Author: workhouse123
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SUSTAINABLE ROOFING
Cool Roofs Roofs are exposed to solar radiation daily, and as that radiation is absorbed and converted to heat, the temperature of the roof covering rises. Depending on the intensity of the radiation and the portion of it retained by the covering, roof surfaces may routinely reach temperatures of 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65°C) or higher.…
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STEEP ROOFS
Roofs with a pitch of 2:12 (17 percent) or greater are referred to as “steep” roofs. Roof coverings for steep roofs fall into three general categories: thatch, shingles, and architectural sheet metal. Thatch, an attractive and effective roofing, consisting of bundles of reeds, grasses, or leaves (Figures 16.1 and 16.2), is highly labor-intensive and is rarely used today.…
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LOW-SLOPE ROOFS
A low-slope roof (often referred to, inaccurately, as a “flat” roof) is usually defined as one whose slope is less than 2:12, or 17 percent. A low-slope roof is a highly interactive assembly made up of multiple components. The roof deck is the structural surface that supports the roof. Thermal insulation is installed to slow the passage of heat…
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CURTAIN WALL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: THE PROCESS
Metal curtain wall design is not undertaken by an architect alone; it is far too complex and specialized a process. For many buildings, the architect simply adopts a proprietary system that meets the design requirements. This puts the primary responsibility on the manufacturer and installer of the system to ensure that the proper components are…
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DUAL-LAYERED GLASS CLADDING
In a double-skin façade, the wall system consists of two distinct glass cladding systems separated by an airspace that is wide enough in most cases to allow service personnel to pass between them. Such systems, also variously labeled dual-wall facades or double-skin walls, have long been popular in European building construction and have more recently begun to appear in North…
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SLOPED GLAZING
Many buildings feature glass roofs over such amenities as lobbies, restaurants, cafes, swimming pools, and garden courtyards. A glass roof presents particular problems with respect to potential water leakage, because it is impossible to neutralize the force of gravity on a surface that is not vertical. Furthermore, moisture that condenses on the interior surfaces of…
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EXPANSION JOINTS IN METAL-AND-GLASS WALLS
Aluminum has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion. The coefficient for glass is less than half as much. Because the cladding of a building is exposed to air temperature fluctuations as well as direct heating by the sun, it must be provided with expansion joints to allow thermal movement to occur without damaging the…
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THE RAINSCREEN PRINCIPLE IN METAL-AND-GLASS CLADDING
At first glance, neither of the curtain wall systems presented in this chapter might seem to be a rainscreen design, because both use rubber gaskets to seal around the glass on the outside of the wall as well as on the inside. However, consider what would happen in either of these systems if both the…
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MODES OF ASSEMBLY
Metal curtain wall systems can be classified according to their degree or mode of assembly at the time of installation on the building (Figure 21.10). Many metal-and-glass curtain walls are furnished as stick systems whose principal components are metal mullions and rectangular panels of glass and spandrel material that are assembled in place on the building (Figure…
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ALUMINUM AND GLASS FRAMING SYSTEMS
Aluminum framing and glass are used to construct enclosure systems of various types, including windows, entrances, storefronts, and curtain walls. Aluminum framed windows are discussed in Chapter 18. Entrances are systems of aluminum framed doors, hardware, aluminum framing, and glass typically used for commercial buildings. They may also include framing for vestibules, sidelights, transoms, and the like. Aluminum storefronts,…