Wintech

With the ever increasing complication and performance demands on buildings, there is a need to accurately communicate the client and designers’ intentions to those who have a responsibility for executing the façades of modern buildings.

Wintech is a Façade Engineering Consultancy whose primary objective is to bring to the table Design & Audit Services to improve the quality of façades whilst reducing associated risk and cost.

Our Engineers are proactive members of the design team & are able to help deliver best value to projects by being fully involved in the early iterative strategic stages of the development of major projects.

The façade of a modern building is one of the most expensive and important elements of building construction and can represent up to 35% of construction costs. Façades represent the manifestation of the architect’s expectation of the external appearance of a building, are the primary environmental modifier & are the element that has the greatest level of historic failure.

Until recently, the technical design and execution of building façades has largely been a process established from the application of empirical techniques.

With the implementation of new and more onerous regulations, the design of façades must be part of the holistic strategy. In particular science needs to be carefully considered to deal with aspects such as façade performance and energy conservation. There now needs to be consideration of issues such as predictive thermal modelling techniques, testing, lighting and acoustic engineering, added to existing issues of durability, sustainability and structural engineering to drive best value for clients. The blurring of the boundaries is recognised in the fact that the energy conservation and statutory compliances are now a matter of balance.

Wintech’s Façade Engineers are uniquely experienced and qualified within the industry; the majority being Masters Degree qualified specialists in Façade Engineering underpinning their years of practical experience.

These skills recognise the need for a holistic approach from an engineering and performance perspective, the need for independent expertise to drive best value and the need to eradicate premature failure or deterioration of the most expensive element of the building construction. This demonstrates the clear need for specialised façade engineering expertise on major construction projects.

Wintech is unique in that, across the Group, it provides project-specific consultancy and systems design services together with façade testing and building testing services. This broad level of pragmatic experience and technical expertise adds relevance and value to façade consultancy services aimed at reducing cost and improving quality of as built façade.

As the nature of building façades takes on ever greater importance, so proportionally does the level of technology involved. The pressure for change is probably greater than for any other element of a building.

Change, not only for higher performance but also in aesthetic and legislation demands; these are difficult to keep up with – even for an expert. A potential minefield for the unwary.

Wintech have experience on a world wide basis having completed major projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. This requires a thorough understanding of the constraints & opportunities afforded in each locale.