How to Achieve Demountable Connections for GRC Curtain Walls: A Discussion of Design Points, Technical Approaches, and Engineering Applications

In the field of contemporary building curtain wall design, demountable connection technology is becoming a key breakthrough for achieving green construction and sustainable development. As an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group deeply understands the importance of demountable connections for GRC curtain walls in whole-life building management. This article systematically analyzes the realization path of demountable connections for GRC curtain walls from three dimensions—design logic, technological innovation, and engineering practice—providing designers and owners with solutions that combine aesthetic value with practical functionality.

The design essentials of demountable connections for GRC curtain walls must be built on dual considerations of material properties and structural safety. GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete), with its advantages of lightweight high strength (weighing only 1/4 of natural stone) and high freedom of form, provides natural conditions for demountable node design. At the node construction level, three core issues must be addressed: connection reliability (flexural strength must reach above 20MPa), ease of disassembly (using modular mortise-and-tenon structures or mechanical locking systems), and the economy of reuse (reducing the connector loss rate to below 5%). The Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T423-2018), whose formulation Qinglong Group participated in, clearly specifies the design loads and durability requirements for demountable connection nodes, providing technical specifications for the industry.

The technical paths for realizing demountable connections of GRC curtain walls show a diversified development trend. In terms of material innovation, Qinglong's R&D team has combined UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete) with GRC to form gradient materials, improving node strength through embedded stainless steel connectors, while using GRP (Glass Reinforced Thermosetting Plastic) to produce anti-corrosion gaskets that solve metal rust problems. In terms of construction techniques, BIM parametric design and 3D laser scanning technology are adopted to achieve precise positioning and installation of connectors, with errors controlled within ±2mm. Notably, in the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road, Qinglong innovatively combined light-transmitting UHPC panels with GRC curtain walls, achieving rapid disassembly and replacement through a magnetic connection system; this technology won the Silver Award at the First UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Award (AALBORG WHITE Cup). For more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123

The application of demountable connection technology in GRC curtain wall projects has demonstrated significant value. In commercial complex projects, through demountable design, curtain wall panels can be individually replaced according to brand update needs, with the disassembly time for a single panel reduced to 30 minutes, greatly lowering operation and maintenance costs. In the field of historic building renovation, the GRC antique-style curtain wall Qinglong designed for a provincial museum adopts a demountable dry-hanging system, which both meets cultural relic protection requirements and achieves reversible installation of components. For overseas markets, the tropical climate-adaptive demountable nodes developed by Qinglong Malaysia Building Materials Co., Ltd., through optimized sealing strip and drainage channel design, have been successfully applied to an airport terminal project in Malaysia, solving curtain wall maintenance challenges in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.

With the advancement of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, demountable connection technology for GRC curtain walls will become an important development direction for future building industrialization. As a national Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative enterprise and a member of the International GRC Association, Qinglong Group will continue to deepen its innovation in material R&D, node design, and construction techniques, upgrading demountable connection technology from single-function realization toward whole-life-cycle value optimization. For designers, mastering the technical logic of demountable connections not only expands creative boundaries but also endows buildings with the deeper meaning of sustainable development; for owners, choosing a supplier with full-chain service capabilities (such as Qinglong's integrated services covering detailed design, manufacturing, construction and installation, and after-sales maintenance) is a key guarantee for ensuring the effective implementation of demountable technology. For more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123