Month: July 2022

10 Largest Lighting Companies in the United States

10 Largest Lighting Companies in the United States

Electricity has now become a necessity for living. This has brought into play large companies which make lighting and electronic products. The United States is among the most developed countries in the world and it has a huge market for lighting products.

10 Largest Lighting Companies in the United States
10 Largest Lighting Companies in the United States

This has led to the establishment of many lighting companies as well as many companies from other countries venturing into this market. So, we are going to take a look at the top 10 lighting companies in the United States.

1. Acuity Brands Inc.

The company placed in the first position as the top lightning brand in the United States. Acuity Brands Inc. was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Acuity Brands Inc. is a lighting as well as building management company. The company provides lighting solutions for commercial, industrial, residential, and institutional lighting all over the world. However, it is the largest lighting company in the United States. The CEO of the company is Neil Ashe. Although the company provides many services and products in the lighting industry, two of its main segments are Acuity Brands Lighting & Control and the Intelligent Spaces Group.

The services provided by Acuity Brands Lighting & Control are architectural commercial special lighting solutions and components for different types of indoor and outdoor applications to lighting showrooms, home improvement centers, and energy service companies.

The Intelligent Spaces Group helps in the building of management systems and location-aware applications for airports, retailers, systems integration, and different enterprises. In the company, there are 11000 plus employees. In 2018, the company achieved its highest revenue of US$ 3.7 billion.

2. GE Lighting

GE Lighting is the second largest lighting company in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of Savant System Inc. The company was founded in 1911 by acquiring 75% of the National Electric Light Association. However, in 2020, the company was acquired by Savant Systems Inc. The headquarters of GE Lighting is located in East Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

The products of GE Lighting are for both commercial and residential use. The light bulbs of the company are used for decorative, general, track, automotive, applications, and recessed fluorescent. The main products of the company are home and security products, lanterns, computer and electronic accessories, torch lights, security devices, lighting fixtures, LED lights, and wireless products.

The company is popular for its innovation of many modern days products like – the world’s first voice-embedded lighting product, incandescent bulbs, and LED and smart solutions. In 2015, G lighting separated its commercial division and started a new startup as current. The company has about 700 plus employees as of 2020.

3. Cree Inc.

The company that ranks in the third spot in the list of the top 10 lighting companies in the USA is Cree Inc. The company was founded in 1987 by 6 individuals. Cree Inc. is the first company that introduced blue LED light which led to the mass production of video screens and billboards. In 1991, the company released the first silicon carbide wafer and by 1993, it became a public company.

Cree Inc. produced its first consumer product in 2013. The company is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. The company is responsible for the design, manufacturing, and marketing of lighting products for indoor and outdoor applications. The products of the company are used in the commercial, industrial, and consumer markets. LED lighting products and power and RF products are the specializations of Cree Inc.

The LED products manufactured by the company include LED components, LED chips, and silicon carbide material. Products that are manufactured in the power and RF segment are power devices and RF devices. It is a multinational company and its products are shifted to some of the major countries of the world like – Malaysia, Japan, and European countries. There are approximately 3500 employees in the company and in 2021, the revenue of the company was $525 million.

4. Eaton Corporation PLC

Eaton Corporation is the fourth biggest lighting company in the United States. The company was founded in 1911 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA. However, currently, the headquarters of the company is located in Dublin, Ireland. Craig Arnold is the CEO and the chairman of the company. The company is a multinational conglomerate because of many subsidies in different industries. Eaton Corporation is one of the largest power management companies.

The service provided by the company is to manage electrical, mechanical, and hydrological power. Although the company has many subsidies industries, the main industries of the company are electrical products, Aerospace, vehicle segments, hydraulic, electrical systems, and services.

Eaton Corporation is spread in about 175 countries around the globe. The company has a total of about 86000 employees. In 2021, the revenue of the company was 19.63 billion US dollars. Currently, the company is focusing on renewable sources of energy working in their way to protect the environment. Read Also: 8 Ways to Decorate Your Garden With Permanent Lighting.

5. Hubbell Incorporated

The fifth spot in the list of the largest lighting companies in the USA is acquired by Hubbell Incorporated. It is also a diverse company and it provides different types of services. Some of the major services provided by the company are electrical and electronic products, lighting, oil and gas, and power systems. The company was founded by Harvey Hubbell in 1905 and its headquarters is located in Shelton, Connecticut, USA.

Hubbell Incorporated is the manufacturer and distributor of electrical and electronic products for utility, industrial, and residential construction applications. The two segments in which the company functions are – electrical and power. The services provided by the electrical segment are lighting fixtures and controls, rough in electrical products, stock and custom products, standard and special application wiring device products, components and assembly for natural gas distribution, connector and grounding products, and other electrical appliances.

In the power segment, the services that the company provides to its customers are the design and manufacture of transmission, distribution, substation and telecommunication products. According to the estimates for 2018, there are about 20000 employees in the company. The revenue of the company in 2018 was US$ 4.9 billion.

6. Feit Electric Company, Inc.

The sixth largest lighting company in the United States is Feit Electric Company. The headquarters of the company is located in California USA and the company was founded in 1978. The company is a manufacturer of residential lighting fixtures. The company offers electrical products like flashlights, halogens, bulbs, and lamps.

Feit Electric company is a very innovative company and since its foundation, the company has been responsible for many innovations in the lighting industry. Over the years the company has innovated Compact fluorescent lamps with a mini twist, covered lamps, insulated ceiling airtight, weatherproof floodlights, and recessed reflectors.

The company is presently working on adding more variation to its LED light portfolio by adding dimmable performance LEDs and accent LEDs. The company stays in LimeLight for its focus on innovations and has a large number of customers as well.

