Shenyang Glass Curtain Wall Maintenance Guide: Three Secrets to Extend Service Life

In Shenyang, glass curtain wall buildings have become an important symbol of urban modernization. However, as the usage time increases, various problems may arise with glass curtain walls, affecting their performance and service life. According to the Shenyang Construction Engineering Quality Supervision Station, over 60% of curtain wall water leakage problems are caused by aging sealant. To ensure the safety and durability of glass curtain walls, the following are three tips for extending their service life.

1、 Regular testing and evaluation

（1） Annual testing focus

Structural adhesive bonding test: Structural adhesive is a crucial component in glass curtain walls, which tightly connects glass panels with metal frames to ensure the stability and safety of the entire curtain wall system. With the passage of time and the influence of environmental factors, structural adhesives may experience problems such as aging, cracking, and detachment, leading to the loosening or even detachment of glass panels and causing safety accidents. Through professional structural adhesive bonding testing, it is possible to promptly detect potential hazards such as decreased bonding strength and detachment from the substrate of the structural adhesive, in order to take corresponding repair or replacement measures and ensure the reliability of the curtain wall structure.

Anti corrosion treatment of hardware: Hardware components in glass curtain walls, such as connectors, pendants, bolts, etc., are usually made of metal materials. When exposed to outdoor environments for a long time, they are easily corroded and corroded by atmospheric moisture, pollutants, etc. Rusted hardware not only affects its appearance and service life, but may also lead to a decrease in its mechanical performance, making it unable to withstand the loads and forces required by the design, and increasing the safety hazards of the curtain wall system. Therefore, in the annual inspection, it is necessary to carefully check whether there are rust stains, corrosion spots, and other conditions on the surface of the hardware, and timely anti-corrosion treatment should be carried out on the hardware with signs of corrosion, such as rust removal, coating with anti-corrosion coatings, etc., to extend its service life and ensure the safety of the curtain wall system.

（2） Detection frequency and method

Testing frequency: In order to promptly identify and address potential issues with glass curtain walls, it is recommended to conduct comprehensive testing and evaluation at least once a year. For curtain wall buildings that have been in use for a long time, have experienced extreme weather, or are located in areas with harsh environments, the number of inspections can be appropriately increased to better grasp the condition of the curtain wall, take timely maintenance measures, and avoid further deterioration of the problem.

Testing method: A professional testing team will use various advanced testing equipment and technical means to conduct a comprehensive and detailed inspection of the glass curtain wall. For example, using an infrared thermal imaging device to detect the bonding condition of structural adhesive inside the curtain wall and whether there is a risk of water leakage; Inspect the interior of hardware components for cracks, defects, etc. using an ultrasonic flaw detector; At the same time, a visual inspection will be conducted on the appearance of the curtain wall to check for scratches, damages, and intact sealing strips on the glass surface. Through these scientific and accurate detection methods, we can comprehensively understand the current situation of glass curtain walls and provide reliable basis for subsequent maintenance work.

2、 Standardized cleaning and maintenance

（1） Cleaning standards

Prohibition of Hydrofluoric Acid Cleaning Agents: Hydrofluoric acid is a strong acid with extremely strong corrosiveness, which can cause serious damage to the glass surface, metal frame, sealant and other materials of glass curtain walls. Using hydrofluoric acid based cleaning agents to clean glass curtain walls may cause corrosion spots and loss of luster on the glass surface, as well as rusting and deformation of the metal frame, shortening the service life of the curtain wall. Therefore, when cleaning glass curtain walls, the use of hydrofluoric acid based cleaning agents should be strictly prohibited.

Recommend using specialized curtain wall cleaning agents: In order to ensure the cleaning effect of glass curtain walls without adversely affecting their materials and performance, it is recommended to use cleaning agents specifically designed for glass curtain walls. This type of cleaning agent usually has good cleaning ability, which can effectively remove dust, oil stains, dirt, etc. on the surface of glass. At the same time, it has no corrosion or damage to materials such as glass, metal, and sealant, and has a certain maintenance effect, such as forming a protective film on the surface of glass to enhance its anti fouling and self-cleaning ability.

