It primarily focuses on three levels where “Quality Checks” are critical. These are explained by examples of curtain wall systems, building hardware and partition systems. Below are three levels of quality check:-

1. Product Design
2. Product Manufacturing
3. System Design and Execution

It is important for key stakeholders (developers and owners, designers & architects, contractors and manufacturers) involved in creating buildings to be aware of these levels of quality as these will help them pinpoint possible aberrations. Compliance to certain or limited standards may give a false feeling of quality compliance to manufacturers or users.

Any product or a system which will be part of a building (glazing, hinges, window) has to perform throughout the claimed life of the building and should be in a position to endure known (High winds, rain) and limited unforeseen environments (like earthquakes, fire etc.) To develop and supply a product or a system that displays consistency/ repeatability of compliance evokes a satisfaction of quality.

Step 1. The sample is received along with detailed drawings of the system.

Step 2. Before and during the Installation, evidence is gathered to correlate the sample submitted with the drawings.

Step 3. Samples are carefully installed on to a frame representing the standard conditions.

Step 4. The system is loaded with thermocouples and sensors which will help capture change in temperature and other parameters to be recorded.

Step 5. The furnace is fired up. It is designed to simulate the increase in temperature and pressure as it would progress in case of a real fire

Step 6. The test sample is carefully monitored throughout the duration of the test for various parameters like changes in deflection of structure, rate of change of temperature, behavior of material, release of gases etc.

Step 7. The test ends in confirming the fire rating of the Curtain Wall system in minutestill which the system couldwithstand a real fire. (example 120 minutes of fire rating)

Step 8. A test report is compiled and issued capturing behavior of the system during the test as per the test standard.

This is a product level quality check and is the starting point to prove compliance of future performance of the product or systems in given environment. Testing with many combinations of systems, materials and environments may be necessary before the design can be claimed to perform as per desired expectations in unique environments.