Section envelope and wall thickness
Show overall width and depth, wall thicknesses and the finished-length schedule. Distinguish the visible face width from the full section envelope.
Drawing-led curtain wall profile sourcing
Aluminum Curtain Wall Profiles
Aluminum Profile Works helps buyers prepare drawing-led curtain wall profile inquiries. Define mullion and transom sections, matching pressure plates and caps, glazing interfaces, material, finish and finished-part requirements for the selected system.
Separate confirmed section details from open supply questionsCurtain wall profile RFQ example
Separate confirmed section details from open supply questions
This hypothetical mullion inquiry demonstrates how to organize an RFQ. It is not a published APW product, an approved curtain wall system or a real customer project.
Concept illustration only. This generic section is not an actual curtain wall mullion, a manufacturing drawing, a certified part or an installation detail.
Hypothetical mullion inquiry record
- Application and system
- Mullion extrusion for a specified stick-built curtain wall assembly
- Section reference
- Dimensioned cross-section with units, datums and drawing revision
- Mating components
- Transom connection, pressure plate, cap, glazing and gasket references
- Material and finish
- Designer-specified alloy / temper, finish sample, exposed faces and applicable coating requirement
- Finished supply
- Cut-length schedule, fabrication details, critical tolerances, inspection, quantity, packing and destination
Choose a sourcing path
Start with your system reference, drawing or project brief
A profile reference can begin the discussion. Bring the selected curtain wall system and its mating details into the same inquiry so that open requirements stay visible.
- 01
You have a section drawing or sample
Share the dimensioned section, units and revision, plus glazing, gasket and connection references. Mark the finished-part operations and dimensions that control fit.
Prepare a drawing-led RFQ - 02
Your project specification is still open
Describe the selected system form, intended section role and approved project requirements. Separate confirmed information from details awaiting the system designer's review.
Discuss the requirement
Curtain wall profile selection
Specify the section together with the system it must fit
Keep part geometry, system interfaces and finished supply requirements connected. The responsible facade designer must confirm structural, thermal and weather performance for the complete assembly.
Mullions, transoms, pressure plates and caps
Identify vertical mullions, horizontal transoms and any pressure plates or cover caps used by the design. Reference the matching connection and retention details, including corner and perimeter sections where needed.
Stick-built or unitized system references
Kawneer distinguishes stick-built systems assembled and glazed on site from unitized systems assembled and glazed in a shop. State the selected system form and component drawings; the assembly method alone does not define profile compatibility.
Glazing, sealing and drainage interfaces
Provide the approved glass build-up, gasket seats, engagement features, connector references and drainage details. Separate features formed in the extrusion from openings or notches added during fabrication.
Alloy and temper
Hydro identifies 6063 as a common architectural extrusion alloy, including curtain wall applications. Use the alloy and temper required by the approved design; a common grade is not proof that a section is suitable for the project.
Thermal construction and mating parts
Where the design uses a thermal break, reference its joining geometry, specified components and supplied assembly condition. Request performance evidence for the complete selected system rather than inferring it from the extrusion or an illustration.
Finish, fabrication and inspection
Specify finish type, color or sample, exposed faces, cut lengths and fabrication details. FGIA publishes coating specifications for architectural aluminum; identify the applicable project requirement and ask for evidence covering the actual finished supply.
Drawing and dimension requirements
Dimension the features that control curtain wall component fit
Supply a section drawing with units, datums and revision, plus separate finished-part drawings. State whether critical dimensions apply before or after finishing or assembly.
Glazing, gasket and connection features
Dimension the relevant rebates, gasket grooves, engagement surfaces and connection features. Add mating-part references so critical fits can be discussed against the same drawing revision.
Thermal-break and joined-part references
If applicable, include the specified joining and mating details and identify the requested supply condition. Separate individual extrusion dimensions from dimensions checked after joining.
Fabrication, finish and inspection points
Show cuts, holes, drainage openings and notches on the fabrication drawing. Mark critical tolerances, exposed faces, measurement stage and required inspection records.
This guide specifies no universal section sizes, tolerances, structural ratings or system approvals. The responsible project designer must verify the selected curtain wall assembly and its performance documentation.
Clarify before sourcing
Four gaps that make curtain wall profile quotes hard to compare
A section image or series name does not define a finished part. Resolve the assembly references and supply condition before comparing quotations.