7. OSRAM Licht AG

OSRAM Licht AG is the seventh largest lighting company in the United States. It is a German company and was founded in 1919. The headquarters of the company is located in Munich, Germany. OSRAM Licht AG was a subsidiary of Siemens AG from 1978 to 2013 when it was declared an independent company. However, in 2020 the company was acquired by an Austrian company as AG.

The parent company of OSRAM Licht AG is a semiconductor company. Their main reason to acquire OSRAM was to introduce innovations. OSRAM is a manufacturer and seller of electric products like lamps, LEDs, indoor and outdoor LED luminaires, light engines, dimmers, light management systems, and specialty lighting along with other lighting products all over the world. Since the company was acquired by AMS AG the company is focusing on innovation and is working on new and innovative lighting products.

8. Philips Lighting N.V

Philips Lighting is a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Philips. It is one of the most popular lighting companies in the entire world. It ranks in the 8 spots in the list of the largest lighting companies in the United States. The parent company was founded in 1891 by Gerald and Anton Philips in Eindhoven, Netherlands. However, currently, the headquarters of the company is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The lighting division of the company was made independent and named Signify N.V. The company sells lighting products like lamps, LED, luminaries, and other lighting products. There are about 32,000 employees worldwide working for the company.

Signify is one of the leaders in the field of innovation in LED lights all over the world. The company is expanding both in the professional and the consumer market rapidly. Other services that the company provides other than LEDs are digital solutions, digital products, halogens, conventional lamps, specialty lighting products and services to offices, commercial buildings, shops, hospitality, industry, agriculture, and the outdoor environment.

9. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Samsung Electronics multinational electronic company which was founded in 1969 in Suwon, South Korea. The company has a large portfolio of different industries like electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, information technology, home appliances, automation, the internet of things, robotics, and medical devices. The headquarters of the company is located in Yeongtong District, Suwon, South Korea.

The primary industry of Samsung is the electronic industry. The company is a manufacturer and the distributor of electronic products like computers, digital cameras, semiconductors, display parts, air conditioners, lighting products, monitors, television, printer, refrigerator, handheld phones, network systems and others all over the world. The company also deals with core lighting products like LED lighting system pictures used in displays, mobile devices, smart lighting solutions and automotive.

Samsung was the first company to use CSP to display LEDs and flashlights and produce them on a huge scale. CSPs are being used throughout the globe in television and mobile displays. Samsung as a company is a very popular company that provides not only dude products but also innovative products.

10. Bridgelux Inc.

Bridgelux Inc. completes our list of the 10 largest lighting companies in the United States. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Fremont, United States. Since its foundation, the company has focused on being innovative, cost-effective, and energy efficient.

The company has been designing, researching, and manufacturing cost-effective LEDs for its lighting products. Products like – high-power LED arrays, warm white lighting solutions, and LED chips for white and blue light, etc are provided. The focus is on the manufacturing of white light for commercial as well as industries.

Bridgelux Inc. has researched how light has an effect on humans. The services provided by the company are outdoor lighting modules, LED chips, solid-state lighting solutions, and chip-on-board LED array products.

The company is not only focused on innovations but it also focuses on the environment. Bridgelux Inc. supports the Global Clean Energy initiative by reducing the energy consumption in their products and innovative new products that are more environmentally friendly but are also very effective.

Read Also:

Tunnel Lighting and Their Types

Top 10 Lighting Companies in India

18 Different Component Parts of an Arch

18 Different Component Parts of an Arch

An arch is a structure that is constructed over the opening of the windows, doors or cupboards, etc. The arch structure is also used in bridge construction. In ancient times, it was the most common structure used in any type of building. Arch may be circular, elliptical, or any other shape. It consists of wedge-shaped blocks of stone, bricks, etc. It may be made of steel or R.C.C. in case of bridge construction. In this article, I am going to share different component parts of an arch and also some technical terms used in arch construction.

18 Different Component Parts of an Arch
18 Different Component Parts of an Arch

1. Abutment

The abutment is the end support of an arch. In other words, it is the end support of a span on which the arch rests. The abutment may be walls or columns in the case of buildings and retaining walls in the case of a bridge. An abutment should be designed in such a way that it can easily withstand arch thrust.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #1. Abutment

2. Piers

Piers is also a supporting member of an arch, but it is the intermediate supporting member. Piers are used when a series of arches is constructed.

3. Arch ring

It is a course of wedge-shaped blocks, arranged in a curved form and supported on the abutments or piers.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #3. Arch Ring

4. Intrados

This is the inner curved surface of the arch.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #4. Intrados

5. Extrados

This is the outer curved surface of the arch, it is also known as the back of the arch ring.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #5. Extrados

6. Soffit

The soffit is the bottom surface of the arch. Indrados and soffit terms are used to indicate the same thing.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #6. Soffit

7. Span of the Arch

The span of the arch is nothing but a clear horizontal distance between the supports.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #7. Span of the arch

8. Crown

The Crown is the highest part of an arch. In other words, it is the height points of the extrados arch.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #7. Crown

9. Voussoirs

Voussoirs are wedge-shaped units by which the arch ring is created. These block units may be of brick, stone, or plain cement concrete. Voussoirs are also called arch blocks.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #9. Voussoirs

10. KeyStone

Key stone is also a wedge-shaped block unit but it is larger than the voussoirs. This unit is placed at the highest point of the arch.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #10. KeyStone

11. Skew Back

It is the splayed surface prepared on the top of an abutment or pier, to receive the arch. Arch work actually starts from skewback.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #11.  Skew Back

12. Springing Points

These are the points from where the curve of an arch starts. In other words, these are the points at which intrados and skew backs intersect.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #12. Springing Points

13. Springing Line

The springing line is nothing but the imaginary horizontal line joining the two springing points.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #13. Springing Line

14. Springers

It is the first voussoir (or, beginning voussoir) at the springing level on either side of the arch.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #14. Springers

15. Depth of the arch

It is the verticle distance between the intrados and extrados of an arch.

