THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
SCHOOL OF CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (EACJ/2020P)
YEAR OF STUDY: YEAR 4 TERM 1, 2023
ASSIGNMENT: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY II (CURTAIN WALLING)
PRESENTED BY
NAME: REGISTRATION NUMBER:
1. KELVIN MURIUKI MURIITHI EACJ/03772P/2020
2. STEVE KAMUTI MUSILI EACJ/03769P/2020
3. STANLEY TING’A KOMIANTO EACJ/03880P/2020
©Technical University of Kenya
CURTAIN WALLING.
1. Definition of curtain walling.
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural,
utilized only to keep the weather out and the occupants in. Since the curtain wall is non-structural,
it can be made of lightweight materials, such as glass, thereby potentially reducing construction
costs. An additional advantage of glass is that natural light can penetrate deeper within the
building. The curtain wall façade 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 weight.
Curtain walls may be designed as "systems" integrating frame, wall panel, and weatherproofing
materials. Steel frames have largely given way to aluminum extrusions, typically infilled with
glass, which provides an architecturally pleasing look and benefits such as daylighting. However,
the effects of light on visual comfort as well as solar heat gain in a building are more difficult to
control when using large amounts of glass infill. Other common infills include stone veneer, metal
panels, louvres, and operable windows or vents.
Curtain wall systems differ from storefront systems in being designed to span multiple floors,
taking into consideration building sway and movement in addition to design requirements such as
thermal expansion and contraction; seismic requirements; water diversion; and thermal efficiency
for cost-effective heating, cooling, and interior lighting.
2. History of Curtain Walls and their Advantages.
a) History of Curtain Walls.
Earlier building methods relied on exterior walls to carry the dead weight of the roof and other
features. Sturdier columns with greater load bearing capacity formed the building’s support
systems as steel and reinforced concrete became standard materials in the industry. With walls no
longer required for primary structural support, builders began using materials other than traditional
stonework. The use of glass in exterior facades became popular and gave rise to today’s curtain
walls.
Wood was first used as the rigid component of curtain walls in the 18th century during the Ottoman
Empire. Aluminum frames were introduced much later as western economies were industrialized.
British engineer and architect Peter Ellis designed Oriel Chambers and 16 Cook Street, both
located in Liverpool, England. These buildings were two of the first structures to feature metal
framed glass walls.
Much like developments in Houston auto glass technology, the type of attachments used to position
and hold glass panels in place in curtain walls evolved over time. Earlier curtain walls used steel
mullions with asbestos or fiberglass compounds to attach the plate glass. Steel mullions were
replaced with glass, and silicone sealants were used in lieu of asbestos compounds.
In the U.S., the Louis Curtiss-designed Boley Clothing Company building was constructed in 1909
in Missouri, using glazed curtain walls with traditional accents. In 1918, architect Willis Polk built
the Hallidie Building in San Francisco, renowned for its floating glass curtain wall design. The
first building in New York that featured a curtain wall was the Lever House in Midtown Manhattan
that was built in 1952 by the design firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
b) Advantages of Curtain Wall Facades.
The use of curtain walls in commercial building designs became an enduring trend for many
aesthetic and energy efficiency reasons as outlined and explained below;-
Natural Lighting.
Just as large windows allowed natural light into interior spaces, curtain walls flooded the interiors
with natural light. When glass walls replaced masonry construction in commercial buildings, the
depth and reach of light penetration improved, reducing the need for artificial lighting and
consequently, cutting down on lighting bills. Additionally, windowless areas toward the middle of
the floor became appealing and usable workspaces.
Control of Air Leakage.
An aluminum-framed curtain wall is designed to be airtight. In a properly sealed system, the air
barrier is continuous from the glass panel to the mullions and the seals.
Control of Rain and Moisture Intrusion.
The airtight design prevents rain intrusion that could lead to costly cleanup and repairs. The glass,
aluminum and sealant components of a curtain wall do not allow for absorption or evaporation of
moisture, keeping moisture out of the interior section. The components are corrosion resistant
except for some seals, which may degrade if left soaking for some time.
