PVC Advantages

  • Excellent Heat Insulation - Energy Savings
  • Good Sound Proofing Ability - Peace and Tranquility
  • Excellent Corrosion Resistance - No Rotting
  • Excellent Electrical Insulator - Accident Free
  • Attractive Appearance - Gives Value to Homes
  • Maintenance Free - Non Messy and no Staining
  • Excellent Isolation Ability - no Dust, Air and Water Entry
  • Design Flexibility - The Designer’s Haven
Monarch 2800 Types of Curtain Walls

Types of Curtain Walls

Curtain walling is a form of light cladding which requires a secondary means of support or attachment such as a light frame erected between or over the primary structural frame, a light bracing frame contained within the cladding itself or a fixing device attached directly to the structure. The secondary frame may be fixed floor by floor to act as either a continuous or point supported beam, or suspended. The principal categories of light cladding are:

By Form

  • SHEATH WALL envelops spaces and structures like and primary structural elements appear on the all surface. The opacity of the cladding may vary from highly glazed enclosures to industrial sheet claddings containing little or no glazing.
  • PANEL WALL erected between or over structural elements, between beams or floor slabs (horizontal panel wall) between columns or cross walls (vertical panel wall) or within the grid form by both.

By Construction

  • FRAME construction composed of an assembly of parts to form a light secondary frame attached to the structure. The primary span of the framing system may be horizontal (transom), vertical (mullion) or a bi-directional grid in to which the ventilator and panel components are fitted.
  • PANEL construction, a series of large pre-assembled units attached to the primary structure. Panel construction requires less site work than frame construction, but lifting equipment is normally necessary.
The MONARCH 2800 Curtain Walling Systems are normally used as sheath walls with reinforced PVC-U transoms and mullions spanning the primary structure or suspended from the ring beam. Silicon sealant is used as an impervious barrier to water and its function is found to be satisfactory. The performance is dependent on the workmanship and the design of the joint.

Design Concept

The popularity of curtain walling for speculative office blocks was largely based on speed of erection and the apparently high net to gross area made possible by the thinner wall. There are many variants, in form, the wall may completely envelope the structure or it may be contained by beams and columns or both. In assembly, a secondary framework may be attached to the structure in to which fixed panels and windows are fitted, or preformed units or frames may be attached to the structure, either as complete wall units or to be filled with panels and windows.

In excluding water from the building interior, there are two principals in common use;

  • By allowing, some water to pass through an outer weather shield and making provisions for it to be drained away to the exterior.
  • By creating an impervious outer barrier. In some circumstances, designers often assume that the curtain wall will allow some water penetration and provide drainage to prevent it reaching the interior of the building.

Any impervious wall must rely on the use of seals to exclude water from joints between components. The expected life of sealants may vary from 10 years to about 20 years.

Curtain wall enveloping the structure has the advantage that only a limited number of weather tight joints have to be made within the structure. However, all provision for structural, thermal and wind included movement must be allowed for in the design of the curtain wall itself and at its supports.

Climatic Data

The climatic data related to the site is essential for the design of the external curtain walls. Data required will include maximum wind speeds and direction, 3-second gusts, hourly rainfall and peaks. Data is rarely available for a specific site. The following information are required and to be considered for the design of curtain walls:

  1. Relative Humidity; a range of 55 per cent to 95 per cent my normally be used as an approximate basis of design. Local factors may affect values, which tend to be lower away from the sea and higher in local ground depressions.
  2. Wind Speed; a maximum 3 seconds gust speed (m/s) at height of 10 meters. Annual average wind
  3. speed (m/s).
  4. Rainfall; Annual average rainfall.
  5. Pollution: Major pollutants are grit and dust, smoke and sulphur dioxide. For sites in industrial and heavily polluted urban areas, data should be sought on the amount and composition of pollution.
  6. Temperature: Monthly averages of maximum, minimum and mean temperature are obtainable. As temperatures obtained from contoured maps are usually corrected to mean sea level, 0.6 degrees centigrade should be subtracted for each 100 meters above sea level.

The function of the curtain walls can be performed by assemblies of aluminum, plastic (PVC-U), synthetic rubber, glass and a variety of pane materials.

Potential Life of Curtain Wall System

All building components and installations have a national life based on their function, manufacture and the materials of which they are made. For design and investment purposes, the overall life of the building may be 60 years. However, this will not apply uniformly to all the products and materials used, which will vary in terms of maintenance and replacement, if the
appearance and performance is to be maintained. The exposed surfaces of the MONARCH CW SYSTEM 2800 are made of PVC-U materials which has a proven life expectancy of more than 50 years and requires no maintenance other than regular washing with soap and water.

Maintenance

Ease of cleaning and maintenance of the installed curtain wall is a major consideration in the continued satisfactory appearance and performance of the building. All atmospheres are more or less dirty and acidic and in urban/ industrial conditions regular washing is essential. Sealants and gaskets require inspection and occasional repairs. The majority of the work is done from the exterior of the building and facilities for access and water supply are very important for cleaning purposes.