FACADE TERMS,
PLAIN ENGLISH.
The technical vocabulary of UK facade engineering — defined for architects, contractors, clients and anyone trying to make sense of a curtain wall specification.
Curtain Walling
A non-loadbearing facade system that hangs off the primary structure to enclose a building.
Stick Curtain Walling
Curtain walling assembled component-by-component on site rather than in factory.
Unitised Curtain Walling
Curtain walling delivered as factory-assembled, pre-glazed storey-height panels.
CWCT
The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology — the UK standards body for facade testing.
U-Value
The rate of heat transfer through a building element, in W/m²K — lower is better.
Mullion
The vertical structural member in a curtain wall grid that spans between floors.
Transom
The horizontal structural member in a curtain wall grid, spanning between mullions.
Spandrel Panel
The opaque infill panel in a curtain wall that conceals the floor slab and edge zone.