A glass curtain wall is a non-structural, lightweight external cladding. It serves as the building’s “skin,” resisting air and water infiltration while supporting its own weight and wind loads—not the building’s floor or roof loads.
Stick System: The most common method. Components (mullions and transoms) are shipped separately and assembled piece-by-piece on site. Vertical mullions are bolted to the edge of the floor slabs. Horizontal transoms are then connected to the mullions, forming a grid. Glass panels (typically insulating glass units, IGUs) are set into this grid from the outside, secured with pressure plates and sealed with silicone and gaskets.
Unitized System: A more advanced, factory-fabricated method. Entire prefabricated frame-and-glass units are shipped to the site. These units interlock with adjacent units using a stacking mechanism. Installation is faster and less weather-dependent, making it ideal for high-rise buildings.
Critical Details:
· Thermal Break: Isolators (e.g., polyamide) separate interior and exterior aluminum frames to prevent condensation.
· Gaskets & Sealants: Silicone sealant provides primary weather resistance, while EPDM rubber gaskets provide secondary compression seals.
· Drainage: Internal weep holes channel any infiltrated water back to the exterior.
Illustration Note (for your figure):
A detailed cross-section of a stick system. Label: (1) Floor slab, (2) Anchor bolt, (3) Vertical mullion, (4) Pressure plate, (5) IGU (two glass panes with argon gas and a low-E coating), (6) Outer silicone seal, (7) Inner gasket, (8) Thermal break (polyamide strip), and (9) Interior cover cap. Include arrows showing the load path down the mullion and water drainage out through weep holes.
Post time: Apr-24-2026