Curtain walls can be classified according to their method of manufacture and installation in the following general categories: Pole Systems and Unitized Systems (also called Modular Systems).

Unitized and built systems are designed to be indoor or outdoor glazed systems. Indoor and outdoor glazed systems have different advantages and disadvantages. Interior glazed systems allow for the installation of glass or opaque panels in curtain wall openings from inside the building. Details are not provided for interior glazed systems, as air infiltration is a problem with interior glazed systems. Interior glazed systems are generally specified for applications with limited interior obstructions to allow adequate access to the interior of the curtain wall. For low rise constructions with easy access to the building, an exterior glazing is generally specified. For high-rise buildings, the interior glazing is sometimes used because of the access and logistics associated with replacing the glass from a pivoting phase.