aama aluminum curtain wall design guide manual

Vertical and horizontal mullions of the modules mate together with the adjoining modules. Modules are generally constructed one story tall and one module wide but may incorporate multiple modules. Typical units are five to six feet wide. Interior glazed systems allow for glass or opaque panel installation into the curtain wall openings from the interior of the building. Details are not provided for interior glazed systems because air infiltration is a concern with interior glazed systems. Interior glazed systems are typically specified for applications with limited interior obstructions to allow adequate access to the interior of the curtain wall. For low rise construction with easy access to the building, outside glazing is typically specified. For high-rise construction interior glazing is sometimes used due to access and logistics of replacing glass from a swing stage. Exterior glazed systems require swing stage or scaffolding access to the exterior of the curtain wall for repair or replacement. Some curtain wall systems can be glazed from either the interior or exterior. Shadow box construction creates a perception of depth behind the spandrel glass that is sometimes desired. White marble should not be used due to its susceptibility to deformation due to hysteresis (thin stone is not covered in this chapter). Careful integration with adjacent elements such as other wall claddings, roofs, and base of wall details is required for a successful installation. Normally, pressure-equalized rain screen systems provide the highest levels of resistance to air and water infiltration, with water-managed systems the next most reliable. See the article on Moisture Protection for a complete explanation of how pressure-equalization resists water passage. As related to curtain wall systems, PE rain screen systems design the inside face of glass and the inside face of the glazing pocket and the interconnecting gasket or wet seal as an airtight barrier.

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Cookies are small files stored in your browser and are used by most websites to improve your overall experience. By continuing to use our site, you are agreeing to AAMA’s Privacy Policy and our use of cookies.Designed to help our members excel in a dynamic and fast-moving future, the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, or FGIA, is focused on building better industry synergies from glass to framing. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with Aama Aluminum Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual. To get started finding Aama Aluminum Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed. Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented. I get my most wanted eBook Many thanks If there is a survey it only takes 5 minutes, try any survey which works for you. The framing is attached to the building structure and does not carry the floor or roof loads of the building. The wind and gravity loads of the curtain wall are transferred to the building structure, typically at the floor line. Aluminum framed wall systems date back to the 1930's, and developed rapidly after World War II when the supply of aluminum became available for non-military use. Custom walls become cost competitive with standard systems as the wall area increases. This section incorporates comments about standard and custom systems. It is recommended that consultants be hired with an expertise in custom curtain wall design for projects that incorporate these systems. In the stick system, the curtain wall frame (mullions) and glass or opaque panels are installed and connected together piece by piece. In the unitized system, the curtain wall is composed of large units that are assembled and glazed in the factory, shipped to the site and erected on the building.

The deeper thermal breaks can improve thermal performance and condensation resistance of the system. These systems frequently include gaskets that are placed between the pressure bar and mullions and function as thermal breaks and help with acoustic isolation. These systems require special care in design and construction to ensure continuity of the gaskets at horizontal and vertical transitions. Gaskets are also used to cushion the glass on the interior and exterior faces of the glass. The problem with gaskets is that they tend to be stretched during installation and will shrink back to their original length in a short time; they will also shrink with age and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. There is usually a gap in the gasket at the corners after shrinkage occurs. With a properly designed system the water that enters the system at the gasket corners will weep out through the snap cover weep holes. To mitigate shrinkage of gaskets back from the corners the use of vulcanized corners and diagonally cut splices are recommended. Some curtain wall systems include condensation drainage provisions, such as condensate gutters, that are intended to collect and weep condensate from spandrel areas to the exterior; such condensate gutters and weeps are a violation of the air barrier of the curtain wall unless they are outboard of the backpan. See discussion of back pans below. Integration of perimeter flashings helps ensure watertight performance of the curtain wall and its connection to adjacent wall elements. Proper placement of insulation at the curtain wall perimeter reduces energy loss and potential condensation issues. Insulating the mullions in a spandrel area may lead to excessive condensation in cold climates unless it can also be assured that humid air from the interior will never come in contact with the mullions.

