CURTAIN WALL DEFLECTION LIMITS 1

[sedesigner06]

Is there a deflection limitation that i need to be putting on my exterior curtain wall system? I know for masonry it is 0.3'' or L/600. Is there a similar requirement for glass to prevent damage?

Thanks

 

[XR250]

I believe they use L/175 for those systems. Actually, L/600 is only a suggestion for masonry. The IBC allows L/240 even though most jobs i work on require L/600.

 

[dik]

Check with the curtain wall suppliers... the deflection vertical or lateral may be able to be accommodated. With too large a deflection, seals become a problem.

Dik

 

[jittles]

AISC Design Guide 3 (Serviceability Design Considerations for Steel Buildings) should have some reasonable information for a starting point.

On my last project, the design guide suggestions proved adequate when we coordinated with the curtain wall supplier later on in the process. We did have a few extreme conditions that had more stringent requirements based on the curtain wall information versus the design guide initial design.