The profile family is incomplete
A mullion may depend on a particular transom connection, pressure plate, cover cap or perimeter section. The same visible face width does not establish a matching set.
List each required part, its drawing revision and the mating-component references.
Glazing and sealing interfaces are undefined
Glass build-up, gasket seats, engagement features and drainage details belong to the selected curtain wall assembly and may not be evident in a photo.
Provide the approved glazing, gasket, seal and drainage references relevant to the extrusion.
Material and finish are only named in general terms
An alloy number or color name leaves temper, finish type, exposed faces and the measurement condition unresolved.
State the specified alloy and temper, finish reference, exposed faces and applicable project specification.
Fabrication and delivery requirements are missing
Extruded lengths and finished components require different cut, hole, notch, inspection and packing information.
Include the part schedule, finished lengths, fabrication drawings, critical tolerances, quantities and destination.
Curtain wall application contexts
Three assembly contexts to describe in your profile inquiry
These concept illustrations show curtain wall sourcing contexts. They are not stocked APW products, completed customer projects or approved manufacturing and installation details.
Stick-built captured curtain wall framing
Identify the mullion and transom drawings, matching pressure plate and cap where used, glazing interfaces and fabrication schedule for the selected field-assembled system.
Unitized glazed facade modules
Reference the module perimeter sections, adjacent-unit interfaces and assembly drawings. State whether the inquiry covers extrusions or specified finished components; module supply must be confirmed separately.
Curtain wall corner and transition framing
Provide the corner or transition drawing and adjacent section references. Define the required geometry, exposed faces and interfaces at changes in facade direction.
Before you send an RFQ
Bring the profile drawings and mating references together
Send the available specification and clearly mark open items. A preliminary drawing can frame the sourcing discussion without implying that the system design has been approved.
- Required part names and quantities, system reference, dimensioned sections, units and drawing revisions
- Mating transom, pressure plate, cap, glazing, gasket, connector and thermal-break references where applicable
- Specified alloy and temper, finish type and color or sample, exposed faces and project coating requirements
- Finished lengths, cuts, holes, drainage openings and notches, critical tolerances and inspection documents
- Part schedule, packing and identification needs, delivery destination and requested supply condition
Inquiry coordination
From curtain wall section to a focused sourcing request
Use the same drawing revisions and part references throughout the discussion so the quotation describes the intended finished supply.
01
Share the available specification
Send the section drawings, system context, mating references and known material, finish, quantity and destination details.
02
Clarify open component requirements
Review missing dimensions, supply condition, fabrication and inspection needs. Refer structural, thermal, weather and system approval questions to the responsible designer.
03
Confirm the sourcing next step
Coordinate the supply discussion around the reviewed requirements and remaining questions. Confirm availability, commercial terms and delivery details for the actual inquiry.
Technical references
Sources for system form, material and coating questions
These first-party references provide technical context. They do not establish APW product availability, affiliation, certification or complete curtain wall performance.
Kawneer: curtain wall systems
Explains the distinction between stick-built and unitized assembly and provides examples of system-specific options. Its product specifications apply to Kawneer systems.
Hydro: 6063 alloy
Describes architectural extrusion applications and alloy-selection considerations. Final alloy and temper must follow the approved project design.
FGIA: architectural aluminum coating specifications
Introduces AAMA 2603, 2604 and 2605 specifications for pigmented organic coatings. State the applicable project specification and edition; referencing it does not prove supplier compliance.
Curtain wall profile sourcing questions
Questions to resolve before a curtain wall profile RFQ
Use these answers to organize procurement information. Selected system documents and qualified project review govern structural, thermal, weather and installation decisions.
They are extruded aluminum sections used in glazed facade framing. Depending on the selected system, they can include mullions, transoms, pressure plates, cover caps and perimeter sections. A profile drawing must be checked against the intended assembly and its mating components before suitability is confirmed.
Start a curtain wall profile inquiry
Bring your curtain wall profile requirement together
Share the section drawings, mating references and supply details available today. Aluminum Profile Works will use them to coordinate the next sourcing discussion.
Your drawing revisions and available details will help frame the inquiry.
Specification requirements reviewedQuantity and delivery assessed per projectDrawings and documents by emailInspection requirements confirmed per project