Different Component Parts of an Arch - #15. Depth of the arch

16. Haunch

If you imagine a line between crown and skewback, then the portion below the imagined line is known as Haunch.

17. Center of the arch

Center of the arch - Component Parts of an Arch

As its name suggests, it is the geometrical center of the curve of an arch.

18. Rise of the arch

Rise of the arch - Component Parts of an Arch

It is the perpendicular distance between the springing line and the highest point of the below curve(intrados) of the arch.

Read More:

Different Types of Lintel

Different Parts of a Building Structure

5 Component Parts of a Bridge

9 Steps Of Laying Of Sewer Pipes – Wastewater Engineering

Laying Of Sewer Pipes

All the sewer pipes are generally laid starting from their outfall end towards their starting. The laying of new sewer pipes consists of the following 9 steps:

1. Marking Of The Alignment

The center line of the sewer is marked along the road with a theodolite and invert tap. It may be marked either by the reference line or with the help of the sight rail. The position of the manhole is also marked.

1. Marking Of The Alignment - Steps Of Laying Of Sewer Pipes

2. Excavation Of Trench

After marking the center line of the sewer, the excavation of the trench is started. The excavation may be carried out either by manual labor or by machines like power shovels, track excavators, etc. 

The width of the trench at the bottom is generally kept 15 cm more than the dia of the sewer pipe. At the point of sewer joint, the width of the trench is made 60 cm for a length of 60 cm. The invert level is fixed by the boning rod.

3. Timbering Of The Trench

When, in ordinary soil, the depth of excavation is more than 2 m, timber bracing or sheet piling is provided on both sides of the trench so that it may not collapse. The extent of timbering required depends upon the type of soil and the depth of excavation.

4. Dewatering Of Trench

If water is met with during excavation, it is removed by pumping or any other suitable method.

5. Preparation Of Sub-grade 

For soft soil, the bed of the sewer is prepared by plain concrete (1:3:6). The thickness of concrete varies from 15 to 20 cm. The bedding layer is not required in case of rocky or hard soil. 

6. Laying And Joining Of  Pipes

The sewers are laid along the trench very carefully. Then the joining of the sewer is done as per requirements. After joining, both sides of the pipe are finished with concrete.

6. Laying And Joining Of  Pipes - Steps Of Laying Of Sewer Pipes

7. Testing Of Leakage

The leakage in the pipe joints or any other points is tested by water test or air test…..Read more(Testing of leakage in the pipe joint -Air Test & Water Test).

8. Testing of Straightness Of Alignment And Obstruction

The straightness of the sewer pipe and the presence of any obstruction are tested by placing a mirror at one end of the sewer and a lamp at the other end. If the pipeline is straight, the full circle of light will be observed.

The presence of an obstruction in the pipe can also be tested by inserting a smooth ball at the upper end of the sewer. The dia of the ball is 13 mm less than the internal diameter of the sewer. If there is no obstruction inside the sewer, the ball shall roll down and reach the lower end of the sewer. 

9. Back Filling 

Lastly, the trenches are filled up with the excavated earth in layers about 15 cm thick. Each layer is properly watered and rammed.

Read Also: 

Sewer Joint And Necessary Conditions For Making Sewer Pipe Joint

Separate Sewer System And Their Advantages & Disadvantages

7 Requirements of a Good Sewer Pipe

12 Basic Principles of Building Planning

12 Basic Principles of Building Planning

Whether it is “general housing”, “Industrial housing” or any other type of housing, certain general principles of planning should be carefully considered and checked before finalization of the plan. In this article we are going to discuss the 12 basic principles of building planning:

12 Basic Principles of Building Planning
12 Basic Principles of Building Planning
  1. Aspect
  2. Prospect
  3. Grouping
  4. Furniture Required
  5. Roominess
  6. Circulation
  7. Flexibility
  8. Privacy
  9. Economy
  10. Elegance
  11. Sanitation
  12. Practical Consideration

1. Aspect

Aspect means the peculiarity of the arrangement of doors and windows in the outer walls of a building, particularly of residential buildings, which allow the occupants to experience the natural gifts such as sunshine, breeze, scenery, etc.

12 Basics Principles of Building Planning - Aspect
Aspect

This aspect creates a pleasant and hygienic atmosphere in the building. It is necessary that air movement should occur in the building at the level of occupancies and use.

As per the rule, every habitable room shall have opening directly to the external air or into an open verandah, excluding doors inclusive of frames shall not be less than:

( a ) One-tenth of the floor area for dry hot climate ;
( b ) One-sixth of the floor area for wet hot climate ;
( c ) One-eighth of the floor area for intermediate climate ;
( d ) One-twelfth of the floor area for cold climate, and cross ventilation using windows shall be effected either by means of windows in opposite walls or if this is not possible or advisable, then at least in the adjoining walls.

Below we have given some ideas for different rooms and their aspect

i. The living room should have southern or southeast aspect.

ii. All the bedrooms should have either the west or south-west aspect, This is because the air required in summer would blow from this direction.

iii. The kitchen should have an eastern aspect so as to allow the sun to refresh and purifies the air in the kitchen with its first ray. The kitchen would remain cool during the later part of the day.

iv. The storerooms should have a northern aspect as there will be no sun from the north side.

v. The study rooms, classrooms, etc., should have north aspect as light received from both will be diffused and evenly distributed.

Read More: Orientation of Buildings

2. Prospects

Prospect is the view as seen while looking through the windows and doors from a certain room of the house.

12 Basic Principles of Building Planning - prospects
Prospects

Everyone expects that the scene around their house will be beautiful and pleasant to look at. However, it is not always possible that the views of every side from the house will be beautiful and pleasant.

Thus, the doors and windows should be located in such a way that occupants can enjoy the outside views while looking through those doors and windows, and toward unpleasant views, the opening should not be provided.