（2） Key points of daily maintenance

Regular cleaning: Based on the environment and usage of the glass curtain wall, develop a reasonable cleaning plan and regularly clean the curtain wall. Generally, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive cleaning at least once every quarter to maintain the cleanliness and aesthetics of the curtain wall surface. During the cleaning process, operations should be carried out in the order of top to bottom and difficult to easy, to avoid missing or repeating cleaning of certain areas and improve cleaning efficiency and quality.

Pay attention to the selection and use of cleaning tools: When cleaning glass curtain walls, soft and non shedding cleaning tools should be selected, such as ultra-fine fiber cloths, soft bristle brushes, etc. Avoid using rough and hard tools, such as steel wire balls, scouring pads, etc., to avoid scratching the glass surface or damaging the sealing rubber strip. At the same time, when using cleaning tools, appropriate force should be maintained to avoid excessive force causing damage to the curtain wall.

3、 Timely maintenance and emergency response

（1） Timely repair of common problems

Glass breakage replacement: During the use of glass curtain walls, problems such as glass breakage and cracks may occur due to accidental collisions, excessive wind pressure, temperature differences, and other reasons. Once glass damage is found, immediate measures should be taken to replace it to prevent further breakage and detachment of the glass, which could lead to safety accidents. When replacing glass, it is necessary to choose glass materials that are the same or consistent with the specifications, models, and performance of the original glass, and strictly follow the construction process and specifications for installation to ensure that the new glass is tightly connected and well sealed with the surrounding frame.

Sealing strip replacement: Sealing strips play an important role in sealing and buffering in glass curtain walls, effectively preventing problems such as rainwater leakage and air infiltration. However, the sealing strip may experience aging, cracking, and loss of elasticity due to factors such as ultraviolet radiation, ozone, and temperature changes during long-term use, resulting in a decrease in its sealing performance. Therefore, when the above-mentioned problems are found with the sealing strip, it should be replaced in a timely manner to restore the sealing performance of the curtain wall. When replacing the sealing strip, attention should be paid to selecting high-quality sealing strip products that match the curtain wall system, and ensuring correct and secure installation.

（2） Emergency response measures

Wind protection and reinforcement measures before severe convection weather: the climate in Shenyang is changeable, and severe convection weather occurs from time to time, such as rainstorm, gale, thunder and lightning, etc. Before the arrival of severe convective weather, corresponding windproof reinforcement measures should be taken for glass curtain walls to enhance their wind resistance and reduce the risk of curtain wall damage or detachment caused by excessive wind pressure. Specific measures include: checking and tightening the connectors, bolts, etc. of the curtain wall to ensure that their connections are firm and reliable; Clean the dust and debris on the surface of the curtain wall to avoid scratching or colliding with it in strong winds; For areas with safety hazards, such as loose glass, damaged sealing strips, etc., they should be repaired or reinforced in advance.

Emergency response to sudden water leakage: If there is a sudden water leakage in the glass curtain wall during use, emergency measures should be taken immediately to prevent rainwater from further seeping into the interior, causing damage to indoor decoration and equipment. Firstly, it is necessary to quickly identify the specific location and cause of the water leakage. If the leakage is caused by damaged sealing strips, temporary sealing materials can be used to block it first to prevent rainwater from continuing to infiltrate; At the same time, it is necessary to promptly clean up the accumulated water indoors and dry the damp parts to prevent problems such as mold and corrosion. If weather permits, professional personnel should be arranged as soon as possible to comprehensively repair and handle the water leakage problem.

Liaoning Taifeng Technology Construction Co., Ltd., as a well-known local construction enterprise in Shenyang, has a professional curtain wall service team with rich experience and technical strength in glass curtain wall maintenance. The company always adheres to the product development orientation of national advocacy, market positioning, and customer demand. It specializes in the research and development, design, manufacturing, and installation of curtain walls and doors and windows, and is committed to providing customers with high-quality and personalized building exterior solutions. If you need to maintain the glass curtain wall or have any related needs, please feel free to contact Liaoning Taifeng Technology Construction Co., Ltd. We will wholeheartedly provide you with professional and efficient services to safeguard your building.

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