Glass Curtain Walls

Design, Engineering, and Performance

John A. Jackson, M.Eng, AIA
Simpson, Gumpertz, & Heger

Building Enclosure Council ‐ Baltimore
14 June 2016
Credit(s) earned on completion of
this course will be reported to AIA
CES for AIA members.
Certificates of Completion for both
AIA members and non-AIA
members are available upon
request.
This course is registered with AIA
CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not
include content that may be
deemed or construed to be an
approval or endorsement by the
AIA of any material of construction
or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or
dealing in any material or product.
_______________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods,
and services will be addressed at the conclusion
of this presentation.
 Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws.
Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written
permission of the speaker is prohibited.

Provider Number: J380

Course Number: GLASSCW60

© 2016 Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.

Curtain Walls
Curtain Walls

• Systems
• Performances
• Testing &
Construction
Curtain Walls

• Systems • Terminology
• Stick-Built
• Performances • Unitized
• Testing & • Glass Retention
Construction • Spandrel Panels
• Transitions
• Other Materials
• Other Glazing Systems
Terminology

Mullion

Stack joint

Transom

Stack head

Spandrel
panel Stack sill
Stick-Built
Stick-Built
Stick-Built
Stick-Built
Stick Built
Unitized
Unitized
Unitized
 Unitized “chicken head”

wet dry
thermal break

movement at
stack joint

rainscreen
gasket

outside inside
Unitized

inside

dry

wet

outside
Unitized
Unitized

Anchor bracket
Above
panel

Embed anchor

“chicken head” acts as lateral

restraint for above panel
 Unitized

Silicone
boot
Unitized

1 panel Panel splice

“chicken head”

dry
wet
Glass Retention

Capped Structural Silicone Glazed

(i.e. traditionally glazed) (i.e. SSG)
Glass Retention

Glass-to-Glass Toggle-Fixing

Bolt-Fixing Clamped
Spandrel Panels
Spandrel Panels

Spandrel Glass
Spandrel Panels

Shadow Box
Spandrel Panels

All Glass
Transitions

Flexible membrane
tied into glazing
pocket

Perimeter
sealant joint

Glazing stop
installed on site
Transitions

Panel hung
from floor
above

Sealant

Aluminum
plate

Flexible
membrane
glued to
everything
Transitions
Other Glazing Systems

Punched Windows Ribbon Windows

Other Glazing Systems

Storefront Window Wall

Other Glazing Systems

Cables & Rods Glass Fins

Other Glazing Systems

Double Skins Free-Form

 Other Materials

Metal Panel Stone Terracotta

Curtain Walls

• Systems • Structural
• Movement
• Performances • Water-tightness
• Testing & • Airtightness
Construction • Solar Control
• Thermal
• Condensation Assessment
• Ventilation
• Acoustics
• Fire
• Blast
• Access & Maintenance
 Structural
Framing Deflection

Deflection due to  Deflection due to 
wind suction wind pressure
Internal steel
reinforcement
Structural
Glass Deflection

Glass Center-
Pane Deflection
Movement

• Dead Load Deflections

• Superimposed Dead Load Deflections

• Live Load Deflections

• Snow/Rain Load Deflections

• Wind Load Deflections/Sway

• Seismic Deflections/Sway

• Long-Term Shrinkage

• Differential Settlement
• Thermal Movements
• Moisture Movements

• Fabrication Tolerances
• Erection Tolerances
• Construction Sequencing
Movement
Movement

Δ
Water-tightness

Water-tightness:

Provide aluminum curtain wall systems

that do not evidence water penetration
when tested according to ASTM E331
(static) and AAMA 501.1 (dynamic) for
one 15 min. cycle at a minimum
differential static pressure of 20% of the
peak positive wind load design
pressure, but not less than 15 psf.
 Water-tightness

Barrier Drained and Ventilated

(i.e. no provision for drainage within system) (i.e. provision for drainage)

