All You Need to Know About Curtain Walling
- Paulo Ferreira
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Walk through the streets of any modern city and you’ll see curtain walling everywhere. From commercial towers and public buildings to high-end residential developments, curtain wall glazing has become one of the defining features of modern architecture.
But there is more to curtain walling than just aesthetics.
Behind the glass is a highly engineered system designed to deal with wind loads, thermal movement, weather performance, acoustics and, in some cases, fire protection and even blast resistance. That’s why getting the right system and correctly installed is a must.
At Prism Glass, we specialise in high-performance curtain wall glazing systems across London and the UK. From design to supply and installation, we deliver everything from architectural glazing and curtain wall aluminium systems through to complex fire rated curtain wall systems for commercial developments.
What is Curtain Walling?
Curtain walling is a non-structural external glass facade system fixed back to the main building structure. Unlike traditional walls, curtain wall systems do not carry the floor or roof loads of the building itself. Instead, they support their own weight while resisting wind pressure, water penetration and thermal movement.
Most modern curtain walling systems are manufactured using:
Aluminium framing systems
Steel reinforcement or steel curtain wall systems
High-performance glazing
Specialist gaskets and pressure plates
Modern curtain wall aluminium systems are particularly popular because aluminium is lightweight, corrosion resistant and highly versatile. However, steel-based systems are often preferred where larger spans, improved fire resistance or enhanced structural performance are required.
One of the biggest advantages of curtain wall glazing is design flexibility. Systems can incorporate:
Large glazed facades
Feature entrances
Angled elevations
Structural glazing
Fire-resistant glazing and fire-rated doors
Blast resistant glass systems
This flexibility is why curtain walling has become such a major part of contemporary construction across London and other UK cities.
What Is the Difference Between Structural Glazing and Curtain Walling?
Many people mistakenly think structural glazing and curtain walling are the same thing. Curtain walling refers to the complete framed glass system attached to the exterior of a building structure. The framing is usually visible externally, although modern systems can minimise sightlines or frame thickness significantly.
Structural glazing, on the other hand, is a glazing method designed to reduce or completely hide visible framing. Glass panels are bonded using specialist silicone systems or concealed fixings to create a much cleaner, almost seamless appearance.
Many modern building actually combine both approaches. For example, a project may use a curtain wall aluminium structure internally while externally presenting a flush structural glass appearance. This allows architects to achieve the sleek aesthetic they want without compromising structural performance and safety requirements such as fire resistance.
Structural glazing also introduces additional technical considerations:
Glass deflection
Thermal expansion
Silicone performance
Drainage and ventilation
Installation tolerances
This is why experience matters. Large glazed exteriors may look simple from the outside, but behind the scenes there is often significant coordination between glazing specialists, structural engineers and facade consultants.
Curtain Wall Systems
Not all curtain wall systems are designed for the same application.
Some prioritise appearance and thermal performance. Others are specifically engineered for fire protection, blast resistance or high-security environments. Understanding the differences is essential when specifying a system.
Fire Rated Curtain Wall Systems
A fire rated curtain wall system is designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke while maintaining the integrity of the façade. These systems are commonly used in:
Commercial buildings
Public buildings
Transport hubs
Residential developments
Stair cores and escape routes
Unlike standard curtain wall glazing, fire rated systems use specialist fire-resistant glass combined with carefully tested framing, gaskets and fixings.
This is important because fire performance is not achieved by the glass alone — the entire system must work together under extreme temperatures.
Systems such as the Wrightstyle SR Series are designed to achieve high fire resistance classifications while still allowing large glazed spans and slim frames.
Prism Glass has delivered complex fire rated curtain wall installations across London, including:
These types of projects require careful coordination between glazing design, steel support systems, fire stopping and installation sequencing.
Blast Resistant Curtain Wall Systems
Some buildings require glass exteriors capable of withstanding blast pressure and impact loading. This is where blast resistant curtain wall systems come in.
Used on high-security buildings, transport infrastructure and sensitive commercial developments, these systems are engineered to absorb and redistribute blast forces while minimising dangerous glass fragmentation.
Blast resistant glass is typically manufactured using laminated multi-layer glass configurations designed to remain bonded and in place even when fractured. Specialist systems combine reinforced framing with blast resistant glass to create facades capable of handling significant pressure loads.
In some projects, bullet resistant glass may also be incorporated where additional security protection is required. These systems involve a very different level of engineering compared to standard curtain wall glazing, particularly around:
Structural movement
Anchor design
Frame reinforcement
Glass specification
Load transfer
Thermal Curtain Wall Systems
Energy performance has become a major consideration in modern glazing designs.
Today’s curtain wall systems must balance:
Transparency and daylight
Solar control
Insulation performance
Condensation resistance
Air and water tightness
Thermal curtain wall systems achieve this through thermally broken framing, insulated glazing units and carefully engineered drainage and ventilation paths. Systems are designed to improve energy efficiency while maintaining the clean appearance expected from modern facades.
This is particularly important on large glazed elevations where uncontrolled solar gain or poor thermal performance can dramatically affect internal comfort and building running costs.
Choosing the Right Curtain Wall Company in London
A high-performance facade is only as good as the company installing it. Even the best curtain wall system can fail if tolerances, interfaces or installation sequencing are not properly managed.
At Prism Glass, we combine technical knowledge with hands-on design, manufacturing and installation experience to deliver curtain wall glazing systems that perform as intended — not just on drawings, but on site.
From curtain wall aluminium systems and structural glazing through to complex fire rated curtain wall systems, we work closely with contractors, architects and developers across London to deliver façades that combine performance, compliance and clean architectural detail.
We also provide a wider range of specialist glazing solutions, including fire-resistant glass partitions and bespoke architectural glazing systems.
If you’re searching for experienced curtain wall companies in London, Prism Glass delivers the technical expertise, installation quality and attention to detail that modern façade projects demand.
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