Hong Kong builder Chinachem launches protective window coating to cut construction waste

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Developed with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, it aims to cut the loss of up to 30 per cent of windows during construction

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The peelable protective coating jointly developed by Chinachem Group and NAMI. Photo: Handout

Martin Choi

Published: 10:00am, 2 Jul 2024Updated: 9:06pm, 2 Jul 2024

Hong Kong developer Chinachem Group and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) have partnered to launch a sustainable protective window coating as part of an industry push to use green technology to reduce construction waste.

The patented peelable nano-scale protective coating will be applied to windows for around 2,300 units of Chinachem’s residential projects in Tai Po and Tung Chung during construction over the next two years, said Donald Choi Wun-hing, executive director and CEO of Chinachem.

“This innovation aligns with green building principles, aiming at reducing material waste, enhancing construction quality and increasing apartment buyers’ satisfaction,” Choi said.

Chinachem set out to develop the coating with NAMI to address a high rate of damaged glass during building construction, a pain point in the city’s property industry. Up to 30 per cent of glass windows need to be replaced before handing over newly built flats to homebuyers, Chinachem’s Choi said.

“The nano coating enhances cost-effectiveness and prioritises environmental efficiency by reducing construction waste,” Choi said. “Its single-layer thickness provides sufficient protective strength to eliminate the need for additional foam board wrapping. Additionally, the coating is easily removable and reusable, minimising construction waste.”

The innovative technology shows successful collaboration between research institutes and the property industry, offering new and cost-effective solutions to the construction sector while promoting sustainable development in Hong Kong, said Ivan Sham, chief commercial officer of NAMI.

Hong Kong Science Park-based NAMI was set up in 2006 as a subsidiary of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and has been designated by the government’s Innovation and Technology Commission as a research and development centre for nanotechnology and advanced materials.