CURTAIN WALLS

SKY LIGHTS
SUN ROOMS
Understanding ,what is a curtain
wall?
 A system of constructing an external
wall of a building in such a way that
it is fully supported by the structural
frame of the building but carrying
no other load except its own & wind
load.
 It is constructed out of
a. Aluminium extruded sections,(
extrusion is a high precision
process which makes it possible
to have snap-on, snap in sections)
b. Vision glass,
c. Opaque material like metal,
glass, thin veneer panels of
concrete, stone, masonry.
FUNCTIONS AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
OF CURTAIN WALL FOR HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
 1) strength and stability – dead load and wind load
 2) weather resistance – ability to keep out water &
wind
 3 ) thermal insulation and condensation – max
30W/sq m
 4) sound insulation – 25dB or above
 5) fire resistance – usually no specific requirement if
enough separating distance from relevant boundary is
provided
Characteristics
 Extended floor space

 Reduction in load

 Speed & ease of erection

 Modular standardised units give a finished look

Characteristics
 Carefully designed in tropical climates where buildings
are supposed to keep us cool. Average annual mean
temperature is always above 20*c.

 Solar radiation is maximum in the tropical zone,

which can cause heat gain in buildings if the façade is
of glass which is unshaded.

 Hence special type of glass called insulating glass is

generally used in curtain walls
Characteristics
 The system when subjected to wind & seismic loads
may get deflected or deformed hence care is to be
taken that there is minimum transfer of these loads
between structure & curtain wall, with the help of
energy absorbing connections.
 When Subjected to fire can cause rapid spread of fire
without proper provision of a fire stop.
 The system needs to be completely free of rain
penetration & air leakage, for which pressure
equalisation is provided for in the construction of the
curtain wall.
Characteristics
 A curtain wall assembly is subjected to differential
thermal expansion due to use of different materials,
hence joints & sealants(epdm
rubber,silicone,neoprene) also act as thermal breaks.
 Thermal control for interiors is achieved by use of
insulated glass, &/or insulation backing in opaque
panels.
 Three properties of glass viz.U-Value, Solar heat gain
(direct heat +re-emmitted heat after absorption as
shown in slide),Visual Light Transmission need to be
considered for choice of glass.
Design Considerations
 Climate, orientation & choice of glass need to be
considered before design.
 Isolation from the structure.
 Thermal Insulation with provision of thermal breaks
/insulating material.
 Proper gasketing, & draining to prevent water & air
leaks.
 Cladding material may be of vision glass, spandrel
glass. metal,stone,brick.
CURTAIN WALL IN BURJ KHALIFA
TYPES OF CURTAIN WALL ELEVATIONS
History & comparison with
conventional wall construction

Origin of Curtain walls-Cast iron & glass

façade of a 19 th century building Glasgow
TERMINOLOGY

Forces acting on the system

Negative &
positive
wind load
Fire
stop/smoke Seismic
seal load

BASIC CONSTRUCTION
COMPONENTS
 MULLIONS & RAILS  ANCHORS TO FIX
OUT OF ALUMINIUM MULLIONS TO
EXTRUSIONS BUILDING STRUCTURE
 INFILL PANELS OF  THERMAL &
GLASS MOISTURE BREAKS IN
 HARDWARE FOR THE FORM OF
FIXING PANELS TO GASKETS,SEALANTS
MULLIONS & RAILS MOISTURE DRAINS
 BACK PANELS  INSULATION
 UNIT PANELS  FIRE STOPS
 INSULATED GLASS UNIT
COMPONENTS- FOR STICK SYSTEM
THERMAL BREAK

INNER GLAZING SEAL

PRESSURE PLATE
HORIZONTAL RAIL

SNAP CAP

SPANDREL
ANCHOR GLASS

SPANDREL
ADAPTER

BACK PAN WITH

INSULATION
AVAILABILITY IN THE MARKET
 • Manufacturers stock in standard lengths typically 6.5
to 8.2 m (20 to 27 ft.) in length • Standard finishes
although custom finishes available
 • Typical frame width 50 mm (2 inches) or 63.5 mm (2
1 ⁄2 inches) , frame depth 75 to 150 mm (3 to 6 inches) •
Manufacturers catalogue information readily.
Common types of curtain wall systems for
high-rise buildings

 1) Stick system

 2 ) Unit system

 3) Unit and mullion system

 4) Column-cover and spandrel system

 5) STRUCTURAL SILICONE GLAZING

CLASSIFICATION
 STICK SYSTEM

 UNITIZED SYSTEM

 UNIT & MULLION

 COLUMN COVER &

SPANDREL SYSTEM
 STRUCTURAL SILICONE GLAZING
TYPES OF SYSTEMS
 STICK SYSTEM
• Each component of
wall is installed piece
by piece on the site.
Installed with one- or
two storey mullion
lengths and
horizontal rails equal
in length to width of
the infill panels
•For low rise
construction
•Provide more
flexibility
UNITIZED SYSTEM
 Most common in large  Design potential to
high-rise buildings accommodate in-plane
although found on movements due to sway
buildings as low as four and seismic events
stories. System has grown
in popularity since 1980
 Large, factory assembled
framed units complete
with spandrel panels and
often with vision lites
installed. Panels typically
one-storey high by width
of infill panels
UNITIZED SYSTEM
 Panels with interlocking
split vertical mullions
and nesting horizontal
rails at expansion joint
 Designed for sequential
installation.
 More shop labour
dependant and less field
dependant than stick
system
123

