control thermal heat with light transmission
• Advanced BMS used for lighting control
• Slit windows are used around the building to further support daylighting

Facilities with the Assembly Complex

There is a multi-level car-park with a capacity to accomodate 600 to 800 cars at a time. This provision is likely to help reduce the heat island effect and control the microclimate. A guesthouse and a convention hall have been proposed. A sewage treatment plant which is equipped to treat 100 per cent of waste water from the complex and reuse it for landscaping has been installed.

Another key feature is the building’s shape and exterior cladding. It takes the shape of a smooth arc which gleams obliquely against the linearity of the neighbourhood.

Detailed computer-based energy models to develop ventilation and energy conservation strategies were deployed. These helped make the necessary trade-offs to achieve a good level of energy efficiency.

General Facts

• Architect : GMP Berlin & Archivista India Ltd
• Energy Consultant : EN3 sustainability solutions
• Civil Contractor : ECCI Ltd
• Fabricator : Star Alubuild & Aluplex India Ltd
• Processor : Galaxy Glass works
• Glass Suppliers : Saint Gobain Glass India

Design Description

Iconic Building Design Intent

The design of the assembly complex takes into account the culture and tradition of the State as well as the urban flavour of the city of Chennai. A high-rising dome mimics the structural features of Dravidian temple complexes in South India. The geometry of the complex’s structure is derived from the traditional round chakra or mandala motif & gopurams of the rathas of Mahabalipuram consisting of circles of various sizes inscribed in 36 isosceles triangles.

Courtyard

The internal plan features courtyard architecture with 4 round interior courts, which are functionally differentiated, creating public, semi-public and also secure internal areas. These 4 circular blocks are interconnected with each other. The spacious Citizens’ Forum on the south side of the building is one of the interior courtyards and is created by the largest circle in the mandala. The three other round courtyards are of the Assembly Hall, the Legislative Assembly Chamber and the Convention Hall.

Design Inspiration

The first and the largest circular structure in the complex, the Public Plaza, has a motif that resembles a ‘Kolam’ design. Kolam is similar to the Rangoli but different in the manner in which it is created. In Kolam, dots are first placed and then connected with lines. There is a certain calculation involved, which is simple enough even for laypersons to understand and make. The Kolam was the design inspiration for architects of the TNLA.

In the Public Plaza, a Kolam engraved on natural sandstone covers 14,000 sq m of the floor space. Another Kolam which covers 10,000 sq m is engraved on the metal screen at the entrance of the complex.

Façade with Glass and Aluminium

From the very outset, the architectural team was keen on exploring the properties of reflected light and the potential of creating a translucent or opaque cladding solution that would allow light to pass through and provide diffused interior lighting during the daytime. Glass was the architects’ best bet to achieve this end; glass panels with aluminium cladding have been installed.

Glazing

Saint-Gobain Glass India is among the providers of “Green Solutions” for this facility. Its premium product SGG Planitherm, an advanced thermal insulation glass that minimises energy consumption by keeping out unwanted heat and reducing cooling costs, is the show stealer of the assembly’s architecture.

This Glass is manufactured by coating clear float glass with metallic oxides through a process of magnetically enhanced cathodic sputtering under vacuum conditions. It has a neutral appearance due to very low reflection. SGG Planitherm has high light transmission properties with excellent colour rendering, thus enabling most parts of a building to receive natural daylight – A critical factor that determines the ‘green quotient’ of a building.

Performance of SGG Planitherm Pristine White

• Visual light Transmission : 75%
• Solar Factor : 0.54
• Shading Co efficient : 0.62
• U value : 1.77 W/sq.m.K
• External & Internal reflection : 11%

Saint-Gobain is present in Copenhagen during the UN climate change conference – in a very special way. The world’s first low energy playhouse which is large enough to serve as an annexe in private gardens or yards was proudly built by Saint Gobain. This is happened in the very centre of Copenhagen, at the Højbro Plads square, just opposite the Danish parliament December 7-18, 2009. And it is as great a photo opportunity.

The new, unique concept, “Playhouse” has been developed by six Danish Saint-Gobain companies and the renowned architects at Arkitektfirmaet C.F. Møller. The house, which was approximately 3 x 4 meters, has 40 cm thick walls stuffed with highly effective Isover insulation and three large 3-layer windows panes from Scanglas – one of them in the roof. Inside, the house has been lined with impact resistant plasterboards from Gyproc and acoustic boards from Gyproc and Ecophon that secure a comfortable sound environment. The play house is full of happy kids!

