CURTAIN WALL
For decades, we’ve been building walls from thermally conductive materials like steel or aluminum and then adding insulation or isolating the layers to reduce the thermal bridging through those walls.
New technologies utilizing fiberglass composites are changing the way we build. Starting with low thermal conductivity materials improves energy performance while reducing embodied (CO2).
Our EXOSHELL technology allows for the elimination of layers, which dramatically reduces cost. EXOSHELL is a lightweight composite wall system consisting of a single layer of composite ballistic armor plate bonded to a pultruded composite frame assembly which is factory fitted, sealed, and fire coated providing zero water penetration and zero air permeability. It is pound-for-pound stronger than steel as well as rot & corrosion resistant.
EXPLODED HYBRID CURTAIN WALL COMPONENTS
BENEFITS
Curtain wall systems clad a building envelope, with glass, metal, brick, stone, composite or synthetic stucco coatings to protect the interior from the elements and creates a safe and comfortable work environment for the building occupants.
Curtain walls are designed to only carry their own weight. The wall transfers wind loads to the main building structure, also known as the main wind force resisting system (MWFRS), at connection points in the floors or columns of the building.
A curtain wall is designed to resist air and water infiltration, as well as, sway created by wind and seismic forces, and its own weight.
Curtain walls may span from floor to floor, used in punched opening applications, or span multiple floors, and take into consideration design requirements such as: thermal expansion and contraction; building sway and movement; water diversion; and thermal efficiency for cost-effective heating, cooling, and lighting in the building.
EXOSHELL
BASE WALL
EXOSHELL - base walls come standard with ¼” FRP composite ballistic armor plate sheathing which are internally tested on a regular basis for conformance to Underwriters Laboratories UL 752 requirements and independently tested to verify results.
Ballistic Armor Plate panels can be tested to a number of other domestic and international ballistic standards and protocols such as NIJ, SD, MIL, or to a set of specific project performance requirements.
Armor Plate panels are self-extinguishing and meet a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating.
UNITIZED CURTAIN WALL
The curtain wall is composed of large units that are assembled and glazed in the factory, shipped to the site, and installed on the building. Large panelized sections simplify installation and reduce on-site construction time.
DRY SEAL SYSTEM
The 8th generation of EXOSHELL focuses on developing a new outer framing system that incorporates a "dry seal" waterproofing system, thus, eliminating the need of a "wet seal" method for waterproofing the panel joint which requires additional time, costs, and continued maintenance during the lifetime of the structure. The 8th generation is a new solution for panelized wall assemblies by exploiting advantageous characteristics of flexible epoxy, FRP, PFRP and EPDM materials to successfully integrate new technology into the construction industry. Disclosed aspects include a monolithic composite outer frame assembly with an integrated waterproofing system that incorporates two independent systems to function as a single system.
TESTING
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Methods of test for exterior walls.
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Impact test procedures.
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Criteria for testing impact & non-impact resistant building envelope components using uniform static air pressure.
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Criteria for testing products subject to cyclic wind pressure loading.
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Standard test method for determining rate of air leakage through exterior windows, curtain walls, and doors under specified pressure differences across the mockup.
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Standard test method for structural performance of exterior windows, doors, skylights & curtain walls by uniform static air pressure difference.
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Standard test method for water penetration of exterior windows, skylights, doors, and curtain walls by uniform static air pressure difference.
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Standard test method for performance of exterior windows, curtain walls, doors, and impact protective systems impacted by missile(s) & exposed to cyclic pressure differentials.
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Standard specification for performance of exterior windows, curtain walls, doors, and impact protective systems impacted by wind-borne debris in hurricanes.