External louvres have many and various functions

Anna — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:57:24 +0000

The corrosive effect of the sun has become more and more well-documented, and indeed more pronounced, over recent decades. This is not only for its corrosive effect upon human skin, but upon the planet, as the ozone layer thins and greenhouse gases warm up the atmosphere. Even the less crucial effects of sunlight, such as damage to fabrics, paints and paper, can be catastrophic in the case of, for instance, valuable works of art. Brise soleil and shading systems such as glass louvres can go a long way towards preserving from such damage. And external louvres do not have to be only useful. Indeed, nowadays all sorts of designs are available, and more and more architects are using louvres not only as extras but as vital parts of a building.

Brise soleil prioritises sustainability by disallowing direct sunlight from entering a building. Direct sunlight is the chief cause of heat gain and so money is saved on air conditioning, and discomfort diminished. Natural ventilation becomes a practical option instead. Controlling the flow of heat and light energy keeps buildings comfortably cool in summer. Other advantages include reduced glare and increased privacy. Unlike other designs, which may deal with one or two of these issues but not all, brise soleil forms a total solution to light prevention.

Glass louvres are a very aesthetic alternative with great environmental advantages and can be engineered to fit a wide range of requirements. With glass louvres, your brise soleil can be tailor-cut, etched, silk-screened, coated or coloured to your precise specifications. Whether your building is new or being refurbished, the flexibility is there to fit louvres in a number of ways, including fixed or motorised positions.

For highly tough shading, external louvres made from aluminium and stainless steel can weather high winds and snow loads. Various fixings and colour coatings are again available to blend these louvres in with their environment. These lightweight frames which minimise vibration can develop the façade of any commercial or public building.

Installing brise soleil in the form of glass louvres or external louvres is the perfect solution to ensure the longevity of materials, and can greatly reduce running costs. What is more, technology is now being developed to install PV solar cells within louvres and not only save energy but create it too. Shading systems are the only choice for environmentally aware architecture.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/

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Brise soleil can fix your overheating problems

Jeff — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:33:39 +0000

The weather in the UK isn’t exactly consistent, and that can cause energy problems for architects and office buildings. In countries where the weather is more stable, it’s easier to come up with ways for the heat of the sun to be either used productively or reduced, whichever is most appropriate for the country in question. In the UK, however, the temperature fluctuates significantly to either side of the comfortable zone – down to -5 or -10 in a serious winter, up to +30 or +35 degrees in a hot summer. Since ‘room temperature’ is around the middle of this range, it means that there might be a difference of 20 degrees one way or another. Having broad windows, as there are in many office buildings, can make a significant difference to the temperature of an office or other work environment. In the summer, the big windows that make the most of the winter sun can make an area uncomfortably hot. A brise soleil can fix this problem. Glass louvres can work both ways, allowing in winter sun but shading from the summer heat. Thus such external louvres might be a good solution to the heating and cooling problems of the modern office building.

There are a wide range of solutions on offer. The simplest kind of brise soleil (which is just French for ‘sun breaker’) comprise a fixed barrier that protects a window from the sun. Even these, however, can be relatively sophisticated. Careful placing means that they can still let in low-angle winter sun, providing a degree of passive solar heating. In the summer, particularly around midday when the sun is at its hottest, its placing above the windows means that they are shielded from high-angle light. Other types are much more sophisticated, incorporating mechanical elements that tailor the degree of shade to the exact requirements of the day and building. Naturally, these are more complicated and therefore more expensive. Louvres might be incorporated to help filter out the summer sun.

Thus there are a number of architectural solutions that allow a high level of flexibility in a building’s heating and cooling requirements, even in a climate such as the UK’s. Heating and cooling needs in winter and summer respectively can be in tension, but judicious use of the brise soleil and external louvres can allow for the best of both worlds. Glass louvres are particularly effective in ensuring that the vagaries of the seasons can be used to work in your favour.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/

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External louvres have many and various functions The corrosive effect of the sun has become more and...

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External louvres have many and various functions

Brise soleil can fix your overheating problems