A cable-net facade is a glass facade in which the glass does not sit in a heavy frame, but is carried by a net of thin, tautly pre-tensioned steel cables. The cables run horizontally and vertically, spanning between the surrounding primary structure. This creates an extremely slender, almost invisible support and a maximally transparent facade. In German it is a Seilnetzfassade.
How it works
The cables are stretched under high pre-tension between floors, roof and side walls, forming a stiff net. At the cable intersections the glass panels are fixed with point fittings (often called “spiders” or rotules). Wind load is taken up through the pre-tension and the deflection of the net; the facade is therefore allowed to move slightly, which must be allowed for in the design.
Application
Cable-net facades are seen above all in large glass halls, entrances, atria and the facades of museums, stations and offices, where transparency and openness are wanted.
Points to note
- Execution requires precise calculation of the pre-tension
- Detailing must absorb the movement and thermal expansion of the glass — work for specialist facade engineers
Related terms
- Facade
- Facade cladding
- Glass facade
- Architecture
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