Curtain wall drainage vent

1. A curtain wall for a building comprising:

a frame anchored to the building and including a plurality of frame units, each frame unit including at least one horizontal member defining a lateral slot and at least one vertical member defining a vertical slot;

infill panels supported by the plurality of frame units and at least partially defining an outer face of the curtain wall;

at least one drainage vent for venting fluid from inside the curtain wall to outside the curtain wall, the drainage vent defining a fluid flow path extending between a first opening inside the curtain wall and a second opening outside the curtain wall, and further defining opposing first and second sidewall ends, and opposing front and back sidewalls extending between the first and second sidewall ends, wherein a first projection extends into the curtain wall and vertically from the back sidewall to be received within the vertical slot, and opposing second and third projections extend laterally from the opposing first and second sidewall ends, respectively, to be received within the lateral slot on opposing sides of the drainage vent; and

a ball valve arranged within the flow path and including a ball that descends under gravitational force to open the flow path when fluid pressure of wind outside the curtain wall drops, and closes the flow path when the wind increases,

wherein the second opening is provided in the outer face of the curtain wall, and

wherein the opposing first and second sidewall ends and the opposing back and front sidewalls collectively define a recess for the collection of water, and the first opening is provided within a base of the recess.

2. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the curtain wall comprises an upper edge and a lower edge and the opening is provided intermediate the upper edge and the lower edge.

3. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drainage vent is provided at or adjacent to a junction of the vertical member and the horizontal member.

4. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the vertical member defines a drainage channel that feeds at least a portion of the fluid to the drainage vent.

5. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one or more drainage seals are provided for sealing between the drainage vent and one or more of the frame units.

6. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drainage vent comprises a tubular spout having a circular cross-section that projects through the opening.

7. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the spout projects to a point beyond an outer face of one or more of the infill panels.

8. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to be normally open to permit the flow of water and/or air through the flow path in a first direction between the first opening and the second opening and to permit the flow of air through the flow path in an opposed second direction between the second opening and first opening.

9. The curtain wall as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the valve is configured to close as a result of fluid pressure in the second direction and thereby prevent the flow of fluid through the flow path in the second direction.

10. The curtain wall of claim 5 , wherein the one or more drainage seals comprise a drainage seal arranged between the drainage vent and a portion of the horizontal member, and further arranged between the drainage vent and a portion of the vertical member.

11. The curtain wall of claim 10 , wherein the drainage seal comprises a first drainage seal arranged on a first side of the vertical member, and wherein the one or more drainage seals further comprises a second drainage seal arranged on a second side of the vertical member opposite the first side.

12. The curtain wall of claim 10 , wherein the drainage vent further includes a front sidewall opposite the back sidewall and extending between the first and second sidewall ends, and wherein the opposing first and second sidewall ends and the opposing back and front sidewalls collectively define a recess for the collection of water, and the first opening is provided within a base of the recess.

13. The curtain wall of claim 1 , wherein the at least one drainage vent comprises a body that includes the opposing first and second sidewall ends and the back sidewall, and further includes a front sidewall opposite the back sidewall and extending between the first and second sidewall ends, and wherein the opposing first and second sidewall ends and the opposing back and front sidewalls collectively define a recess for the collection of water, and the first opening is provided within a base of the recess.

14. The curtain wall of claim 1 , wherein the first projection extends perpendicular to the second and third projections.

15. The drainage vent of claim 1 , wherein the recess is vertically offset from the second opening.

16. A drainage vent for a curtain wall, comprising:

a body including opposing first and second sidewall ends and opposing front and back sidewalls extending between the first and second sidewall ends;

a fluid flow path extending between a first opening inside the curtain wall and a second opening outside the curtain wall;

a first projection extending vertically from the back sidewall and receivable within a vertical slot defined in a vertical member of the curtain wall;

opposing second and third projections extending laterally from the opposing first and second sidewall ends, respectively, and receivable within corresponding lateral slots defined between vertically adjacent horizontal members of the curtain wall; and

a ball valve arranged within the flow path and including a ball that descends under gravitational force to open the flow path when fluid pressure of wind outside the curtain wall drops, and closes the flow path when the wind increases,

wherein the second opening is provided in the outer face of the curtain wall, and

wherein the opposing first and second sidewall ends and the opposing back and front sidewalls collectively define a recess for the collection of water, and the first opening is provided within a base of the recess.

17. The drainage vent of claim 16 , wherein the first projection extends perpendicular to the second and third projections.

18. The drainage vent of claim 16 , wherein the recess is vertically offset from the second opening.