Principles of Building Planning - prospects
Prospects

But doing so the quality of aspect may hamper. In such circumstances experienced planners may minimize the conflict between aspect and prospect i.e., an opening in external walls shall be provided for a cheerful atmosphere in the room but pleasant views remain concealed.

3. Grouping

Grouping is the arrangement of various rooms regarding their function. The relationships of the spaces should be such that there is a feeling of invitation and transition, rather than a feeling of abrupt change. For the residential building, planning should be grouped as (a) Living area; (b) Sleeping area; (c) Service area; and (d) Circulation area.

(a) Living Area

The living area is the area for general use and should be next to the front Varanda and near the entrance.

12 Basic Principles of Building Planning - grouping
Basic Principles of Building Planning – Grouping

The drawing room or guest room should not provide direct passage to the bedrooms but should be adjacent to the dining room. At the same time, the kitchen should be kept away from the living room to avoid smoke and smells.

The living room should be sufficiently ventilated and spacious in order to accommodate furniture. It should get an attractive view of the surroundings and garden etc.

In extreme cases, the living room may be located at the center, and accesses or approaches to various units and apartments may radiate from it.

(b) Sleeping Area

This is the area of bedrooms and should be located so as to guard privacy. The site should be sufficient to accommodate beds, dressing tables, etc. An attached toilet to the bedroom should be preferred.

c) Service Area

This includes the area of the kitchen, dining rooms, bathrooms, and toilet.

The dining room should be close to the kitchen. This will make it much easier to carry food.

The kitchen room should be avoided near the living room, bedroom, and study room to avoid smoke and smells.

d) Circulation Area

This is an area for passage, lobby, corridor, etc., It should be minimum but well-ventilated and lighted.

e) Other Area

Other areas such as the study room, Puja room, etc., may be located near the living room or bedroom.

4. Furniture Required

Furniture silently tells us what this room is made for because the requirements of furniture for different rooms are also different.

12 Basics Principles of Building Planning - Furniture Required
Furniture Required

During planning the location of furniture and other utility articles, they should be so arranged in the respective rooms in such a way as to give maximum area for movements, convenience for operating door and window shutters, and a comfortable breeze to bed.

It is better to create a sketch plan showing furniture positions so that it can be made sure that doors, windows, and circulation space do not preclude the placing of a sufficient number of pieces. In such plans, positions of beds, heavy furniture pieces such as sofas, big furniture, chest of drawers, etc. should be shown.

For public buildings like – schools, theatres, etc. furniture requirement plan is essential to determine the strength of accommodation.

Read More: Best Online Furniture Stores.

5. Roominess

Roominess is the accomplishment of the economy of space. Planning should be such that maximum benefit can be obtained from the minimum required for the functions expected to be available from the space.

For utility, a rectangular room is better than a square room of the same floor area. Accordingly, the length and breadth ratio should be 1.2: 1 to 1.5: 1. If the ratio is one and half (1: 0.5) then again a bad effect is created. A room having its length twice the width is objectionable as it creates a look like a tunnel.

Skill is essentially required for making use of available accommodation by proper arrangement of the rooms, by locating the doors, windows, and passages in such a way that the utility, livability, and privacy are not adversely affected.

6. Circulation

For movement and access to various rooms, a certain amount of free space is needed, which is known as circulation or free space area. This includes passages, corridors, porches, halls, lobbies, staircases, etc. The circulation should be designed in such a way that this will preserve every room’s privacy and not disturb any householder.

7. Flexibility

The term flexibility means a provision in the original plan for its future extension or change in the inside planning of a room, bathroom, w.c. etc., by changing the position i.e., flexibility can be availed of. Future extension or development in public buildings like schools, hospitals, hostels, etc., becomes necessary stage by stage. So, the present planning for such cases should be flexible to provide the future demand.

8. Privacy

Privacy is the most important part in case of building planning. It has a very significant role, particularly in residential buildings. Unless optimum privacy is secured, all the principles of planning of a building are bound to fail.

12 Basic Principles of Building Planning: Privacy
Privacy

The privacy of a building is two types

i. External privacy

External privacy of the whole building regarding the surrounding buildings and roads can be guarded by placing window sills, which can cut the vision of outsiders to the bed in the bedroom. A businessman would like to have for his office necessary privacy and at the same time, he would like to have his concern easily spotted.

ii. Internal Privacy

In modern planning, it is often seen that a big central hall is provided to serve as drawing-cum-dining room. Bedrooms, kitchens, water closets, and bathrooms are arranged along two long sides of the drawing-cum-dining room. Such planning of rooms often can’t satisfy the factor of privacy. Proper positioning of rooms, lobbies or screens can grant necessary internal privacy.

9. Economy

The economy is a vital factor in building planning. While planning, the following points should be carefully considered

(a) The square shape of the building is the most economical, since it provides the maximum amount of floor area, with the least amount of wall area.

(b) Cost of bigger rooms is less. For the same floor area, a number of smaller rooms will incur more cost than a bigger room.

(c) Minimum offsets should be provided to satisfy architectural and other practical considerations because the cost of construction for corner walls is comparatively more than for straight walls.

(d) The economy in construction can also be affected by using as many common walls as possible by arranging two rooms side by side.

(e) Detached building costs more in comparison to that of a semi-detached one.

(f) Planning on a modular basis:- Dimensions of all rooms, door and window openings, the wall between two openings, etc. should be multiples of available brick sizes.

(g) Sizes of rooms:- Considering the positions of doors, windows, and furniture, a greater economy can be achieved by reducing the sizes of rooms without affecting the crowding. Read Also: Standard Room Sizes.

(h) Free space area:- To lower the cost of a building such common paces should be reduced to the minimum.

(i) Reducing structural cost:- The foundation and other construction should not be designed to be unnecessarily strong by assuming a large volume of loads and low value for the working stresses.

(j) Economy in using building materials:- As much as possible local materials should be used in the construction.

