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CONTENT
Introduction
History
What is curtain wall?
Components of curtain wall
Functions
Rain screen Principle
Maintanance and Repair
Expectations
Case studies
Conclusion
References

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INTRODUCTION
A curtain wall system is an outer covering of a
building
Also called Hanging wall
Influential developments in the history of
modern architecture.
Wide usage today

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HISTORY
Exterior walls of the building take load of entire
structure
wide spread use of structural steel and later
reinforced concrete
It made use of small columns to support large
loads
No requirement of exterior walls
Made it as much as lighter
Wide use of light materials like glass
Curtain walls are born
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WHAT IS CURTAIN WALL?
Definition
“A curtain wall system is an outer covering of a
building in which the outer walls are non-structural,
but merely keep the weather out and the
occupants in.”

Fig 1:Curtain wall

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 Light weight wall systems installed outside of
building structure
The name derives from the idea that the wall is
thin and hangs like a curtain on the structural
frame
Design to resist wind and rain
Also accommodate building drift and seismic
movements
Skin of the building
Seperator between interior and outdoor
environments
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 Fig 2:Concept of Curtain wall

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COMPONENTS OF CURTAIN WALL

Fig 3:Components
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 Curtain wall -Vertical component
Curtain wall -Horizontal component
Glass

 Transparent
 Wide spread usage
 Light weight

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OTHER MATERIALS
Fabric veneer

• Less expensive
• Faster to install
• Easy to modify
• Low density
• Light weight

Fig 4: Fabric veneer

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 Stone veneer

• Thin blocks of 3-4 inches

• Should have proper shape
and size
• Aesthetic appearance

Fig 5:Stone veneer

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 Panel

• It may be
aluminium,
aluminium
composite or copper

Fig 6:Panels

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 Louvers

• Installed at
ventilation and fresh
air required area
• Allow to filter outside
air

Fig 7:Louvers

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 Windows and Vents

• It gives both glaze

and ventilation to
the building

Fig 8:Windows and Vents

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FUNCTIONS

Protecting the interior from environmental effects

Natural lighting
Provide occupant comfort
Keeps water out
They are expected to perform acceptably when
exposed to natural disasters

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RAINSCREEN PRINCIPLE

Equilibrium of air pressure between exterior and

interior of the curtain wall
Minimizes the force which drives moisture
through outer wall
External cladding must be able to perform
structurally against wind loads when pressure
equalization occurs

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 Fig 9:Equalization
chamber
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MAINTANANCE AND REPAIR
Aluminum frames are generally painted or
anodized
Care must be taken when cleaning areas around
anodized material
Application of fluoropolymer thermoset
Anodized aluminum frames cannot be ”re-
anodized” in place, but can be cleaned and
protected by proprietary clear coatings
Use of specially textured matte stainless steel
surface finishes
Use of Stainless steel curtain walls
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EXPECTATIONS
Use of transparent elements
Use architectural glass or other glazing products
Conserve energy
Provide occupant comfort
Innovation of self cleaning glass

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 CASE STUDIES

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1)BURJ KHALIFA,DUBAI

Unitized panels
With a surface area of
1.2 million square feet
Comprises roughly
28,000 prefabricated
panels
Double-layer glass set
within extruded
aluminum frames
Fig 10:Burj Khalifa,Dubai
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3) CALAKMUL, SANTA FE, MEXICO
Four-sided Structural
Stick System Curtain
Wall
Aluminium panels for
6-storey office
Ornate office building
and exhibition centre
with award-winning
design.
Contract
value:$1,600,000
Fig 12: Calakmul, Santa Fe

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4) CHENG LOONG PLAZA, TAIPEI,TAIWAN
Unitized Curtain Wall
29-storey office
building
full curtain wall
envelope
High performance
glass and aluminium
panels.
Contract
value:$3,000,000
Fig 13: Cheng Loong
Plaza
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5)LIPPO CENTRE,HONG KONG,CHINA

Twin 46 and 44 storey

office towers
Stick curtain wall with
vents
Contract
value:$4,500,000

Fig 14:Lippo Centre, Hong Kong

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CONCLUSION
Curtain wall is an essential part of building
today,because of its functions,light weight,rapid
constructions and also signicant aesthetic
freedom
It is a major and unique invention in
Engineering field

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