Which statement about curtain walls is true?

• A. Are completely independent of the structures on either side.
• B. Are nonbearing exterior walls.
• C. Extend above the roof line of a building.
• D. Are interior nonbearing walls that can easily be removed and replaced.

Answer: (B)

Curtain walls serve as the exterior building skin and are nonload-bearing, meaning they do not carry the building’s floors or roof. They are attached to the structural frame and transfer loads like wind to that frame, while the frame handles the gravity loads. This makes the statement true: exterior curtain walls are nonbearing walls. They aren’t completely independent of the structure because they rely on the frame for support through anchors and connections. They also don’t extend above the roof line as a rule; they typically stop at or near the roof and are capped. And they are exterior, not interior walls, so describing them as interior nonbearing walls is incorrect.