The outside face of glass, exterior glazing materials and the outer exposed face of aluminum framing function as a rain screen, shedding water away. Between the exterior rain screen and the interior air barrier a pressure-equalization chamber is formed in the glazing pocket, which serves to reduce water penetration by eliminating (equalizing) the pressure difference across the rain screen that tends to force water into the system. Minor amounts of water that may penetrate the system are weeped harmlessly to the exterior. Also, since no air barrier exists, the pressure differential between the glazing pocket and the interior may be strong enough to force water vertically higher than interior gaskets, resulting in leaks. Weep holes in a water-managed system function largely to drain water that enters the glazing pocket while weep holes in a pressure-equalized system function primarily as vents to allow air movement between the exterior and glazing pocket. Weeping of water is only a secondary function. Note that the easiest way to recognize a pressure-equalized rain screen system is yo note that the that glazing pocket around each individual unit of glass is isolated air tight from adjacent units, most obviously with plugs or seals at the gaps between screw splines at mullion intersections. Detailing of spandrels, shadow boxes and interface with adjacent construction must maintain the continuity of the air barrier and rainscreen to function properly with a pressure-equalized rainscreen curtain wall framing system. They depend on continuous and perfect seals between the glass units and the frame and between all frame members to perform. The long-term reliability of such seals is extremely suspect and such systems should be avoided. It is common practice to incorporate thermal breaks of low conductivity materials, traditionally PVC, Neoprene rubber, polyurethane and more recently polyester-reinforced nylon, for improved thermal performance.

Back pans provide a second line of defense against water infiltration for areas of the curtain wall that are not visible from the interior and are difficult to access. Water infiltration in opaque areas can continue for extended periods of time causing significant damage before being detected. Back pans also are to be preferred over foil vapor retarders in high performance and humidified buildings as convection currents short-circuiting the insulation can cause condensation, wetting and ultimately failure of these spandrel areas. The metal sheet should be at least two inches behind the glass and may be painted or formed to create a texture, but reflective surfaces add the most visual depth to the wall. Insulation should also be installed behind the shadow box if interior finishes prevent room air from contacting this area. The system should be designed to collect any condensation that may collect on the exterior side of the metal sheet and drain it back to the exterior. Shadow boxes present a variety of challenges related to venting the cavity behind the glass, that can allow dirt on surfaces difficult to clean, or sealing the cavity and risking excessive heat build-up. Either way, the cavity may be at temperatures significantly above or below interior conditions with only thermally conductive aluminum between them. This can lead to condensation or surfaces so hot they can burn. Careful detailing can provide a method to thermally isolate the cavity from the interior. An interior back pan behind the insulation is desirable as well, to avoid condensation on the metal shadow box from the interior. Unfortunately, the curtain wall will likely demonstrate movement caused by thermal changes and wind significantly different than movement of the building structure. Therefore the connections to anchor the curtain wall must be designed to allow differential movement while resisting the loads applied.

The spandrel area is typically not heated, thus the interior environment does not warm the mullions and offset the migration of the cold temperatures deep into the wall. In the vision area the interior heat helps to mitigate the cold and prevents condensation. For this reason, do not insulate between the interior portion of mullions and adjacent wall construction either. Water can enter the exterior wall system by means of five different forces: gravity, kinetic energy, air pressure difference, surface tension, and capillary action. To mitigate water infiltration, all of these forces must be accounted for in the system design. Watertight frame corner construction and good glazing pocket drainage are critical for reliable water penetration resistance. Sightlines are defined as the visual profile of the vertical and horizontal mullions. The sightlines are a function of both the width and depth of the curtain wall frame. Lateral load resistance requirements (wind loads, spans) generally dictate frame depth. Where narrow sightlines are desired, steel stiffeners inserted into the hollow frame of aluminum extrusions can help reduce frame depth. The sound attenuation capability of curtain walls can be improved by installing sound attenuating infill and by making construction as airtight as possible. Incorporating different thicknesses of glass in an insulated glass unit will also help to mitigate exterior noise. This can be accomplished by increasing the thickness of one of the lites of glass or by incorporating a laminated layer of glass with a noise-reducing interlayer, typically a polyvinyl butyral or PVB. In cold climates insulation should be installed between the back pan and the exterior cladding in order to maintain the dew point outboard of the back pan so that the back pan acts as an air and vapor barrier.

