Five typical advantages of curtain wall systems used in the modern buildings

For a long time, curtain walls are a fairly common and prominent feature in modern buildings. Designed to protect the building from the outside elements (such as weather), curtain walls are panels that are placed at the exterior of the building often through mechanical bonding, chemical bonding, or adhesive. Curtain walls can be made of glass, metal, or stone, which have five typical advantages when they are widely used in modern buildings today.

1. Keeping Out Air and Water
In practical applications, curtain wall facade systems have the primary purpose of keeping air and water out of the building, essentially acting as both a buffer and an insulator. Buildings that have curtain walls will be easier (and more affordable) to maintain, and will last longer in general, as they have this additional protective shield build in.

2. Reducing Building Sway
A curtain wall isn’t intended to provide for structural stability, but it does reduce the sway of the building overall, thereby making the structure more secure. Aluminum curtain wall system is able to even out any stress on the building, by dispersing kinetic force throughout the entire frame and structure. Overall, this creates a building that is more likely to withstand high winds. A reduction in building sway is especially useful in taller buildings and can also make the building more comfortable to inhabitants.

3. Slowing the Spread of Fire
In most cases, curtain wall glazing is able to slow the spread of fire between floors, by acting as a barrier and preventing the fire from easily transfering across the surface of the building. This would be particularly important in taller buildings, where the fire would otherwise quickly be able to spread upwards.

4. Thermal Efficiency
When properly treated and glazed, curtain walls also vastly improve the thermal efficiency of a building. As another layer of material across the building, curtain walls are able to stabilize the temperature within and cut down on the operating costs of the building itself. Additional glazing can reduce UV light, which will keep items within the building from fading or degrading quickly.

5. Appearance and Attractiveness
Structural glass curtain walls are expected of many buildings today, not only because of their numerous practical advantages but also because of their appearance. For some large commercial buildings, structural glass curtain wall generally gives a clean, sophisticated, and unique appearance. In many areas, structural glass curtain walls are the only type of wall that would be seen against the city skyline.