The house has been so perfectly insulated that in principle one could heat with a handful of candle sticks. Simultaneously, the insulation and the windows prevent the house from being over heated during summer. The panes have different coatings depending on their direction – north, south and upwards. The diamond-shape of the house has a beautiful architectural effect, but it also prevents the hot summer sun to heat the house through the south window.

This is a playhouse, but big enough to function as a small guesthouse. On some days the house functions as a studio for the nationwide radio channel NOVA fm broadcasting live climate quiz and interviewing politicians and experts about the conference and CO2-reductions.

The house was a part of Saint-Gobain’s new, global “Habitat strategy” which among other things proclaims that the company is going to be a world leader in supplying materials to sustainable buildings. At the same time it is ushering a new and more close corporation among Danish Saint-Gobain companies.

The six Danish companies involved in the Playhouse project are: Isover (insulation), Scanglas (window panes), Saint-Gobain Glass (pane coatings), Gyproc (plasterboards), Ecophon (acoustic wall absorbents) and Vetrotech (fire protected glass).

They are a regular source of astonishment for customers and visitors. The projections which have a large oval form and are finished in a radiant dark yellow can be seen at the Solarwatt location on Maria-Reich-Strasse, where solar modules have been developed and produced for more than 16 years.

On the ground floor of the building, two of the cells stand at an angle to each other and are used as meeting rooms. On the first floor, the third element accommodates the production management in an open-plan office. The overall structure resembles an “egg” from inside the building.

SOURCE: Saint Gobain Glass India

SGG Firesafe 120 system is a non-load bearing, fully glazed fire rated partition system, which consists of SGG Contraflam Lite and a sleek ingenious GI profile – Pyrowize ST 110. It not only prevents fire from reaching the other side but also cuts out hot gases, smoke and even thermal radiation. Along with these the system also offers unhindered clear vision having a Light transmission of 87% and an excellent sound reduction of 37 db thereby making your space look bigger and quieter.

Incredible as it sounds, this fire safety system can resist fire for over 2 hours. This system has been tested at IFTS laboratory – a leading fire testing laboratory in Bern, Switzerland.

At IFTS, SGG Firesafe 120 was tested as per the strict EN 1364-1:1999 standard for criteria E (integrity) and W (radiation control or partial insulation) for 120 minutes. The test was successful and the system fulfilled both the E and W criteria for more than 130 minutes. This tested system has an indigenous design with features like side and top panels in order to simulate an actual scenario as closely as possible. This rather elegant system can be built against a brick wall or a gypsum partition with a maximum size of 1400 x 2800 mm* or 4 sq mt (approx) for a single pane of glass.

This fire safety system can be used as partitions of data server room, fire exit corridors, lift lobby partition, as also in establishments that require high security – such as bank locker rooms.

* For bigger sizes please contact the company at + 91 44 2716 2832-39.

Chennai, Oct. 19

Saint Gobain Glass India, the glass manufacturer has been recognized along with eight other companies for its initiative in Corporate Social Responsibility by the Tamil Nadu Government.

According to an official press release, the move by the State Government is in line with its announcement last year to institute CSR Awards to recognize the contributions of public and private sector industries towards social development.

The CSR awards for 2008-09 and 2007-08, which include cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a certificate, were given away by the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. M.K. Stalin.

For 2008-09, the awards were bagged by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Steel Authority of India Ltd, Salem, Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Sri Ramalinga Mills Ltd, Virudhunagar.

For 2007-08, the awardees are Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, Karaikal, Srinivasan Services Trust (CSR arm of TVS Motor), Saint-Gobain Glass India Ltd and Sakthi Masala (P) Ltd.

Adapted from: www.thehindubusinessline.com

“It is like being in detox,” jokes Mr B. Santhanam, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Glass India, as he talks about the impact of the slowdown and how the company is using the time to improve efficiencies. He is not unduly worried about the slowdown in the real-estate sector, which accounts for a bulk of his sales.

For Saint-Gobain Glass India, the slowdown has provided a breather to improve and innovate a whole lot of processes and practices, which it would have found difficult to do if the market were going ahead full steam, he says.
Reinvention time

There is no major revival in sight yet in the real-estate sector that accounts for the bulk of Saint-Gobain’s sales. There is some activity in the residential segment, but nothing major in the commercial sector — for offices and malls — that consume a lot of glass. However, the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year will provide a major boost to the glass industry, as all the structures are supposed to be Green buildings.

