Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-06-01 Origin: Site
In my 12 years in the architectural glass industry, I have supported many overseas building projects where the first conversation did not begin with a complete glass specification. It began with a drawing.
In projects from Ethiopia, Ghana and other African countries, clients often came to us with architectural drawings but without a clear glass list, confirmed thickness, matching aluminum profiles, hardware details, or installation plan.
This is common in international construction projects. The developer may know what the building should look like. The contractor may understand the site conditions. But when it comes to architectural glass systems, many project teams are not sure how to turn a design drawing into a complete, safe, and installable solution. This is the real challenge for many overseas projects, and it is exactly where an experienced glass manufacturer can provide real value.
Over the years, our team has provided technical guidance for several building projects in African countries. These projects were not always started with complete glass specifications. In many cases, the client only had drawings and a general idea of what they wanted to build.
When we first received the facade drawings for the YTY Building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the challenge was immediately clear. This 27-story building had 133 FA-coded curtain wall units, each with its own size, location, and specifications.
Imagine being handed hundreds of labels: FA-01, FA-02, FA-03, up to FA-133. Each seemed simple at first, but a single mismatch—glass thickness, aluminum profile, gasket type, or fixing detail—could cascade into delays, installation errors, or costly material mistakes.
Our team approached this challenge by treating the project as a complete system, not just a collection of drawings.
For example, FA-01 looked like a simple 505 × 554 cm curtain wall unit in the schedule. But the actual specification behind it was much more detailed:
Component | Specification |
|---|---|
Aluminum frame | Dark metallic aluminum tubular profiles, minimum 2.5 mm thickness |
Glass configuration | Double-glazed tinted Low-E tempered glass, 5 + 12A + 7 mm |
Hardware & accessories | Hinges, handles, gaskets, fasteners, fittings, and other required accessories |
The same process was applied across all 133 FA units, ensuring that each piece of the facade would integrate seamlessly into the building envelope.
For overseas projects of this scale, such technical guidance is invaluable. It prevents miscommunication, reduces errors during procurement and installation, and ensures the high-rise facade is delivered efficiently and safely.
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Curtain wall node drawings showing how the glass, aluminum profiles, gaskets, fixing points, and structural connections work together in the YTY Building facade system. | The FA-01 and FA-02 schedules helped us cross-check each curtain wall unit’s size, glass configuration, frame, quantity, and installation details. |
For the ALOS Paraklet Health Care project in Accra, Ghana, the client provided curtain wall shop drawings for their building. They were unsure how many glass panels were needed, which thickness to select for each area, or which aluminum profiles and accessories should match the system.
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Pre-installation facade of ALOS Paraklet, with our guidance on glass panels and aluminum profiles.
Our team stepped in to provide full technical guidance. Based on the drawings, we calculated the exact number of glass panels required for each zone and recommended the appropriate thickness for both vision and spandrel panels:
The vision glass uses 10mm sea-blue tinted glass as the outer pane, a 20mm air gap, and 55.2 laminated clear glass as the inner pane.
The spandrel panel glass uses 10mm tempered sea-blue tinted glass as the outer pane, a 20mm air gap, and 55.2 laminated opaque glass as the inner pane.
This configuration helps the facade achieve a balance of appearance, comfort, and safety. The sea-blue outer glass improves the building’s visual effect and reduces glare, the 20mm air gap supports thermal and acoustic performance, and the laminated clear inner glass provides additional safety protection for the interior space.
To clarify any ambiguities, we held multiple online meetings with Ephraim, the drawing author, discussing panel counts, thickness selection, and installation sequencing. This hands-on guidance helped the client understand how the panels fit together, which materials to order, and how to coordinate installation on site.
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Our team held multiple online video meetings with Ephraim, the drawing author, to clarify panel counts, glass thickness, aluminum profiles, and installation details. | Curtain wall detail drawings for the ALOS Paraklet Health Care project, showing glass panels, aluminum frames, fixing points, and sealing details. |
For many overseas projects, installation is one of the biggest concerns for clients. Even when the glass, aluminum profiles, and hardware accessories are correctly supplied, the system still needs to be installed properly on site. That is why Reach Building provides installation and technical support throughout the project process.
Our technical team can support clients remotely through drawings, installation instructions, videos, online meetings, and step-by-step communication. This helps contractors and installers better understand the correct fixing method, glass handling requirements, hardware positioning, and system assembly process.
For selected projects and regions in Africa, our overseas customer managers can also provide on-site coordination and installation guidance. They can communicate with the local project team, check installation conditions, help clarify technical details, and support the installation process on site when required.
In fact, many of these questions are exactly what our complete curtain wall system support is designed to answer, from glass selection and aluminum profile matching to fixing systems, hardware accessories, sealing materials, and installation guidance.
Every glass project starts with different information. Some clients have complete specifications, while others only have drawings or a general project idea. Based on the project requirements, Reach Building can provide support in the following areas:
Service | Explanation |
|---|---|
Recommended glass configuration | Recommend suitable glass types and thicknesses based on project requirements. |
Glass quantity calculation | Estimate the required number of glass panels for production and procurement. |
Aluminum profile matching | Supply matching aluminum profiles for a complete and compatible glass system. |
Hardware and accessories selection | Confirm fittings, handrails, brackets, and other required accessories. |
Provide a project-based quotation with clear material scope and cost structure. | |
Offer samples to help evaluate glass quality, color, finish, and structure. | |
Remote installation guidance | Support installers through drawings, videos, instructions, and online communication. |
On-site coordination and installation support in Africa | Provide local coordination and installation guidance for selected African projects. |
From my 12 years of experience in architectural glass, I know that missing details on hardware, fixings, or installation sequences can cause significant delays. Whether your project involves curtain walls, facades, windows, or custom glass systems, Reach Building can help turn your drawings into a complete, buildable solution. Send us your project drawings, and let our team help you review the details before production begins.
