The Burj Khalifa takes silicone sealants to new heights

The Burj Khalifa rises from a base inspired by a desert flower. Its spire is so tall it can be seen by a person 95 km (60 miles) away.

When completed, the Burj Khalifa will stand more than 700 meters (2,296 feet) high, making it the world’s tallest building.

The goal of the builders is not simply to break records but to set a new world standard for quality, with the finest architecture, the best materials, and scrupulous attention to every detail. The glass and metal curtainwall, the equivalent of 17 soccer fields (or 25 American football fields), is being sealed with silicone.

A silicone insulating glass sealant will help alleviate the risk of pressure buildup in the insulating glass units. A silicone structural glazing sealant will reinforce the mechanical attachment of the insulating glass panels to the curtainwall frame. Silicones were chosen for these tasks because they are able to withstand high temperatures, ultra-violet light, seismic activity, and inclement weather conditions, including sandstorms and high winds.

Learn about Dow Corning silicones for construction.