Specifiers’ Guide

to Aluminium
Curtain Walling
Choosing the correct aluminium
Curtain Walling system for your project

UK.ALUK.COM
Background
The creation of curtain wall glazing created an
entirely new way architects could shape our built
environment. For the first time in history, it was
possible to express the inner life of our buildings
and share them with world outside the window.

During the day they literally illuminate the life of

its occupants, give expansive views and banish
gloomy interiors. At twilight and night, they come to
life sharing their secret inner life with the city. They
change the way we perceive space and form.

Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe believed that

architecture should embody a continuous flow
of space, blurring the lines between interior and
exterior. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that glass,
plus aluminium has literally built our cities in the latter
half of the 20th Century.

AluK are proud of the part we play in helping

architects shape that world…
A Brief History of
Curtain Walling
The separation of envelope and structural frame was pivotal
in the creation of the world’s first curtain walled buildings – in
Liverpool, 16 Cook Street by Peter Ellis Architect 1864-66 was one
of the first examples. The extensive glass walls allowed light to
penetrate further into the building, utilizing more floor space
and reducing lighting costs. The Bauhaus School designed by
Walter Gropius in Dessau, Germany, completed in 1926 was a
tour de force in the expression of the façade as a lightweight
independent functional way to maximise daylight – an
expression of functionalism at its purest. The rest, as they say, is
history.

Specifiers’ Guide to Aluminium Curtain Walling

The nature of your
project will dictate
system choice

It is important to consider Some important factors to The integrity and inbuilt Provision of on-site storage
how your building will be consider: tolerances of your building’s and protection for the curtain
designed to accommodate the • Location and layout of site structure are key to the lifespan walling material
optimum façade and curtain during construction. of any curtain walling specified. When specifying unitised
wall system. Curtain walling • Provision of on-site storage Curtain walling can be fixed systems, the storage space will
requires integrated thinking in and protection*. to the building structure in a need to be much larger and
design to successfully combine • Height of the building. variety of ways, each with its weatherproof.
with the structural system • Area to be covered. own implications, whether it is
in use, appropriate thermal • Distance between floor slabs. between floor slabs, over floor
insulation, etc. • Required span of each panel. slabs, onto edge beams.
The integrity and inbuilt • Regulations and standards The height of the building and
tolerances of your building’s It is critical to consider how the area to be covered are the
structure are key to the lifespan your building will be designed most important factors, but
of any curtain walling specified. to accommodate the also distance between floor
Curtain walling can be fixed optimum façade and curtain slabs and the required span of
to the building structure in a wall system. Curtain walling each panel.
variety of ways, each with its requires integrated thinking in
own implications, whether it is design to successfully combine
between floor slabs, over floor with the structural system
slabs, onto edge beams. in use, appropriate thermal
insulation, etc.

Specifiers’ Guide to Aluminium Curtain Walling

Curtain wall
design factors 1:
When to use it?
Attachments

Externally fixed attachments • Slimmer profiles will

(e.g. double skin facades, Brise often improve the overall
soleil/solar shading, access glazing package U-value
walkways and signage) calculations over a standard
window systems.
• Aluminium Curtain Walling is • Because of its structural
the perfect solution for large strength, Aluminium Curtain
expanses of glazed façade Walling also allows external
both horizontally and components to be easily
vertically. fixed to the system. This
• Particularly when glazing includes solar shading,
exceeds 3000mm in height signage, double skin facades
and/or spans multiple floors. and external walkways.
• Versatile in accommodating
three-dimensional
complexity due to the
way glass is retained and
flexibility of the weatherproof
gaskets.
Area Shape Height • As a general rule, higher
glass to metal content
Large areas of glazing and Exceeds 3000mm high, and on provides better overall
complex 3-dimensional shapes multiple storeys. Two systems: U-values, as glazed units are
more thermally efficient.
• Stick systems - low to
medium rise.
• Unitised systems – high rise
Curtain wall
design factors 2:
A shortlist of system
considerations…
Mullion Facade heights
spans and widths

Glass pane Installation Structural Glass weights

dimensions conditions support and types
and centres locations

• A number of factors influence support locations, building • These determine the • Along with the factors
the design of curtain walling movement, glass type, site structural design of the above, Building access,
systems. These include: wind loading, installation mullions and transoms. location, movement, will
facade heights and widths, conditions and U-value Referred to as Ixx and Iyy also determine the choice of
mullion spans, structural requirements. respectively. system.
Curtain wall
design factors 3:
site, structure
and loads
• Building movement, • Aluminium Curtain Walling
deflection and sway (B.Regs systems are base loaded
Part A1/2 section 3). from the building structure
• Wind load and funnelling using a variety of fixings
(B.Regs A1/2 section 3). dependent on whether the
• Imposed loads – human structure is concrete or
barrier and impact loads steel.
(B.Regs Part K4/5) • Deflection is accommodated
• Site access and layout, through fixings or split
especially for storage and transoms/mullions.
installation.
Two systems of
curtain walling Vertical mullions

