This FAQ page has been prepared to answer frequently asked questions about curtain wall systems, aluminum joinery, aluminum windows, facade cladding, skylight systems, glass selection, thermal insulation, pricing, quotation process and architectural applications.
This section explains both technical concepts and practical issues that affect project decisions. For more information or a project-specific technical evaluation, you can contact the Optimal Architecture team.
The FAQ page is prepared to answer frequently asked questions about curtain wall systems, aluminum joinery, facade cladding, skylights, glass selection, thermal insulation, pricing, quotation process, fire safety, maintenance and installation details.
This section explains both technical concepts and practical issues that affect project decisions. You can find information about the factors that influence curtain wall pricing, the differences between capped and structural silicone facades, aluminum joinery selection, glass performance, facade cladding systems and the scope of Optimal Mimarlık’s project, manufacturing and installation services.
What is a curtain wall system?
A curtain wall system is an exterior building envelope solution made of glass, aluminum profiles and supporting connection components. It is commonly used in offices, hotels, commercial buildings, residential projects, factories and prestige developments to provide architectural appearance, daylight use, thermal performance and facade continuity.
Which factors affect curtain wall pricing?
Curtain wall pricing depends on system type, aluminum profile section, glass specification, facade height, project quantity, operable vents, surface finish, accessory selection, substructure, installation conditions and project details. Final pricing should be evaluated together with architectural drawings, dimensions and technical specifications.
What is the difference between capped curtain wall and structural silicone facade?
In capped curtain wall systems, glass panels are fixed with visible external aluminum cap profiles. In structural silicone facade systems, the exterior appearance is flatter and the glass surface effect is stronger. The right system should be selected according to architectural design, wind load, glass dimensions, maintenance needs, budget and installation details.
What should be considered when selecting aluminum joinery?
When selecting aluminum joinery, thermal insulation, profile depth, glass thickness, accessory quality, air-water tightness, usage intensity, color selection and installation detail should be evaluated together. The right system improves energy performance, user comfort and long-term durability in residential, office, retail and commercial buildings.
How should a facade cladding system be selected?
Facade cladding selection should consider architectural design, outdoor conditions, fire performance, panel weight, maintenance needs, substructure details, color durability and budget. Composite panel, compact laminate, ceramic, sinterflex, perforated panel and mesh panel systems offer different advantages depending on the project.
How is glass selected for skylight roof systems?
Glass selection for skylight roof systems should consider light transmission, solar control, thermal insulation, safety, waterproofing, slope, supporting structure and maintenance access. Depending on the project, tempered laminated glass, insulated glass units, solar control glass or special performance glass may be preferred.
How can I request a quotation for curtain wall and aluminum joinery in Istanbul?
For curtain wall and aluminum joinery quotations in Istanbul, project dimensions, facade type, glass selection, aluminum system, quantities, installation area and application details are reviewed. Optimal Mimarlık prepares quotation studies for curtain wall, joinery, skylight and facade cladding systems according to project information.
Which facade and joinery services does Optimal Mimarlık provide?
Optimal Mimarlık provides project support, detail solutions, manufacturing and installation services for curtain wall systems, aluminum doors and windows, sliding systems, skylights, glass roofs, composite panels, compact laminate, perforated panels, mesh panels, ceramic facades, glass railings, interior partitions and steel construction applications.
Which types of glass are used in curtain wall systems?
Glass selection in curtain wall systems depends on thermal insulation, solar control, safety, acoustic performance, color, reflectivity and project performance targets. Depending on the project, insulated glass units, tempered glass, laminated glass, tempered laminated glass, solar control glass, low-e coated glass or special performance glass may be preferred.
How are curtain wall systems evaluated in terms of fire safety?
Fire safety in curtain wall systems should be evaluated together with the selected glass, aluminum profiles, panels, insulation materials, fire stopping details and slab edge solutions. Especially in high-rise buildings, commercial buildings and high-occupancy projects, system selection should consider applicable regulations and project specifications.
Do aluminum joinery and facade systems require maintenance?
Regular maintenance is important for the long-term performance of aluminum joinery and facade systems. Glass surfaces, gaskets, accessories, drainage channels, hinges and sliding mechanisms should be checked periodically. Maintenance needs may vary depending on usage intensity, environmental conditions and system type.
