What fire safety, impact resistance, and fall protection considerations apply to a unitized curtain wall?

Fire safety, impact resistance, and fall protection are integrated considerations in unitized curtain wall design driven by code requirements and project risk profiles. Fire safety covers compartmentation, vertical and horizontal fire stopping at floor lines, and use of fire-rated spandrel assemblies where required. Designers must address how curtain wall penetrations (e.g., slab edges, vents) are sealed to maintain required fire-resistance ratings and specify fire-resistant materials where necessary. Impact resistance considerations include laminated or tempered glass selections in areas subject to human impact, blast mitigation, or localized hazards; laminated IGUs with PVB/SGP interlayers retain fragments and enhance post-impact performance. Ballistic or blast-rated glazing may be necessary for high-security sites. Fall protection requires both design and construction measures: during installation, temporary edge protection, certified anchor points, and adherence to work-at-height regulations are mandatory. Permanent fall-protection provisions for façade maintenance—such as rooftop davits, dedicated FMU tracks, or anchor points—should be incorporated into the façade design so that maintenance personnel have safe access. The interface between unitized panels and floor slabs must allow for fire and smoke control while permitting movement; firestopping systems must be compatible with movement joints. Collaboration with life-safety engineers and adherence to local codes (fire, glazing, and occupational safety) is essential to ensure the curtain wall meets regulatory and project-specific safety requirements.