Curtain Wall Glazing for Multi-Storey Buildings
Aluminium and glass outer walls hung from the structure, engineered floor by floor.
Curtain wall glazing is a non-load-bearing outer wall of aluminium framing and glass that hangs from a building's floor slabs or structure, carrying only its own weight and wind load. Cladex Elevations plans and installs curtain glazing for offices and commercial buildings in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Curtain wall glazing is an outer wall of aluminium framing and glass that hangs on the front of a building like a curtain. It is non-load-bearing: it carries its own weight and the wind pressure on it back to the floor slabs or frame through anchors, but it does not hold up any part of the building. Because it runs continuously past the floor slabs, a curtain wall can wrap several storeys in glass, which is how most modern office towers and commercial blocks get their glass skin.
Curtain walls are among the most engineering-heavy facade systems. The mullion sizes, anchor details, glass build-up and joint design have to be worked out for the wind load at the building's height, for thermal movement in our hot climate and for the building's own movement. Our engineer-led team, with more than 10 years in facades, plans these details with the project architect and structural consultant before fabrication begins.
In Tamil Nadu and Kerala a curtain wall also has to manage heat and heavy rain. Choosing solar-control or double-glazed units, detailing internal drainage so any water that gets past the outer seal is led back out, and sealing every interface with the concrete are what separate a comfortable, dry building from one with hot offices and stained ceilings. We treat these details as part of the design, not as site fixes.
Why choose curtain wall glazing
Continuous glass skin
A curtain wall runs past the floor slabs, so several storeys can be wrapped in a single, uninterrupted facade.
Light structure, big spans
Aluminium framing is light compared with masonry, reducing dead load while still spanning floor to floor.
Daylight across the floor plate
Full-height glazing brings natural light deep into office floors, improving the working environment.
Thermal and acoustic options
Double-glazed units, solar-control and low-E coatings help control heat gain, glare and traffic noise.
Designed for movement
Anchors and joints allow for thermal expansion and building movement, so the glass is not forced to absorb them.
Integrated vents and spandrels
Openable windows, opaque spandrel panels over slab zones and ACP bands can all be built into the same grid.
Options & technical details
Typical choices we discuss with clients. The final specification is fixed after a site visit.
| System types | Stick-built (assembled on site) or unitised (factory-assembled panels) |
|---|---|
| Glass retention | Pressure plate and cover cap, or structural silicone glazing (SSG), or a mix of both |
| Glass options | Toughened, heat-strengthened, laminated, or double-glazed units (DGU/IGU) with solar-control or low-E coatings |
| Framing | Extruded aluminium mullions and transoms, powder-coated or anodised |
| Anchoring | Brackets fixed to slab edges or structure, with adjustment and movement allowance |
| Design loads | Wind load as per IS 875 Part 3, building height and exposure |
| Weather protection | Gaskets, weather silicone and internal drainage paths |
| Integrated elements | Top-hung or parallel opening vents, spandrel panels, fire-stopping at slab edges |
Curtain Wall Glazing, explained in drawings
Stick system vs unitised curtain wall
In a stick-built curtain wall, mullions are fixed to the building one by one, transoms are fitted between them, and the glass is installed on site. It suits low- and mid-rise buildings, irregular shapes and projects where the facade is relatively small, because it needs less factory set-up and can adapt to site variations.
In a unitised curtain wall, complete frame-and-glass panels, usually one storey high, are assembled and glazed in a controlled workshop and then lifted onto anchors on the building. It gives more consistent quality and faster closing of the facade on tall or repetitive buildings, but it needs more upfront engineering and careful logistics. The choice depends on height, repetition, programme and access.
How we approach a curtain wall project
We start from the architect's elevations and the structural drawings, and survey the actual slab edges, because concrete is rarely exactly where the drawing says. Anchor positions and bracket sizes are then planned to absorb those differences. Glass type, frame sizes and joint widths are finalised with the design team based on wind load, panel size and the heat and noise performance the building needs.
On site, anchors are fixed and checked for line and level floor by floor, framing is installed and plumbed, and the glass is fitted with gaskets or structural silicone depending on the system. Interfaces with the concrete, the roof, the ground floor and any ACP cladding are sealed and flashed, and fire-stopping is installed at slab edges as specified by the project's fire consultant. Sealing is scheduled around Kerala and Tamil Nadu monsoon conditions, never on wet surfaces.
What affects the cost of curtain wall glazing
Glass specification drives much of the cost. Double-glazed units with solar-control or low-E coatings cost considerably more than single toughened glass, but they can reduce air-conditioning load over the life of the building. Laminated glass, heat-soak testing and larger panel sizes add further cost. The aluminium section depth and weight needed for wind load at your height is the next major factor.