How long does a curtain wall installation take?
Curtain wall installation time depends on project size, facade quantity, system type, manufacturing details, glass and profile supply process, site conditions and installation schedule. Small-scale facade applications may be completed in a shorter period, while large or custom-detailed projects require longer manufacturing and installation planning.
What is the difference between composite panel facade and compact laminate facade?
Composite panel facades are lightweight aluminum-based cladding systems that provide smooth surfaces and various color options. Compact laminate facades are dense, durable exterior panels preferred for high impact resistance and wood-effect, solid color or special surface finishes. The selection depends on architectural appearance, fire class, durability, budget and installation details.
Do the price lists replace a final quotation?
The information in the price lists is for preliminary information only and does not replace a final quotation. Final pricing depends on project dimensions, system type, glass or panel selection, accessories, color, surface finish, substructure, installation conditions and application details. Project and quantity information should be reviewed together for accurate pricing.
Does Optimal Mimarlık provide services outside Istanbul?
Optimal Mimarlık is based in Istanbul, but curtain wall, aluminum joinery, skylight, facade cladding and steel construction projects in other cities may also be evaluated depending on project scope and application conditions. Service scope is determined according to project location, quantity, system type and installation schedule.
Click here to see the document on the flammability classes of building materials.
With the increasing use of transparent glass in facades and interiors, the correct glass selection also gains importance. In projects where correct glass selection cannot be made;
- Not being able to cool and / or heat the building
- Increased electricity consumption caused by artificial lighting due to insufficient amount of natural light,
- In the opposite case, the problem of glare in the interior due to uncontrolled light penetration,
- Risk of injury from human impact,
- Material losses as a result of attacks and theft attempts,
- Different problems such as physical and psychological disturbances due to noise may occur.
In addition, glass breakage may also occur due to reasons such as failure to determine the appropriate glass thickness or failure to make thermal breakage calculation. These problems, which are not possible to be solved later, can be overcome by identifying these problems by making the correct diagnosis and choosing the appropriate glass during the design phase in line with the needs of the project.
For the reasons mentioned above, it is of great importance which glass will be preferred in which thickness and for what reason. At this point, as your solution partner OPTİMAL ARCHITECTURE, we are trying to achieve the minimum cost - maximum benefit point in our projects with the "Glass Consultancy" service we offer project-specific.
At the same time in correctly analysed interiors;
- To ensure that daylight reaches the interior more,
- To increase the brightness level of the environment by reflecting the light with the use of mirrors and to make the space perceived more spacious and wider,
- By utilising the translucency of glass, frosted glass in different and modern patterns can be used to separate the two spaces,
- It is possible to add colour to the spaces with painted glasses.
It is the value that shows how much heat the material conducts, thus the insulation level and the value that varies in each material. In other words, when the difference between the temperatures of two parallel surfaces of a material with a thickness d (m) is 1K = 1ºC, it is the amount of heat passing perpendicularly through 1 m surface in 1 hour. The heat permeability coefficient is related to the thermal resistance of the material, if the thermal resistance increases (increasing the thickness of the plate to be used will increase the thermal resistance), the heat permeability coefficient will decrease.
It is the amount of heat passing through the 1m2 surface of the thermal insulation material at a distance of 1m perpendicular to each other when the temperature difference is 1ºC.
It is the amount of heat energy that must be given from the heating system to the heated environment in a month. Unit is "J".
It is the amount of heat energy that must be given from the heating system to the heated environment in a year. Unit is "J".
It is the amount of heat energy lost per unit time by conduction and ventilation from the outer shell of the building in case of 1 K temperature difference between inside and outside. Unit is "W/K".
It is the monthly average value of the outside temperature. Unit is "0 C".
It is the monthly average value of internal temperature. Unit is "0 C".
It is the amount of heat energy emitted per unit time from the heat sources located outside the heating system of the building, in the heated environment. Unit is "W".
It is the amount of solar energy directly reaching the heated environment per unit time. Unit is "W".
It is the contribution rate of the sum of internal heat gains and solar energy gain to the heating of the environment. Building Utilisation Area (An) It is the additional usage area of the building. Unit is "m2".
It is the volume calculated according to the dimensions of the outer shell surrounding the building. Unit is "m3".
