How does a curtain wall system handle thermal expansion in desert climates?

Thermal expansion management is essential for metal and glass curtain wall systems in desert climates, where diurnal temperature swings and prolonged solar exposure—common in places like Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha—can cause significant frame and glass movement. Curtain wall design mitigates these effects through the use of thermal breaks within aluminum mullions to reduce heat transfer, and by specifying allowable movement ranges for framing that match local thermal gradients. Anchors and brackets are designed as sliding or floating connections that transfer load but accommodate longitudinal and perpendicular movement; this prevents stress buildup at fixings that could otherwise distort frames or crack glazing seals. Expansion joints are placed strategically at regular intervals and at changes in geometry to relieve thermal stress across long façades, and pressure-equalized cavities allow the system to respond to differential pressure without overstressing components. Glass units are installed with appropriately sized edge clearances and flexible gaskets, and silicone or elastomeric sealants that maintain elasticity under cyclic temperature swings are chosen to avoid hardening and failure. In addition, careful detailing around spandrel panels and at floor lines ensures that movement at slab interfaces does not compromise water tightness. Through these engineered details—movement joints, flexible anchors, thermal breaks and resilient seals—metal-glass curtain wall systems remain robust and serviceable even under extreme desert thermal cycles.