Common Types of Curtain Wall Systems in Modern ...

Author: Ada

Oct. 21, 2024

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Common Types of Curtain Wall Systems in Modern ...

Curtain wall systems are a key factor in modern building design. They can provide a range of benefits for your project, such as:

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Weatherproofing a structure
Reducing sway in tall buildings
Allowing more light to enter the building
Improving overall thermal efficiency.

The most common types of curtain wall systems used in construction are stick-built, unitized, metal or aluminum curtain wall systems, and structural glazing wall systems. The various types of curtain wall systems meet specific performance and design criteria and offer a range of features and benefits that make them an integral part of contemporary architecture.

Here is an overview of the most typically-used curtain wall systems installed by glaziers, along with their features and benefits.

The Four Most Common Types of Curtain Wall Systems

Understanding these popular methods of building curtain wall systems helps inform decisions based on your project requirements and preferences.

1. Stick-Built Curtain Wall Systems

The stick-built curtain wall system is a construction method that entails assembling individual components, piece by piece, at the job site. This type of curtain wall system is best utilized for:

Low-rise buildings
Confined areas where exterior access is feasible for reaching higher elevations
Reduced shipping costs
On-site customization and adjustments.

It does require additional equipment at the project site, however, such as scaffolding and cranes. Installation of this type of system requires a substantial investment of time and labor.

2. Unitized Curtain Wall System

Unlike stick-built systems, unitized systems are comprised of framing and glass panels that are prefabricated, pre-assembled pre-glazed. They eliminate the need to install each component individually at the project site. It&#;s often the system of choice in high-rise buildings. Some of the benefits of using this method to build a curtain wall include:

Timesaving
Faster construction
Assure high-quality construction before shipping to the site
Efficient installation process, with reduced on-site labor costs
Less on-site equipment, such as cranes or scaffolding.

A few caveats include the need for a temporary hoist or mini crane during installation, and more substantial shipping costs (compared to stick-built components) due to the greater unit sizes, and higher degree of protection required during transportation.

3. Metal or Aluminum Curtain Wall Systems

One of the most common materials used in wall systems includes aluminum framing, steel, brick, and glass. While the benefits of metal curtain wall systems depend on the type of metal used, some include:

Greater free spans
More freedom for daylight designs
Reduces the quantity of vertical and horizontal mullions
Supports heavier weights of glass like double- or triple-glazed units
Reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Experts advise against using aluminum curtain wall systems that depend on the seals between glass units and frames and frame members in order for them to operate efficiently. These systems, referred to as face-sealed barrier walls, eventually may pose reliability issues.

4. Structural Glazing Wall Systems

Structural glazing wall systems are versatile. They provide a wide range of budget and design options while providing aesthetically pleasing results.

The versatility allows this type of curtain wall system to use:

Monolithic glass
Laminated glass
Dual-glazed
Triple-glazed insulated glass units (IGUs)

The supporting structure may incorporate horizontal or vertical aluminum mullions or alternative materials such as glass mullions, steel blades, cables, or stainless-steel rods. Depending on the system, extruded silicone gaskets or wet-sealed silicone may be used for the interior and exterior.

The Advantages of Installing Curtain Walls Systems in Buildings

Curtain wall systems are a popular choice for modern buildings, offering a range of advantages over traditional construction methods. Curtain wall systems create a contemporary appearance while providing excellent energy efficiency and weather resistance. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, several types of curtain wall systems can also enhance occupant comfort and reduce cooling and heating costs. Here is a review of some of the advantages of curtain wall systems.

Weather Proofing

Curtain walls provide an additional layer of insulation and protect against weather elements, preventing air and water from entering the building.

Reduction in Sway

For taller buildings, curtain walls are an excellent choice because of their ability to withstand high winds. They distribute the kinetic force across their frame, which reduces overall sway. Additionally, their wind resistance provides a level of acoustic insulation and soundproofing.

More Natural Light

Curtain walls provide an effective means of bringing in natural light and making the building&#;s interior appear bigger and brighter.

Improvement of Thermal Efficiency

Glass panels used in curtain walls can be glazed to reduce UV light and stabilize the interior temperature, resulting in higher thermal efficiency. This, in turn, can reduce energy costs over time.

