Preventing Failures in Metal and Glass Facades

Over the last 15 years, the authors have investigated a variety of failures in metal and glass facades. While these facades, commonly referred to as curtain walls, have been utilized for over 35 years, forensic investigations have revealed that certain types of failures—such as joint sealant failures and glass staining—occur repeatedly. Other curtain wall failures involving the glass and metal materials, coatings/finishes, and insulating glass unit seals are less common, but may nevertheless result in costly remediation. There are measures that can be taken during the design, construction or maintenance of the facade to prevent each of these types of failures.