10. Elegance

In simple words, elegance means the external appearance of a building produced by elevation. It depends upon several factors like – the proportion of width and height, the position of doors and windows, and also the choice of materials. During the planning of a building architectural design and composition should be visualized to create an elegant structure.

11. Sanitation

Sanitation term embodies not only sanitary convenience such as w.c., urinals, bathroom, sinks, etc. but also lighting and ventilation of the building as a whole. Sanitation means the environment of the house and includes;

a) Lighting
b) Ventilation
c) Cleanliness
d) Plumbing services

The Health and happiness of the dwellers depend upon the sanitation of the house and such consideration plays an important role in building planning.

Lighting and ventilation may be done naturally or artificially. Good ventilation is an important factor conducive to comfort in buildings. Ventilation is the change of air in the room. Air conditioning is nothing but forced or induced ventilation under controlled humidity and temperature conditions.

12. Practical Consideration

In addition to all of the basic principles of planning discussed, the following practical points should also be taken into account.

Future Extention: Future extension is a very important point, and that should consider before creating any planning. The planning should be done in such a way that future extension should be possible without affecting the existing building.

Comfort: The first and last priority is always to provide comfort to the occupants. The plan should be such that it does not affect the comfort of the occupants.

Size of the Room: The room sizes should be kept as large as possible. A large room can be shortened by providing partition walls, but a small room cannot be simply expanded.

Elevation: As far as possible the elevation of the building should be made simple but attractive.

Stability: The building should be strong enough to withstand the adverse effects of rain, wind, storm, snow, etc.

Ballast Train – Railway Engineering

Ballast Train

The ballast takes an important role in railway track construction. Ballast holds sleepers and loads coming from sleepers are transferred thoroughly into the sub-grade. Ballast train is nothing but ordinary wagons used for carrying ballast and unloading into heaps.

The spreading of the railway ballast on a new railway track starts after the final settlement of the subgrade layer. To fulfill this purpose, ballast trains are used to carry ballast and unload it at a suitable interval near the track.

After that, the worker spread the ballast over the track by using some hand tools like – shovels, spreaders, etc. The ballast should be spread properly under the sleeper, and around the sleepers until a hard foundation is obtained.

Sometimes, this spreading operation is carried out by ballast trains instead of workers. For this objective, an engine with a break van is attached to a number of ballast-filled wagons. This setup is arranged in such a way that the wagons can discharge the ballast directly onto the track through the opening on their floors.

In the front of the break van, a plow is fixed to spread the ballast throughout the track. As the engine slowly moves the ballast-filled wagons, the plow spreads the ballast which is discharged through the wagons. After that, the packing of the ballast is carried out by the workers.

Read Also: Size and Section of Ballast in Railway

Best and Stylish High-Speed Table Fans in India 2023

If you want to buy a fan, which can be movable, then your perfect choice will be a table fan. But, the first question which comes to our minds is which table fan will be best for me? I am sure this question will be solved after reading this article. In this article, I will show you the best and most stylish table fans in India which are available in the market(online as well as offline market).

1. USHA Mist Air Icy

Best Table Fan #1. USHA Mist Air Icy Table Fan
Best Table Fan #1. USHA Mist Air Icy Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 67 M3/Min
Speed 1280 RPM
Power Input 55W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 1,900(Approx.)

View More Features

🡺 Brand: USHA
🡺 Number of Blades: 3
🡺 Plastic body
🡺 Include protection from thermal overload
🡺 Provide uniform and jerk-free oscillation
🡺 100% Copper Motor designed
🡺 Warranty Period: 2 years
🡺 Available Colour: Purple, Red, Blue, White, and Black & Yellow Och

I put this fan at number one position, because “USHA Mist Air Icy” is one of the most selling fans in 2021. The user rating is very good around 4.2 to 4.4. The price of this product also lies in a reasonable range, and it is also available in different colours. I think so, it is one of the best and durable fans under Rs. 2000.


2. USHA Mist Air Duos

Best Table Fan #2. USHA Mist Air Duos Table Fan
Best Table Fan #2. USHA Mist Air Duos Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 60 M3/Min
Speed 1280 RPM
Power Input 55 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 1,999(Approx.)

View More Features

🡺 Brand: USHA
🡺 Number of Blades: 3, with aerodynamic pp blades
🡺 Material: plastic
🡺 Include protection from thermal overload
🡺 Provide Jerk-free and uniform oscillation
🡺 Warranty Period: 2 years
🡺 Available Colour: Blue and Red.

It is one of the best attractively designed table fans with low noise.


3. BAJAJ Midea BT-07

Best Table Fan #3. BAJAJ Midea BT-07 Table Fan
Best Table Fan #3. BAJAJ Midea BT-07 Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 75 M3/Min
Speed 1300 RPM
Power Input 55 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 2,000(Approx.)

View More Features

🡺 Brand: Bajaj
🡺 Model Name: Midea
🡺 Number of Blades: 3
🡺 Include overload thermal protector
🡺 Provide uniform oscillation
🡺 Acrylic blades
🡺 Warranty Period: 2 years
🡺 Available Colour: White

The “BAJAJ Midea BT-07” is one of the best high-speed table fans under Rs. 2000. The rating of this fan is about 4.3 to 4.5, which indicates that the customers are very satisfied with this product.


4. USHA HELIX Mega Table Fan

Best Table Fan #4. USHA HELIX Mega Table Fan
Best Table Fan #4. USHA HELIX Mega Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 100 M3/Min
Speed 2200 RPM
Power Input 115 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 2,500(Approx.)


5. Orient Electric Retro T16

Orient Electric Retro T16
Best Table Fan in India #5. Orient Electric Retro T16

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 80 M3/Min
Speed 1280 RPM
Power Input 56 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 3,100(Approx.)

