What safety considerations are critical when specifying a Curtain Wall System for high-rise buildings?

Specifying a curtain wall for high-rise applications requires prioritizing occupant safety, fire performance, and construction-site protection. Structural considerations include ensuring the system withstands wind and seismic loads with sufficient redundancy and tested connections; design must account for glass fragmentation behavior under impact—laminated or tempered laminated glass reduces falling hazard. Fire safety is paramount: façades must not compromise vertical and horizontal compartmentation; spandrels, perimeter fire stops, and cavity barriers should meet local fire codes and tested assemblies (e.g., non-combustible spandrel cores, intumescent seals) to prevent vertical fire spread. For high-rise towers in Gulf cities or Central Asian capitals, coordinate façade fire details with local authorities and building fire strategies, including smoke extraction and pressurization. During installation, implement rigorous fall protection and rescue plans for façade installers, including certified rope access, scaffolding systems, and compliance with site health and safety regulations. Window cleaning anchors, permanent lifelines, and anchor points should be integrated into the design early to provide secure access without compromising waterproofing. Impact resistance to windborne debris in storm-prone or desert wind regions must be assessed; designing anchorage redundancies and using laminated glass reduces risk of catastrophic glazing loss. Additionally, specify anti-fall devices for inward-opening vents and ensure that operable units have restricted openings to prevent accidental falls. Require third-party peer review of structural calculations, witnessed mock-up testing, and documented QA/QC to demonstrate compliance and minimize liability for owners and contractors across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.