CURTAIN WALL

SUBMITTED BY: HANSANEE MAGO

4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.: - 16
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

1) Acurtain wallsystem is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural i.e. it does not carry any dead load
of the building, but are used to merely keep the immediate weather out and provides the occupants with complete transparency.
2) As the curtain walls is non-structural, it is usually made up of light material, thereby reducing the construction cost. Using glass renders
an advantage of penetrating natural light deeper within the building.
3) The wall transfers horizontal wind loads that are incident upon it to the main building structure through connections at floors or
columns of the building that is further transferred to the foundation.
4) A curtainwallis designed to resist air and water infiltration, sway induced by wind andseismicforces acting on the building, and its
own dead load weight forces.
5) The first ever curtain wall was made up of steel members but due to weight and corrosion problems nowadays curtain wall systems are
typically designed with extruded aluminium members. These aluminium members are infilled with glass which provides an
architecturally pleasing building as well as benefits such as natural daylighting.
6) However, parameters related to solar gain control such asthermal comfortand visual comfort (glare) are more difficult to control when
using highly glazed curtain walls.
7) Other common infills include: stone veneer, metal panels,louvres, and operable windows or vents.
HISTORY OF CURTAIN WALLS: - Modernist architects discarded the decorative styles of the 19th century and sought to merge architecture
with industry. The result was a simple, logical, functional building style, as much industrial as artistic.
The first curtain wall was designed by German Architect Walter Gropius. In the construction of the new Bauhaus school, Walter Gropius
showed his ideology of clean, functional, modern design. Gropiuss most important contribution was the so-called Curtain Wall, the
exterior wall of glass creating transparency and promoting interaction. This style of architecture came to be known as International style of
architecture.
ADVANTAGES:- - Before steel and reinforced concrete became common building materials, a building's facade typically supported the load
of the whole structure. One major advantage of today's curtain wall is that it can be constructed from much lighter materials like glass,
which allows for the filtration of natural light into the building. It is also fire-resistant in nature.
DISADVANTAGES: - One of the major disadvantages of curtain walls is the need for regular maintenance. In order to keep out moisture and
wind, a sealant must be applied to the perimeter, and this sealant must be replaced every 10 years or so. Another major disadvantage of
curtain walls is the cost and time required to install them.

CURTAIN WALLS

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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.:-16
VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

