Which wall type uses wall panels that hang from the structural steel frame?

Which wall type uses wall panels that hang from the structural steel frame?

• A. Panel Wall
• B. Shear Wall
• C. Load-Bearing Wall
• D. Curtain Wall

Answer: (D)

Curtain walls are exterior wall systems where the wall panels are hung from the building’s structural steel frame rather than carrying the building’s loads themselves. The frame takes gravity and lateral loads, while the curtain wall simply encloses the space with panels (often glass or metal) that attach to the frame. This hanging arrangement is what distinguishes curtain walls from other wall types, which either bear loads or resist lateral forces as part of the structural system. Shear walls are built to resist wind or seismic forces and transfer those loads to the foundation; load-bearing walls carry vertical loads from floors and roofs; and a generic “panel wall” doesn’t specifically imply panels that hang from the frame.

Curtain walls are exterior wall systems where the wall panels are hung from the building’s structural steel frame rather than carrying the building’s loads themselves. The frame takes gravity and lateral loads, while the curtain wall simply encloses the space with panels (often glass or metal) that attach to the frame. This hanging arrangement is what distinguishes curtain walls from other wall types, which either bear loads or resist lateral forces as part of the structural system. Shear walls are built to resist wind or seismic forces and transfer those loads to the foundation; load-bearing walls carry vertical loads from floors and roofs; and a generic “panel wall” doesn’t specifically imply panels that hang from the frame.