How to Choose Curtain Wall Engineering?

If you&#;ve ever sipped coffee in a cafe while looking out to a garden through a tall glass wall, you were likely enjoying the scenic view through a curtain wall. These are non-structural, non-load-bearing exterior walls that allow for the use of lots of glass in their construction and sweeping views as a result&#;though not to be confused with window walls.

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No matter if they&#;re installed in a commercial or residential structure, curtain walls offer incredible views and abundant light. They also provide thermal efficiency, so you can save on energy costs and admire the weather outside without feeling summer heat or winter chills. As these are largely non-structural, their design is limited only by the wall&#;s dead load weight, the structure&#;s height, and your vision.

Different Curtain Wall Types At-A-Glance

Curtain Wall Type

Stick Curtain Wall

Unitized Curtain Wall

InstallationField-assembled onsiteFactory-assembled offsiteConstructionA modular system of mullions and rails assembled onsitePre-fabricated unit panels installed onsiteCostTypically lower upfront cost, but higher labor costsTypically higher upfront cost, but lower labor costsSpeed of installationSlower due to onsite assembly (Further explained below)Faster due to offsite fabrication (Further explained below)MaintenanceEasier to maintain and replace individual componentsMore difficult to replace individual componentsBuilding HeightSuitable for low to medium height buildingsSuitable for high-rise buildingsThermal PerformanceMay have more potential for air and water leakage due to onsite assemblyCan have better thermal performance due to factory fabrication and quality control

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Below we will discuss the two different types of curtain walls in more detail.

Stick Curtain Walls vs. Unitized Curtain Walls

There are a few differences between the two curtain wall types. But largely, the difference between the two is whether they come as smaller panels that screw together onsite or arrive as a single piece that is hoisted into place during installation.

Stick Curtain Walls

Stick curtain walls are made from metal transoms and mullions, along with glass panels that are assembled onsite. The transoms anchor to concrete slabs or building framing, and the mullions are slotted between these transoms, holding the glass panes in place. The mullions are the sticks that give this curtain wall type its name and are an important design element, as the attention paid to these &#;sticks&#; will determine whether the final curtain wall has a symmetrical appearance or not.

These materials are shipped separately to your property. Installers onsite will then arrive at your home or business and construct the curtain wall piece by piece. This means there is very little lead time required between ordering, delivery, and final assembly. Since this system is modular, it can be built and adjusted in situ as needed. This allows it to be fitted to existing spaces that may potentially have unusual dimensions. Unusual geometries, like curves, can also be easily accounted for during the assembly of a stick curtain wall. However, there may be certain limits depending on the design of the transoms and mullions. Also, the individual pieces are transportable without heavy equipment, meaning they can be moved between different areas without a crane or lift.

Choose a stick-built curtain wall type for projects that:

• Don&#;t allow time for offsite manufacturing and shipment.
• Have unusual dimensions or shapes that need custom fitting on site.
• The job site or budget limits the use of heavy equipment.

Despite dispensing with lead times for manufacturing, a stick curtain wall type requires an extended assembly period onsite. However, there is an option that installs much more quickly, provided the project has enough time to fabricate the curtain wall offsite and ship it to the site.

Unitized Curtain Walls

Unitized curtain walls are single-piece curtain walls that are cut, fabricated, and assembled with glass in a factory offsite. They are then shipped as complete, unitized sections to the job site to be installed. They are lifted into position using heavy equipment and anchored to the slab or framing structure. Since these are shipped in one piece, installation is much quicker. It is simply a matter of positioning these pieces and bolting them into place.

The disadvantage is that the lead time needed is much longer. With offsite assembly taking a significant amount of time and following assembly, these large pieces need to be shipped to the site. If there is damage during transit or errors in fabrication, then this time is doubled to allow for reworking.

However, installation can be as quick as a single day with skilled and knowledgeable site surveyors and fabricators. This is a serious advantage where the time allowed for construction on site is limited. An example is the Lake Tahoe region, where construction is limited to the dry season to prevent soil from being washed into the lake.

Unitized curtain walls also have fewer seams than stick curtain walls, providing enhanced energy efficiency and protection against exterior elements like rain.

Property owners should choose a unitized system for larger projects that need:

• Simple straight and square curtain walls that are easily dimensioned.
• Faster installations due to onsite considerations like crowds or environmental control.
• Are in high wind or other weather zones that require enhanced protection from moisture and wind penetration.

The choice between a unitized or stick curtain wall type depends on practical considerations. They both allow for elegant, luxurious designs that let the view and the light in while keeping out the weather. It is the needs of construction rather than aesthetic design choices that mean one will work better than the other. Whatever the practical considerations are for curtain wall type, property owners should choose curtain wall builders and designers with experience and craftsmen dedicated to a job well done.

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So if you are looking to transform the look and feel of your space while working with installers that are second to none, The French Steel Company is a perfect fit.

Getting Started With The French Steel Company

The French Steel Company manufactures and installs elegant French Steel doors, windows, curtain walls, and other top-quality French Steel products. Our doors and windows don&#;t just enhance the appearance of your property, they also improve livability by providing energy-efficient solutions with modern thermal breaking technology. With offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., we offer nationwide shipping and installation services, so you can enjoy the benefits of our products no matter where you are in the U.S.

Curtain Wall and Window Wall: What&#;s the difference?

