Which curtain wall system provides better weather and air-tightness performance on tall buildings?

When specifying aluminum curtain walls for tall towers in the Gulf and Central Asia (for example, projects touching markets in Turkmenistan or Kazakhstan), weather and airtightness are prime concerns. Unitized systems typically offer superior and more consistent weather performance because factory assembly allows precise control over gasket compression, sealant application, and drainage paths. Modules are tested in controlled conditions for water penetration and air infiltration before shipment, reducing on-site variability — a key advantage for high-rise buildings exposed to high wind-driven rain and pressure differences.

Stick systems rely on many on-site joints and field-applied sealants, which increase the risk of inconsistent gasket compression and bond quality. Skilled installation and rigorous quality control can mitigate those risks, but environmental factors like extreme heat in the Middle East or dust and freeze–thaw cycles in parts of Central Asia introduce variability that is harder to manage on-site.

Engineered thermal breaks, continuous gaskets, and factory-applied secondary seals in unitized aluminum façades improve airtightness and reduce thermal bridging. For tall buildings subject to high stack effects and wind pressures in cities like Riyadh or Almaty, unitized systems reduce leakage paths and often achieve better tested air infiltration values. As a manufacturer, we recommend unitized façades for projects where consistent weather performance and high QA/QC are contractual priorities, while stick systems remain viable with enhanced field inspection regimes and durable sealant specifications.