165CW Curtain Wall System: Australian-Designed Specification Guide
The 165CW is a unitised aluminium curtain wall system designed, engineered, and extruded in Australia. With a 165mm internal frame depth, thermally broken glazing adaptors, and insulated glass unit capacity from 24mm to 40mm, it is engineered for commercial, institutional, and government facade applications where performance, aesthetics, and local technical support matter. Supplied by Valmond & Gibson.
What is a unitised curtain wall system?
A unitised curtain wall is a facade system made up of factory-assembled modules — typically one storey high and one structural bay wide — that arrive on site ready to install. Each module is fully glazed, sealed, and quality-checked before it leaves the factory. On site, the panels are lifted by crane and hooked onto brackets fixed to the building structure, interlocking with adjacent panels to form a continuous weathertight envelope.
This is fundamentally different from a stick-built curtain wall, where individual mullions, transoms, and glazing panels are assembled piece by piece on the building. For a broader comparison of when curtain wall suits a project versus rainscreen or panel systems, see our guide to choosing the right aluminium facade system. Stick systems have their place, particularly on smaller or more geometrically complex facades, but on mid-rise and high-rise commercial projects, unitised systems offer distinct advantages.
Factory quality control. When panels are assembled in a controlled environment, the quality of seals, gaskets, and structural silicone application is significantly more consistent. Weather, dust, and temperature fluctuations — all factors that can compromise on-site assembly — are removed from the equation.
Installation speed. Unitised panels can be installed at rates up to three times faster than stick-built systems. The panels hook on, interlock, and the crew moves to the next bay.
Weather independence. Because the glazing is already installed in the factory, there is no open period where the building interior is exposed while waiting for glass to be fitted on site.
Reduced site labour. Less scaffolding, fewer trades on the facade at once, and a cleaner site programme. The complexity shifts to the factory, where it can be managed more efficiently.
The 165CW is designed around these unitised principles. Each panel is a self-contained module — framed, glazed, sealed, and ready for hook-on installation.
Why does Australian design and extrusion matter?
This is a practical question, not a patriotic one.
The majority of curtain wall systems used on Australian projects are imported — typically from China or Europe. They work, and many good projects have been delivered with imported systems. But local design and extrusion provides specific advantages that are worth understanding before you specify.
Lead times. An imported curtain wall system typically requires 10-16 weeks for extrusion and shipping, plus local fabrication time. The 165CW extrusions are produced in Australia, meaning a shorter, more predictable supply chain that is not exposed to international shipping disruption.
Profile modification. Every project has its own geometry. With a locally designed system, profile modifications can be discussed directly with the system designer and turned around without an international procurement cycle. Imported systems typically require fabricators to work within fixed profiles or wait for custom extrusions from overseas — adding weeks and cost.
Technical support. When a facade engineer needs a structural capacity answer or a fabricator needs clarification on a gasket detail, the people who designed the system are in the same time zone. This sounds minor until you are three weeks from a facade submission deadline.
Currency exposure. International procurement carries foreign exchange risk. A system priced in euros or US dollars at tender stage may cost materially more by the time the order is placed. Locally extruded profiles are priced in Australian dollars, removing that variable from the cost plan.
Australian standards compliance. The 165CW was designed from the outset to conform with Australian and New Zealand standards. It was not adapted from a European or Asian system and retrofitted to local requirements. The tolerances, alloy grades, and testing are all native to the Australian regulatory environment.
When you specify a locally designed system, you gain supply chain control, technical responsiveness, and programme certainty that imported alternatives often cannot match.
Technical specifications
The following specifications are provided for engineering reference and specification writing.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Frame depth | 165mm internal |
| Mullion width | 86mm (including 10mm nominal gap) |
| Primary framing alloy | 6060-T6 |
| Secondary framing alloy | 6060-T5 |
| Structural member alloy | 6005A-T6 |
| IGU glazing capacity | 24mm to 40mm |
| Stack head movement | ±25mm |
| Mullion movement | ±10mm |
| Assembly connections | #12 screw |
| Glazing retention | 4-side structural silicone |
| Available finishes | Anodise, powder coat |
| Design origin | Designed, engineered, and extruded in Australia |
Three aluminium alloy grades are used across the system. 6060-T6 provides the primary framing strength with good corrosion resistance and extrudability. 6060-T5 is used for secondary framing where slightly lower strength is acceptable. 6005A-T6, a higher-strength structural alloy, is specified for bracket components and members carrying concentrated loads.
The ±25mm stack head movement accommodates floor-to-floor deflection in multi-storey structures, while ±10mm mullion movement handles thermal expansion and structural sway — both within the ranges typically encountered on Australian commercial buildings.
What thermal performance does 165CW offer?
Thermal bridging is one of the most significant performance issues in aluminium curtain wall systems. Aluminium conducts heat roughly 1,500 times more efficiently than glass — so without intervention, the framing becomes a direct path for heat transfer between inside and outside.
The 165CW addresses this with thermally broken glazing adaptors. These use a polyamide strip — a glass-fibre reinforced polymer with thermal conductivity around 0.25 W/mK, compared to aluminium at approximately 160 W/mK — inserted between the interior and exterior aluminium sections. An aluminium nose cap completes the external face, maintaining structural integrity and a clean sightline.