Recoating with an air-dry fluoropolymer coating is possible but requires special surface preparation and is not as durable as the baked-on original coating. Also, the use of low-e and spectrally selective glass coatings can significantly reduce energy loads and improve comfort close to the wall. Recycling is less economical if the aluminum is contaminated with sealants, fractured glazing, etc., as salvage companies pay considerably less for the material. There is a limited market for salvaged steel and wood frames. Verifying track records may require significant research by the designer. ASTM E1825 provides guidance. Verify that tests pertain to the system under consideration and not a version of the system with the same product name but of different construction. The following summarizes recommended features: Do not use vertical mullions as drain conductors. Each glazing pocket should be fully isolated from adjacent glazing pockets. Provide a sill flashing with end dams and with an upturned back leg turned up into the glazing pocket at the base of the curtain wall to collect and drain curtain wall sill leakage; provide jamb flashings to direct perimeter leakage down to the sill flashing. Slope head and sill flashings to the exterior to promote drainage. Integrate curtain wall sill flashings with sill flashings or base of wall flashings of adjacent walls.The outer layer of gaskets is installed and the gaskets are compressed against the glass by the torque applied to fasteners securing a continuous pressure plate. The plate is later typically covered with a snap-on mullion cover. This system provides reasonable performance but is susceptible to leaks at corners or joints in dry gaskets. For improved performance four-sided gaskets can be fabricated at additional cost or wet sealants can be installed to provide a concealed interior toe bead or exposed interior cap beads.

Pressure plate glazing allows the easiest method to seal an air barrier from adjacent construction into the air barrier of curtain wall system. The frame is fixed and exterior dry gaskets are installed. Typically only the top interior mullion has a removable stop. The glass unit is slid into a deep glazing pocket on one jamb far enough to allow clearing the opposite jamb and is then slid back into the opposite glazing pocket and then dropped into the sill glazing pocket. The removable interior stop is installed and finally an interior wedge gasket is forced in. Performance is slightly reduced because dry metal to metal joints occur at the ends of the removable stop at a point that should properly be air and watertight. Wet sealant heel beads will improve performance and some systems include an extra gasket to form an air barrier seal. Installation of spandrel panels may need to be installed from the exterior. Outer silicone weather seals supplement the structural seal. Unitized systems are frequently structural silicone glazed, especially if four-side SSG is desired. Two-sided SSG, with pressure plate glazing or wiggle glazing on the other two sides is acceptable to be field installed. True butt-glazing has no mullion or other back-up member behind the joint and relies solely on a sealant, typically silicone, between the glass units to provide a perfect barrier seal. Establish the required Condensation Resistance Factor (CRF) based on anticipated interior humidity and local climate data and select a curtain wall with an appropriate CRF. Designers should be aware that the CRF is a weighted average number for a curtain wall assembly. The CRF does not give information about cold spots that could result in local condensation. Projects for which condensation control is a critical concern, such as high interior humidity buildings, require project-specific finite element analysis thermal modeling using software such as THERM.

The splice between the vertical mullions will also be designed to allow vertical movement while providing lateral resistance. In large areas of stick framed curtain wall, a split vertical mullion will be introduced periodically to allow thermal movement. Note that this movement slightly distorts the anchors at the vertical mullions. Individual units of glass must accommodate the movement of the surrounding aluminum frame by sliding along glazing gaskets, distorting the gaskets or a combination of both. The movement of the glass within the frame and the movement forced in the anchors tend to induce additional stresses into a stick framed system. Because these units are frequently custom designed, the amount of movement to be accommodated can be carefully engineered into the system. Anchoring of unitized curtain wall typically consists of a proprietary assembly with three-way dimensional adjustability. The anchors occur at each pair of vertical mullions along the edge of slab or spandrel beam. Frequently, unitized systems span from a horizontal stack joint located at approximately desk height up to the anchor at the floor line above and then cantilevering past the floor to the next horizontal stack joint. The stack joint is designed to resist lateral loads while the two floor anchors resist gravity and lateral loads. One of the two floor anchors will allow movement in plane with the unitized system. Laboratory-tested fire rated assemblies may be required in unsprinklered buildings by some codes as Perimeter Fire Containment Systems when the floor assemblies are required to be fire-resistance rated. The ratings of the Perimeter Fire Containment System must be equal to or greater than the floor rating. These systems provide confidence that the materials used for perimeter containment remain in place for the specified duration of the required rating in a fire event.