Fundamentally, there are two types of aluminium curtain

walling – ‘Stick Systems’ or ‘Unitised Systems’. Anchors

Stick systems
As the name suggests, Stick
systems are delivered to
site as a series of individual
components and ‘sticks’
which are in turn assembled
and glazed onsite. They are
economical, require shorter Building Structure
fabrication periods and
simpler access requirements.
But they do typically have
longer site installation time
and construction subject to
site conditions.
Glazing
Stick systems are ideally
suited small areas of glazing
or panelling, industrial, Horizontal mullions
commercial and residential
applications for heights of
around three stories or less. Spandrel
They require scaffolding and
take between four and five
months for site delivery from
order, installation is usually
around 50 m2 per week per
installer.
 Unitised systems

Unitised systems are exclusively clad in unitised

installed as a series of pre- systems. They require specialist
assembled, pre-glazed frames designers, engineers, and
which interlock during site contractors involved at the
Anchors installation. They offer factory outset in their design and
sealed weather tightness, installation, often in form of
shorter site installation and third-party facade companies
improved health & safety. which may offer all three
But they need more complex services.
access requirements, have When selecting a supplier for
larger frame sightlines, less your curtain walling, make sure
flexible installation. They also to look their design experience
require longer lead times and and track record, examples
increased cost. of their work and in-house
Building Structure resources and facilities.
Unitised systems offer more
features albeit at higher cost
compared to stick systems. But
they offer increased installation
speed, better accuracy in
production tolerances, do
not require scaffolding, and
thus reducing overall costs
compared to stick systems.
They generally are not
recommended for buildings of
Glazing/spandrel unit less than three stories, or for
smaller projects. Unitised
systems around five to six
months delivery but be can be
installed more quickly - 75 to
150 m2 per day per installer,
depending on complexity.

High rise buildings and

skyscrapers are almost
The system design 02. Design, construction and finishes
decision tree Are the aluminium frames powder coated
or anodised?
The following flowcharts describe the selection process that
specifiers can use to determine the most appropriate system Colour
for their project. The idea is to run through the decision tree and Is the inside the same colour as the outside?
and consider each section from strategic considerations to finish
details and material choices. Is the building in a corrosive environment or by the
sea?

01. Project and contract

Do the windows open? If so, in or out (refer to clean-
ing strategy)?

Is the project traditional Design & Build or Opening Do any curtain walling screens require
Management Contract?
Contract Elements opening elements?
Type
Will the concept architect deliver the project as well? Are swing doors or sliding doors required within the
curtain walling screens?

Is the project a BIM project?

When does the building start on site?
Build
Design
pro-
Would the facade design benefit from engaging early What is the duration of the scheme?
with a specialist facade design team? gramme
03. Details and performance 1 04. Details and performance 2
Fixing What structure will provide the load bearing
and fixing points?
What is the glazing U value target?
Thermal brackets What is the project wind load?
require-
ments What are the sizes of your windows?
What are movement and tolerances of the
building?

Do windows/doors fall within the

manufacturer’s tested system range?
Cleaning Are the windows to be cleaned from the inside or
outside? Testing
Does the façade need to meet CWCT/BS test
required criteria?

Does the building programme allow for any extra test-

How many doors require low threshold?
ing required?
DDA
How many windows require a low handle height?
Are the windows/doors required to be Secured by
Design?
Security
Does some or all of the glazing need to have an
Is the building naturally or mechanically acoustic rating?
ventilated?

Ventila- Is purge ventilation required? What are the RW + Ctr noise reduction
tion Acoustic requirements?
require-
Are trickle vents required? ments Is there a flanking noise reduction required?
Rules, regulations
and standards

Sound Design wind Powder Anodised finishes: Avoidance of

transmittance pressure: coated finishes: To BS 3987 condensation:
to BS EN ISO-717-1 Calculate in To BS 6496 To BS 6229, table A1

Curtain Walling Product

accordance with
BS 6399-2

and test standards:

Additional regulations are
applicable to curtain walling
elements: There are three main standards • BS EN 13830:2015 – ‘Curtain
which are applied to the design, walling - Product standards’
• BS-6399-2 details the • BS EN ISO717-1 covers the construction and installation of • The CWCT standard for
methodology for calculating requirements of sound curtain walling: curtain walling – ‘Centre
wind loads in the design of transmittance and insulation for Window and Cladding
curtain walling. in Aluminium Curtain Walling • BS standard 8200 - ‘Code Technology’.
• BS6229 table A1 outlines the systems. of Practice for the design of
requirements regarding • BS6496 is the standard non-loadbearing external
condensation. that covers powder coated vertical enclosures of
finishes, whilst BS3987 relates buildings’.
to anodised finishes.
Test standards 2:
Systems are tested against three criteria:

Air Permeability – Class 4 REQUIRED Resistance to Window Load Required:

• BS EN 12152:2002 – Air Permeability – Performance 2400pa +/-(3600pa +/- safety
requirements & classification • BS EN 13116:2001 – Resistance to window load Performance
• BS EN 12153:2000 – Air Permeability – Test Method and safety
• BS EN 12179:2000 – Resistance to wind load – Test method

Maximum pressure Air permeability Class Notes Maximum pressure Maximum Class Notes
Pmax (Pa) m3 / m2 h Pmax (Pa) pressure Pmax
SERVICEABILITY (Pa) SAFETY

150 1.5 A1 800 1200 A1

300 1.5 A2 1200 1800 A2

450 1.5 A3 1600 2400 A3

< Minimum CWCT < Minimum CWCT

600 1.5 A4 2400 3600 A4
Requirement Requirement

600+ 1.5 AE.XXX

CWCT standard that covers air permeability or air leakage of the CWCT standard that covers air permeability or air leakage of
system. the system.
• BS EN standards: require a minimum 150pa, or class A1 rating • BS EN standards: require a minimum 150pa, or class
• However, CWCT standards calls for a minimum 600pa, or class A1 rating
A4 rating. • However, CWCT standards calls for a minimum
600pa, or class A4 rating.
Watertightness: 600 pa +/- required
• BS EN 12154:2000 – Water tightness – Performance Part L is the building regulation Document L2A details a
requirements and classification section for the conservation maximum area weighted
• BS EN 12155:2000 – Water tightness – Laboratory test of fuel and power. This has a U-value requirement of 2.2W/
under static pressure major impact on the design m2k in new buildings, which
of curtain walling. Regulations again relates to the entire
have required increased and glazing package and not just a
Maximum pressure Pmax Class Notes improved performance over single element.
(Pa) time from glazing systems. The
regulations presently call for Document L2B however is
area weighted U-values: slightly different, this
150 R4 specifically calls for the curtain
Document L1A - for new walling element to achieve a
300 R5 dwellings calls for a maximum maximum U-value of 1.8W/m2k.
area weighted average
450 R6
U-value of 2.0W/m2k for the
entire glazing package of the
building.
600 R7 <Minimum CWCT Requirement
Document L1B - for existing
600+ RE. XXX dwellings does not detail any
requirements relating to
curtain walling.
There are two methods of testing for proving the design of a
system for water penetration: Static Test & Dynamic Test Documents L2A and L2B- relate
to buildings other than
CWCT criteria relating to wind resistance. Wind loading test is dwellings and are the most
also related to air permeability test. likely to apply to your project
Depending on results achieved in air permeability, this when using curtain walling.
determines the maximum wind loading you are able to test for.
Example – to achieve class A1 in air permeability, only able to test to a
maximum 800 Pascals, for A2 it is 1200 Pascals, for A3, 1600 Pascals and
A4, 2400 Pascals (the Minimum requirement for CWCT).
NB - two types of pressures described:
Serviceability: relates to regular wind loading that is applied
to the system and is tested with a cycle of 50 gusts at that
particular pressure.
Safety: based upon extreme gust of wind once every 50 gusts,
tested only once.
About AluK

AluK International is a global

leader in the design and
engineering of aluminium
window, door and curtain
walling systems. With more
than 60 years’ expertise and
operations in major countries
around the globe, our façade
systems have been specified Curtain Walling Window Sliding Door
and installed in buildings as Systems Systems Systems
diverse as the RIBA Stirling Prize
shortlisted Burntwood School
in London and the Park Towers
commercial complex in Dubai.

AluK prides itself on its ability to

collaborate with clients and
specifiers at every stage in the
design, fabrication and
installation of curtain walling.
With the ability to offer a RIBA Entrance Doors and Folding Door
Ground Floor Systems
Stage 4 system design for it’s Treatment
clients, AluK adds value with
advice and support which
streamlines the process and
frequently saves time and
money for the build process.