WATER
DRAINAGE
 Water-tightness

Drainage at Base Zone Dammed Drainage

(i.e. pressure moderated) (i.e. pressure equalized)
Water-tightness

First Line

Second Line

Continuous two lines of water defense

within system and at transition to adjacent
assemblies.
Airtightness

Air Infiltration/Exfiltration:

Provide aluminum glazed

curtain wall systems with
maximum air leakage of
0.06-cfm/sq ft of fixed wall
area when tested according
to ASTM E283 at a
minimum static-air-pressure
differential of 6.24-lbf/sq ft.
Airtightness

Air barrier

Continuous air barrier within system and at

transition to adjacent assemblies.
Solar Control

Solar Energy:

• Infrared (i.e. Heat Gain)

• Visible (i.e. Light Transmission)

• Ultraviolet (i.e. Material Degradation)

 Solar Control

Layer 2
Layer 1
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
ƒ - Total percentage of solar heat energy transmitted through
a material, including energy absorbed and reradiated
ƒ - European designation: G-value = SHGC
ƒ - Shading Coefficient (SC) is an antiquated term, based on a
standardized glass thickness (SHGC = 0.87 * SC)
ƒ - Unit-less Value, ranges from 0 to 1.0
ƒ - Typical SHGC of glazing include:

High Performance, Low-E 0.25 – 0.55

1 2 3 4

Typical position of Low-E Coating

Solar Control

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

(SHGC)
Visible Light Transmission
(VLT)
Light to Solar Gain (LSG)
= VLT/SHGC
Thermal
1)
2)
U-value of
3)
Glazing System

Center of Glass U-value

Thermal

Center
Pane

Edge
(2-1/2”)

Frame

Edge
(2-1/2”)

Center
Pane
 Thermal
Thermal Barrier

Continuous thermal barrier within

system and at transition to adjacent
assemblies.
Condensation Assessment

Interior dew point temperature: 37°F

Exterior Temperature: 17.3°F Interior Temperature: 70°F

Exterior Wind Speed: 15.3 mph Interior Relative Humidity: 30%
Ventilation
Acoustics

• Inside to Outside
• Vertical Flanking (floor-to-floor)
• Horizontal Flanking (across partitions)
Fire

UL Tested Edge of Slab

Firesafing Assembly
Blast

Peak
Pressure
Initial
Initial rebound
pressure

Approx. Impulse = Impulse =

area under triangle area under curve
Access & Maintenance
 Conflicting Requirements

Thermal Control                            vs        Transparency
High cost Complexity                    vs       Standardisation
Low visual Weight                         vs       Strength
Need for Ventilation & Access    vs       Weathertightness
Need for Ventilation & Access    vs       Acoustic control
High quality                                   vs        Cost
Complexity                                    vs        Fast installation
New technology                           vs        Risk
Architectural Forms                     vs        Maintenance Access
Delegated Design

Glazed aluminium curtain wall systems

shall be designed, engineered,
fabricated, and installed by a single-
source curtain wall sub contractor:

• Structural Calculations
• Air and Water Management
• Thermal Calculations
• Condensation Assessment
• Edge of Slab Firesafeing
Curtain Walls

• Systems • Lab Mockup Testing

• Fabrication
• Performances • Storage
• Testing & • Transportation
Construction • Installation
• Field Testing
 Lab Mockup Testing

Air Infiltration/Exfiltration (ASTM E283) Static Water (ASTM E331)

Lab Mockup Testing

Dynamic Water (AAMA 501.1)

Lab Mockup Testing

Deflection (ASTM E330) Thermal Cycling/Condensation Assessment

(AAMA 501.5)
 Lab Mockup Testing

Horizontal Movement (AAMA 501.4) Vertical Movement (AAMA 501.7)

Fabrication
Fabrication
Storage
Transportation
Installation
Installation
Installation

Site applied
panel splice
 Field Testing

Hose Testing (AAMA 501.2) Chamber Air (ASTM E783)

Chamber Water (ASTM E1105)
Questions?

John A. Jackson, M.Eng, AIA
Simpson, Gumpertz, & Heger