NATURAL FORCES THAT THEIR EFFECT ON CURTAIN WALL DESIGN

1) SUNLIGHT: - It provides warmth, colour and visual definition. But it creates certain problems in the curtain wall design. One of the major
problems resulting when uncontrolled sunlight passes through the wall is the discomfort of glare and brightness. Another major issue is
the degradation of finishing materials such as colour pigments, plastics and sealants. The actinic rays, particularly those found in the
ultra-violet range of the spectrum, produce chemical changes which cause the resultant fading or degradation. These effects are
combated by using glare-reducing/ reflective type of glass which provides relief without restricting the vision.
2) TEMPERATURE: - It creates 2 kinds of problems in curtain wall designs: 1. the expansion and contraction of materials 2. the necessity to
control the passage of heat through the wall. In aluminium curtain walls, thermal movement is a major concern due to solar heat on the
wall. Thermal contraction in aluminium member is much greater than any other material. Temperature fluctuations, both diurnally and
seasonally, that critically affect wall details. The control of heat passage through the wall affects both heat gain as well as heat loss
according to the geographic location. Hence thermal insulation is another factor that should be regarded.
3) WATER: - Water/vapour is the cause of a major potential trouble. It can enter through microscopic openings and appear on the indoor
face of the curtain wall, condenses on cooling and if trapped within the wall can long remain undetected. Leakage is another major issue
in a wall built of any material. Material used in metal curtain walls are impervious to water and potential leakage is limited to the joints
and openings.
4) WIND: - Wind acting upon the wall produces the forces which largely dictate its structural design. On the taller structures in particular,
the structural properties of framing members and panels, as well as the thickness of glass, are determined by maximum wind loads.
Winds also contribute to the movement of the wall, affecting joint seals and wall anchorage.
5) GRAVITY: - Gravity, unlike the other natural forces, is static and constant. Because of the relatively light weight of materials used in
curtain walls, it is a force of secondary significance, rarely imposing any serious design related problems. It causes deflections in
horizontal load-carrying members, especially under the weight of large sheets of heavy glass, but because the weight of the wall is
transferred at frequent intervals to the building frame, gravity forces affecting structural design are generally small in comparison with
Glass
is the
majorby
material
for curtain wall glazing. It consists of silicon oxide, soda ash, lime, alumina,
those
imposed
wind action.
GLASS
potassium oxide and most importantly sand. Glass is basically a super-cooled liquid with an open noncrystalline microstructure. It is used in curtain walls to maintain a visual connection with the city,
symbolize technicality and resistance to fire. Glass is of the following types: 1) CLEAR GLASS: - This vision in this type of glass is distorted at the corners. It allows transmission of
both heat and sound.
ALUMINIUM
2) TEMPERED GLASS: - This type of glass starts off as normal clear glass but is reheated to 1200
STRIP
degrees F, then cooled rapidly to introduce on purpose residual stresses that bring the surfaces into
compression. This makes the glass 4 times more stronger than normal clear glass because of the
already induced compression. Some kind of chemical is added to the tempered glass that allows
the glass to absorb heat and provide visibility. The chemical renders a slight bluish-green tint. It is
non reflective in nature. It is generally used in cars.
DESSICAN
3) TOUGHENED GLASS: - It is similar to tempered glass but in this type, the glass is only reheated to
T
tighten the molecules together in order to increase the strength (it is about 2 times stronger than
normal clear glass). This glass is used where the glazing is subject to thermal stresses.
SEALANT
4) LAMINATED GLASS: - It consists of two or more layers of glass with a vinyl interlayer between. This
interlayer adheres to the glazing, so that if fractured, the glass "sticks" to the interlayer, and
I.G.U
doesn't fall apart as a sharp, dangerous fragment. The multiple layers provide security.

CURTAIN WALLS

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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.:-16
VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

TYPES OF CURTAIN WALL SYSTEMS: 1) STICK SYSTEM: - This is the earlier design of curtain wall technology. The wall is installed piece by piece. Usually, the mullion members
(which is vertical member) are installed first, followed in turn by the transom members (which is horizontal rail member), and finally the
glazing or window units. However, in designs accenting the horizontal lines the process may be altered to first install the larger transoms.
The stick wall system was used extensively in the early years of metal curtain wall development, and is still widely used in greatly improved
versions. The framing members may be fabricated in factories but the installation and glazing is done on the site. The term stick refers to
the factory-cut mullions and transoms which are transported to site as loose bars or sticks.
ADVANTAGE: - The characteristics of this system are its relatively low shipping and handling costs, because of minimal bulk, and the fact
that it allows some degree of dimensional adjustment according to the site.
DISADVANTAGE: - Its disadvantages are the necessity of assembly in the construction site, rather than under controlled factory conditions,
and the fact that pre-glazing is obviously impossible.
2) SEMI-UNITIZED SYSTEM: - It is also known as hybrid systems. After development in the field of curtain wall technology, this system was
introduced.
In this system the mullion members are first installed separately and then the pre-assembled framing units are placed
between the mullions.
ADVANTAGE: - Compared with the regular structural member type glass curtain walls, semi unitized curtain wall has many predominant
advantages in terms of mass production, degree of accuracy, quality of fabrication and installation and easy repair and maintenance.
DISADVANTAGE: - This system need large amount of labour for field jointing work and the erection time is comparatively greater.
3) UNITIZED CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM: - For modern technology, unitized curtain wall system was invented. It is composed of large glass
frame units that are pre-fabricated in factories and then transported to the site. Once on the site, the units are carried by cranes and are
hoisted onto anchors connected to the buildings main structural frame. The production of whole panel is done under controlled conditions
at the factory, where the process can be carefully inspected, and facilitates rapid enclosure of the building with a minimum of field labour
and relatively few joints. The Unitized curtain wall is the most airtight and weather resistant cladding and exterior wall system available.
ADVANTAGES: - High quality construction due to tight tolerances of fabrication in a climate-controlled environment. Since there is no on-site
glazing another major benefit of using this system is the speed of installation (it can be installed within 1/3 rd of the time it takes to install a
stick-built system. External scaffolding is not required thereby reducing cost to some extent. Suited for high rise construction where higher
performance in terms of lateral load on the building is required.
DISADVANATGES: - Only suited for high rise buildings that have modular or repetitive faade treatment. Hence it is not suited for complex or
angular designs.

