Curtain Wall System Diagram

The author worked in construction industry for 5 years and working in façade.

Curtain wall system diagram.

The wall transfers wind loads to the main building structure also known as the main wind force resisting system mwfrs at connection points in the floors or columns of the building. In the stick system the curtain wall frame mullions and glass or opaque panels are installed and connected together piece by piece. Since the curtain wall is non structural it can be made of lightweight materials thereby reducing construction costs. A curtain wall system is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non structural utilized only to keep the weather out and the occupants in.

Curtain walls generally fall into two basic categories that are based on their method of fabrication and installation. These are unitized or modular systems figure 9 2a b and stick systems figure 9 3a b in the stick system the curtain wall frame mullions and glazing panels are installed and connected together piece by piece. There is a lot to take into consideration when selecting a glazing system and the right solution could shift based on the building structure design. Each mullion is usually supported by the floor or perimeter beams.

When glass is used as the curtain wall an advantage is that natural light can penetrate deeper within the building. Curtain wall system comprises one of the elements of facade technology in high rise building. The curtain wall systems now possess structural importance equivalent. Curtain wall system technology has developed over the years into a proliferation of highly engineered design.

A curtain wall is designed to resist air and water infiltration as well as sway created by wind and seismic forces and its own weight. Laws and building and safety codes governing the design and use of kawneer products such as glazed entrance window and curtain wall products vary widely. In stick construction the curtain wall frame is constructed mainly on site with mullions and transoms supporting glass spandrel panels metal panels and brise soleils connected piece by piece. Making a decision between curtain wall and window wall can be tricky due to the many variables that should be considered for building envelope systems.