External wall, ceiling, floor/flooring, window, door etc. It is the sum of the heat loss surface areas of the building components and is found according to external measurements. Unit is "m2".
It is the ratio of the total surface losing heat (Atop) to the heated building volume (Vbrüt). Unit is "m-1".
It is the arithmetic inverse of thermal conductivity. Denoted by the symbol R. (resistance)
It is the ratio of the amount of water vapour present in the air to the highest amount of water vapour that can be found in the air at that temperature.
It is the weight of the material per unit volume. Ideally, the most suitable densities should be used in terms of dimensional stability and mechanical strength. Therefore, specialists should be consulted when selecting the material.
There is a temperature at which water vapour in the air turns into water as a result of temperature drop. This value called condensation temperature varies according to each temperature and relative humidity percentage. If the relative humidity increases, the difference between the ambient temperature and the condensing temperature decreases. As the difference decreases, the insulation thickness increases. In order to prevent condensation on the inner surface of the outer walls, the surface temperature must be above the condensation point. For this, it is necessary either to heat the interior space much more than necessary, or to increase the internal surface temperature by making thermal insulation on the wall.
The partial vapour pressure of water vapour, which varies with temperature and relative humidity, encounters a resistance as it moves from high to low. The 1 m surface of all building materials resists vapour diffusion depending on its thickness. The ratio of this resistance to the vapour diffusion resistance of air is called the vapour diffusion resistance coefficient. In thermal insulation materials, although it varies according to the detail, it is generally ideal to have high vapour diffusion resistance.
Factors affecting this coefficient:
- Temperature that does not depend on the material
- Depending on the material
- Cell wall thickness,
- Cohesion in cell walls
- Closed cell
- Small cell size
- Homogeneity
The temperature to which the material will be exposed at the place where it is applied should be determined in advance and the material should be selected in accordance with this temperature.
The mechanical strength of thermal insulation materials is generally accepted as the compressive stress value that creates 10% deformation in the material.
It is ideal that the water absorption rates of thermal insulation materials are zero or close to zero
The deformation of materials by temperature or pressure must be very small.
The partial vapour pressure of water vapour, which varies with temperature and relative humidity, encounters a resistance as it moves from high to low. The 1 m surface of all building materials resists vapour diffusion depending on its thickness. The ratio of this resistance to the vapour diffusion resistance of air is called the vapour diffusion resistance coefficient. In thermal insulation materials, although it varies according to the detail, it is generally ideal to have high vapour diffusion resistance.
Factors affecting this coefficient:
- Temperature that does not depend on the material
- Depending on the material
- Cell wall thickness,
- Cohesion in cell walls
- Closed cell
- Small cell size
- Homogeneity
It is a comparison of the total transmittance of solar energy compared to 3 mm colourless glass. 3 mm clear glass transmits about 87% of the light. Lower shading coefficient means better solar control.
It is the percentage of light incident on the glass that is reflected back by the glass.
It is the percentage of the total solar energy entering the glass. Lower solar energy total transmittance value means better solar control. Solar energy is a phenomenon that we want to avoid in hot weather and utilise in cold weather. Therefore, it may be logical to use our choice in favour of glass that passes more light and heat on the northern facades where there will be less illumination but less heating. However, in hot climates, solar energy will increase cooling costs, so we want to avoid it as much as possible. In cold climates, high SHGC is preferred to maximise the use of passive solar energy (>0.55). In hot climates, it is recommended to be less than 0.4.
In the past, glazing that reduced heat gain also reduced daylight gain. But today, while reducing the solar gain coefficient, it is possible not to cause a decrease in daylight gain at the same rate. It is meaningful to mention the Daylight Gain / Solar Gain ratio in terms of this feature.
It is the comparison of the total solar energy transmittance with 3 mm colourless glass. Lower shading coefficient means better solar control. This coefficient is the ratio of the solar heat gain coefficient of the window for which the window is given to the solar heat gain coefficient of a standard reference window with a single-leaf 3 mm transparent glass receiving radiation in the same environmental conditions and in the same way. If this value is greater than 1, it is taken into consideration in increasing solar gain and if it is smaller, it is taken into consideration in reducing solar gain and therefore in solar control. We can find the SHGC value by multiplying the SC value by 0.87.