iWin: The Digital Service Revolutionizing Façade Construction and Building Life Cycle

Digitalization is rapidly advancing in the construction industry, particularly in the realm of façade construction. One of the most exciting developments in this field is the new digital service called iWin, which has been recently presented by Saint-Gobain in Bern. This service promises to bring a range of advantages to the façade industry and its suppliers by connecting the digital world with real facades and real estate, throughout the entire life cycle of a building.

The iWin service operates by equipping each insulating glass unit of a façade with an RFID chip in the edge seal that is not visible. This chip enables glass processors, window and façade manufacturers, building managers, and maintenance teams to identify and track each glass unit and associated façade element. This tracking happens in a manner similar to tracking packages with shipping companies like DHL - from the order to delivery, to installation, and finally as part of the building after installation.

The iWin service records a range of data for each glass unit and associated building element, which can be accessed by glass processors, façade builders, architects, general contractors, and facility managers. The data that can be recorded includes information about the glass, such as type, format, coating, and delivery data. Additionally, the allocation of the façade element for installation, such as the exact façade position, can be recorded, and links to installation videos can also be stored.

The recorded data can be incredibly useful in the future, especially in the context of urban mining in the circular economy. The materials of the respective building element can be precisely and economically allocated and distributed by those responsible for recycling. With iWin, recyclers can receive dismantling instructions as well as precise data on the available glass qualities.

The digitalization of façades has the potential to revolutionize the construction and real estate industry by providing a wealth of data and insights that can be used to optimize and improve building performance, enhance sustainability, and streamline the building life cycle. With iWin and other similar technologies, the digitalization of façades is well on its way to transforming the industry as we know it.