Photo courtesy TGP
Curtain walls with poor thermal and solar heat gain performance in open, loft-style office buildings can be problematic. As interior temperatures rise in the afternoon sun, occupants close the window shades and turn on the air-conditioning, increasing HVAC systems loads. The energy consumed to cool the room offsets the lighting loads saved from the curtain wall’s natural light stream.
To avoid this heat exchange dilemma, much of the specification process focuses on the glazing material itself. Glass comprises a large portion of the curtain wall and window area. Bolstering its performance can help prevent adverse side effects like glare, heat loss, and undesired solar heat gain. Less talked about—though equally important—is framing’s role in energy-efficient daylighting design. Framing anchors the glazing to surrounding building materials and establishes the foundation for numerous performance and design outcomes.
With proper specification, framing can help create a sound building envelope and support large, high-performance glazing. To find out more, check out The Construction Specifier’s free e-book on specialty glazing. To download, click here.