The Role of Glass in Curtain Walls and Its Impact

Incorporating a range of glass techniques in curtain walls provides distinct advantages in terms of energy efficiency, sound insulation, structural stability, and aesthetic appeal. Below are a few glazing methods worth considering and their relative potential impact.

Pressure Plate Glazing

This system involves installing the glass and infill panels from the exterior using dry gaskets. The outer layer of gaskets is compressed against the glass by fasteners that secure a continuous pressure plate. A snap-on mullion cover is then placed over the plate. While this system works well, it may experience leaks at corners or any joints that use dry gaskets.

To improve performance, better options would be to use four-sided gaskets at an additional cost, or wet sealants to provide a concealed interior toe bead or exposed interior cap beads.

Pressure plate glazing is the easiest way to create an air barrier between adjacent construction and the air barrier of a curtain wall system.

Interior Dry Glazing

This glazing system offers a cost-effective solution for installing glass and infill panels from within the building without expensive scaffolding. The frame is securely fixed with exterior dry gaskets, and the top interior mullion has a removable stop for easy access.

The installation involves sliding the glass unit into a deep glazing pocket on one side, then smoothly transitioning it to the opposite side before dropping it into the glazing pocket. This technique, (commonly known as &#;jiggle&#; or &#;wiggle&#; glazing), may slightly reduce performance due to metal-to-metal joints. Its performance can be enhanced by using wet sealant heel beads.

Structural Silicone Glazing (SSG)

This method uses a bead of silicone to attach the glass to the frame, with outer weather seals added for extra protection. Structural silicone glazing is used for four-sided SSG, while two-sided SSG can be used with a pressure plate or wiggle glazing for field installation.

Butt-Glazing

Butt-glazing is a technique that doesn&#;t use a mullion behind the joint. It depends entirely on a sealant, usually silicone, between glass units to create a flawless barrier seal.

Glass and Its Impact on Curtain Walls

Glazing is a common construction method used in different types of curtain wall systems due to the impact it has on several components. The use of glass in these systems can reap some environmental and other benefits we&#;ll discuss below.

Structural Integrity

When glazing is integrated into the structure of a building, it typically involves using large glass panels that support the structure. This is known as structural glazing, allowing for massive glass installations with minimal obstructions, enhancing views and bringing in maximal levels of light.

Sound Control

Using various window thicknesses, STC ratings, panes, and materials, the use of glass can effectively minimize disruptive noise from the outside that would otherwise enter the building.

Energy efficiency

Curtain wall systems can range from single-skin to triple-skin glazing systems, allowing for high-energy efficiency. By creating a system that retains warmth during the winter or repels heat in the summer, builders can optimize the energy efficiency of a building.

Aesthetics

Glazing improves the appearance and functionality of a space through design elements such as tinting, reflectiveness, opacity, and low-emissivity coatings.

Understanding Curtain Wall System Design Considerations

As an architect or designer working on different types of curtain wall systems, it&#;s important to consider several factors before deciding on the type of curtain wall system for your project.

The Budget

Before exploring possibilities in structural wall systems, it&#;s important to consider the provided budget. To prioritize design intent, understanding the budget is crucial for choosing the right system.

Structural Integrity

Calculating proper wind load conditions for your curtain wall system is vital. Not doing so accurately is one of the most common errors that lead to curtain wall failures. It&#;s equally important also to consider:

- Movement capabilities of the curtain wall
- Weather tightness and weather conditions
- Sound control
- Energy efficiency
- Thermal expansion and contraction
- Dead load
- Seismic activity

Giroux Glass Will Guide You through Your Curtain Wall Project

Curtain wall systems can be comprised of a range of methods, from stick-built, unitized, metal or aluminum, to structural systems &#; and of hybrid versions incorporating any or all of these types. Curtain walls are an essential part of modern building design, providing benefits that include:

noise reduction
energy efficiency
modern aesthetics
structural integrity.

The type of curtain wall system you select can depend on your budget, design, wind load requirements, environmental conditions, and aesthetics. Consulting with the expert glazers at Giroux Glass Inc. can guarantee the best possible outcome.

Giroux Glass is renowned for its expertise in identifying, preventing, and resolving issues related to glass, glazing, curtain wall systems, and other areas. Contact us for more information today.

What Does the Curtain Wall Mean to Construction Projects?

