| Introduction |
Hitech Architectural curtain wall is usually an aluminum-framed wall, containing in-fills of glass, metal panels etc. Curtain wall provides enormous advantage due to the precise framing which is attached to the building structure and does not carry the floor or roof loads of the building. The wind and gravity loads of the curtain wall are transferred to the building structure, typically at the floor line, which means that it does not carry any dead load from the building other than its own dead load, and one which transfers the horizontal loads (wind loads) that are incident upon it. It resists air and water infiltration, wind forces acting on the building, seismic forces. These loads are transferred to the main building structure through connections at floors or columns of the building, providing you more safety. Also, the frame is in filled with strong protected glass, providing your dream building an architecturally pleasing look, as well as benefits of broad day lighting.
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| Types |
Curtain walls can be classified by their method of fabrication and installation into the following general categories:
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| Stick systems |
In the stick system, the curtain wall frame (mullions) and glass or opaque panels are installed and connected together piece by piece. The vast majority of curtain walls are installed long pieces between floors vertically and between vertical members horizontally. Framing members may be fabricated in a shop environment, but all installation and glazing is typically performed at the jobsite.
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| Unitized |
In the unitized system, the curtain wall is composed of units that are assembled and glazed in the factory, shipped to the site and erected on the building. Vertical and horizontal mullions of the modules mate together with the adjoining modules. Unitized curtain walls entail factory fabrication and assembly of panels and may include factory glazing. These completed units are hung on the building structure to form the building enclosure.
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| Design |
We at Hitech Architectural design curtain wall systems and provide all the necessary Technical details, Shop Drawings, details on Aluminium Profiles according to specification provided by our Structural Engineer that have been approved and are safe in Wind Load, Check for Deflection, Check for Shear Stress, Design Check for Mullion and Bending Stress , Check for Slenderness Ratio, Design Check for Connectivity and hence are recommended for construction of Curtain Wall, to handle all loads imposed on it also keeping air and water from penetrating the building envelope.
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| Loads |
The loads imposed on the curtain wall are transferred to the building structure through the anchors which attach the mullions to the building. The building structure needs to be designed and account for these loads.
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| Dead load |
Dead load is defined as the weight of structural elements and the permanent features on the structure. In the case of curtain walls, this load is made up of the weight of the mullions, anchors, and other structural components of the curtain wall, as well as the weight of the infill material. Additional dead loads imposed on the curtain wall, such as sunshades, must be accounted for in the design of the curtain wall components and anchors.
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| Wind load |
Wind load acting on the building is the result of wind blowing on the building. This wind pressure must be resisted by the curtain wall system since it envelops and protects the building. Wind loads vary greatly throughout the world, with the largest wind loads being near the coast in hurricane-prone regions. Building codes are used to determine the required design wind loads for a specific project location.
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| Seismic load |
Seismic loads need to be addressed in the design of curtain wall components and anchors. In most situations, the curtain
wall is able to naturally withstand seismic and wind induced building
sway because of the space provided between the glazing infill and the
mullion. In tests, standard curtain wall systems are able to withstand
three inches (75 mm) of relative floor movement without glass breakage
or water leakage.
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| Infiltration |
Air infiltration is the air which passes through the curtain wall from the exterior to the interior of the building. The air is infiltrated through the gaskets, through imperfect joinery between the horizontal and vertical mullions, through weep holes, and through imperfect sealing. The Water penetration is defined as any water passing from the exterior of the building through to the interior of the curtain wall system. Sometimes, depending on the building specifications, a small amount of controlled water on the interior is deemed acceptable.
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| Why Curtain Wall from Hitech |
| At Hitech, we make sure that the Curtain wall system suits the requirement of the building and the Mullions are safe in Wind Load, The curtain wall system at Hitech comes to you with a thorough check on the following- |
- Check for Deflection,
- Check for Shear Stress,
- Design Check for Mullion and Bending Stress,
- Check for Slenderness Ratio,
- Design Check for Connectivity and hence are recommended for construction of Curtain Wall, to handle all loads imposed on it also keeping air and water from penetrating the building envelope.
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