MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS

Aluminum sill
flashing
Window assembly supported on frame
Extruded aluminum interior sill
CHAPTER 26
EXTERIOR WALL CLADDING
GFRC
skin
Outer surface
of GFRC frame
Aluminum foil-backed rigid mineral
wool insulation with taped joints
Gypsum board on 2-1/2 in. steel studs
(or on furring strips over frame members)
Gap between
GFRC skin
and frame
Gypsum board
Continuous
drainage to
weep holes
Aluminum foil-backed rigid mineral
wool insulation with taped joints
Spray-applied fire protection
not shown for clarity
Drip
groove
Sealant
and backer rod
Ceiling
FIGURE 26.63 Schematic detail of an exterior wall with GFRC spandrel panels and ribbon
windows.
26.13 PREFABRICATED BRICK CURTAIN WALL
Prefabricated brick panels using full-thickness bricks can also be used as curtain wall panels.
The facade of a building with prefabricated brick panels looks similar to that of a building
with site-constructed brick veneer. In a facade with prefabricated brick panels, however, the
exterior soffit can also be of bricks, giving an all-brick appearance.
Figure 26.64 shows a completed building with prefabricated exterior brick panels. The
panels are L-shaped so that the wall and the spandrel and soffit elements are integrated into
one panel. Figure 26.65 shows the details and various stages of erection of the panels.
Brick panels are constructed in the masonry contractor’s fabrication yard (or indoor
plant) and transported to the site. They are reinforced in both directions. Reinforcement in
one direction is provided by epoxy-coated steel bars placed into the core holes of bricks.
The core holes are filled with portland cement–sand grout. In the other direction, galvanized
steel joint reinforcement placed within the bed joints of panels is used.
In addition to reinforcing bars and joint reinforcement, a brick curtain wall panel generally
requires two structural steel frames integrated into the brick panel to provide bearing
747