OS18-B Specialised works categories

SOA category OS18-B

Curtain wall components

Requirements:Own production facility

OS18-B covers curtain wall components: factory production and on-site assembly of glazed façades on metal frames. Like OS18-A, it is reserved for those who produce the components in their own factory. It is a strategic qualification for large commercial buildings and the energy renovation.

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OS18-B types: stick system with mullions and transoms, unitised system, point-fixed structural glazing

SOA certification OS18-B: areas of application

OS18-B covers the entire glazed envelope of buildings. The main sectors:

Offices and business centres: company headquarters and business parks, the traditional and largest segment.
Towers and skyscrapers: high-performance façades against wind and heat loss.
Shops and shopping centres: full-height shop windows, arcades and showrooms.
Upmarket hotels: façades combining energy efficiency, comfort and architectural quality.
Stations and airports: glazed roofs, terminals and large atriums.
Energy renovation: refurbishment of the façades of existing buildings, driven by the EU Green Homes Directive.
Photovoltaic façades (BIPV): glass with integrated photovoltaic modules that generate energy.

In short: OS18-B is the category of the “skin” of the modern building, where architecture and energy efficiency meet.

Typical curtain wall cross-section: thermally broken aluminium mullion, low-emissivity insulating glass unit, anchor bracket to the slab

SOA categories related to OS18-B

OS18-A

Steel structural components

is the twin of OS18-B: same factory obligation. OS18-A builds the load-bearing skeleton, OS18-B the outer skin.

OS6

Finishes in wood, plastic, metal and glass

covers light metalwork and individual window and door frames: if it is not a true curtain wall, it is not OS18-B.

OG1

Civil and industrial buildings

is often the prevailing category; OS18-B comes in as a separable category for the façade.

OG2

Restoration and maintenance of protected real estate

is needed in listed historic buildings into which a new glazed façade is inserted.

OS28

Heating and air-conditioning systems

comes into play in “active” façades with integrated systems or photovoltaic panels to be connected to the grid.

OS8

Waterproofing works

works alongside OS18-B for watertightness between façade, roofs and terraces.

OS13 and OS32

Precast reinforced concrete and timber structures

are the other prefabrication categories with an in-house factory, for steel, concrete and timber.

Elevation of a commercial building with a full-height curtain wall: the typical application of category OS18-B

Why it pays to qualify in OS18-B

If you produce curtain walls in your factory and handle their design, CE marking and installation, OS18-B is the key to the major wave of energy renovation on its way.

SOA category OS18-B: frequently asked questions

Download PDF technical data sheets

What is a curtain wall according to the standard?

It is an envelope made of vertical and horizontal frames, anchored to the building structure, which does not contribute to its stability. It is a “skin” that transfers its own weight and wind, snow and seismic loads to the structure.

What is the difference between OS18-A and OS18-B?

OS18-A produces load-bearing steel structures; OS18-B non-load-bearing façades. A company with suitable factories and expertise can hold both.

Does external thermal insulation (ETICS) fall under OS18-B?

No. External insulation systems and thermal plasters fall under OG1, or under OS7 and OS6 for finishes. OS18-B only covers frame-based curtain walls.

Which works count as CEL for OS18-B?

Production and installation of curtain walls: stick systems with mullions and transoms, unitised systems, structural glazing, double-skin façades, refurbishment of existing façades. Square metres and amounts must be clearly stated in the CEL.

Your next move?

Demonstrate your requirements and turn this knowledge into action: make sure you have the right SOA qualification and don’t hesitate to invest in training and innovation.