Curtain Wall Panel Calculator
Panels, mullions, transoms, glass area and aluminium.
Inputs
Result
Formula
| Panels = ceil(W ÷ module W) × ceil(H ÷ module H) | |
| Mullions = columns + 1; transoms = rows + 1 | |
| Glass area = wall area × (1 + waste) | |
| Aluminium = area × rate |
40×60 m façade on a 1.5×4.2 m module, 12 kg/m² aluminium and 3% glass waste: 2400 m² in a 27×15 grid = 405 panels; 28 mullions totalling 1680 m and 16 transom rows totalling 640 m; 2472 m² of glass at 6.30 m² per panel and about 28.8 t of aluminium.
FAQ
How thick should curtain wall glass be?
It depends on module size, wind load, height and toughening. Rough guidance: 6 mm up to about 3 m², 8 mm about 4 m², 10 mm about 5 m² (JGJ 102 governs). High-rise work usually uses double-glazed laminated toughened units such as 8+12A+8+1.52PVB+8 for energy, acoustics and safety - the interlayer keeps fragments in place. Thickness must be calculated, never estimated.
Capped, concealed or semi-concealed frames?
Capped systems show the aluminium and hold glass mechanically - safest and easiest. Concealed frames bond glass with structural silicone for a flush look, but depend entirely on that bond: adhesive quality, application conditions and compatibility testing are critical, and failure means whole panels falling. Semi-concealed is the compromise. Chinese high-rise practice now favours capped or semi-concealed, with limits on concealed frames.
Why such a wide range of aluminium rates?
Section size and module. Dense small modules mean more mullions and transoms per square metre; high wind loads force larger sections (deflection limit L/180), adding more. Unitised systems use more aluminium than stick systems (interlocking frames), and capped more than concealed (pressure plates and covers). Prices need the module and height, not just a kg/m² figure.
Related calculators
Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.