From the middle of 2008, when the slowdown hit the real-estate sector, Saint-Gobain Glass India, a subsidiary of the French multinational Saint-Gobain, has used the time to focus on re-inventing itself, says Mr Santhanam.

Saint-Gobain Glass India has its float glass plant at Sriperumbudur, about 50 km west of Chennai on the national highway to Bangalore. The two float lines have a combined capacity of 1,500 tonnes a day.

The commodity end of the business — clear glass — will account for less than 40 per cent of Saint-Gobain’s business. In the value-added segment, where the company has a much wider range of high-performance glass compared with the competition, it is better placed than other players. The company has used this advantage in this slowdown to deepen its market presence.

Despite the slowdown, Mr Santhanam says the company has grown in 2009. Its exports are also profitable, he says, without going into specifics.
Focus on customer

Saint-Gobain Glass India has focussed on the customer this year, he says. “Our service levels have improved.” In the commodity end, the retailers want a range of products in one shipment. For instance, they ask for as many as 18 different products in one truck.

In the high value-added segment — high-performance reflective glasses — customers are now asking for price-performance solutions. No longer are they merely negotiating on price but want the company to offer products that provide superior performance and help in saving costs.
Cost reduction programme

The company, according to Mr Santhanam, embarked on a major cost-reduction programme, not just in terms of inputs. Using the lean Six Sigma methodology, this programme covered energy consumption, yield improvement, wastage, packing and transportation. This helped the company save as much as Rs 30 crore. There are nearly 110 cost- reduction projects, all of them tracked on IT systems. Saint-Gobain Glass India, like its parent, concentrated on free cash flow (profit before depreciation and tax, change in working capital minus capex), which has also helped it stay in shape during a difficult period.

The company invested in generating 1.2 MW from waste heat. It has applied for benefits under the Clean Development Mechanism, for which it has obtained host country approval.
Towards energy efficiency

Saint-Gobain has been working with glass processors that are its direct customers, to help them improve their efficiencies and processes. It has introduced over 10 new products in the solar control space, each better than the other in terms of energy efficiency

at different price points.

Along with the company-specific initiatives, Saint- Gobain has been working on industry-wide initiatives, including on green buildings, energy code for buildings, improving energy efficiency in buildings and building materials.

Source:  www.thehindubusinessline.com

Saint Gobain Glass

In 19^th century, an environment of newborn and an open international competition provoked the Saint Gobain to cross the French borders and anchored its base of glass production in Europe. This fraternity launched its unit in Germany in 1857, Italy in 1889 and Spain in 1904.

Originally Saint Gobain was a mirror manufacturers but now grown up with the production of different kinds of high performance materials. Especially, the products such as glass and iron pipes earn more reputation for this company.

1910 -1950

After the industrial revolution in France, the glass industry experienced a technical revolution. A new process evolved in the glass making industry named as chance process. The casting method where glass was simply poured to the table to form sheets was replaced by molten glass pushed between the two rollers to obtain a thin and perfect flat sheet of glass. This reduces the time required to cut, grind and polish the glass was reduced greatly. Specialty glass windows were popularized within the building industry.

In 1918, Saint Gobain Glass started to manufacture bottles, jars, tableware and domestic glassware. In1920, Saint Gobain expanded its business with the innovation of fiberglass.In 1937, Saint Gobain initiated a sub group called as Isover, especially for the fiber glass insulation. Seventy year later, Still Isover remains a part of Saint Gobain and the world leading manufacturers of fiberglass insulation.

As glass producers, Saint Gobain carried out various researches and came back with several innovative techniques. A dipping technique was used to coat the window panes of automobiles to prevent the shattering of the glass. This technique is a greatest boon for preventing the passengers from the possible injuries in the event of accidents. Another technique to shape and bend the glasses was also introduced. Finally, Saint Gobain’s new process to coat the glass with aluminum was emerged, allowed the glasses to be used as a conductor. This leads the Saint Gobain to produce radiavers, a glass heater.

In the first quarters of 2001, Saint Gobain Glass India Ltd started to manufactures value-added service products such as coated glass at their plant at Sriperumbudur. This largest plant of Saint Gobain in India is having the capacity to produce 650 tons of float glass everyday or 47 million square meters of 2mm thick glass per annum. In 2003, Saint Gobain Glass received the license to use the light control technology to manufacture the light control glass. Saint Gobain Glass manufactures the glass under various categories like self cleaning, noise insulation, high performance,  ultra durable, solar control, advanced thermal insulation, float glass, reflective glass, energy efficient glass, fire resistant and so on. Creativity of Saint Gobain Glass, Europe’s largest glass manufacturers grows forever and its contribution to the glass industry stops never.

