Curtain wall insulation system with improved back pan

Abstract

A system for insulating a curtain wall structure is provided. The system includes a back pan that interfaces with framing of the curtain wall structure, a curtain wall insulation that interfaces with framing of the curtain wall structure and is secured to the back pan, and a safing insulation compression fit between the back pan and a floor slab of a building structure to which the curtain wall structure is connected. The back pan has an installed length and a material length, and the material length is greater than the installed length. Also provided is an insulated curtain wall component that includes a back pan having an installed length and a material length, and the material length is greater than the installed length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for insulating a curtain wall structure connected to a building structure, the curtain wall structure spaced from a floor slab of the building structure to define a perimeter void and the curtain wall structure having framing defined by at least first and second vertically disposed and parallel mullions and at least first and second horizontally disposed and parallel transoms, the system comprising:
 a back pan interfaced with the framing, the back pan having an exterior facing surface, an interior facing surface, an installed length, and a material length;   a curtain wall insulation disposed within the framing; and   a safing insulation disposed within the perimeter void and compression fit between the interior facing surface of the back pan and the floor slab,   wherein the material length is greater than the installed length.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan comprises a rib that is at least partially disposed between a first horizontal plane coplanar with a top surface of the floor slab and a second horizontal plane coplanar with a bottom surface of the floor slab. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan comprises a rib that is at least partially disposed between a first horizontal plane coplanar with a top surface of the safing insulation and a second horizontal plane coplanar with a bottom surface of the safing insulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rib is at least partially disposed above a third horizontal plane that is midway between the first horizontal plane and the second horizontal plane and is at least partially disposed below a fourth horizontal plane that is midway between the first horizontal plane and the third horizontal plane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan comprises a rib having a depth equal to or less than about 2.54 cm. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan comprises at least one of an interior facing rib that abuts at least a portion of the safing insulation or an exterior facing rib that abuts at least a portion of the curtain wall insulation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the back pan comprises the exterior facing rib, wherein the exterior facing rib has a height equal to or less than a height of the safing insulation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the back pan comprises the exterior facing rib, wherein the exterior facing rib has a depth equal to or less than a thickness of the curtain wall insulation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the back pan comprises the interior facing rib, the system further comprising a mullion cover insulation having opposed outer and inner surfaces and opposed top and bottom surfaces, wherein:
 the mullion cover insulation is attached to at least one of the mullions such that the outer surface of the mullion cover insulation abuts at least a portion of the interior facing surface of the back pan and the top surface of the mullion cover insulation abuts a bottom surface of the safing insulation, and   the interior facing rib has a depth equal to or less than a thickness of the mullion cover insulation.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the back pan comprises the interior facing rib, wherein the interior facing rib abuts at least a portion of a bottom surface of the safing insulation. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan comprises a rib having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion converge to form an angle of the rib, and wherein the angle is less than or equal to about 45°. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gap between the interior facing surface of the back pan and at least one of the transoms or mullions, wherein the gap is about ½″ or less. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan comprises galvanized steel having a gauge in the range of about 16 to about 26. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the material length is about 0.1% to about 100% greater than the installed length. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the back pan is symmetrical about at least one of a horizontal axis or a vertical axis. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a smoke sealant applied to a top surface of the safing insulation or an intumescent coating applied to at least a portion of the interior facing surface of the back pan. 
     
     
         17 . An insulated curtain wall component comprising:
 framing defined by at least first and second vertically disposed and parallel mullions and at least first and second horizontally disposed and parallel transoms;   a back pan interfaced with the framing, the back pan having an exterior facing surface, an interior facing surface, an installed length, and a material length; and   a curtain wall insulation disposed within the framing; and   wherein the material length is greater than the installed length.   
     
     
         18 . The insulated curtain wall component of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the insulated curtain wall component is configured to be connected to a building structure such that the insulated curtain wall component is spaced from a floor slab of the building structure to define a perimeter void, and   the back pan comprises a rib that is at least partially disposed between a first horizontal plane of a top surface of the floor slab and a second horizontal plane of a bottom surface of the floor slab.   
     
     
         19 . The insulated curtain wall component of  claim 17 , wherein the back pan comprises a rib having a depth equal to or less than about 2.54 cm. 
     
     
         20 . The insulated curtain wall component of  claim 17 , wherein the back pan comprises an exterior facing rib that abuts at least a portion of the curtain wall insulation. 
     
     
         21 . The insulated curtain wall component of  claim 17 , wherein the material length is about 0.1% to about 100% greater than the installed length.