Aluminum Works Animation Movie

Hosam Araby

https://youtu.be/rXsqTHa6mQs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
KYXpMkujo_8
UNITIZED SYSTEM

SPLIT MULLION
DETAIL

JAMB DETAIL
UNIT PANELS

Split mullion

Back pan &

insulation

Spandrel glass
UNIT & MULLION
 Consists of gridwork  EXTERIOR & INTERIOR
similar to stick system
and prefabricated
framed panels installed
between. Popular
through the 1970s but
rarely used today •
Combines features of
stick and unitized wall
system
 STRUCTURAL SILICONE GLAZING
SYSTEM
Uses the same aluminum mullion components as the stick built curtain wall except that
the mullion nose (neck) of the verticals is omitted to
create a capless vertical joint system. The vertical joints between the IGUs are sealed on
the outside with silicone sealant for a flush exterior appearance.

SILICONE
SEAL
WITH
POLYETH
YLENE
BACKER
ROD
COLUMN COVER
& SPANDREL SYSTEM

COLUMN COVER
& SPANDREL SYSTEM
MULLIONS & RAILS OUT OF ALUMINIUM
EXTRUSIONS
 Extrusion is a process by which
a large ,cylindrical billet of aluminium is heated to
a temperature at which,the metal
flows under pressure but retains
its shape when pressure is released.
Mullions &rails are manufactured
by this
process
 Snap on
DETAILING connection

 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSIONS
FACILITATE SNAP ON
CONNECTIONS & PRECISION
FOR AIR TIGHT
CONNECTIONS ESSENTIAL
FOR CURTAIN WALLS
ANCHOR FIXING
 Anchors are slotted
metal angles which are
bolted to the RCC slab in
or embedded in RCC
slabs in different ways as
shown in sketch &
photograph in next slide.
 Also refer pdf curtain (1)
ANCHORS TO FIX MULLIONS TO
BUILDING STRUCTURE
MULLION

ANCHORING THE MULLION

ANCHOR WITH SLOTS

RCC SLAB
 INFILL PANELS
•Specially manufactured units IGU
•For better thermal efficiency
glass may be tinted , reflective, low-
e(comes with a coating)
•For safety it may be, annealed,
tempered
or laminated.
•Glass thickness varies from3mm to
10mm
Insulated glass unit

Show pdf
TYPES OF GLASS USED ( CHOICE WILL DEPEND ON
CLIMATE,ORIENTATION OF CURTAIN WALL, PERFORMANCE OF GLASS
DESIRED)
 FLOAT /TOUGHENED GLASS
 LAMINATED/WIRED
 INSULATED GLASS UNITS
 REFLECTIVE,TINTEDINSULATED GLASS UNITS

LAMINATED INSULATED GLASS UNITS

FLOAT /TOUGHENED
GLASS
 Heat gain directly +
due to Direct re-emitted energy
solar radiation = S F / SHGC

1# 2#

directly transmitted
Reflected energy
Energy
re-emitted
re-emitted
energy
energy
SOLAR HEAT GAIN CO-EFFICIENT IN GLASS IS MORE THAN IN BRICK WALL
HENCE QUALITY OF GLASS IN A CURTAIN WALL IS VERY IMPORTANT to control heat ga
BACK PANELS UNIT PANELS

anchor

Spandrel
panel

insulation

Rcc slab
EXPANSION JOINT BETWEEN TWO
MULLIONS
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES
 THERMAL BREAKS- with the help of
 EPDM rubber seals, these materials isolate the
Aluminium on the inside from
outside to prevent conduction.
 AIR TIGHT SEALS TO STOP AIR
 PENETRATION– Dry seals (EPDM or
neoprene) & wet seals (silicone with
Polyethylene foam backer rod)
 PREVENTION OF RAIN PENETRATION
Weep holes are provided in members for
 expelling moisture & Pressure equalization
 is done by providing air chambers as shown,
 Which help in equalizing pressure due to
 temperature differences between the
 interior& exterior
This detail can be used for
detail at grade or plinth, or sill
FIXING OF MULLION AT GRADE
DETAILING AT PARAPET LEVEL
Rigid (metal)
Air & Vapour Roof
Barrier Membrane
Insulation

Metal
Trim
INTERMEDIATE DETAIL OF C.WALL
DETAIL AT CEILING
FIRE STOP & SMOKE SEAL DETAIL
TESTING IN LABORATORY
also refer PDF
 A sample curtain wall is fabricated and attached to one
side of a pressure chamber.

 The performance of the system is observed under

various conditions similar to what it may be required
to undergo in reality & necessary improvements are
done after noting the observations.
REFERENCES for video on internet
 structural glazing ZA 52-you tube
 Canale di zanettisrl
 Hosam Araby-Aluminum Works Animation Movie

NOTE:
 PLEASE REFER HANDOUTS & PDFS GIVEN ON
CURTAIN WALLS for theory
 ALL THEORY ANSWERS SHOULD HAVE PROPER
EXPLAINATION WITH LABELLED SKETCHES