Gulf Construction Online - Hunter Douglas offers new ceilings for KKIA

Airport Construction

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Hunter Douglas offers new ceilings for KKIA

01 July 2018

Hunter Douglas, represented in Saudi Arabia by the Riyadh-based Universal Building Materials Merchants (UBM) Company, has proposed innovative ceilings solutions for Terminals 3 and 4 at the King Khalid international Airport (KKIA) that will contribute to the overall performance of the buildings.

The existing ceiling of the airport in Riyadh was done 30 years ago by Hunter Douglas, according to an official for UBM.

“Hunter Douglas is now working with the project architect to propose a design of the triangle-shape ceilings and kite designs of the interior and exterior ceiling system with its latest technology and suspension systems,” he indicates.

The spokesman says the proposal will replace the existing steel ceilings with Torsion Spring suspension and aluminium ceilings which will reduce the load on the building structure by 60 per cent.

“Our Torsion Spring metal ceilings deliver style and ease with their versatile carrier/grid system. Both flat and curved panels swing down, ensuring safe access to the plenum and making the system the ideal choice for casinos, airports and arenas,” he says.

The key feature of Torsion Spring, he says, is the engagement of the torsion spring mechanisms with the suspension channels, allowing safe point access.

Other highlights include the swing-down feature that allows point-access and 100 per cent access to plenum, its square-edge design, and compatibility with industry standard lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning), public address system, fire safety and security services.

The system doesn’t emit any VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and is Greenguard Gold certified. It contains up to 85 per cent recycled aluminium content and helps waste reduction with factory-fabricated dimensional material. Also, the lightweight aluminium material reduces the dead load. Torsion Spring can be specified for both interior and exterior applications.

Hunter Douglas is a leading manufacturer of window coverings and architectural products, which operates as a highly decentralised, global federation of small and medium-sized companies that manufacture and market similar products.

The company’s forte is its ability to develop innovative, high quality, proprietary products that can be found in millions of homes and commercial buildings around the globe.

Hunter Douglas is committed to offer product solutions that contribute to the overall performance of a building. By controlling light and improving energy efficiency, the company’s architectural ceilings systems make buildings better places for the people who use them, the official says.

Architectural products from Hunter Douglas include sun-control solutions, suspended ceilings, and ventilated facade systems. It offers an unparalleled breadth of solutions and expertise to manage heat and light inside and outside windowed walls as part of sun control mechanisms, according to the spokesman. Another product offering from Hunter Douglas is the NBK brand, a pioneering manufacturer of terracotta facades.

Hunter Douglas pioneered suspended metal ceilings some 60 years ago. “We’ve been working hard ever since, ensuring that architects have the right ceiling solutions available to meet the requirements of their individual projects,” says a spokesman for Hunter Douglas.

Hunter Douglas utilises metal, wood and fibreglass materials to design, engineer and manufacture ceiling systems that optimise the interior environmental quality, material resources and energy usage.

“We incorporate sustainable materials and employ sustainable practices in our manufacturing processes. When applied as part of an overall building plan for new and renovation construction, solutions from Hunter Douglas can contribute to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) BD+C and ID+C certification for schools, retail, hospitality, healthcare and commercial interiors,” says the spokesman.

The company offers a range of metal ceilings made of aluminium, steel and stretch metal in linear, wide panel, open cell, curved and tile configurations. These are available in a wide choice of colours and finishes including wood finish options.

Ceiling panels are available in a variety of perforation patterns for optimum acoustical performance. Sound absorption can be achieved by backing these panels with acoustical fabric or pad.

Founded in 1979, UBM is today one of Saudi Arabia’s leading players in the construction sector, offering a wide range of quality building materials through an extensive network of branches throughout the country. Its Architectural Division was formed in 2015 to serve the growing market demand for top quality products like facades, ceilings, window coverings and sun control solutions.