TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION TO CURTAIN WALL SYSTEMS

2.0 INFILL PANELS

3.0 TYPES OF INSTALLATION

4.0 CASE STUDY WISMA STA KUCHING

5.0

6.0

7.0

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 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO CURTAIN WALL SYSTEMS

The term curtain wall systems is actually referring to the outer covering (exterior wall) of a
building. These exterior walls are non-structural, and serve solely to protect the building from the
bad elements. Since the curtain wall is non-structural, it can be made of lightweight materials,
thereby reducing construction costs.

Curtain wall systems can come with different fillings which include glass, metal panels, or thin
stones. The framing is joined to the building structure. Curtain wall systems does not support
loads other than its own weight. It doesnt bear the load of the roof or the floor; instead, it relies
on the building structure, specifically at the floor line.

Back in the history, curtain wall described as the set of walls that surrounded and protected
the interior of a medieval castle. These walls were frequently connected by a series of towers or
mural towers to add strength and provide for better defense of the ground outside the castle.
Additional provisions and buildings were frequently enclosed by such a construction, designed to
help a garrison last longer during a siege by enemy forces. a garrison last longer during a siege
by enemy forces. Curtain walls are typically designed with extruded aluminum members, although
the first curtain walls were prepared of steel. The aluminum frame is typically in filled with glass.
Other familiar infill includes stone veneer, metal panels, louvers, and operable windows or vents.

Prior to the mid-20th Century, buildings were constructed with the exterior walls of the building
sustaining the load of the entire structure. With the advent of the structural concept of shear walls
and building cores, the exterior walls of buildings no longer had to sustain high dead loads and
could be designed as much lighter and more open than the brick and steel facades of the past.
This gave way to augmented use of glass as an exterior facade, and the modern day curtain wall
was born. The first curtain walls were prepared with steel mullions, and the glass was attached to
the mullions with tape and urethane sealant. An outer cap was installed to hold the glass in place
and to defend the integrity of the seals. 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.

Today, curtain wall systems range from manufacturer's standard catalog systems to
specialized custom walls. It becomes cost competitive with standard systems as the wall area
increases. Similarly, sealing methods and kinds have evolved over the years, and as a result,
today's curtain walls are high performance systems which require little maintenance.

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 2.0 INFILL PANELS

The functions of an infill panel are as listed previously for cladding panels in general. Different
from cladding wall because infill panel is fixing between structure in the framed structure. The
panel layout can be so arranged to expose some or all of the structural members creating various
optical impressions. For example, if horizontal panels are used, leaving only the beams exposed,
an illusion of extra length and/or reduced height can be created. The design should be:

i. lightweight v. rigid
ii. resistance to fire vi. less maintenance
iii. heat loss vii. sound penetration
iv. high durability viii. interstitial condensation

A wide variety of materials or combinations of materials can be applied such as glass, timber,
steel, aluminum and plastic. Double-glazing techniques can be used to achieve the desired sound
or thermal insulation. The glazing module should be such that a reasonable thickness of glass
can be specified.

The jointing problem with infill panels occur mainly at its junction with the structural frame and
allowance for moisture or thermal movement is usually achieved by using a suitable mastic or
sealant. Masonry infill panels of contemporary cavity construction can be used to preserve
traditional features and to attain high standards of sound and thermal insulation and fire
protection. Masonry walls are tied to the structural frame with wall ties cast into the concrete
columns or with a purpose-made cladding support system.

Most infill panels are supplied as a manufacturers modular system, since purpose-made
panels can be uneconomic, but whichever method is chosen the design aims remain constant;
that is, to provide a panel which fulfils all the required functions and has a low long-term
maintenance factor. It should be noted that many of the essentially curtain-walling systems are
adaptable as infill panels which gives the designer a wide range of systems from which to select
the most suitable.

One of the maintenance problems encountered with infill panels and probably to a lesser
extent with the concrete cladding, is the cleaning of the faade and in particular the glazing. All
buildings collect dirt, the effects of which can vary with the material: concrete and masonry tend
to accept dirt and weather natural, whereas impervious materials such as metals and glass do
not accept and can corrode or become less efficient.

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 If glass is allowed to become coated with dirt its visual appearance is less acceptable, its
optical performance lessens since clarity of vision is reduced and the useful penetration of natural
daylight diminishes. The number of times that cleaning will be necessary depends largely upon
the area, ranging from three-monthly intervals in non-industrial areas to six-weekly intervals in
areas with a high pollution factor.

Access for cleaning glazed areas can be external or internal. Windows at ground level present
no access problems and present only the question of choice of method such as hand cloths or
telescopic poles with squeegee heads. Low and medium-rise structures can be reached by
ladders or a mobile scaffold tower and usually present very few problems. High-rise structures
need careful consideration. External access to windows is gained by using a cradle suspended
from roof level; this can be in the form of a temporary system consisting of counterweighted
cantilevered beams from which the cradle is suspended. Permanent systems, which are
incorporated as part of the building design, are more efficient and consist of a track on which a
mobile trolley is mounted and from which davit arms can be projected beyond the roof edge to
support the cradle. A single track fixed in front of the roof edge could also be considered; these
are simple and reasonably efficient but the rail is always visible and can therefore mar the
buildings appearance.

