Task Group Approval Product Group Approval

Approved via Ballot #808-15 Out for Ballot (16-1006)

AAMA CWM-XX
DRAFT #7
DATED 6/9/15

Curtain Wall Manual – Section 1

AAMA CWM-XX, Draft #7, Dated 6/9/15 Page 1

 Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 TYPES OF CURTAIN WALL SYSTEMS ................................................................................................ 3
1.1.1 FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1.2 ALUMINUM CURTAIN WALL TYPES AND SYSTEMS .................................................................. 4
1.1.3 THE FUNCTION OF A WALL .......................................................................................................... 4
1.1.4 BASIC TERMS DEFINED ................................................................................................................ 4
1.1.5 CLASSIFICATION OF WALL SYSTEMS ........................................................................................ 5
1.1.6 WALL TYPES................................................................................................................................... 8
1.1.7 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... 9

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is a trade association of firms engaged in the
manufacture and sale of fenestration and related products. Since its origin, AAMA has been active in its role as a
"Technical Information Center" for the industry's products. These include windows, entrances, sliding glass doors,
side-hinged doors, storm windows and doors (secondary storm products), curtain walls, storefronts, skylights,
and related products.

AAMA’s activities include a broad scope:

1. Developing standards and specifications for the maintenance of quality standards for the guidance of
architects and builders, and to develop public confidence in the quality, performance, and reliability of the
industry's products;
2. Encouraging research and development of new or improved products within the industry;
3. Promoting the progress and development of the industry by conducting studies, programs, activities, and
projects to increase the use of and markets for the products of the industry; and
4. undertaking such other programs as may be proper to enhance or promote the welfare of the industry in
the public interest.

This manual was developed by representative members of the Architectural Products Group of AAMA. It is
published as a service to architects service to manufacturers and installers of these products. This manual was
developed by representative members of AAMA as advisory information and published as a public service. AAMA
disclaims all liability for the use, application or adaptation of materials published herein. Furthermore, none of the
contents of the manual shall be construed as a recommendation of any patented or proprietary application that
may be included in such contents.

1.1 TYPES OF CURTAIN WALL SYSTEMS

1.1.1 FOREWORD
Because of the wide variety of aluminum curtain wall designs, it is difficult to precisely identify every design as
representing one or another of a few basic types. Certain broad distinctions can usually be made, but in some
cases, accurate classification under one of a limited number of subcategories becomes subjective and therefore
debatable. Nevertheless, because there are so many variations, some generally accepted system of identifying
the most common design forms becomes essential.
Because of the wide variety of metal curtain wall designs, it is difficult to precisely identify every material type and
design as representing one or another of a few basic types. Certain broad distinctions can usually be made, but in
some cases, accurate classification under one of a limited number of subcategories becomes subjective and
therefore debatable. Nevertheless, because there are so many variations, some generally accepted system of
identifying the most common design forms becomes essential. TheseThis documents will outline the designs of
aluminum curtain wall which areis the more prominent material in the fenestration industry.

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1.1.2 ALUMINUM CURTAIN WALL TYPES AND SYSTEMS
Although the aluminum curtain walls of today appear to present endless variety of design, the majority of these
designs can be identified as representing one of several elementary types. Because it is important that architects
recognize these principal types, their characteristics and their relative merits, it is the purpose of this article to
clarify these distinctions and the extent to which they may be applicable. First, however, one should have a clear
understanding of the primary function of any such wall, regardless of what type it may be.

1.1.3 2 THE FUNCTION OF A WALL

Historically, a wall was thought of as performing either one or both of two functions: 1) providing structural support
for floors and roof, if a bearing wall, and 2) forming a protective enclosure excluding the elements, but with
1
openings for vision and ventilation as required. One of the early studies of metal curtain wall potential , pointed
out the fact, that the exterior wall of a building actually serves, in effect, as a two-way filter, controlling the through
flow, both inward and outward, not only of heat, light and air, but also of a number of other penetrants such as
moisture, dirt, sound, vermin, and, of course, people. A properly designed aluminum curtain wall has the
capability of being able to provide any degree of such control as is desired.

1
“Curtain Walls of Stainless Steel,” a report by the School of Architecture, Princeton University, 1955

1.1.4 3 BASIC TERMS DEFINED

As a further prerequisite to discussing wall types, and to facilitate communication and avoid misunderstandings,
certain key terms should be defined. Three Four of the most commonly used terms; "curtain wall," " storefront"
“windows,” and "window wall," still mean different things to different people. Often they are used interchangeably,
with no clear distinction being made between them. As their meanings are interrelated and overlapping, this will
likely continue to be the case, but for the purposes of this article document these terms are defined in the AAMA
Glossary (AG-13).as follows:

Curtain Wall:
A non-load-bearing exterior wall cladding that is hung to the exterior of the building, usually spanning from floor to
floor. Curtain wall vertical framing members run past the face of floor slabs, and provision for anchorage is
typically made at vertical framing members only. In contrast to combination assemblies and composite units, non-
residential curtain wall systems often need to meet additional performance requirements for inter-story differential
movement, seismic drift, dynamic water infiltration, etc. Operating vents and entrance doors are provided as
separate inserts.

Metal Curtain Wall:

An exterior curtain wall which may consist entirely or principally of metal, or may be a combination of metal, glass
and other surfacing materials supported by or within a metal framework.

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Window Wall: A non-load-bearing fenestration system provided in combination assemblies and composite units,
including transparent vision panels and/or opaque glass or metal panels, which span from the top of a floor slab to
the underside of the next higher floor slab. NOTE: Window walls are available with separate or integral slab edge
covers and can be fabricated from windows or curtain wall or storefront systems. Primary provision for anchorage
occurs at head and sill conditions. Receptor systems can be designed as a part of drainage and movement
accommodation provisions.

