Climate Change and its Influence on Glazed Curtain Wall Design

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe climate change is a fact and has huge influences on the design of modern building envelopes. The climate change and its effects were analyzed and a management plan for a holistic curtain wall design was developed that helps to reduce the material loss and human suffering and that improves the reconstruction process. A first step of this is an energy efficient curtain wall design that results in a CO2 reduction and influences the frequency and intensity of the climate change as a whole. Secondly, special designed digital simulation processes offer possibilities to check and fine‐tune product characteristics that minimizes the vulnerability in case of extreme weather events. Acute event management can be done by combining disaster prediction tools with early alert systems that can be used to release a home protection service which, for example, shuts down self‐controlled shutters in case of a hurricane. The last step of the management plan deals with a fast recovering of the environment after a natural disaster. Building components are classified into two groups depending on their significance for the curtain wall. Class A components should not be affected in case of an event as they are responsible for the structural stability of the curtain wall or are very expensive. Class B components are cheaper design features or protection devices that are allowed to get damaged and must be designed for easy access and replacement. A final evaluation of the management plan gives information where current glazed curtain wall design provides already good solutions and where additional action and innovation is needed.