First-of-its-kind in India, this 10 storey building in
Mohali by Synergy Thrislington was constructed in just 48 hours.
Synergy Thrislington, a Mohali-based infrastructure
company has definitely changed the shifted the time dials in fast forward mode.
The company entered the Limca Book of Records for constructing a 10-storey
commercial building in just 48 hours. The iconic structure - titled Instacon -
was completed on December 1, 2012, The first building of its kind in India, the
structure was built with the assistance of three cranes and more than 200
highly skilled technicians and workers. With a size of 2,553.60 sq m and a dead
load of 1,200-1,500 kg sq m along with a live load of 320-350 kg sq m, the
48-hour masterwork stands tall in the city.
But
is this a Marvel or a mere Showpiece!
The ingredients used
The external structure of the building comprises
double-skinned PUF panel (PVDF galvalume coated sheet) that ensures thermal
insulation. The core material used for Instacon is mild steel, which is
lightweight, strong, and flexible. The steel is also coated with rust
retardants and anti-corrosive paints to avoid rusting.
However; Brick, sand or gravel is not utilized in the
constructing process; however, concrete is used only in the foundation and in a
three-inch deck flooring.
The intelligence involved
A smart technique was utilized to create Instacon in a
short timeframe. The company made arrangements to ensure that around 80-90 per
cent of the work was completed in the factory under a controlled environment.
In this system, different units of the building such as wall panels, columns,
etc, were produced within the factory and then transported to the actual site
where 10-20 per cent of the work was carried out by simply installing them.
Also, utility arrangements such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire-fighting,
etc, were fitted in the floor frames of steel.
So
can the actual time can be framed as a Record?
The costs
The cost of Instacon is about $1.5 million. In this
project, the work done at the job site was minimum, which enabled bringing down
the project costs associated with subcontractors, scheduling, weather, staging,
delivery and inspection. The foundation cost of the project was also reduced
with the use of steel framing, which is lighter than the conventional RCC
structure. An interesting fact: the depth of the foundation for the project is
less compared to conventional buildings.
But being
an Engineer for the same company and one of the few inmates to have access to
Instacon, I came across squeaking Sounds from the building floors,
This is because steel and PUF
panel both have expansion & contraction coefficient respectively which
allows building to contract and expand at times releasing sounds like an old
wood house. This expansion can lead to cracking in window panels and glasses
all the times as cracks can be seen in many panes and need to be changes on a
routine basis.
For the last two years the
building is inhospitable, The only purpose it serves is to attract contracts
from bidders who are fooled by vibrancies of construction in short space of
time and sometimes as modern monuments for dignitaries arriving in the city.
In fact, if I talk about the
cost involved and the return or the business given by the marvel including maintenance
is meager or nil.
The building is claimed to be
Earthquake resistant, Soundproof, Heatproof and low on Carbon Credit but these
claims are false as when PUF panel put under test it resist in give results
claimed by company.
Indeed, there is an urgent requirement to upgrade the
buildings with substitute materials that are environment-friendly, time-saving
and cost-effective. Hopefully, Instacon inspires many more speedy and green projects
in India keeping in mind the urgency the project deserves.
Project details
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFqJG0nDu1E
Section of PUF
panel used
Section
& Elevation
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