Dec 21 2004
Kawneer has launched the 1612 zone drained curtain walling system, an ideal façade solution for architects and specifiers designing more flexible buildings with larger column spans and greater floor slab movement.
With a 63.5mm box design, the 1612 system is capable of accommodating considerable live and dead load deflections without the need to incorporate additional profiles. Its 26mm glazing rebate also accommodates larger glass pane sizes.
John Stamp, Kawneer’s technical consultant, comments: “The 1612 system was originally developed as a project specific curtain walling solution to overcome the problems we were having with more flexible building design. A trend was developing, driven primarily by cost and aesthetic considerations, to design buildings with more efficient steel frames and larger glass panes, the latter allowing natural light deeper into buildings. We needed to be able to accommodate the greater floor movement inherent in larger span buildings, as well as provide a wider rebate to cater for the larger panes of glass required. The system we developed also allowed for longer transom spans and the ability to provide base-loaded solutions. As a ‘project only’ solution, the 1612 system was so successful that we found it necessary to systemise the product and bring it into our standard curtain walling range in order to meet demand.”
Commenting on the trend to incorporate greater spans in building design, Mark Wainwright, Kawneer’s special projects manager, says, “By designing more efficiently, the number of columns in a building can be reduced, which means the structure can be erected more quickly and cost effectively. Reducing the number of columns in a building increases the amount of floor space available, which is a significant financial benefit for the client. This is one of the reasons why there is a growing trend to design using larger spans. Façade manufacturers such as Kawneer are challenged to design systems that can accommodate the various movement tolerances that are a consequence of flexible building design.”
The 1612 curtain walling system is based on the tried and tested principles of Kawneer’s 1202 zone drained curtain walling. It is available in a variety of standard depths and styles with three thermal break options. The system provides slim sightlines and the flexibility to meet individual project requirements, as well as superior performance and ease of installation. It has the ability to integrate with other systems in the Kawneer range and is available with a horizontal cap and as a silicone glazed option.
Kawneer’s 1612 system has been tested in accordance with the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology’s Standard for Curtain Walling to Sequence B, as follows: Air permeability: 600Pa, Watertightness (static and dynamic): 600Pa, Wind resistance (serviceability): 2400Pa, Wind resistance (safety): 3600Pa.
Accommodating glass from 4mm to 37mm and panel options from 4mm to 39mm, the 1612 curtain walling system is available in over 130 standard and 31 metallic Kawneer Permacover and Permacover Plus polyester powder paint finishes. A comprehensive range of standard and coloured Permanodic anodised finishes is also available.
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