Curtain Wall Upgrades
Upgrade your curtain wall using LiteZone® insulating glass units (IGUs).
Many older office buildings have been constructed using very energy inefficient window or curtain wall systems. These buildings have relied on large and costly mechanical heating and cooling systems to maintain comfort levels. In a large number of these older buildings both the mechanical systems and the window or curtain wall systems are at or near their end of life.
Using LiteZone® to upgrade the window or curtain wall system in these buildings will dramatically improve comfort levels and reduce building energy costs. In addition, any worn out under window perimeter heating system often can be removed, and the extra floor space reclaimed for more useful purposes. By optimizing your project to use LiteZone®, the cost reductions in mechanical system upgrades can result in an overall much more economic building renovation project.
Below we outline two methods of incorporating higher performing, thicker LiteZone® glass units in an existing curtain wall system in order to dramatically improve the overall energy efficiency of your building envelope.
Using LiteZone® to upgrade the window or curtain wall system in these buildings will dramatically improve comfort levels and reduce building energy costs. In addition, any worn out under window perimeter heating system often can be removed, and the extra floor space reclaimed for more useful purposes. By optimizing your project to use LiteZone®, the cost reductions in mechanical system upgrades can result in an overall much more economic building renovation project.
Below we outline two methods of incorporating higher performing, thicker LiteZone® glass units in an existing curtain wall system in order to dramatically improve the overall energy efficiency of your building envelope.
Method 1 - Use an adapter to modify the curtain wall's glass pocket
Many existing curtain walls systems can use an adapter to extend the glass pocket with a larger thermal break to accept a higher performing thicker LiteZone® glass unit.
An outdated and energy inefficient curtain wall can be economically renewed with LiteZone® L0679 glass units to achieve R17G vision areas and ~R24 spandrel areas.
Many existing curtain walls systems can use an adapter to extend the glass pocket with a larger thermal break to accept a higher performing thicker LiteZone® glass unit.
- The external caps, pressure plates and thermal break are removed
- The heavy aluminum back section is left in place
- A thermally broken adapter to extend the glass pocket is attached
- Gaskets and sealants are renewed
- Higher performing, thicker, LiteZone® glass units are installed
- New caps can be used to renew the exterior finish of the curtain wall
- Additional insulation can also be added to the spandrel areas
An outdated and energy inefficient curtain wall can be economically renewed with LiteZone® L0679 glass units to achieve R17G vision areas and ~R24 spandrel areas.
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Sill detail before the adapter
An example of a typical curtain wall designed for a 1" insulating glass unit. 
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Sill detail after installing the adapter
An example of a typical curtain wall designed for a 1" insulating glass unit with an adapter using a polyamide thermal break to extend the glass pocket in order to accept a thicker, higher performing LiteZone® insulating glass unit.. 
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Method 2 - No modification to the curtain wall's glass pocket
Higher performing thicker LiteZone® glass units can be installed in existing curtain wall systems without modifications to the glass pocket:
See the detail below showing a LiteZone® L0579 IGU (5.6" thick) (R15.4G; U=0.065G NFRC) installed in an Alumicor 2600 curtain wall with a 1" glass pocket.
Higher performing thicker LiteZone® glass units can be installed in existing curtain wall systems without modifications to the glass pocket:
- A spacer is used to fill the 1” glass pocket against the offset exterior glass pane
- An aluminum tube is used as an interior glass stop
- A heal bead of silicone is used on the interior glass to establish an interior air seal
See the detail below showing a LiteZone® L0579 IGU (5.6" thick) (R15.4G; U=0.065G NFRC) installed in an Alumicor 2600 curtain wall with a 1" glass pocket.
