The Overlooked Hero of Stick Curtain Walls: The Glass Setting Chair

In a stick-built curtain wall system, there’s a small component that often goes unnoticed. It doesn’t draw attention during construction, and once the façade is complete, it’s nearly invisible. Yet without it, the entire system’s performance is at risk.

That unsung hero is the glass setting chair.

Why the Glass Setting Chair Matters

Each lite of glass rests on a pair of these small supports, positioned at the base of the unit. Though modest in size, their role is critical:

• Carrying the load:

  The setting chairs support the full weight of the glass, transferring it evenly to the transom and ultimately back to the structure.

• Protecting the glass edges:

  By isolating the glass from direct point loads, they prevent edge cracking and reduce the risk of premature sealant failure.

• Preserving drainage paths:

  Proper placement ensures water can drain through designed weep holes rather than pooling where it could cause long-term damage.

• Allowing for movement:

  Buildings expand, contract, and deflect under wind loads. Setting chairs provide the small tolerances needed for glass to move slightly without shattering under stress.

  
  

Small Detail, Big Consequences

Overlook the setting chair—remove it, misplace it, or install it incorrectly—and you invite serious problems: cracked glass, water leakage, failed seals, and costly replacements long after handover.

In façade engineering, failures rarely occur at the obvious places. They happen in the smallest details — the ones easiest to ignore.

The Bottom Line

A curtain wall is only as strong as its weakest component. The glass setting chair may not make headlines, but it quietly carries a responsibility far greater than its size. Paying attention to these small details is what separates a façade that simply looks complete from one that performs flawlessly for decades.