DIY Network

Curtain Wall Frame Follow an apprentice as he joins huge frame sections for a curtain wall. From "Trade School" episode DTRS-202

Figure A

In this episode of DIY's Trade School, we follow the development of apprentice ironworker Adelbert Huggins. Integral in the construction of virtually every bridge, stadium and neighborhood restaurant, ironworkers erect and join the huge steel beams that provide support for many buildings. We join Adelbert as he demonstrates ornamental ironworking by joining enormous frame sections for a curtain wall (figure A) at a major convention center hotel.

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	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Basic Tools:

boom lift
tugger
chokers
safety harness
spud wrench
angle irons
stick welder
laser
scope
beamer

A curtain wall serves as the "skin" of many buildings and is usually completed with panels of steel or composite material. In this case, the iron frames that Adelbert erects will eventually be covered with an entire city block of glass panels to match the convention center across the street.

On this job, Adelbert is a connector. While harnessed in a boom lift, his job is to carefully maneuver large sections of the prefabricated iron frame into precise alignment and attach them between large concrete columns (figure B).

Because of the busy streets below, there isn't enough room to hoist the heavy frame sections with a crane. Adelbert relies on instructor Rick Driscoll's skill in coordinating two winch-like tuggers and a series of connecting cables (figure C). As the tuggers hoist each 2,400 pound frame, Adelbert finesses the frame sections in place.

Once each frame is roughly in place, Rick guides Adelbert's placement using a surveyor's scope (figure D) so that each frame can be leveled horizontally. Adelbert also relies on a spot laser to help vertically line up each frame with the next. Because the framework of this building will be visible when completed, Adelbert's placement must be exact.

With the alignment set, Adelbert observes as his partner Mario stick-welds the frames directly onto the embedded plates in the concrete columns using 90-degree angle irons (figure E). These angle irons keep the frames in place until another crew of ironworkers later welds the entire frame to the embedded plates and cuts the angle irons off.

In the next segment, Adelbert moves to the corner of the hotel to erect structural I-beams.