Since reinforced concrete and structural steel entered the picture, engineers have learned that thinner columns could still support a building. Even more interesting, they could exist independent of the exterior, meaning outer walls no longer had to shoulder structural loads.

Today these outer &#;curtain&#; walls offer amazing aesthetics, but they still also serve an important role in sustainability and protecting a building envelope.

Exactly what is a curtain wall in construction, and what part does it play in protecting your build for the long term? Let&#;s talk more about curtain wall construction, including an in-depth explanation of each type, their materials and products, and their overall benefits.

Definition: What Is a Curtain Wall?

A curtain wall system is a thin, framed external structure consisting of fill-ins and non-structural partitions. It&#;s grown into arguably the most popular glazing system &#; just look around you.

Consider the sweeping skyscrapers you see in the city. The sleek, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and framed windows make up a curtain wall system.

How do these walls hold up the entire building? They don&#;t. The framing is attached to the building structure and doesn&#;t carry any of its load.

So they&#;re just an aesthetic feature of the architecture, right? Nope again. In most uses, commercial curtain wall systems have a huge job &#; protecting the building envelope design&#;s integrity from:

Water
Cold & hot air
UV radiation

While these walls are thin, they can hold up against the elements. This is because they use corrosion-resistant materials and any forces they endure (i.e. wind) transfer to the connected building structure.

Curtain wall construction requires assembly materials for gasketing, glazing, structural adhesion, weatherproofing, and more.

What Isn&#;t a Curtain Wall?

Sometimes people confuse or compare curtain walls with similar elements of a building&#;s envelope.

Curtain walls vs. window walls: Curtain walls are suspended over the building&#;s structural elements, providing no support, and extend beyond the length of one floor. Window walls set glass within a wall&#;s structural components, and each unit is only one floor long.
Curtain wall vs. storefronts: Units of a curtain system are also taller than the typical storefront component, which is generally 10-12 ft.

Curtain Wall Materials

A curtain wall gets its unique look from two external cladding components: frames and infills.

Frames

When choosing a framing material for a curtain wall, steel vs. aluminum is almost always the debate.

Aluminum has become a familiar face in building design because of its impressive strength-weight ratio. It has other advantages too:

Readily available
Naturally forms a corrosion-resistant layer
Adaptable to many design ideas

Steel framing is making a bit of a comeback for glazed curtain walls thanks to advances in material grades and forming technology. While steel is inherently heavy, the right system can support larger wind and glass loads.

Wood has grown into another viable option in the right situation. Timber and glue-laminated members can bring a unique aesthetic, but that also means sourcing it is a bit unconventional. The process often involves coordinating with a glazing subcontractor, who can apply a glass receptor system to the members to receive the glazing infill.

Infill

Infills (aka spandrel panels) take up the vast majority of space in a curtain wall, as they&#;re the large panels that go between each mullion. Infill options are a little broader than framing options:

Glass: A popular choice due to its near-infinite customizability in color and opacity. In commercial glass construction, 1&#;4 inch monolithic is common in spandrel areas, while 1 in. insulating glass is often the choice elsewhere on the building.

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Metal panels: Aluminum, steel, and even copper wall cladding are available, providing a nice range of design possibilities. Since these metals can withstand harsh weather conditions, they&#;re excellent for projects where longevity and low maintenance are key.
Stone veneers: These infills elegantly replicate the appearance of natural stone, adding a timeless charm that&#;s hard to beat. However, weight and installation considerations should factor into your potential purchase.
Louvers: They provide excellent airflow and light management,

adding to a building's energy efficiency
. On the downside, they may require additional maintenance over time.
Windows & vents:
These provide must-have ventilation and emergency exits. Choosing the right type will depend on building codes, energy efficiency requirements, and aesthetic tastes.

Types of Curtain Walls

Everyone in the construction world seems to develop their own language, and it&#;s no different with curtain walls. There are two ways builders categorize them:

By build type
By how they&#;re glazed

By Build Type

Builders may also refer to curtain walls by their method of assembly. Your project requirements will likely push you toward one system over the other.

Stick Systems

Stick-built curtain wall systems are the traditional method, assembled in the field with inside or outside glazing. They&#;re most common in small buildings with low required volumes, but complex conditions.

