Facades involves window wall cladding elements and curtain walls which generates the exterior envelope of the building.
Curtain wall system diagram.
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.
The author worked in construction industry for 5 years and working in façade.
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.
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.
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.
Curtain wall system comprises one of the elements of facade technology in high rise building.
In the unitized system the curtain wall is composed of large units that are assembled and glazed in the factory shipped to the site and erected on the building.
Kawneer does not control the selection of product configurations operating hardware or glazing materials and assumes no responsibility therefor.
The curtain wall systems now possess structural importance equivalent.
When glass is used as the curtain wall an advantage is that natural light can penetrate deeper within the building.
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.
Curtain walls generally fall into two basic categories that are based on their method of fabrication and installation.
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.
Each mullion is usually supported by the floor or perimeter beams.
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.