CURTAIN WALLS/STRUCTURAL GLAZING

• A curtain wall system is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are
non-structural, utilized to keep the weather out and the occupants in.

• Since the curtain wall is non-structural, it can be made of lightweight materials,

thereby reducing construction costs.

• The curtain wall facade does not carry any structural load from the building other than
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.

• A curtain wall is designed to resist air and water infiltration, absorb sway induced by
wind and seismic forces acting on the building, withstand wind loads, and support its
own dead load weight forces.

• Curtain wall systems are typically designed with extruded aluminum framing

members, although the first curtain walls were made with steel frames.

• The aluminum frame is typically infilled with glass, which provides an architecturally
pleasing building, as well as benefits such as daylighting.
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL GLAZING
• Four Sided Framed Glazing: In four sided framed
glazing a frame is fabricated on all four sides of the glass to
support it. During installation the horizontal and vertical support
members are framed on the building. Glass is used as a
transparent infill panel.

• Two Sided Framed Glazing: In a two sided framed

glazing the support for glass is only on two sides. It is either
fabricated in the horizontal or in the vertical direction. The glass
is then fixed in the mullions.

• Frameless Glazing: The frameless glazing imparts a

seamless look to the glass. The glass is fit together with different
kinds of hardware like spider fitting etc., which are used to tie
the glass to the structure.

• Glass Fin Glazing: Glass fins are vertical glass sheets

used to strengthen the glass facade. The glass sheet is
placed in a perpendicular direction to the building facade.
It is bonded to the building with special hardware and
silicon sealants. The Sealants that are used in structural
glazing have to be strong, durable and be resistant to ultra
violet radiation. They should also be neutral to changing
weather conditions since glass may get over-heated in
summer and there might be heat loss in winters.
MEMBERS OF STRUCTURAL GLAZING

• Mullions are vertical members of the frame which span from floor to floor and
take care of deflection under wind pressure.
• Transom are the horizontal members which span from mullion to mullion and
take the dead weight of the glass while transferring it to the mullion. 
• Vision area is the area above the floor level up to false ceiling. This area is
responsible for heat gain and light transmission in the building.
• Spandrel area is the area above the false ceiling and below the next floor level. It
is the non vision area and normally there is no ventillation in this area.
• Vent area is the openable panes and part of the vision area specially provided for
ventilation. It can be top hung, side hung etc.
• Shadow box covers the spandrel area and offers better aesthetic view in terms of
uniformity of façade. It offers thermal insulation to the building.
• Stick System: In the stick • Unit Panel System: For large • Unit and Mullion • Column Cover and Spandrel • Point Loaded Structural
system, mullions (sticks) are or labor-intensive projects, System: Similar to the stick System:  While column cover Glazing System: In this
fabricated in the shop and unit panel systems may be a system, mullions are the first and spandrel systems are system, the vertical framing
installed and glazed in the cost-effective alternative to tube to be installed in the similar to unit and mullion member can be comprised
field. Sticks are placed the stick system. In the unit unit and mullion system. systems, they differ in that of stick, cable, or another
between floors vertically to panel system, panels are Spandrel and glazing, the building frame is custom structure behind the
support individual fabricated and assembled at however, are inserted into emphasized with column glass. Glass is supported by a
components, such as the shop, and may be glazed the stick system as a covers, which act as sticks. system of four-point
horizontal mullions, glazing, there as well. The panels are complete unit. brackets, and joints are
and spandrels. Loads are then taken to the field, sealed with silicone.
transferred through where they are attached to a
connections at floors or building structure.
columns.