Setting curtain wall frame parameters

Frame category

Select a category of frame element to define, and then set its parameters. The starting and ending frames, top and bottom frames, and the inner horizontal and vertical frames can each be defined separately, for maximum flexibility. Multiple categories can be selected at one time to quickly define common parameters.

Definition

Type

Select the type of frame.

Full-Depth: Standard, normal frame

Capped Full-Depth: Standard frames with caps; specify the Cap Depth

Butt-Glazed: Standard frame that is concealed behind the panels, creating the appearance that the panels are joined without a frame

Brake Metal: 90° corner frame or, for curved walls and polygonal walls, a segmented frame; in a straight wall, behaves like a full-depth frame

Capped Brake Metal: Combines the properties of a capped frame and brake metal frame; specify the Cap Width if different from the overall width

Virtual: Hidden frame; this is useful for piecing together curtain wall units, especially when vertically stacked. A virtual top frame appears to butt up against the bottom frame of the curtain wall above it.

Preview

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

Width

Sets the width of the frame

Depth

Select how the frame depth is specified. If set to Use wall thickness, the frame is set to the thickness of the curtain wall as specified in the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box (the thickness is displayed). Alternatively, set a Custom depth and enter the value.

Panel Inset

Determines the overlap between the frame and the neighboring panels, for both Top/Plan and 3D views. The allowable inset distance can vary from 0, for a frame without a notch, to half the width of the frame, where the panels meet in the middle of the frame.

Cap Depth

(capped types only)

Specifies the cap depth, relative to the frame depth

Cap Width

(capped brake metal type only)

Sets the width of the cap for a brake metal frame, allowing the cap and the frame to have different widths

Offset Reference

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

Offset

Shifts the frame position relative to the offset reference. Enter a positive value to shift the frame to the right (interior) side of the wall as drawn, or enter a negative value to shift the frame to the left (exterior) side of the wall. To center the frame 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.

Half width on wall boundary

Creates a frame of half the width on the wall boundary. This is useful for piecing together curtain wall units, especially for end-to-end curtain wall joins.

This option only applies to capped full depth, full depth, and butt-glazed frames that lie on the start, end, top, or bottom wall boundary.

Segment round wall

(curved wall only)

This parameter only applies to curved curtain walls with full-height, vertical frames. Normally, this option should be selected, to create a wall with straight panels that follow the arc shape, for a curved effect. However, by deselecting this option for certain standard or corner frames within a curtain wall, a straight segment can be created that does not follow the arc, for a straight panel of glass that is part of the curved wall.

Frame/Cap Class

The frame and the caps in each frame category 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 frame or cap in the same class as the curtain wall.

Energos Settings

(Architect required)

Opens the Frame Energos Properties dialog box, for specifying the frame’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 frame is eligible to be included in energy calculations, depending on the energy analysis settings for layer/class, element inclusion, and so on. If the frame 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.

Frame: Select the thermal properties of the curtain wall frame. Sets can be created and edited; see Specifying system sets.

Shading: Select the level of shade for each type of shading near the frame, 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 frame is in the shade.

Materials

Select the material for the frame and/or cap from the Resource Selector.

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

Frame/Cap 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).

Frame/Cap Pen

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

Frame/Cap 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 frames for exporting to IFC format