Setting curtain wall panel parameters

Definition

Type

Select the kind of panel to place between the frames. Glazed panels are typical glass panels, and spandrel panels are opaque. Spandrel face panels are decorative panels. Open panels provide empty space between the frames.

Preview

Displays a labeled diagram of the selected panel type; the numbers indicated on the diagram correspond to the labeled parameters below the preview, for easy identification

Thickness

Specifies the panel thickness. The inset is controlled by the Panel Inset parameter in the Frame Settings dialog box. The combination of panel Thickness and Panel Inset parameters creates the channel for the panel inserted in the frame.

Use infill

(spandrel and spandrel face only)

Allows the area to the right (interior of the curtain wall as drawn) and between the frames to be filled. The attributes of the infill panel are determined by the panel.

Infill Depth

Specifies the additional depth of the infill panel

Face Depth

(spandrel face only)

Sets the depth of the spandrel face

Wall Thickness

Displays the Wall Thickness value from the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box for reference

Offset Reference

Displays the offset reference that is selected in the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box

Offset

Shifts the panel position relative to the offset reference. Enter a positive value to shift the panel to the left side of the wall as drawn, or enter a negative value to shift the frame to the right side of the wall. To center the panel on the wall, select Center Line as the Offset Reference in the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box, and use an offset of 0.

Panel/Face Class

The panel and the spandrel face (if selected as a panel type) can be placed in distinct classes to control their appearance and visibility. Select the class to use from the current list of classes, create a new class, or select <Object Class> to place the panel or spandrel face in the same class as the curtain wall.

Energos Settings

(Architect required)

Opens the Panel Energos Properties dialog box, for specifying the panel’s energy analysis parameters. Vectorworks Architect is required to conduct an energy analysis; however, energy-related parameters can be specified here for informational purposes.

Include in Calculations: When selected, the panel is eligible to be included in energy calculations, depending on the energy analysis settings for layer/class, element inclusion, and so on. If the panel contains any valid building element objects, like doors and windows, that can also participate in energy analysis calculations, you are asked whether to include or exclude those objects when you select or deselect this option for walls.

Glazing: Select the type of window glazing. Sets can be created and edited; see Specifying system sets.

Shading: Select the level of shade for each type of shading near the panel, or, for custom shading, select Custom from any of the lists. The Edit Shading dialog box opens, to manually enter a percentage for when the panel is in the shade.

Materials

Select the material for the panel and/or face (for Spandrel with Face Type only) from the Resource Selector.

The associated fill and texture settings are set to the material’s settings, and the fill parameters are disabled.

Panel/Face Fill

Specifies the part appearance in section views. If the part uses a material, the fill is set to the material’s fill, and the controls are disabled. Otherwise, select a fill style, or Class Style to set the fill attributes by class. Depending on the Style selected, select a fill color, pattern, or resource (hatch, image, gradient, tile).

Panel/Face Pen

Select Class Style to use the class style for the pen attribute, or choose a style. Depending on the Style selected, select a color, pattern, or line type resource for the wall.

Panel/Face Texture

Applies the selected texture to the part. If the part uses a material, the texture is initially set to the material’s texture, but this can be overridden. Select a texture from the Resource Selector, or click one of the buttons to use no texture, to use the class texture, or if the selected item's material texture was previously overridden, to revert to the material's texture.

Make All Attributes by Class

Sets all fill, pen, and texture attributes by class, except those that come from a material

Remove by Class Settings

Removes all by class settings for fill, pen, and texture attributes; does not affect material definitions with attributes set by class

IFC

Attaches IFC data to the curtain wall panels for exporting to IFC format