View More Features

🡺 Brand: Orient Electric
🡺 Plane 4-leaf aluminium blades
🡺 Metal body
🡺 90 Degree oscillation with Up & Down tilt mechanism
🡺 Include Motor Protection device
🡺 Warranty Period: 2 years
🡺 Colour: Rubbed Bronze


6. ZIGMA Tiktik Quiet

Best Table Fan #5. ZIGMA Tiktik Quiet Table Fan
Best Table Fan #5. ZIGMA Tiktik Quiet Table Fan

Sweep 300 mm
Air Delivery 100 M3/Min
Speed 2200 RPM
Power Input 45 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 1,055(Approx.)


7. BAJAJ Esteem

Best Table Fan #6. BAJAJ Esteem Table Fan
Best Table Fan #6. BAJAJ Esteem Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 70 M3/Min
Speed 1320 RPM
Power Input 50 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 1,800(Approx.)


8. HAVELLS Swing LX

Best Table Fan #7. HAVELLS Swing LX Table Fan
Best Table Fan #7. HAVELLS Swing LX Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 72 M3/Min
Speed 1360 RPM
Power Input 50 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 2,100(Approx.)


9. CROMPTON High flo Eva

 Best Table Fan #8. CROMPTON High flo Eva Table Fan
Best Table Fan #8. CROMPTON High flo Eva Table Fan

Sweep 400 mm
Air Delivery 60 M3/Min
Speed 1300 RPM
Power Input 50 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 2,150(Approx.)


10. BAJAJ Pygmy Mini

Best Table Fan #9. BAJAJ Pygmy Mini Table Fan
Best Table Fan #9. BAJAJ Pygmy Mini Table Fan

Sweep 110 mm
Air Delivery —
Speed 3300 RPM
Power Input 10 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 900(Approx.)
Rechargeable Table Fan(Li-Ion Battery with 4 hours battery backup)


11. BAJAJ Ultima PT 01

Best Table Fan #10. BAJAJ Ultima PT 01 Table Fan
Best Table Fan #10. BAJAJ Ultima PT 01 Table Fan

Sweep 200 mm
Air Delivery 50 M3/Min
Speed 2300 RPM
Power Input 36 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
💰 Price: Rs. 1,200(Approx.)


12. HAVELLS Mini Kool Mate

Best Table Fan #11. HAVELLS Mini Kool Mate Table Fan
Best Table Fan #11. HAVELLS Mini Kool Mate Table Fan

Sweep 200 mm
Air Delivery 11 M3/Min
Speed 2200 RPM
Power Input 45 W
Number of Speed Settings: 3
🤸🏻‍♂️ 360-degree Oscillation
💰 Price: Rs. 4,000(Approx.)

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Best Ceiling Design Ideas – Ultimate Guide

Best Ceiling Design Ideas

Are you bored of the Boring white ceilings of your room and want to bring a change to the ceilings of your house? Then here are some of the most beautiful and used ceiling designs that would bring life to a room. We are going to talk about the below ceiling designs and which one should choose according to their taste. We will see not only the modern ceiling designs but also the old ones that have not been used as such but have great potential in them. So, let’s start and take a look at some best ceiling design ideas.

1. Painting the Ceiling

The ceilings of a house are often overlooked and we most usually see white color being used on the ceiling of a house. Many people want to have ceilings in different colors. Those who want to change the color of their ceiling should try contrasting colors for sure.

A room with light colors on its walls and furniture when paired with a deep bold shade that is used on its ceiling makes a real difference. You may also like – Function of Paint.

The bold color pops out and makes the room look more mesmerizing and attractive. This could make a small room look more spacious and amazing. It is a must-try for those who love dark shades and forever wanted to have a ceiling with dark colors.

2. Glossy Finish on the Ceiling

Nowadays, having a ceiling with a glossy finish has become a major trend all over the world. The onlookers will be amazed by the beauty of the room. Moreover, with light colors and proper furniture, the room looks bigger than it is. However, one thing that must be kept in mind is that if the paint is used on the ceiling no bumps are to be left or ruin the charm of the ceiling.

A stretch ceiling is an alternative to paint and it is an artificial wave by which a more shiny and attractive-looking ceiling could be achieved. There are hundreds of different colors and styles of stretch ceilings. Wood and high gloss paint can also be used to achieve a glossy ceiling as well.

3. Brick and Stone Design on the Ceiling

Using brick and stone design in the ceiling of a room brings the feeling of earthly elements and warmth to the room. The brick color and the design could be used in a ceiling and with it, matching furniture will be a heavenly combination. Wooden furniture is something that brings more warmth to a room with a brick ceiling design. You may also check – Best Furniture Stores Online.

There is a pattern known as the herringbone pattern that looks the most beautiful when used in brick and stone ceiling designs. There are certain things like the size of the brick or the rock, the types of bricks, and the amount of mortar that is visible. These things help in creating a unique texture and bring out the beauty of this style of ceiling design.

4. Metal Ceiling Design

The Use of metals for celling is a very cool setup. Although it is not a new type of ceiling design, it is used very rarely. To many, it seems like a dull type of design. However, those who have an eye for beauty will surely understand how cool metal ceiling designs are. The design is made from things that are usually seen on the outside of a house. But very few know that proper understanding and use of these metals can make the ceiling of a house more attractive.

The ceilings are designed by cutting the metals and giving them different shapes and sizes or even different types of patterns. Many think that it would bring a rustic or an old look to the room. But to be frank, if the metals are used properly and painted or designed properly they would bring a unique type of beauty that is very rarely seen. Along with the metal ceiling, proper furniture which complements the ceiling will surely enhance the beauty of the room.

5. Three-Dimensional Ceiling Design

A three-dimensional ceiling design is a very beautiful concept and is for sure an attention grabber. Nowadays, 3D designs are very commonly used ceiling designs. Many would think that it is very expensive to do ceiling designs in 3D. However, it is not as expensive as it looks. Design that is created on the ceiling is an art itself and it seems like it is hanging from the ceiling.

