FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is building construction and, in particular, curtain wall systems.

BACKGROUND

A typical curtain wall system includes extruded aluminum framing members infilled with glass, metal panels or stone, providing a building envelope enclosure. Curtain wall panels can be made with lightweight materials and such systems have become the standard for large residential and commercial building envelopes. The panels are attached to the floor slab of a building structure but do not carry the floor or roof loads of the building. With unitized systems, curtain wall panels are assembled and glazed in a factory, shipped to the building site and erected on the building. Unitized wall systems constructed indoors in controlled conditions provide a more consistent product and permit more quality and rapid installation at the building site compared to stick-built curtain wall systems.

When considering exposure to the elements, creating an effective air and water seals within panels and between a panel and the floor slab is a challenging problem. Unfavourable thermal conditions can lead to condensation (moisture) forming within the building envelope which can stain or damage interior finishes and form mold and mildew. Thermal bridging also impacts the amount of energy required to heat and cool a space and can result in thermal discomfort for building occupants. Curtain wall systems according to past approaches often experience significant increases in U-factor values, a measure of the rate of heat transfer, due to thermal bridging.

Passive House is a voluntary building standard for resiliency, comfort, and energy efficiency, which reduces the building's ecological footprint, among other benefits. One of the aims of the Passive house standard is to eliminate or minimize thermal bridges and air leakage. Designing materials and equipment, including curtain wall components and systems, including for large buildings, to meet the Passive House standard is a challenging problem.

All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

Thus, a need exists for improved curtain wall systems with improved or alternative thermal separation characteristics.