1.1.5 4 CLASSIFICATION OF WALL SYSTEMS

Both custom and standard walls may be further classified according to their "system" or method of installation..
With more new design expressions constantly appearing, it's quite likely that additional "systems" may become
common.

1.1.4.1 “Storefronts” are non-load-bearing glazed systems that occur on the ground floor, which typically include
aluminum entrances, and are installed between floor slabs, or between a floor slab and building structure above.
See Figure 1. For additional information refer to the AAMA SFM-1-14

1.1.4.2 “Stick” curtain wall systems are shipped in pieces for field-fabrication and/or -assembly. These can be
furnished by the manufacturer as “stock lengths” to be cut, machined, assembled, and sealed in the field, or
“knocked down” parts pre-machined in the factory, for field-assembly and -sealing only. All stick curtain walls are
field-glazed.

Frame assembly requires the use of either, a) “shear blocks” to connect vertical and horizontal framing elements,
or b) “screw-spline” construction, in which assembly fasteners feed through holes in interlocking vertical stacking
mullions into extruded races in horizontals.

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Many stick curtain walls are called “pressure walls,” because exterior extruded aluminum plates are screw-applied
to compress glass between interior and exterior bedding gaskets. A snap-on cover or “beauty cap” is then used to
conceal pressure plate fasteners. See Figure 2.

1.1.4.3 Once very popular, “I-beam” walls have seen market penetration decrease. “I” or “H” shaped, structural,
vertical back members are set into openings in the field, with horizontals then clipped to verticals. After glazing,
extruded aluminum interior trim is cut and snapped into place at vision areas. Since unexposed spandrel areas
receive no interior trim, savings in material and finish (painting or anodizing) can result, partially offset by added
field labor. Of course, maintaining vapor retardant continuity at interior trim joints can be challenging if any
positive building pressure is present. See Figure 3.

1.1.4.4 Performance of any field-assembled or field-glazed curtainwall is only as good as field workmanship
allows, limited by variables such as weather, access, and job site dirt and dust. Many critical seals are necessary,
even in systems that are designed to drain or “weep” rain penetration from the system back to the exterior.

To accomplish as many of these critical seals as possible in controlled factory conditions, and minimize
dependence on scarce and expensive field labor, “unitized” curtainwall systems have been developed. Unitized
curtain walls are factory-assembled and -glazed, then shipped to the job site in units that are typically one lite
wide by one floor tall. Only one unit-to-unit splice (usually a silicone sheet or patch) needs to be field-sealed, and
only one anchor per jamb needs to be attached to the face of the floor slab.

Interlocking unitized curtain wall frame members are weather-stripped to seal to one another, both horizontally
and vertically. This accommodates thermal expansion and contraction, inter-story differential movement, concrete
creep, column foreshortening, and/or seismic movement.

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Most curtain wall systems are installed in a sequential manner around each floor level, moving from the bottom to
the top of the building. See Figure 43.

1.1.4.5 “Window wall” systems span from the top of one floor slab to the underside of the slab above. Basically,
window wall assemblies are large, side-stacking window units, contained in head and sill receptors, known as
“starters” that accommodate movement and drainage. Slab covers can clad the face of the slab and can be
fabricated from aluminum extrusions, sheet, or panels, or even glass. Window walls easily accept operable
windows, and unlike curtain walls, can easily be installed in any sequence. See Figure 54. Comment [sf1]: Figure 4 is incorrect, showing a
unitized curtainwall rather than a window wall
system. Need a different Figure.

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Of course, creative designers constantly push the bounds of conventional system types. One such innovation is a
“hybrid,” or “composite” between window wall and curtainwall. Like conventional, unitized curtainwalls, hybrid
systems are factory-assembled and -glazed, and shipped to the job site in units that are one lite wide by one floor
tall. In lieu of attaching these to the face of floor slabs, they are instead, anchored at each unit corner to the top
and underside of each slab. Units cantilever past the face of slab, and interlock with the unit above.

These hybrid, or composite wall types have many of the advantages of unitized curtain wall, while eliminating the
need for separate starters and slab covers, and allow the entire installation crew to remain on a single floor.
Sequencing is similar to unitized curtain wall.

1.1.4.6 There may be performance glazing requirements for hurricane impact or blast resistant curtain walls. Any
of the generally recognized system types could be engineered and tested to meet blast or impact requirements.

1.1.6 5 WALL TYPES

Any aluminum wall is either 1) a custom type, 2) a standard type, or, in some cases 3) a combination of the two.
The two basic types are described as follows:

1.1.65.1 Custom walls are those which are designed specifically for one project (either a single building or a group
of related buildings). Such walls usually, though not necessarily, have substantial areas of glass, and may be
used on buildings of any type or size. Typically they are chosen for high-rise structures and for commercial,
institutional and monumental buildings of high qualityunique design and installation methods.

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1.1.65.2 Standard walls are those which employ components and details which are designed and standardized by
their manufacturer. They may be assembled in stock units, but more often their arrangement is dictated by the
architect's design. Standard walls may be either of two types:

1.1.7 6 SUMMARY
For buildings using curtain wall systems as design elements, it is important to consult with an experienced
manufacturers and glazing subcontractors.early in the process. Teamed with a reputable, local glazing
subcontractor, manufacturers can provide design input, budget pricing, sequencing, and schedule information that
will prove invaluable to the design team.

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