It is a very good but very complex design that can achieve different types of textures and looks pleasing to the eye. It should be done in contrasting color with the color of the ceiling to bring out its beauty of it. The designs are a show stopper for sure and in this modern age, it will make one room feel modern. Contrasting color decors and compliment furniture with the ceiling will make the room even more attractive and beautiful. Everyone who sees the room will be overwhelmed by such a design and keep on gazing up at the ceiling for a long time.

6. Layered Ceiling Design

A layered ceiling design is something that looks very simple but is very beautiful and more complex. This design is something that is one step above the 3D design. It works both as a selling design as well as the decor of the room.

Wooden planks and beams along with some bold lights complement the creation of a layered ceiling design. The beauty of this design is enhanced by the use of lights. The intensity of the lights and the shadows created by them work together to form a great combination. This type of design is usually seen in very large rooms or places. Along with the wooden ceiling, wooden furniture would make the room more attractive and beautiful.

More coming soon. …

Top 10 Super Fast & High Speed Trains in India as of 2024

Indian Railways proudly showcase 67,956 km long operating railway network and it is managed & owned by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

Top 10 Super Fast & High Speed Trains in India as of 2022
Top 10 Super Fast & High-Speed Trains in India as of 2023

Indian Railway is the fourth-largest railway network in the world, and third in Asia after China and Russia. Indian railways are one of the fastest modes of transport in India. Billions of people travel by train throughout the year, and around 20 million people travel per day.

Railways are an economical, safe, and fast transport option for Indian citizens. More than 1 Lakh passenger trains run daily, helping people to reach their destinations on a daily basis.

If you look into the history of the Indian railway speed revolution you will be surprised. Indian railway has no place on the speed map of the railways in the world. But that is not all about Indian Railways. Let’s take a closer look at history.

Indian first train started at a speed of around 35.60 km/h in 1853. After that, there are no such steps taken to increase the speed of the train for the next 50 years. At that time India was ruled by the British Empire.

Before 1938, the fastest average speed was not to exceed about 50 km/h. After 1938, little improvement was held and the maximum speeds of passenger trains stabilized at 105 km/h and 75 km/h for B.G and M.G respectively.

Similarly, the maximum average speed for goods trains stabilized at 75 km/h and 50 km/h for B.G and M.G respectively. There was no change happened until 1969 when first introduced Rajdhani Express.

On 1 March 1969, India first introduced semi high-speed trains by introducing the Rajdhani Express. It attains a speed of 120 km/h on B.G track, and this speed was further increased to 130 km/h in 1971.

After that, on July 10, 1988, India introduced the fastest train in the country, the Shatabdi Express between New Delhi and Jhansi. It was able to attain a speed of 140km/h on B.G.

Similarly, Pink City Express was the first superfast train on M.G which is able to attain a top speed of 100km/h.

After that India targeted to attain a speed of 160 km/h. And it is also fulfilled by introducing Gatimaan Express and Vande Bharat Express in 2015 and 2019 respectively. Vande Bharat Express is designed to run at a top speed of 200 km/h.

Top 10 Super Fast & High-Speed Trains in India

Now India continues working to improve the speed of its trains. On 8 December, the Union Railways Minister made a big announcement about India’s first high-speed bullet train under the project of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-speed Rail Corridor. He said that it will be completed by 2026.

As per some updates, it is assumed that it will be run through a distance of about 500 km and the speed will be around 320 km per hour. In this article, I will discuss about the top 10 super fast high speed trains in India as of 2024.

PositionName of TrainMaximum Operating Speed AllowMaximum designed speedTravel route & distance
1.Vande Bharat Express180 km/h (but, due to poor track condition it operated at a speed of 130 km/h)200 km/hDelhi to Varanasi, and Delhi to Katra
2.Gatimaan Express 160 km/h__Hazrat Nizamuddin Station( in South Delhi) to Jhansi Jn.
3. New Delhi- Bhopal Shatabdi Express155km/h__New Delhi to Habibganj Station
4. Mumbai – New Delhi Rajdhani Express130 to 140 km/h__New Delhi to Kanpur Central
5. New Delhi – Howrah Rajdhani Express135 km/hNew Delhi to Howrah Station
6.Tejas Express130 km/h200 km/h__
7.Sealdah – Bikaner Duronto Express130 to 135 km/h__Sealdah Station to Bikaner Station
8.H.Nizamuddin – Bandra Garib Rath130 km/h__Bandra Terminus to Hazrat Nizamuddin
9.Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad AC Double Decker Express130 km/h__Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad Junction
10.New Delhi-Kanpur Shatabdi Express130 km/h__New Delhi to Kanpur central

1. Vande Bharat Express

Vande Bharat Express is a shining exhibition of India’s Make in India initiative. It is also known as Train 18, and its design and development credit goes to Integral Coach Factory(ICF), Chennai. Vande Bharat Express has two routes, first from Delhi to Varanasi and second from Delhi to Katra.

It is designed to run at the speed of 200 Km/h, and its aerodynamic design helps it in achieving high speed. But this speed is not practically achievable because of the poor track condition which is unable to support such a high speed.

Due to this reason, Vande Bharat runs at a reduced speed of 130 Km/h. During its trial run, it achieved a record speed of 180 Km/h, which made it the fastest train in India. However, it is capable of reaching a speed of 180 km/h but does not touch.

2. Gatimaan Express

In reality, the fastest operating train in India is Gatiman Express which runs at a maximum speed of 160 km/h which is 30 Km/h more than Vande Bharat’s maximum operating speed.

Gatiman Express is the first semi-high-speed train in India that runs between Delhi and Jhansi. In June 2015, Gatiman Express was officially introduced by the Indian Railway Ministry. Gatiman Express made its first journey between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Agra Cant.

It began its journey on 5th April 2016 and reached its destination within 100 minutes. It is powered by railways WAP-5 electric locomotive and a total number of four locomotives are used to haul this train in both directions.

