Issues to Consider with Curtain Wall Systems

Like any building systems, curtain wall systems present several issues to be considered during the building design and construction as well. In addition to air infiltration and deflection, non-deflection-related stress and thermal conductivity loads are, perhaps, the top issues to consider. Because curtain walls are designed to be non-load bearing, any loads placed on the curtain wall, like those from the curtain wall elements (e.g. mullions, infill, etc.), weather (e.g. wind and snow), seismic and blast forces, and thermal—must be transferred back to the structure itself. Generally speaking, curtain wall cost would be somewhat more than traditional window cost in building construction. Therefore, these costs must be reviewed in conjunction with the need to address special design considerations, such as support framing, glazing types, interior vs. exterior systems, shading devices, applied finishes, special infill materials, etc. Furthermore, a variety of factors can influence the performance of the curtain wall system in use. Air and water infiltration, the quality of materials and installation, and other issues can all lead to curtain wall failure. In that regard, to maintain the life and protection of the curtain wall system, periodic checks of items, such as gaskets, seals, system joints, and the thermal-insulation capabilities of vision and insulating panels, should be conducted, and aluminum frames should be cleaned. In practical applications, fire safety is another area of consideration. Because gaps between floors do little to impede fire and smoke, fire safety and smoke seals should be located between floors to maximize protection. In addition, tempered knockout panels, designed to fracture and provide access during a fire should be included to reduce safety concerns. In particular, for the large commercial premises, there are multiple challenges when it comes to building compartmentation and passive fire protection. With the rise in popularity of open-plan layouts, it has become increasingly impossible to utilise fire doors, due to the lack of walls. In such a case, fire rated curtain wall becomes so important and popular among people as they can offer the same levels of fire resistance and smoke control. We are committed to producing various types of steel products for your choice in your building project in future. Our products are all designed for the fast and easy installation of curtain walls. Contact us if you have any need in your project.