Curtain walls are exterior walls that do not bear loads.

• A. Bearing Exterior Walls
• B. Nonbearing Exterior Walls
• C. Interior Partitions
• D. Load-Bearing Walls

Answer: (B)

Curtain walls are nonloading exterior walls. They don’t carry the building’s gravity loads; instead, the structural frame (columns, beams, and often load-bearing exterior walls) takes that weight. The curtain wall acts as a protective, weatherproof enclosure that is attached to the frame and mainly resists wind and environmental exposure. That’s why the description of exterior walls that do not bear loads is the best match. The other options describe walls that carry structural weight or are inside the building, which isn’t how curtain walls function.