April 24, 2009

Curtain Wall Design

Technology is no substitute for careful planning

DAN O’REILLY

correspondent

The technology has improved significantly over the last 10 years, but curtain walls and window walls still have to be carefully designed and thoroughly tested before they’re erected.

“There will always be site specific modifications and challenges, but the major design decisions shouldn’t be made by the guys in the field, says Steven Murray, senior project manager with Morrison Hershfield Limited.

A building envelope specialist, Murray he presented an overview of the sector at last fall’s Construct Canada show. While touching on subjects such as water management, thermal performance, design options and durability, the main thrust of his talk was that new technology doesn’t rule out the need for careful planning and design.

Some of the crucial decisions which must be evaluated in the design review include the impact on the overall building design, the functionality of the curtain and window walls, security measures, energy efficiency and material options, he said.

As part of the drawing review, designers should carefully look for junctions and movement joints and consider the impact on the installation on adjacent trades.

“Who makes what connections? If it (the connection) is not clear, define it. You don’t want the guys in the field making these

The challenge in the planning and design stage is to co-ordinate the scheduling of various trades, with the aim of defining their different responsibilities and where possible minimizing the number of trades involved in the installation, he says.

For LEEDS, its also crucial to review and analyze measures such as glazing, the coating, the fiberglass pressure plates, and energy modeling. Thermal analysis stage is also critical.

The final stage of design and planning, mock up and testing, is an opportunity to refine the wall’s constructability, review geometric conflicts and ensure the function and preserve the appearance of the wall.

“If modifications are necessary, the design has to be modified before production and installation begins,” he said.

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