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- DictionaryCur·tain wall/ˈkərtn ˌwôl/
noun
- 1. a fortified wall around a medieval castle, typically one linking towers together.
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A curtain wall is an exterior covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, instead serving to protect the interior of the building from the elements. Because the curtain wall façade carries no structural load beyond its own dead load weight, it can be made of lightweight materials.
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A curtain wall is a nonbearing exterior wall between columns or piers, often used in architecture. Learn more about its history, examples, and related words from Merriam-Webster dictionary.
- Introduction
- Description
- Fundamentals
- Applications
- Details
- Emerging Issues
- Relevant Codes and Standards
- Additional Resources
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A curtain wall is defined as thin, usually aluminum-framed wall, containing in-fills of glass, metal panels, or thin stone. The framing is attached to the building structure and does not carry the floor or roof loads of the building. The wind and gravity loads of the curtain wall are transferred to the building structure, typically at the floor lin...
The following are brief descriptions of commonly used curtain wall framing methods and components. Curtain walls can be classified by their method of fabrication and installation into the following general categories: stick systems and unitized (also known as modular) systems. In the stick system, the curtain wall frame (mullions) and glass or opaq...
System Types
Face-sealed, water-managed and pressure-equalized rainscreen systems are the three systems that are available. Normally, pressure-equalized rain screen systems provide the highest levels of resistance to air and water infiltration, with water-managed systems the next most reliable. Pressure-equalized rain screen systems function by blocking all of the forces that can drive water across a barrier. See the article on Moisture Protection for a complete explanation of how pressure-equalization re...
Thermal Performance
Overall curtain wall thermal performance is a function of the glazing infill panel, the frame, construction behind opaque (spandrel and column cover) areas, and the perimeter details. Curtain wall frame conductance is a function of the frame material, geometry and fabrication (e.g. thermal break). Aluminum has a very high thermal conductivity. It is common practice to incorporate thermal breaks of low conductivity materials, traditionally PVC, Neoprene rubber, polyurethane and more recently p...
Water penetration resistance is a function of glazing details (see Glazing), frame construction and drainage details, weatherstripping and frame gaskets, interior sealants (for operable windows, see Windows), and perimeter flashings and seals. Water can enter the exterior wall system by means of five different forces: gravity, kinetic energy, air pressure difference, surface tension, and capillary action. To mitigate water infiltration, all of these forces must be accounted for in the system...
Establish System Track Record
Select a curtain wall with a demonstrated track record in similar applications and exposures. Verifying track records may require significant research by the designer. ASTM E1825 provides guidance. Review laboratory test results of systems or similar custom systems for air, water, and structural resistance, heat transmission, condensation resistance, sound transmission, and operability. Verify that tests pertain to the system under consideration and not a version of the system with the same p...
Curtain wall design should start with the assumption that external glazing seals, perimeter sealant joints and curtain wall sills will leak. The following summarizes recommended features: 1. Select frames with wept glazing and pocket sills sloped to the exterior to collect water that penetrates the glazing and drain it to the exterior. Do not use vertical mullions as drain conductors. Each glazing pocket should be fully isolated from adjacent glazing pockets. Provide a sill flashing with end...
Glazing Methods and Their Impact on Performance
Pressure Plate Glazing: In this system the glass and infill panels are installed from the exterior, typically against dry gaskets. The outer layer of gaskets is installed and the gaskets are compressed against the glass by the torque applied to fasteners securing a continuous pressure plate. The plate is later typically covered with a snap-on mullion cover. This system provides reasonable performance but is susceptible to leaks at corners or joints in dry gaskets. For improved performance fou...
The following details can be viewed online in Adobe Acrobat PDF by clicking on the PDF to the right of the drawing title. The details associated with this section of the BEDG on the WBDG were developed by committee and are intended solely as a means to illustrate general design and construction concepts only. Appropriate use and application of the ...
"Smart" Curtain Walls, like smart windows, control visible light transmittance by employing electrochromic or photochromic glass coatings; see the discussion in Glazing. Double-skin systems, which employ a ventilated space between the inner and outer walls are rare in the U.S., but have been constructed in Europe and Asia where energy costs are muc...
Curtain Wall Design and Selection
1. AAMA Aluminum Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual
Thermal Performance
1. AAMA 1503 Voluntary Standards for Thermal Transmittance and Performance 2. AAMA 501.5 Test Method for Thermal Cycling of Exterior Walls 3. NFRC 100 Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product U-Factors
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
1. NFRC 200 Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and Visible Transmittance at Normal Incidence
Organizations
1. American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)—information on aluminum curtain walls. NOTE: Photographs, figures, and drawings were provided by the original author unless otherwise noted.
Learn what a curtain wall is and how it differs from other wall systems. Explore the various methods, materials and components of curtain walls, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Curtain walls are thin and lightweight exterior systems that protect buildings from harsh outdoor elements. They are not structural, but transfer the load of wind and gravity to the building frame. Learn about the three main systems, the advantages, and the design options of curtain walls.
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.
Today, the term curtain wall describes non-structural, non-load bearing walls on or in the exterior skin of a building. These walls serve as a “curtain,” separating the exterior weather from mechanically conditioned interior spaces.
May 17, 2021 · A Curtain Wall System serves as an external cladding for glass architecture and buildings with non-structural outer walls. Typically, a Curtain Wall System consists of aluminum-framed commercial glass or metal planes.
