Brise Soleil

Although we may not get as much sun in the UK as some countries, there is a chronic problem in the summer months with buildings overheating, and this is especially true in heatwaves which are becoming a summer norm.

The running costs of air conditioning and the associated CO2 emitted from energy generation are a major issue. There are a number of pieces of legislation in place that call for the designers of buildings to make every effort to reduce solar gain within buildings, and solar shading can play a significant role in achieving this.

The way that solar shading canopies are designed means that even a modest projection can shade full height doors and windows. See an example where the shade is highlighted in green.

Whilst it is true that more and more new buildings have solar shading fitted as part of the initial build, the fact is that most solar shading is retro fitted to existing buildings. Brackets and fixing systems have been developed to allow connection to just about any existing building infrastructure, and the wide choice of colour finishes mean that almost any existing metalwork can be colour matched.

The cost of the supply and installation of correctly specified solar shading will in fact be recovered over time, by the reduction in air conditioning plant required, and also the reduction in energy costs. As solar shading is a passive solution, there is no appreciable on-going cost, and therefore the energy savings can be significant. Systems supplied for aesthetic reasons can add to the value of a building, hiding unsightly plant equipment, fire escapes etc. and can also improve the level of security by providing an additional physical barrier.

Every installation is unique, and by it’s very nature, the system does require access to the area above the window or door to be shaded. However continual development and improvement of brackets and fixing systems have reduced installation time (and therefore the cost).

The latest generation of systems generally take about one hour per square metre to fit, however this can vary considerably and is dependent upon specific site circumstances.

The geographical location of the building also plays a part in the installation time and cost. A large system installed in the middle of the country will cost less per square metre than a small system in the Scottish Highlands. Installations in major cities also come with their own issues, projects in Central London for example have to allow for the higher cost of parking, accommodation and other overheads.

There may also be considerations with Health and Safety if an installation is close to areas where the general public have access.

This may be true, the windows on the north facing elevation of a building will not benefit from solar shading to reduce heat gain. However they may improve the look of the building if solar shading has been installed on other elevations, or may provide privacy. Each potential customer has a unique set of requirements, and by offering a diverse range of integrated products, the chances of satisfying those requirements are greatly increased.