Principle of Fire Resistant glass:

When the fire breaks out, the ordinary conventional glasses immediately form a great difference in temperature between the front and back fire surfaces of the glass. Because of this temperature difference, a drastic non-uniform thermal load occurs after 1 to 2 minutes, which results in the shuttering or crashing of the glass. Even the physical tempered glasses will also crash after 3 or 5 minutes.

But the single fire proof glasses are resistant to high temperature because these glasses are subjected to more than 20 hours of high temperature ionic chemistry treatment. This treatment improved the mechanical strength and the press stress of the glasses. As a result of this, the fireproof glass just gets softened without falling into pieces and also prevents the spreading of the flames and toxic gases.

The fireproof glasses are broadly classified into two types. They are as heat transmitting glass and fire insulating glass.

Heat transmitting glass:

Heat transmitting glass contains flame and inflammable gas for short duration but it does not prevent the transmission of heat to the other side of the window glazing. Examples of the heat transmitting glasses are wired glass and reinforced laminated glass.

Fire insulation glass:

Fire insulation glass can contain the flames and inflammable gas for long duration and prevents the transmission of heat to the other side of the glazing. It can also prevent the dispersion of flames and harmful smoke.

The single fireproof glasses are resistant to the anti-shocking, 6-12 times as same as the thickness of normal glass and 2 to 3 times as the thickness of the tempered glass. Some of the newest fire resistant glasses are designed in such a way that even if the glass explodes into pieces, the fragments of the glass will not harm anything.

Some of the fire resistant glass products from Saint Gobain Glass India are SGG Pyroswiss, SGG Vetroflam, and SGGContraflam.  SGG Pyroswiss confirms to the E category of the fire protection which means that the glazing system will not collapses when it is subjects to fire. It blocks the dispersion of fire and the smoke.

SGG Vetroflam  matches to the E and EW classification. This glass remains very clear even after the subjection of fire. SGG Contraflam confirms to the EI category. When the fire breaks out, the special interlayer in the glass turns transparent and expands to stop the spreading of the fire across the glass as well as to form the insulating heat shield. The major target of these fire resistant glasses is to protect life and properties.

The Traditional skylight are often fitted in roof tops and it requires skilled person to setup these skylights or else your house might end up with heat loss or raise in solar gain inside the rooms. The traditional skylights can either be a fixed one or ventilated. The fixed skylights are immovable once installed and it offer only the daylighting where the ventilated skylights allow air to pass through them, it can be controlled to open an close with the help of hand crank, remote or automatically by temperature sensor controller.

Tubular Skylight:

The tubular skylights are often found in narrow hallways, bathrooms and closets. This type of skylights captures and passes the concentrated sunlight into the building and it resembles the light bulb. The tube consists of highly reflective metal coating inside it that reflects the sunlight into the building. The sunlight is also diffused to prevent the damages to the material inside. Installing the tubular skylights is also a very easy process depending on the set-up of your house.

Skylight Material

The standard material that are used for skylights are glass or plastic and off course there are other materials to choose from which are following.

Acrylic: This is the economical synthetic glazing available in market. It comes in various varieties of tints, UV resistance levels. It can be fitted in single or double glazed configuration.

Lexan: This is also synthetic glazing material similar to acrylic, but it is more impact resistant to airborne debris. It is best suitable of hurricane prone regions.

Laminated Glass: These are also used in Skylights since it is available as insulated performance glass and can also be used with Low E coated glass. It is available in numerous tints and as different reflective coated glass.

Skylight Glazing Options

The glazing options for installing skylights vary depending on the levels of protection and insulation required. Weather and other environmental factor in your area are to be considered before choosing the skylights.

The following will be options to choose from depending on the factors mentioned.

Single glazing: Single glazing is available in all of the above glazing types. It provides the least insulation from heat and cold as well as sound.

Double glazing: Double glazing is available in acrylic and lexan and includes an insulating air space that is mechanically sealed. It reduces outside noise (i.e. rain and hail) and increases the energy efficiency of your home.

Insulated Glazing: Insulated glass is available for glass skylights and, as the name states, provides insulation-more specifically a hermetically sealed airspace. This is also a great choice to help protect your home from the elements.