The system type (stick or unitised), the number of openable vents, spandrel treatments, corners and special shapes, and access equipment all add to the final figure. Because a curtain wall is engineered to the building, we quote from drawings and a site visit. Share your elevations on WhatsApp and we will come back with a free, itemised proposal.
Curtain Wall Glazing: questions answered
What is curtain wall glazing?
Curtain wall glazing is a non-load-bearing outer wall of aluminium framing and glass that hangs from a building's floor slabs or structure. It carries only its own weight and wind loads back to the building and does not support any floors. Because it runs continuously past the slabs, it can wrap several storeys in glass, as on most modern office buildings.
What is the difference between curtain wall and structural glazing?
Curtain wall describes the whole outer wall system of aluminium frame and glass hung from the building. Structural glazing describes one way of holding the glass, by bonding it to the frame with structural silicone instead of external pressure plates and caps. A curtain wall can use structural glazing, capped glazing, or a mix of the two.
What is the cost of curtain wall glazing per sq ft?
Curtain wall cost depends on the glass (single toughened, laminated or double-glazed, and the type of coating), the aluminium section sizes needed for wind load, stick versus unitised construction, openable vents and spandrels, corners and special shapes, building height and access. Cladex prices from your drawings and a site visit, and shares a free itemised proposal on WhatsApp.
Which glass is best for curtain walls in hot climates?
For sunny cities like Coimbatore, Chennai and Madurai, double-glazed units (DGU) with a solar-control or low-E coating are usually the best performers, because they reduce heat gain and glare while still admitting daylight. Single glazed reflective or tinted glass is a lower-cost option with less thermal benefit. Laminated or heat-soaked toughened glass may also be specified for safety.
What is a unitised curtain wall?
A unitised curtain wall is made of complete frame-and-glass panels, usually one floor high, that are assembled and glazed in a workshop and then lifted onto anchors on the building. It gives consistent factory quality and fast enclosure of tall or repetitive buildings, but needs more engineering, storage space and lifting arrangements than a stick-built system assembled piece by piece on site.
How do curtain walls handle heavy monsoon rain?
A well-designed curtain wall assumes some water may pass the outer seal and gives it a way out. Gaskets and weather silicone form the outer barrier, while internal drainage channels and weep paths lead any water that gets in back to the outside. Interfaces with concrete, roofs and sills must be properly flashed. This detailing matters greatly for Kerala's heavy monsoon.
Can curtain walls have openable windows?
Yes. Top-hung, side-hung and parallel-opening vents can be built into a curtain wall grid, usually with friction stays and multi-point locks. They allow ventilation, smoke venting where required and facade access. The number and size of vents should be decided early with the architect because they affect framing, glass sizes and the building's appearance.
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Often combined with
Structural Glazing
Structural glazing is a facade system in which glass panels are bonded to a hidden aluminium frame with structural silicone sealant instead of being held by visible outer caps, giving a flush, all-glass look from outside. Cladex Elevations installs structural glazing for commercial buildings in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Explore GlazingSpider Glazing
Spider glazing is a frameless, point-fixed glass system in which toughened glass panels are held at their corners by stainless steel spider fittings bolted through pre-drilled holes and supported on a steel, cable or glass-fin structure behind. Cladex Elevations installs spider glazing for showrooms, lobbies and entrances in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Explore ACP & CladdingACP Cladding
ACP cladding is the fixing of aluminium composite panels, two thin painted aluminium skins bonded to a polyethylene or fire-retardant mineral core, onto a metal framework over a building's walls to give a light, flat, weather-resistant facade. Cladex Elevations designs and installs ACP cladding across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
ExploreSources & standards
Technical statements on this page follow Indian standards and established industry references. Always confirm project-specific requirements with your architect or structural consultant.
- IS 16231 (Part 3):2019 Use of Glass in Buildings — Fire and Loading · Bureau of Indian Standards (Public.Resource.Org copy, Internet Archive)Indian code on wind loading of glass, curtain walls and structural silicone glazing.
- IS 17346:2020 Insulating Glazing Unit — Specification · Bureau of Indian Standards (Public.Resource.Org copy, Internet Archive)Indian specification for insulating glass units (DGU) used in curtain walls and structural glazing.
- IS 875 (Part 3):2015 Design Loads for Buildings and Structures — Wind Loads · Bureau of Indian Standards (Public.Resource.Org copy, Internet Archive)Indian wind-load code: basic wind speeds by city, cyclone factor and pressures on cladding and glazing.
- Specification (building envelopes) · Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT)CWCT guidance on specifying curtain walls and building envelopes using its systemised building envelope standard.
- Curtain wall (architecture) — Wikipedia · WikipediaDefinition of curtain walls, stick vs unitised systems.
- Insulated glazing — Wikipedia · WikipediaDefinition of insulated glazing units (DGU).
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