After fabrication off-site, the manufacturer ships the components to the job location. By sealing and glazing on-site, transportation is simpler.

Other stick system facts to consider:

Less staging required up-front
Lower shipping cost
Higher labor cost
Assembly process is slow

Unitized/Modular Systems

This is often the system of choice for tall buildings.

The unitized curtain wall installation process starts right in the factory. The manufacturer handles fabricating, assembling, glazing, and sealing the parts. Only then does the curtain wall head to the job site (carefully, due to its size), where a separate field team works on installation.

Advantages and drawbacks of unitized glazing include:

Faster assembly on-site
Higher quality
Lower installation cost
High transportation cost
Staging can take 6-12 months

By Glazing

You can also choose curtain wall types based on how the glass is held to the wall structure.

Fully Captured

As &#;conventional&#; as it gets in this relatively new field, fully captured curtain walls are aluminum-based systems. They use gaskets and pressure plates to surround the glazing on all sides.

Fully captured varieties are straightforward to install and are compatible with a wide variety of building types. On the downside, their components can conduct a lot of heat in or out of the facade.

2-Sided

This newer option introduces a different approach of bonding the glazing to the mullion.

In two-sided structural glazing, there are still mechanical supports on two sides of the unit. On the other two sides, wet-sealed or extruded silicone replaces the traditional gaskets and plates. The sealant must be approved for structural use.

Structural silicone glazed (SSG) systems create a clean and smooth visual, as fewer visual breaks and external accessories get in the way.

4-Sided

Four-sided systems take the idea a step further in the name of sustainability. Four-sided structural glazing includes silicone joint sealant on all edges of the glazing. Note that some sealants approved for use on two-sided systems aren&#;t usable in four-sided systems.

These systems offer similar aesthetic benefits as their two-sided sisters, while also improving energy efficiency. The downsides are added cost and vulnerability to poor field conditions during installation.

Curtain Wall Protection: Assembly Products

Something has to affix all that architectural glass and metal paneling safely to the structure. This often happens through adhesives, chemical bonding, or mechanical bonding.

Then there&#;s the matter of keeping it all in place. Curtain wall installers rely on a variety of weatherproofing products to stave off water, air, and UV rays:

Joint sealants
Weatherseals for window walls
Glazing & bonding structural tape
Expansion joints
Pre-molded silicone sheets/boots (inside & outside corners)
Paintable caulking
Two-part, fast-cure silicone for on-site reglaze repairs

These products protect your curtain wall in two ways: from sudden water intake, and from gradual wear and tear. If you&#;re new to curtain wall products, an experienced distributor can help you with material selection, in-field and shop adhesion testing, and warranty support.

Curtain Walls & Water Ingression

To fully grasp the importance of a curtain wall, think about what causes the ingression of water. Five major forces are to blame:

Gravity
Kinetic energy
Capillary action
Surface tension
Air pressure

To withstand these forces, the curtain wall must also be glazed and incorporate drainage details, interior sealants, perimeter flashings, and more. They must also account for thermal expansion in any of the included materials.

The best way to avoid leaks is to identify any forces the curtain wall will likely be under. From there, make sure it has expansion joints, seals, and gaskets to account for the inevitable thermal expansion.

Long-Term Maintenance

Maintenance means more than just keeping a glass curtain wall nice and shiny. Regular upkeep also boosts protective performance.

For extra safeguarding, apply sealant compounds every 10 years after installation. In general, prompt and proactive repair of chips, cracks, and other damage will promote a better-looking, longer-lasting glaze job.

Beware of Product Compatibility!

This one&#;s been a hot topic among the large glaziers, particularly in unitized/modular builds.

It&#;s a must that the field and in-shop teams operate in conjunction &#; not just literally, but also when selecting products. The entire curtain wall design process requires both sides to use materials suitable for the project &#; and communicate with each other about those materials.

Educating Yourself on Weatherproofing Products

A curtain wall is a vertical facade for many of the latest and greatest commercial construction projects. From office buildings to other uses, they bring aesthetic impact while still excelling at what&#;s most important &#; protecting the building and its occupants.

For more tips on structural glazing and related products, visit our full resource hub:

(Editor's note: This article was originally published in May and was recently updated with new information.)

The company is the world’s best Curtain Wall Engineering supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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