UNITIZED CURTAIN WALLS

BHAWANA BHANDARI | O5 | B.ARCH TY-II

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Infill materials used in

01 Introduction to curtain walls
02 curtain walls

03
Introduction to unitised curtain
wall system
04 Components of unitised
curtain wall system

05
Construction method on site
and factory
06 Advantages of unitised
curtain wall system

07 Connection details
 INTRODUCTION TO CURTAIN WALLS

● An outer covering of a building which are designed to

protect the occupants and structure of that building from
the effects of the external environment.

● They do not carry any structural load from the building

except its own dead load weight.

● The wall transfers lateral wind loads that are incident upon it
to the main building structure through connections at floors
or columns of the building.
INFILL MATERIALS USED IN CURTAIN WALLS

Louvre Teracotta Aluminium Concrete panel curtain

curtain walls curtain walls walls
INFILL MATERIALS USED IN CURTAIN WALLS

Vision glass Spandrel Slate stone Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP)

curtain walls curtain walls curtain wall curtain walls
 STICK CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

TWO MAIN TYPES OF CURTAIN WALLS

UNITISED CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

 UNITISED CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

● It is also known as modular system

● In this system, the curtain wall is composed of individual prefabricated

units which are fully assembled in a factory environment, delivered to
site and then fixed to the structure.

● Aluminium profiles are used to form the frame, which is normally

one-storey high.

● Opening vents, glazing and infill panels are built into units before being
transported to site.

● This system is mostly preferred in high rise structures as 30% of the work
is done on site, while 70% is carried out in the factory.

● The sizes are dependant on floor to floor height of the building

COMPONENTS OF UNITISED CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

Fig: Typical elevation of Fig: Section at A-A

unitised curtain wall
CONSTRUCTION METHOD (FACTORY)

Fig: Frame Preparation Fig: Glass Preparation Fig: Glass setting

Fig: Ready to go on a site

CONSTRUCTION METHOD (ON SITE)

Fig: Installation at slab edge Fig: Installation of panels

Fig: Bracket installation
using spider crane

Fig: Panel installation on brackets

 ADVANTAGES OF UNITISED CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

● Improved quality control

● Requires lower installation time and less manpower on site

● Unlike stick systems, they do not transfer impact noises from floor
to floor or horizontally from room to room.

● Less space is needed on site for layout

● Concurrent manufacture and site preparation - units can be

assembled while the structural frame is being built.

● The facade can also be completed a floor at a time, allowing

parallel internal work

● No need for scaffolding

Fig: Unitised curtain wall installed from the
● Can be installed from the interior of the building. This is ideal for interior of the building
high towers or building sites where there is a tight footprint
 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS UNITISED CURTAIN WALL
Top- hung opening window
● Unitised facades can integrate opening elements like a top-hung
and parallel opening windows.

● Sun-screening systems, spandrel panels and other infill panels can

also be included in facades.

● Due to its strength, durability, stability and resistance from moisture

and corrosion, Aluminium is usually used for facade frames.

● Mullions in a unitised system tend to be slightly larger as they have

an open section

● There are a number of frame finishes options, including anodised

aluminium and RAL powder coatings.

● For high thermal insulation options, extra performance can be

achieved by inserting fibreglass reinforced polyamide strips in a
skeleton structure to create multiple chambers.

Vision panel Aluminium frame

 CONNECTION DETAILS OF UNITISED CURTAIN WALL

Curtain wall connection to the slab-at-grade

● Flashing is attached to the cold side of the compression
block

● The space in between is insulated to prevent excessive

heat loss and a low surface temperature at the slab
connection
 CONNECTION DETAILS OF UNITISED CURTAIN WALL

Curtain wall connection at precast cladding

● Sufficient clearance between the curtain wall jamb and the

precast panel should be provided for a closure and to
accommodate small differential movements.

● The air/vapour barrier of the exterior wall is connected to the

air/vapour barrier of the curtain wall.

● The jamb insulation is necessary to warm up the jamb mullion

● The external closure and curtain wall caps provide the necessary
rain penetration protection of the joint between the curtain wall
and the precast cladding
 CONNECTION DETAILS OF UNITISED CURTAIN WALL

Curtain wall parapet and roof connection

● The air barrier of the roof is connected to the glazing cavity of
the curtain wall to prevent uncontrolled exfiltration of air
through the parapet and to prevent condensation in the
parapet area.

● As the curtain wall mullion should be kept warm, the

backside of the curtain wall in the parapet area should be
vented to the interior.
 CONNECTION DETAILS OF UNITISED CURTAIN WALL

Curtain wall at floor anchor joint

● The anchor / gasket is installed on the building’s slab.

● The curtain wall panel is hooked to the anchor / gasket and is

bolted to strengthen the connection.

● Spandrel is used in front of slab which is covered by vision

glass from outside.

● Similarly separate panels are connected to the slab

 REFERENCES

● element_facades_lr.pdf (reynaers.su)
(Introduction, advantages, design considerations)

● curtain wall_E.qxd (uwaterloo.ca)

(Connection details)

● Curtain Wall System - its Types, Details, Functions and Advantages (theconstructor.org)
(Components of curtain wall system)

● Unitized Curtain Wall installation - YouTube

● unitized curtain wall installation - YouTube

● Unitized Curtain Wall - VHB SGT Process Video - YouTube

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

AR. BISHWODEV BHATTARAI

LECTURER
KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY
THANK YOU