Often in our design meetings and scope reviews there&#;s a brave soul who sheepishly, yet courageously, asks the question, &#;Sooooo, what exactly is the difference between curtain wall and window wall?&#;

 While most of the room gives them the &#;that&#;s a dumb question look,&#; the reality is they are all thinking the same thing. After all, the most general definition of a curtain wall system is, &#;an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural.&#; The wall itself can be comprised of brick, glass, or any other material. For the sake of this article, we will focus on curtain wall as it relates to glass, and try to provide a basic overview of curtain wall and window wall systems.

 Truthfully, even the glass and glazing industry doesn&#;t always see eye to eye on categorically defining the two systems. There are very distinct projects and applications when one system is preferred over the other, yet sometimes they are interchangeable. Many different factors need to be considered, and only after having a full understanding of a project&#;s goals and design intent can one decide which system is best suited for a particular project.

 Since this topic does come up often, we wanted to provide some guidance on how we at Kovach view the two solutions. Our intention with this article is not to provide a complete dissertation on fenestration systems, but rather provide some high-level awareness about window wall and curtain wall so that you can be more informed on your next project.

Glass curtain wall

Generally speaking, curtain wall attaches to the outside of the floor slabs, acting as a &#;curtain&#; that is literally hung on the building and therefore, non-load bearing. It spans slab to slab, and systems are most often constructed in one of two ways; stick-built or panelized. With stick-built curtain wall, components are sent directly to the job site where they are assembled in the field before they can be installed. Panelized curtain wall is made up of prefabricated units built in a controlled shop environment. The units are sent to the field ready to be anchored at the floor slabs.

Curtain wall systems come in standard depths of 6 &#; 10 inches and can go deeper depending on manufacturers capabilities. Deeper systems provide more support without the need steel reinforcement. Glass curtain wall systems are the ideal choice when the distance between slabs exceeds 15 feet. Kovach has installed curtain wall systems up to 24 feet in height.

 In either stick built or unitized systems, curtain wall provides superior structural strength. The entire fenestration system essentially &#;locks&#; together providing excellent protection against high wind loads and earthquakes. Due to the great structural strength, curtain wall can handle larger glass sizes than window wall. Since curtain wall is attached from the outside of a building, small cranes and boom lifts &#; most often provided by the installer &#; are typically required for installation. Panels can be hoisted from the ground or from the floor on which they will be installed.

There are many specific reasons to select a curtain wall system, and perhaps most obvious is the ability to produce certain aesthetics. Since curtain wall is attached to the exterior slab of a building, you can achieve a continuous &#;curtain&#; of glass on the exterior facade.

Another reason unitized curtain wall is selected is that quality can be controlled at very high rate of success since the panels are built in a controlled shop environment. At Kovach, each panel is inspected and must meet the standards outlined in an extensive checklist that we have developed to provide consistent quality control.

There are some common challenges associated with curtain wall systems. Since curtain wall sits outside the slab edge, it creates a void from floor to floor. This void requires the inclusion of fire-stopping. Additionally, noise transmittance can be a concern. However, there are high quality options available to significantly reduce noise transmittance levels for curtain wall systems.

Glass curtain wall can be a costlier option than window wall, although there are other factors that need to be considered. Curtain wall is highly durable and does not require a lot of long term maintenance. In addition, since unitized curtain wall systems are fabricated in a controlled shop environment, fewer man hours in the field are required which helps achieve more stringent schedules. The savings associated with labor efficiencies in the shop and field often dispel budget concerns when it comes to evaluating the cost of unitized curtain wall compared with other systems.

Window Wall

Unlike curtain wall, window wall sits between the floor slabs. Like unitized curtain wall, window wall is also built in a shop and shipped to the site pre-assembled. Units are anchored at the head and sill and sealed in place using caulking. Window wall is also non-load bearing. Since window wall sits between floor slabs, fire-stopping is not necessary. This also means noise transmittance can be less of a concern than with curtain wall in specific instances.

On its own, window wall can typically span a floor to floor space of up to 12 feet. Beyond that, the vertical mullions will need to be loaded with steel to increase structural strength. Installation of window wall can be done from the exterior or interior and really depends on demands of the project.

Aesthetics of window wall differ greatly from curtain wall. Architects need to consider how the exposed slab edge will be addressed in the design stage of a project. There are some very creative ways to work metal panels into the facade to cover the slab edge and integrate into the window wall system. There are some window wall systems that can replicate curtain wall on a small sale, but nothing comes close to achieving the same continuous look as a curtain wall system on large scale facades.

Depending on the design intent, window wall may not be an option. For example, if your project is a 40+ story building and you want a continuous exterior glass facade, window wall is not the best choice. It does not have the structural strength and integrity of curtain wall, so the height of each project is a major consideration when looking at both systems.

In terms of cost per square foot, window wall is generally less expensive than curtain wall, although the cost of managing the exposed slab edge needs to be considered. Window wall also has a high quantity of caulk of joints which can lead to long term maintenance expenses.

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. 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. If your team is looking for some feedback while searching for the best glazing solution for your project, please feel free to reach out to us for assistance. Our experienced team is always happy to help! Since we design, fabricate, and install both systems, we are impartial to either solution, and will gladly help you determine what is best for your project.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Curtain Wall Engineering. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.