Control Heat Loss or Gain.
The use of insulating glass in curtain wall installations can improve thermal qualities. A well-
constructed glass curtain can enhance energy efficiency and reduce the costs of heating and
cooling in a commercial building.
3. Systems and principles with Typical Drawings and Details.
A. Types of Curtain Wall System.
Curtain wall systems are factory pre casted systems. They are bought to the site and assembled.
These are of two types based on the way each component is assembled.
Stick Curtain Wall System
Unitized Curtain Wall System
Stick Curtain Wall System involves its components to be assembled piece by piece on the
building at the site. These are mainly installed in low rise building or small regions. This is because,
to reach higher elevations exterior access is essential. For this additional requirements like
scaffolding, cranes etc. will be required. The above system gains the advantage of low shipping
cost as onsite adjustments are possible. But the time and labor consumption is recorded to be
high. Unitized curtain wall systems involves assembling by means of interlocking units that are
bought from the factory. The whole components are bought together as a single unit from the
factory. Individual installation of each component are not necessary as in sticky curtain wall
system. The size of the unitized curtain walls are dependent on the floor to floor height of the
building. Hence it is essential to keep in mind the mode of transportation and installation while
planning the depth of facade. This system is mainly used in high rise building. This does not require
exterior supports like cranes or scaffolding. Only mini cranes or a temporary hoist can be held over
floor to keep it help during installation. This system gains advantage of faster construction and
higher quality because of factory manufacturing. But it gains high shipping charge as mentioned
due to requirement of larger protection during transportation.
B. Components of a Curtain Wall.
The complete unit consist of the following structural elements.
Transom.
Mullions.
Vision Glass.
Anchor.
Detailed Components of a Curtain Wall System.
Mullions and Transoms Illustrated.
Transom or horizontal rails are horizontal members on the curtain wall panel. The mullions or
vertical rails are anchored to the edge slab or beam. These are mainly involved in supporting the
dead weight of the curtain wall. In conventional or sticky curtain wall system each system has to
be placed one after the other. High quality check and precision in required for the installation. But
in unitized system the factory product comes as two units alone which has to be connected.
Panel Framing details of Curtain Walls.
Unitized system is identified by the split mullions and the transforms that are evident in the panel
perimeters as shown below.
In the case of sticky curtain wall, there is no sort of splits all forms a single unit. During Longer
spans, there will be a need for intermediate transom which would essentially split the entire vertical
panel into two. In order to prevent condensation, mullions and transom are thermally broken. This
prevents cold bridging.
C. Maintenance of Curtain Walls.
Curtain walls should be inspected regularly to ensure the integrity of seals, mullions and
the glass itself. Glass replacement and panel repairs should be handled by professionals
experienced in this work.
Another major disadvantages of curtain walls is the need for regular maintenance. In order
to keep out moisture and wind, a sealant must be applied to the perimeter, and this sealant
must be replaced every 10 years or so.
In conclusion, one more major disadvantage of curtain walls is the cost and time required
to install them. Curtain walls utilizing the stick system, for example, require a great deal
of time to assemble, and their performance depends on the quality of the installation.
Unitized curtain walls consist of factory-assembled frames which reduces installation time
and cost but incurs greater costs for shipping and storage.
4. Buildings with curtain walling in Nairobi.
APOLLO CENTRE – NAIROBI
9WEST - NAIROBI
ONE AFRICA PLACE – NAIROBI “(BMW
TOWERS) “
5. References.
1. History Oriel Chambers. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
2. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, American Society of Civil
Engineers, 2005; Chapter 6
3. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, American Society of Civil
Engineers, 2005; Chapter 7
4. Window systems for high-performance buildings. John Carmody. New York: W.W. Norton
& Co. 2004. ISBN 0-393-73121-9. OCLC 52540181.
5. BSD-006: Can Highly Glazed Building Façades Be Green? . Building Science
Corporation. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
