Construction Quality

The construction quality stands for adhering to IS standards and delivering on the following aspects:

• Quality in Design – Name and brand of the structural consultant and the architect.

• Quality in Procurement - Category of vendors from which we procure construction. materials like tiles, wood, cement, etc., and brands of materials used like paints, adhesives, tiles, etc.

• Quality of the construction contractor.

• Quality in Execution - Quality checks are done on the construction materials, and tests and audits are done by third parties to maintain quality standards.

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has launched the IGBC Green New Buildings rating system. This rating program is a tool that enables the designer to apply green concepts and reduce measurable environmental impacts. IGBC recognizes Green New Buildings that achieve one of the rating levels with a formal letter of certification and a mountable plaque. Following practices are identified as green practices by IGBC to provide the rating:

Sustainable Architecture and Design:

• Developers should retain the site features like topology, trees, natural rocks, site contour, and water bodies.
• They should also adopt architectural design features like skylights, daylighting, passive cooling techniques, etc. to reduce energy consumption

Site selection and planning: Providing basic amenities like ATM, School, Pharmacy, etc. at a walking distance reduces automobile use.

• Encouraging the use of non-fossil fuel vehicles by providing charging facilities for low-emitting vehicles.
• Avoiding disturbance to natural topography or vegetation by retaining such area in the design.
• Preserving existing fully-grown trees and planting new tree saplings.
• Reducing heat island effect by providing covered parking, vegetation on exposed roof areas, and using highly reflective materials.
• Reducing light pollution by reducing upward lighting and reducing lighting power density.
• Ensuring building design caters to specially abled and senior citizens.
• Promoting the welfare of the construction workforce by providing safe and healthy work conditions.

Water conservation:

• Enhancing the groundwater table and reducing municipal water demand through effective rainwater harvesting.
• Limiting the use of turf on the site to conserve water and ensuring that landscaped area is planted with drought tolerant species.
• Treating wastewater generated on-site, to avoid polluting the receiving streams by safe disposal and using treated wastewater, thereby reducing dependence on potable water.

Energy efficiency:

• Encouraging the use of eco-friendly refrigerants and halons in the building, thereby minimizing the negative impact on the ozone layer.
• Encouraging the use of on-site and off-site renewable technologies.
• Encouraging sub-metering and continuous monitoring to identify improvement opportunities in the building’s energy performance.

Building materials and resources:

• Facilitating segregation of waste at source to encourage reuse or recycling of materials, thereby avoiding waste being sent to landfills.
• Using certified green building materials, products, and equipment, to reduce dependence on materials that have associated negative environmental impacts.

Indoor environmental quality:

• Providing adequate outdoor air ventilation, to avoid pollutants affecting indoor air quality.
• Minimizing exposure of non-smokers to the adverse health impacts arising due to passive smoking in the building by creating smoking-prohibited areas and designated smoking rooms.
• Continuously monitoring and controlling carbon dioxide levels in the building to ensure occupants’ comfort and well-being.
• Encourage the use of materials (Paints, coatings, adhesives, carpets, wood) and systems with low VOC emissions, to reduce adverse health impacts on building occupants.