Curtain wall construction describes which of the following?

• A. A load-bearing outer wall system
• B. A roof drainage system
• C. An outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep the weather out and the occupants in.
• D. An interior partition wall used for decoration

Answer: (C)

Curtain walls are exterior facades that do not carry structural loads—the building’s frame does the supporting. They act as the weather barrier and enclosure, attached to and hung from the structural frame rather than supporting floors or the roof themselves. This arrangement allows large, uninterrupted glazing and flexible aesthetics while keeping water and wind out and occupants inside. Because their job is weatherproofing and surface finish rather than carrying weight, they differ from a load-bearing outer wall, and they aren’t an interior decorative partition or a roof drainage system.