3. New Delhi- Bhopal(Habibganj) Shatabdi Express

We already told you that on July 10, 1988, the first Shatabdi Express was introduced between New Delhi and Jhansi. Then it was extended up to Bhopal Habibganj station, and now it is called as New Delhi- Habibganj Shatabdi Express.

Now there are the numbers of Shatabdi Expresses, but the New Delhi – Bhopal Habibganj Express is the fastest Shatabdi train from others.

Till 2016 it was also the fastest-running train in India but after the inauguration of Gatiman Express, it lost its position. And now it is the 3rd fastest train in India. The maximum speed that this train can attain is 155km/h.

4. Mumbai – New Delhi Rajdhani Express

At an average running speed of 90.46 Km/h, this Rajdhani Express runs from Delhi Central to Mumbai Central and it is listed as the fourth fastest train in India.

It covered its usual distance in 19 hours and 15 minutes, but since the route underwent electrification, the speed of the train improved significantly. Now it covers the same distance in 15 hours 50 minutes.

Mumbai New Delhi Rajdhani Express has a permissible high speed of 140 Km/h, but it is capable of running at a speed of 160 km/h but does not touch. It takes 6 stops between Mumbai and New Delhi and serves daily.

5. New Delhi – Howrah Rajdhani Express

The oldest and with the highest priority among all Rajdhani expresses is the New Delhi – Howrah Rajdhani Express. It was first introduced in 1969. It runs every day except Friday. It is equipped with the luxury of having Wi-Fi and AC coaches. It takes only 7 stops between New Delhi and Howrah.

It was the first Rajdhani Express introduced by the Indian railway ministry. The maximum permissible operating speed of this train is 135 km/h. And average running speed is 85 km/h.

6. Tejas Express

Tejas Express is one of the fastest trains in India that was launched on 24 May 2017. This is the first private train operated by IRCTC. It is a fully air-conditioned train with premium quality features.

First, it was run between Mumbai’s CST to Karmali railway station and it covered a distance of about 552 km in 510 minutes. This train is designed for a maximum speed of 200 km/h. But due to poor track condition, it is operated at a maximum speed of 130 km/h. It is capable of touching the speed of 180 km/h but does not touch.

After the first Tejas Express, on 1 March 2019, the Second Tejas Express was run between Chennai Egmore and Madurai Junction. In one word, Tejas Express is such a train that really needed for this country.

7. Sealdah – Bikaner Duronto Express

The seventh position is acquired in this list by the Sealdah – Bikaner Duronto Express. ‘Duronto’ is a Bengali word that means ‘very fast’. This is a super-fast train which connects the two cities in the most efficient way possible.

First, it was named Sealdah – New Delhi Duronto Express with three intermediate stops – Kanpur Central, Mughal Sarai Jn, and Dhanbad Jn. On 24 February 2020, its destination was extended up to Bikaner and contained 11 stops.

There are several types of Duronto Express, but this Duronto Express is somewhat faster than others. Generally, it runs at an average speed of 78 km/h. The maximum operating speed of this train is 130 km/h.

8. H.Nizamuddin – Bandra Garib Rath

H.Nizamuddin – Bandra Garib Rath is another fastest trains in India that runs between Bandra Terminus and Hazrat Nizamuddin. It takes 8 stops throughout its journey. The maximum operating speed of this train is 130 km/h, and the average operating speed is around 82 km/h. Its first journey began on 22 February 2007.

9. New Delhi-Kanpur Shatabdi Express

It is another fastest Shatabdi Express which runs between New Delhi and Kanpur Central. It provides its service every day except Sunday. Its first journey began On 7 February 2010. The maximum operating speed of the New Delhi-Kanpur Shatabdi Express is 130 km/h.

At an average speed of 89 Km/h, it covers a distance of 441 km. It was introduced to reduce excessive passenger load from Lucknow Shatabdi. WAP-7 locomotives are used to pull the train throughout the journey.

10. Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad AC Double Decker Express

Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad AC Double Decker Express is a premium quality train that is run between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad Junction. At an average speed of 70 Km/h, this train covers a distance of 491 km in 7 hours and 20 minutes. The maximum operating speed of this train is 130 km/h.

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Cavity Wall – Construction, Purposes, Advantages, Features, Size

What is a Cavity Wall?

A cavity wall is a sort of wall that is constructed by providing two parallel walls consecutively and maintaining a continuous cavity or gap between them. These two separated walls are called leaves, the exterior part of the cavity wall is named the outer leaf and the interior part of the cavity wall is named the inner leaf. A cavity wall consists of three main parts:

  1. The outer leaf.
  2. The cavity.
  3. The inner leaf.

Why it is called a cavity wall? The meaning of cavity is the gap or empty space inside two solid things. In the case of cavity walls, we can see two walls(leaves) are constructed and empty space or cavity is left between them, therefore, it is called a cavity wall.

Now, the width of the cavity usually varies from 5 to 7.5 cm. Right now, we are going to discuss this.

► Construction details of the cavity wall.
► Purposes of Providing cavity wall.
► Size and location of Cavity Wall.
► Advantages and disadvantages of cavity walls.
► Important Features of Cavity walls.
► Precautions in the Cavity wall.

Purposes of Providing cavity wall

The importance or purposes of cavity walls are as follows:

1. Damp Prevention

Dampness can easily damage buildings and create an unhealthy environment in the house, it may cause several diseases. Therefore, dampness prevention should consider before construction. Cavity walls are such walls that can prevent water from entering through the wall, and make the house dampproof.

The cavity walls prevent moisture from entering the inner leaves from the outer leaf, thereby keeping the inside of buildings dry. It is only possible because the cavities present in the leaves are well ventilated, whatever moisture penetrates through the outer leaf is subjected to evaporation by the air inside the cavity.

Full article coming soon

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