Knock-out panels are generally fully tempered glass to allow full fracturing of the panel into small pieces and relatively safe removal from the opening. Knock-out panels are identified by a non-removable reflective dot (typically two inches in diameter) located in the lower corner of the glass and visible from the ground by the fire department. Refer to the Resource Page on Considerations for Building Design in Cold Climates. Low-rise buildings can generally be accessed from the ground using equipment with articulated arms. For high rise construction the building should be designed for swing stage access for window cleaning, general maintenance, and repair work, like glass replacement.This leakage can often remain concealed within the wall system and not become evident until concealed wall components experience significant deterioration and mold growth, requiring costly repairs. Repairs (if feasible) require significant disassembly of curtain wall. If restoration of internal seals is not physically possible or not economically feasible, installation of exterior surface wet sealing at all glazing and frame joints is often performed. Repairs require exterior access. Aluminum frames are subject to deterioration of the coating and corrosion of aluminum in severe (industrial, coastal) environments and galvanic corrosion from contact with dissimilar metals. Frame corner seals constructed using sealant are prone to debonding from prolonged contact with moisture and from thermal, structural, and transportation movements. Perimeter sealants, properly designed and installed, have a typical service life of 10 to 15 years although breaches are likely from day one. Removal and replacement of perimeter sealants requires meticulous surface preparation and proper detailing. Factory applied fluoropolymer thermoset coatings have good resistance to environmental degradation and require only periodic cleaning.

Careful analysis and modeling of interior conditions is required to accurately estimate the interior temperature of the air at the inside surfaces of the glass and frame. Curtain walls that are set well outboard of perimeter heating elements will have air temperatures along their interior surface that are significantly lower than the design wintertime interior temperatures. Thermal modeling of the building interior using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software can help establish a reasonable estimate for air temperatures at the inside surfaces of the glass and frame. These interior air temperatures are inputs for the thermal modeling software. Include lab mock-up thermal testing in addition to CFD modeling for analysis of project-specific conditions. Unusual or custom details, such as copings, deep sills, projected windows, spandrel areas and shadow box can dramatically alter performance. Special insulation provisions may be required where curtain walls project beyond adjacent cladding systems (e.g., an insulated perimeter extrusion or metal panning). Minimize the proportion of framing exposed to the outdoors. Refer to NFRC 100 for U Factor and NFRC 500 for condensation resistance. The challenge is to strive for the highest visible light transmittance (VT) and the lowest solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) while not preventing the glass from being too reflective when viewed from both the exterior and the interior, while controlling glare. This glass performance data are obtained from data using the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Window 5.2 program with Environmental Conditions set at NFRC 100 criteria. NFRC 200 is used to determine the VT and SHGC values while the solar optical properties are determined using NFRC 300.There isa wide range of systems on the market from manufacturers that provide varying levels of reliability. Unitized systems range in performance ability from industry standard to high performance walls.

It is thus recommended that projects specifying unitized curtain wall systems incorporate a team member who has a breadth of experience in designing and working with unitized systems. The units are placed on the floors, bundled in crates, using the tower crane and lowered into place using a smaller crane or hoist owned by the glazing contractor. The mullion dimensions tend to be slightly larger than a stick system due to their open section as compared to the tube shape of a standard stick curtain wall section. The advantages of the unitized system derive from the more reliable seals achievable from factory construction and the reduced cost of labor in the factory versus that of high rise field labor. Units can be assembled in a factory while the structural frame of the building is being constructed. Where stick systems require multiple steps to erect and seal the wall, unitized walls arrive on the site completely assembled allowing the floors to be closed in more quickly. Unitized systems also require less space on site for layout thus providing an advantage for urban sites with space limitations. The interlocking vertical mullions will typically have two interlocking legs. One leg will be in the plane just behind the glazing pocket and the other at the interior face of the mullions. The interlocking leg in the plane of the glazing pocket will be sealed by gaskets and is the primary line of defense against water and air infiltration. More robust systems will also include a gasket at the interior interlock. Systems whose connecting legs lock also compromise the ability of the system to accommodate movement. Some unitized designs are sensitive to small irregularities in the spacing of adjacent modules; for example, if the module joints are slightly out of tolerance, gaskets may not be properly compressed and moisture protection may suffer. Robust designs include multiple lines of defense, realistic tolerances and adjustability for erection of modules.

