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Introduction to Glass Curtain Wall

  1. Definition and Composition: A glass curtain wall refers to an architectural curtain wall with glass as the panel material. It is composed of a combination of glass and a load – bearing system, and uses a large area of glass to decorate the exterior facade of a building. Generally, it consists of a supporting structure system and glass panels, including components such as glass panes, metal frames, connectors, and sealing materials.
  2. Classification
    • Frame – supported glass curtain wall: The metal frame serves as the support for the structure of the glass curtain wall, with glass as the decorative panel. The glass is connected to the perimeter of the metal frame. It can be further divided into exposed – frame glass curtain wall, where the metal frame components are exposed on the outer surface; and hidden – frame glass curtain wall, where the metal frame is concealed behind the glass and cannot be seen from the outside. The hidden – frame glass curtain wall can be further subdivided into fully hidden – frame glass curtain wall and semi – hidden – frame glass curtain wall.imageArchitectural Decoration Frame – supported Glass Curtain Wall
    • Point – supported glass curtain wall: It consists of glass panels, point – support devices, and support structures. The glass is connected to the support structure through point – support devices. Compared with the frame – supported glass curtain wall, the connection between the glass and the support structure is in a point – like form. The forms of support structures include glass rib support, single – section steel or steel pipe support, truss support, and tension rod and cable system support structures, etc.imageArchitectural Decoration Point – supported Glass Curtain Wall
    • Fully glazed curtain wall: It is composed of glass ribs and glass panels. The glass itself is a load – bearing component that bears its own weight and wind load. The thickness of the glass panel of the fully glazed curtain wall should not be less than 10mm. The thickness of a single piece of laminated glass should not be less than 8mm. The cross – sectional thickness of the glass curtain wall rib should not be less than 12mm, and the cross – sectional height should not be less than 100mm.imageArchitectural Decoration Fully Glazed Curtain Wall
    • Unitized curtain wall: It is a complete basic unit of the curtain wall structure made of various wall panels and supporting frames in the factory and directly installed on the main structure. It can be mainly divided into unitized curtain wall and semi – unitized curtain wall. The semi – unitized curtain wall can be further divided into vertical bar sectional unit combined curtain wall and spandrel wall unitized curtain wall.imageArchitectural Decoration Unitized Curtain Wall
  3. Features
    • Advantages
      • Architectural Aesthetics: Endow the building with a unique appearance, making the building present different colors from different angles. It gives people a dynamic beauty with the changes of sunlight, moonlight and lights. It can reflect the surrounding scenery of the building, and the images are colorful and ever – changing.
      • Daylighting and Vision: It has good light transmittance, can provide sufficient natural light for the interior, reduce the dependence on artificial lighting during the day, and at the same time, enable people indoors to have a broad view.
      • Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection: The glass curtain walls of modern high – rise buildings mostly use insulating glass, which has advantages such as sound insulation, heat insulation, frost prevention, moisture resistance, and high wind pressure resistance. It can effectively block solar radiant heat, keep the room warm in winter and cool in summer, and reduce energy consumption.
      • Lightweight: The self – weight of the glass curtain wall is relatively light. The self – weight of the wall surface is about 50kg/㎡, which places a relatively small load on the building structure. It is especially suitable for high – rise buildings.
      • Not easy to be contaminated: The surface is relatively smooth, not easy to adsorb dust and dirt, and relatively easy to clean and maintain.
  4. Application scope
    • Commercial buildings: Such as office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, etc. They can enhance the grade and commercial value of the buildings, attracting more customers and consumers.
    • Cultural buildings: Such as museums, theaters, art centers, etc. The glass curtain wall can create a unique artistic atmosphere for the buildings, demonstrating the openness and modernity of cultural buildings.
    • Public buildings: Such as airports, stations, stadiums, etc. Good lighting and vision effects can provide a comfortable spatial experience for a large number of people, and also help to enhance the overall image of the building.
    • Residential buildings: In some high – end residential communities, glass curtain walls are also used on the facades of some buildings to increase the aesthetics and transparency of the residences, providing a better living view.