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Window Wall divisions

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Drogo_Baggins1
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Window Wall divisions

I have a straight window wall 30' long and 12' high) with horizontal AND vertical framing/mullions.  Trying to set up a curtain wall allows me to define vertical OR horizontal mullions but with all the descriptions of "nested grids" and secondary grids it is completely unclear how to define this simple wall with both vertical and horizontal mullions.  

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I find it helpful to sketch out the desired final result, and then break it down in the the necessary components.  I also find it helpful to define the parts I need first (Element Definitions), then worry about assigning them to the Grids.

 

Determine what size(s) of Frames and Mullions you need.  Frames are the left-most, right-most, top-most and bottom-most members.  Mullions are everything in between.  Many systems will have the same size for both, but you still need to set up at least one Frame and one Mullion definition.

 

Infills are what goes in between the Frames and Mullions.  Unless you are installing an "empty" grid of Frames and Mullions, you will need at least one Infill.  If you plan to include Doors, Windows or Curtain Wall Units in your Curtain Wall, these will be defined as Infills.

 

Divisions are where you create the rules for how the Curtain Wall is divided.  There are two orientations, horizontal and vertical.  To have both horizontal and vertical mullions in your Curtain Wall, you will need at least one horizontal Division and one vertical Division.  For a simple design where all of the verticals are continuous from top to bottom, and all of the horizontals are continuous from side to side, one horizontal and one vertical may be sufficient.  More complex arrangements, with varying spacing or discontinuous mullions may require more Divisions (or the use of Curtain Wall Units as Infills).

 

With all of the Elements defined, you can now set up your Grids and assign the Elements.  To have both horizontal and vertical mullions in a Curtain Wall, you will need to have a nested Grid.  The out-of-the-box styles call these Primary Grid and Secondary Grid.  If those names work for you, fine; otherwise, devise names that have meaning for you and describe the purpose of the grid.  Note also that if you start a new style from scratch, you will start out with a Primary (horizontal) Grid with a nested Secondary (vertical) Grid, a Horizontal and Vertical Division, and Default Infill, Default Frame and Default Mullion.  These can all be renamed, their properties changed and the Element assignments can all be modified to suit the needs of your Curtain Wall.

 

In the left sash, at the top, select the Primary Grid (or whatever you called the outermost grid, which appears at the top of the grid tree).  In the Element column, choose a Division to assign to the Primary Grid.  Keep in mind that the Primary Grid's mullions will run through those of nested grids, so if you want the verticals to run from top to bottom and to have them interrupt the horizontals, assign a vertically oriented Division to the Primary Grid.  If you want the horizontals to run continuous from side to side and have them interrupt the verticals, assign a horizontally oriented Division to the Primary Grid.

 

The next step is to make Cell Assignment(s).  If all of the cells in the Primary Grid are to receive a nested grid, then you only need one Cell assignment (the Secondary Grid, or whatever you are calling it).  Choose *Nested Grid* in the Element column.  With just one Cell Assignment, the Type and Used In columns will be uneditable and they will say "Default" and "All unassigned cells" respectively.  If all of the cells will not receive the same assignment, you can select the New Cell Assignment button or right click on (one of) the Cell Assignments and choose New from the context menu.  Additionally added Cell Assignments allow you to choose what Element to assign:  

  • *Nested Grid* - Creates a New Nested Grid, which appears in the left sash under the Grid currently being edited.
  • Any of the already defined Infills.
  • *NONE* - Leaves this cell empty of any infill.
  • New infill... - Allows you to define a new Infill "on-the-fly".

You will also be able to set the value in the Type column:

  • Index - Specify the cell(s) to which the Element chosen is to be assigned, based on the Index numbers you will add to the Used In column.
  • Location - Allows you to choose Start, Middle and/or End in the Used In column.

Based on what you chose for the Type column, you will either enter the Index number(s) of cells where the Element chosen is to be applied or will have access to a dialog that has toggles to allow you to independently choose from Start, Middle and/or End.  Index numbers are positive integers, starting with 1; separate multiple values with commas.

 

Typically, Frames are only assigned to the Primary (outermost) Grid, but it is possible to add Frame assignments to Nested Grids and there may be occasions where it makes sense.  If you only have one Frame type, you can use the Default Frame Assignment (which cannot be deleted or renamed).  If you have different frames, or want to not have a Frame in one or more of the positions, you can edit the Used In column to independently choose to place a given Frame Assignment at the Left, Right, Top and/or Bottom locations.

 

The final assignment is for Mullions.  The Default Mullion Assignment also cannot be renamed or deleted; whatever Mullion Element you choose here will be used for all Mullions not otherwise assigned.  If all your Mullions for a Grid are the same, you can set the Default Mullion Assignment to that Mullion and you are done.  If you have different Mullions in the Grid being edited, you can add additional Mullion Assignments and, like additional Cell Assignments, set the Type to Index or Location, and then specify Index Number(s) or Start/Middle/End in the Used In column.

 

With the Primary Grid completed, you now need to select each nested grid under it, in turn, and make the same assignments.  Continue until you run out of nested grids.

 

The attached file has a simple 30'x12' Curtain Wall with a vertical primary grid Division (3'-0" spacing), a horizontal secondary grid Division (4'-0" spacing), one Frame, one Mullion (both Frame and Mullion are 2.5" x 6") and one Infill (a simple 1" thick panel meant to represent insulated glass).

 

The image below shows the initial sketch, with the Primary Grid sketched in red "center" lines, and the Secondary Grid sketched in blue "dashed" lines.  This is sufficiently simple that a sketch may not have been needed, but it is a good habit to form, as it will keep you from getting lost in nested grids on more complex Curtain Walls.2017-02-16_ACA2017_CurtainWallSketch.png

 

 

 

The sketch below shows the final Curtain Wall, in elevation.2017-02-16_ACA2017_CurtainWallElevation.png

 


David Koch
AutoCAD Architecture and Revit User
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