STICK SYSTEM

SEMI UNITIZED SYSTEM

CURTAIN WALLS

UNITIZED SYSTEM
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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.:-16
VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

Curtain wall system is a cladding system generally having an aluminium frames structure and glass vision panels and spandrels which can
be of any panel material e.g. glass, metal, stone, compressed cement etc. In order to perform satisfactorily, curtain wall system, as an
exterior wall system must meet the following several performance requirements: 1) Structural integrity
2) Provision movement
3) Weather tightness
4) Moisture control
5) Thermal insulation
6) Sound transmission
Of course there are other factors that govern the performance of a curtain wall. These factors depends upon the location, the height of the
building, the type of occupancy of the building etc. but these are of less critical importance.
1) STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY: - Because structural failure may jeopardize human life, the structural integrity of the curtain wall is a primary
concern of its design. The wall is anchored on to the main framework of the building and transfers the loads that are incident on it.
Structurally, stiffness of the curtain wall is a governing factor. Excessive deformations due to faulty anchorage details may lead to
severe damage. As the vertical loads in curtain wall system is relatively light, structural design is chiefly a matter of providing proper
resistance to lateral wind load. It is important to know the nature and magnitude of wind load acting on the building. It is well known
that maximum wind velocities, and consequently design wind loads, vary not only with geographic location but also with height above
the ground. The nature of the buildings surrounding urban character also influences the intensity of wind load. Another factor that is
often left unrecognized is that the wind loads, acting on the skin of the building are of a different character and magnitude than those
which govern the design of the building frame. It is more specific, drastic and rapid. Significance of negative wind load or suction forces
must be regarded.
2) PROVISION MOVEMENT: - A most important consideration in designing any aluminium curtain wall is necessary to ample provision for
movement. Movement is constantly taking place, such as movement within the wall components themselves, relative movement
between the components, and relative movement between the wall and building frame to which it is attached. These movements are
caused not only by temperature changes, but by wind action, by gravity forces and by deformations or displacements in the building
frame. The effect of temperature changes is uniquely significant, because of the relatively high coefficient of expansion of aluminium.
The problem of reducing the movement reduces to the problem of joint design because it is at the joints that the movement must be
accommodated. At times designers think that the joints can be simplified by using larger panel units thus having less no. of joints. But
this is seldom the case. Larger the panels, greater is the degree of movement on the joint, complicating things further. Provision for both
vertical as well as horizontal movement in the wall plane is made either by slip joints or bellows action.
3) WEATHER TIGHTNESS: - Weather tightness means protection against both water leakage and excessive air infiltration. It depends largely
on adequate provision for movement, and is closely related to proper joint design. Lack of weather tightness is the most major
difficulties encountered in a curtain wall design. Large wind load causes rain water to flow in all directions over the windward surface of
a panel, and on surfaces of impervious materials much of it tends to collect at the joints, the major points of vulnerability. Earlier in the
history of curtain wall design, all joints at the outer surface had a permanent waterproof seal but this ideology was soon abandoned
because of the continual movement of the members. Instead, two other methods have been developed for preventing leakage through
the wall. One is known as internal drainage or secondary defence system and the other is pressure equalization method. In the internal
drainage method, collection devices are provided within the wall which are connected to the drainage channels on the outer face of the
wall.

