Kawneer's Systems Demonstrate Impressive Performance in Seismic Tests

One of the most predominant factors impacting today's construction industry is the demand to construct buildings that can resist seismic forces and accommodate for the building movements. Architects and engineers have been compelled to consider earthquake potential when designing buildings. Even in non-earthquake-prone zones, accommodation for the building movement is now considered standard practice.

AAMA 501.6 Tested

As the pioneering manufacturer of curtain wall systems, Kawneer has invested in the latest seismic testing standard available, AAMA 501.6. This testing measures the horizontal racking displacement amplitude of exterior wall framing members and evaluates them under monitored laboratory conditions to understand if the lateral movement would result in the breakage and fallout of the glass panels.

For architects and building designers, selecting the ultimate curtain wall system for seismic zone requirements, look for products that meet both the elastic drift requirement as per the AAMA 501.4 test and the glass fallout drift determined by the AAMA 501.6 test method.

The following Kawneer curtain wall products have been successfully tested to the updated AAMA 501.6 seismic test standard:

• 1600 Wall System^®1
• 1600 Wall System^®2
• 1600UT System^™1
• 1600UT System^™2
• 1620UT
• 1620UT SSG
• 2500 UT SSG
• 2500UT SGT Unitwall^®
• Clearwall^® SSIT

AAMA 501.4 Enhances Systems’ Credibility

Kawneer’s curtain wall products have also been tested to AAMA 501.4. The AAMA 501.4 standard analyzes how windows, window wall, curtain wall and storefront systems perform when exposed to a quantified horizontal displacement in the plane of the wall.

The elastic drift determined by AAMA 501.4, combined with the glass fallout drift determined by the AAMA 501.6, is another indicator that Kawneer has the ultimate curtain wall system for seismic zone requirements. 

Kawneer provides architects and designers with the information they need during the design and specification process to give building occupants an unrivaled level of protection. 

Visit Kawneer.com