This is where field labor must seal between adjacent units to achieve a weather tight wall. The interlocking legs of the horizontal mullions are the most critical interface of a unitized system. Water that infiltrates the interlocking vertical mullions drains to the interlocking horizontals that must collect and divert this water to the exterior. The top horizontal mullion of a unit incorporates upstanding vertical legs that mate with cavities in the bottom horizontal of the unit above. These upstanding legs have gaskets that seal against the walls of the bottom horizontal. Some designs provide one upstanding leg that provides one line of defense against air and water infiltration. More robust systems will provide two upstanding legs with gaskets on both legs. A splice plate or silicone flashing that is installed at the top of the two adjacent units as they are erected on the building is typically required. The stack joint is the horizontal joint where units from adjoining floors meet. This positioning utilizes the back span of the mullion above the anchoring point at the slab to counteract the deflection of the mullion below the slab. Also placing the stack joint above the floor provides a more convenient location for field workers to achieve the critical seal at the four-way intersection. Wind load bracing should be incorporated at the single span height to avoid increasing the vertical mullion dimension to accommodate the increased span. Steel can be added to a unitized system to increase its spanning capability. However, unlike a stick system which has an integral hollow shape, the split mullions must be allowed to move independently to accommodate the building movement thus complicating the introduction of steel. Large units may also increase transportation costs from the factory to the site and erection costs of placing the units on the building.

Therefore, the design of the curtain wall and perimeter construction should permit curtain wall removal and replacement without removing adjacent wall components that will remain. Require durable flashing materials, non-corroding attachment hardware and fasteners, and moisture resistant materials in regions subject to wetting. Have a curtain wall consultant present to document mock-up curtain wall construction and verify mock-up performance. Specify that laboratory tests are to be conducted at an AAMA Accredited Laboratory facility. This is best scheduled prior to the release of shop drawings for window production, so that there is an opportunity to make design changes based on the test performance of the field mock-up. Specify that field tests be conducted by an independent third party agency accredited by AAMA. Require multiple tests with the first test on initial installations and later tests at approximately 35%, 70% and at final completion to catch problems early and to verify continued workmanship quality. Require additional testing to be performed if initial tests fail. For all but the simplest of systems, the designer should consider engaging an outside consultant, if such expertise is not available on the staff. Appropriate use and application of the concepts illustrated in these details will vary based on performance considerations and environmental conditions unique to each project and, therefore, do not represent the final opinion or recommendation of the author of each section or the committee members responsible for the development of the WBDG. Sill flashing should have upturned end dams and fully sealed corners. Care must be taken to ensure all corner frame joints in the glazing pocket are sealed to prevent leakage to the interior. Gasket height should correspond to the curtain wall design pressure.

Spandrel glass adapters should be fully bedded in sealant and integrated with glazing pocket corner seals to prevent water leakage from glazing pocket to building interior. Double-skin systems, which employ a ventilated space between the inner and outer walls are rare in the U.S., but have been constructed in Europe and Asia where energy costs are much higher. Similar in concept to air-flow windows, the ventilated space is intended to conserve energy by modulating the temperature conditions inboard of the curtain wall. During the heating season, the space acts as a buffer between the exterior and interior, and can be used to temper outdoor supply air. During the cooling season, warm interior air is exhausted into the space. There is currently discussion among building science experts that, at least for cold climates, a less expensive way of achieving energy savings might be through the use of curtain walls with high (over R-6) insulating values. Point-supported glass, structural glass mullions and use of tension structures are recent technologies. The goal of 'Whole Building' Design is to create a successful high-performance building by applying an integrated design and team approach to the project during the planning and programming phases. Disclaimer. Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual. AISC. Design Aluminum Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual (AAMA prev next out of 4 Post on 16-Apr-2018 369 views Category: Documents 50 download Report Download Facebook Twitter E-Mail LinkedIn Pinterest Embed Size (px)Manufacturer's Name: AAMACW-DG-1-96 Aluminum Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual. AAMA Aluminum Curtain WallDesign Guide Manual AAMA 501.1 Standard Test Method for Exterior Windows, CurtainWalls and Doors for Water Penetration. The Aluminum Association has released its 2010 AluminumDesign Manual. Essential and Door Assemblies, Aluminum Curtain Wall Design Guide Manual.This section specifies glazed aluminum curtain wall system.