The practical result is a significant reduction in thermal bridging through the frame, which contributes directly to meeting NCC Section J energy efficiency requirements. Thermal breaks also reduce condensation risk on internal frame surfaces — an important consideration in climate-controlled commercial interiors.
The 40mm IGU capacity supports high-performance double-glazed units, including those with low-e coatings and argon fill. This gives the facade engineer flexibility to select glass combinations that meet the thermal, solar, and acoustic performance targets for the project without being constrained by the framing system.
Engineering and installation features
Beyond the core specifications, several design features make the 165CW practical for fabricators and installers working on real projects.
3-part structural bracket with 3D adjustment. The bracket system allows fine adjustment in three axes during installation. Building structures are never perfectly plumb, level, or true to the theoretical grid. The 3D adjustment means the curtain wall can be precisely aligned to achieve the required facade tolerances regardless of the accuracy of the structure behind it.
Hook-on bracket system. Unitised panels are craned into position and hooked onto the structural brackets. This is faster and safer than mechanical fixing during the lift, and it allows panels to be repositioned if needed during initial alignment.
Integrated sunshade brackets. Horizontal and vertical sunshade mounting is built into the system with concealed nutplates. This eliminates the need for secondary fixing systems, penetrations through the weatherline, or visible external brackets — keeping the facade clean and reducing the coordination burden between trades.
4-side structural silicone glazing. The glass is retained on all four sides by structural silicone, providing clean sightlines with no mechanical pressure plates visible from the exterior. This is applied under factory-controlled conditions as part of the unitised assembly process.
Curved panel capability. For projects requiring curved facade elements, 165CW panels can be produced through V&G’s partner facility. This extends the system’s architectural range without requiring a separate curtain wall specification for curved zones.
Integrated skirting and blind pelmet. Factory-fitted architectural skirting and blind pelmet options are available, eliminating on-site carpentry at the facade perimeter and delivering a finished internal interface directly from the curtain wall module.
What software supports 165CW design and fabrication?
Valmond & Gibson has developed a custom database for the 165CW system within LogiKal, the industry-standard facade software by Orgadata. LogiKal is used by over 18,000 window, door, and curtain wall manufacturers worldwide.
The custom 165CW database means fabricators working with the system have access to:
- Accurate estimating — material quantities, labour, and costings generated directly from the project geometry, using live system data rather than manual takeoff.
- Cutting optimisation — profile cutting lists that minimise waste and maximise yield from standard bar lengths.
- AutoCAD export — shop drawings generated from the LogiKal model, reducing drafting time and the risk of transcription errors between estimating and fabrication.
- CNC machine control — fabrication data passed directly from LogiKal to sawing and machining centres, enabling precise automated fabrication without manual programming.
For fabricators, this integration between design data and production equipment means fewer errors, faster turnaround, and a more predictable fabrication process.
Conforming standards
The 165CW system is designed in compliance with five Australian and New Zealand standards.
| Standard | Scope |
|---|---|
| AS/NZS 1170.0:2002 | Structural design actions — general principles for determining loads and actions on structures |
| AS/NZS 1866:1997 | Aluminium and aluminium alloys — extrusion tolerances and material properties |
| AS/NZS 4284:2008 | Testing of building facades — the standard for laboratory testing of facade systems for air, water, and structural performance |
| AS 3715:2002 | Metal finishing — requirements for thermoset powder coating quality and durability |
| AS 1231:2000 | Aluminium anodic oxidation coatings — requirements for anodised finish quality and performance |
These standards cover the full spectrum from structural design through material specification to surface finishing. Compliance documentation is available from V&G on request and is included in the 165CW technical manual.
Where has 165CW been used?
The 165CW has been supplied to projects across four Australian states and territories, spanning healthcare, education, government, defence, and commercial sectors.
- Tweed Valley Hospital, Kingscliff NSW — major regional healthcare facility
- Murdoch University, Perth WA — tertiary education
- Land 400 School of Armour, Puckapunyal VIC — Australian Defence Force facility
- Sandstone Precinct, Sydney NSW — commercial
- Queanbeyan Civic & Cultural Precinct, NSW — local government and community
- Deakin One, Canberra ACT — commercial
- 6 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra ACT — commercial
- 25 Catalina Drive, Canberra ACT — commercial
This range demonstrates the system’s versatility across different climatic conditions, building types, and client requirements.
Technical manual and next steps
The 165CW technical manual is 188 pages — the most comprehensive product manual in the Valmond & Gibson range. It covers system design, engineering data, installation procedures, fabrication guidance, and detail drawings for standard and non-standard conditions.
Contact V&G for the full technical manual, project-specific engineering support, or to discuss how 165CW fits your next curtain wall specification.
Related Reading
- Choosing the Right Aluminium Facade System for Your Project
- Unitised vs Stick-Built Curtain Wall: When to Use Each
- Wind Load Design for Aluminium Facade Systems
- How to Write a Facade Specification for NCC Compliance
Last updated: 3 April 2026