CURTAIN WALLS

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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.:-16
VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

INTERNAL DRAINAGE METHOD

PRESSURE EQUALIZATION METHOD

The method of pressure equalization is based on the rain-screen principle. It requires the provision of ventilated outer wall surface backed
up with drained air spaces in which pressure is maintained equal to the pressure which is outside the curtain wall, thereby creating a no
pressure differential. This results in a complete elimination of driving force for pressure induced water penetration. In practice, however,
perfect pressure equalization across the rain-screen at all times is not possible. Hence the wall must be designed to tolerate the entry of
small amount of water without posing any damage.
4) MOISTURE CONTROL: - Glass and metal are both impervious in nature and hence create a barrier for vapour transmission as well. But
glass has a very low heat retention capacity which makes the control of condensation an important part of curtain wall design. Unless
proper controls are provided, moisture may occur on the indoor face of the wall, and condensation may collect within the wall, causing
damage which can become serious before it is detected. In order to provide moisture control, there should be an understanding of the
causes of condensation, at what points it may occur and how to minimize its potential damage is essential. Broadly speaking, condensation
is the transmission of a gas containing water vapour into liquid state. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapour present in the air as
compared to what the air can hold at a given temperature. When the air cannot hold the moisture anymore, it condenses as dew and the
point is known as dew point. The important precautions to be remembered for moisture control is as follows: a) A vapour barrier should be provided on or neat the indoor surface of the wall. (vapour barrier is basically any material used for damp
that resists diffusion of moisture through the wall in order to prevent condensation.
b) Impervious internal surfaces should be sufficiently insulated to keep them warmer than the dew point of the air contacting them.
c) Provision should be made for the escape of vapour to be outdoors.
d) The wall should be so detailed that any condensation occurring within it will be collected and drained away.

CURTAIN WALLS

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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.:-16
VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

5) THERMAL INSULATION: - In some cases the insulating value of the wall may be one of the major design considerations whether to reduce
heat loss and prevent condensation in cold climatic zones or to minimize heat gain and air conditioning cost in hot climatic zones, reduction
of U-value is often a good long term investment (u-value measures how effective a material is as an insulator, the lower the u-value the
better the insulation is). Metal and glass are materials which inherently have low resistance to heat flow, but with proper attention to details
aluminium curtain walls can
be designed to provide good thermal performance. Generally this is accomplished by minimizing the proportion of metal framing members
exposed to the outdoors, eliminating thermal short circuits by means of thermal breaks, using double rather than single glazing, and
providing good insulation in the non-opaque areas of the curtain wall.

CURTAIN WALLS

6) SOUND TRANSMISSION: - Under normal conditions,

even in densely built urban areas, metal curtain walls
as compared to any other walling system with the
equivalent amount of fenestration acts as a barrier to
airborne sound. However the increasing level of noise
pollution and rapid development of building near the
airports and railway stations, has created a need for
sound-proofing exterior walls. According to the law of
mass, the transmission of sound through any barrier is
inversely proportional to the mass of the barrier. Metal
curtain wall, being a light-weight construction hence
naturally transmits sound. It must be remembered
that the efficiency of a barrier to airborne sound
depends, in large degree, upon its weakest link, and
the weak links in most walls are glazed areas and
openings, however small the latter may be. Where a
high degree of sound insulation is required, air
leakage through the wall must be minimized, and
double glazing, well separated and sealed, is usually
essential.
HANSANEE MAGO
SHEET
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VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

UNITIZED CURTAIN WALL

DETAIL

CURTAIN WALLS: DETAILS

I-BEAM CURTAIN WALL DETAIL

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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
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VASTU KALA ACAMEMY

I.G.U GLASS

PRESSURE
PLATE
MULLION

SCREW
RUBBER CLAMPS

CURTAIN WALLS: DETAILS

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HANSANEE MAGO
4TH YEAR SEC-B
ROLL NO.:-16
VASTU KALA ACAMEMY