Curtain Wall Glazing
Curtain walls are non-structural, lightweight wall systems that use an aluminum frame to hold glass, metal panels, or thin stone as the exterior cladding of a building.
Curtain wall glazing refers to the use of glass as the infill material in these aluminum-framed curtain wall systems.
The main advantages of curtain wall glazing are that it allows for large, uninterrupted areas of glass, providing high light transmission and low reflection for an attractive building facade.
There are two main types of curtain wall glazing systems:
Stick Curtain Wall System
- Components are assembled piece-by-piece on the building structure
- Commonly used for low-rise buildings or where exterior access is available
- Offers flexibility for onsite adjustments but higher labor and installation time
Unitized Curtain Wall System
- Pre-assembled units are installed as a single module
- Faster installation but higher shipping costs
- Commonly used for high-rise buildings where exterior access is limited
- Key curtain wall glazing components include transoms, mullions, vision glass, and anchors.
- Structural glazing is a method of directly bonding the glass to the aluminum framing using silicone sealants, rather than capturing the edges in a framing pocket.
- The thermal efficiency of curtain wall glazing depends on factors like the glass coatings, framing materials, and integration with the overall building envelope.