Photo courtesy Seguin Gazette and Tubelite Inc.
Operable vents
Incorporated within a curtain wall and storefront, operable vents provide natural ventilation or emergency egress.
Doors and entrance systems
Exterior entrances are located at the ground level and installed within a building’s storefront, curtain wall, or façade system. They can also be placed as secured entrances from parking garages or from pedestrian bridges. On upper levels, terrace and balcony doors are also compatible with the curtain wall. It is important to note a subframe is required between the curtain wall frame and door for hinging and locking hardware. Thermally broken entrance systems are available for projects requiring higher thermal performance.
Sun shades
Sun shades are most effective as horizontal overhangs on south-facing elevations when integrated within the overall curtain wall design. With proper site orientation and solar analysis, vertical fins and airfoils also can be added to a curtain wall to provide shading. Both vertical and horizontal shading devices present a distinctive aesthetic that is increasingly seen on campuses across
the country.
Light shelves
Light shelves can be integrated and installed with a curtain wall or other fenestration systems to help reflect and redirect daylight more deeply into a building’s interior.
Other interior applications
Extending natural light and emphasizing transparency, curtain wall, storefront, window, and door systems can also be installed as part of an interior design scheme. Framing and glazing choices may also be specified with upgraded privacy and security features.
Finish and maintenance
Protecting the curtain wall’s aluminum framing, a durable finish also provides a lasting impression. Liquid and powder architectural coatings allow for the greatest breadth with an unlimited spectrum of colors, metallics, or patterns including those mimicking marble, terra cotta, and wood. Anodize provides a more limited color range and the most durable finishes.
Few curtain wall manufacturers can not only custom match a color, but also accommodate separate finish types and tones on the exterior and interior surfaces. When this is available, baked enamel coatings may provide an economical alternative for the interior.
While a rainbow of options are available, white painted finishes and clear anodize remain the popular choices.
Educational facility managers and owners appreciate the minimal effort needed to maintain finished, aluminum-framed curtain wall systems. Clean water applied with moderate and, if necessary, a mild soap is usually all that is required to keep the system looking its best year after year.
Kevin Haynes is an architectural representative for Tubelite Inc. He has more than 25 years of experience in providing technical support to design and specification professionals seeking curtain wall, storefront, entrances, and other aluminum-framed glazing systems for commercial buildings. He has presented continuing education courses on product selection, hurricane-impact resistance, blast hazards, energy savings, and condensation to CSI chapters and members, and to many others in the building envelope community. He can be reached at khaynes@tubeliteinc.com.
