6.4.4 Checklist – Building Envelope

Cladding

• Use the thinnest panel thickness that is acceptable for conventional loads.
• Design cladding supports and the supporting structure to resist the ultimate lateral resistance of the panel.
• Design cladding connections to have as direct a load transmission path into the main structure as practical. A good transmission path minimizes shear and torsional response.
• Avoid framing cladding into columns and other primary vertical load-carrying members. Instead frame into floor diaphragms.

Windows

• Use the thinnest glass section that is acceptable for conventional loads.
• Design window systems so that the frame anchorage and the  supporting wall are capable of resisting the breaking pressure of the window glass.
• Use laminated annealed glass (for insulated panels, only the interior pane needs to be laminated).
• Design window frames with a minimum of a ½-inch bite.
• Use a minimum of a ¼-inch silicone sealant around the inside glass perimeter, with a minimum tensile strength of 20 psi.