Internal access for cleaning the external glass face can be achieved by using windows such
as reversible sashes, horizontal and vertical sliding sashes, but the designer is restricted in his
choice to the reach possible by the average person. It cannot be overemphasized that such
windows can be a very dangerous hazard unless carefully designed so that all parts of the glazed
area can be reached by the person cleaning the windows while standing firmly on the floor.

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 3.0 TYPES OF INSTALLATION

Curtain walls are precast at a factory and assembled before they are brought to the site.
Basically, there are two types of curtain wall systems depending on the method by which the
components are assembled. There are two (2) types of curtain wall systems which are;

1. Stick Curtain Wall System

2. Unitized Curtain Wall System

Stick Curtain Wall System:

In stick curtain wall system, the components are assembled piece by piece on the structure
of the building. This system is mainly used for low-rise buildings or in small regions. This is due
to the fact that for reaching higher elevations it is important to have exterior access. This system
promises flexibility as it gives space for onsite adjustments. Though it has the advantage of low
shipping costs, the labor and time consumption should not be underestimated as tend to run quite
high.

Unitized Curtain Wall System:

In this type of curtain wall system, the parts are already assembled in the factory. The
components are installed and brought as a single unit from the factory to the site. This negates
the need for individual installation. The size of the unitized curtain walls is directly proportional to
the floor to floor height of the structure. Popular in high-rise buildings, they dont need external
supports such as cranes or scaffolding. Only mini cranes or temporary hoist are needed. This
system offers the benefits of quick construction and good quality as the components are
manufactured in a factory setting. However, this type of curtain wall system tends to increase the
shipping charges due to need for larger and better protection during transportation to the site.

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 4.0 WISMA STA KUCHING BUILDING
The building that we chose as our case study is Wisma STA that located at 26, Jalan
Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim, Kuching, Sarawak. Wisma STA is a 12-storey commercial/office
building that occupies a land area of approximately 5,974 square meters reflects the contributions
and achievements of the forest and timber industry in Sarawak.
The building is located on a prime piece of land in a strategic and new business district of
Kuching City and is close to various banks, hotels and shopping complexes. The international
airport and government administrative offices of the city are also easily accessible from this
neighborhood.
Wisma STA is managed by STA Enterprises Sdn. Bhd. (STAE), a subsidiary company of
Sarawak Timber Association incorporated on 30 March 1995. The Company commenced its
operations in 1997 by undertaking the development of Wisma STA and subsequently to manage
the building.
The foundation of Wisma STA was laid on 9 February 1998. On 15 October 2000, history
was created with the symbolic moving of STA from its previous office that located at Wisma
Sumber Alam, Petra Jaya, Kuching to Level 11 of Wisma STA.
On 27 March 2001, Wisma STA was officially declared open by the then Chief Minister of
Sarawak, YAB Pehin Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Being a prominent landmark in the Kuching city skyline, Wisma STA offers a modern,
efficient and comfortable sanctuary for distinguished businesses to operate.

5.0 METHOD OF INSTALLATION

6.0 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

7.0 CONCLUSION

8.0 REFERENCE

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A curtain wall system is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural,
utilized to keep the weather out and the occupants in. Since the curtain wall is non-structural, it can be
made of lightweight materials, thereby reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain
wall, an advantage is that natural light can penetrate deeper within the building. The curtain wall faade
does not carry any structural load from the building other than its own dead load weight. The wall
transfers lateral wind loads that are incident upon it to the main building structure through connections
at floors or columns of the building. A curtain wall is designed to resist air and water infiltration, absorb
sway induced by wind and seismic forces acting on the building, withstand wind loads, and support its
own dead load weight forces.

What is a curtain wall?

A curtain wall is a thin, aluminum-framed wall. It can come with different fillings which include glass,
metal panels, or thin stones. The framing is joined to the building structure. It doesnt bear the load of
the roof or the floor; instead, it relies on the building structure, specifically at the floor line.

Curtain wall systems are typically designed with extruded aluminum framing members, although the
first curtain walls were made with steel frames. The aluminum frame is typically infilled with glass,
which provides an architecturally pleasing building, as well as benefits such as daylighting. However, the
effects of light on visual comfort as well as solar heat gain in a building are more difficult to control
when using large amounts of glass infill. Other common infills include: stone veneer, metal panels,
louvres, and operable windows or vents.

Curtain walls differ from storefront systems in that they are designed to span multiple floors, taking into
consideration design requirements such as: thermal expansion and contraction; building sway and
movement; water diversion; and thermal efficiency for cost-effective heating, cooling, and lighting in the
building.

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