Intelligent solutions to shading problems

This month Simon Barratt, Shading Analysis Manager from Guthrie Douglas discusses the most efficient ways of protecting properties from excessive heat gain.

External fabric shading is one of the most efficient ways of protecting properties from adverse temperature changes, allowing people to live more comfortably in their own homes without the worry of excessive maintenance.

Guthrie Douglas, who specialises in developing blinds for bespoke architectural projects, has an engineered range of proven external systems that provide reliable and consistent control over heat and glare levels.

Simon Barratt, Shading Analysis Manager at Guthrie Douglas, explains how a recent housing project highlights how he worked with the blind contractor, to identify the shading problem the owners were facing and advise the most appropriate solution.

The ultra-modern, two-storey detached home in the Cotswolds, is light, spacious, and benefits from all-round garden views. However, the huge windows and rooflights in the south-west facing, double-height dining room created a “greenhouse” effect, making the open-plan living space uncomfortably hot.

They asked Chris Dickens, from CD Blinds, and Guthrie Douglas to come up with a technical solution that would allow them to use this main living space all year round in comfort.

After taking technical readings of the glass and completing heat and light tests, Simon advised that external shading would be the best option for the 24m² of glass panels.

“External blinds prevent the heat from even entering the property because they stop it reaching the glass,” he said. “Utilising our external systems, the heat reduction comes down by a least 40% as the total visible daylight is not striking the glass. When visible light hits glass as short wave radiation, it passes through and converts to long wave radiation when it strikes an object, thus increasing the internal temperature, creating the thermal discomfort we feel, and the need for cooling.

“A residential scheme merits the same attention to detail as any of our larger, commercial shading projects. We look at every project from a mechanical engineering and building physics point of view, having tested the blinds to robust engineering standards, we are confident they withstand everything the elements throw at it: wind, rain, snow, ice and dirt.

“We also consider the importance of aesthetics, to ensure that what we manufacture looks fantastic in situ. Combining these factors enables us to deliver the ideal solution – whether it is for a residential or commercial building with expansive glass panels that need shading.”

For this property, Simon and Chris recommended the Guthrie Douglas TESS^TM400 series, which is specifically designed for external applications. Invisible when not in use, thanks to the weather-proof headbox, the aluminium brackets were powder coated in Anthracite Grey to match the window frames, providing continuity of design and an elegant, clean look.

Choosing the right fabric is essential for achieving the optimum result for architectural shading projects, and there are multiple factors that have to be taken into consideration to ensure the appropriate design and performance specification.

For this project, the fabric selected for the tensioned blinds was a grey 3% open external grade fabric, allowing the homeowners to enjoy views of the garden from inside the house. This fabric also ensures a significant reduction on the internal solar gain to the property, allowing the occupants to sit directly behind the glass without glare or excessive heat, and minimising the need for air conditioning.

“It was the ideal fabric to deliver the design aesthetic the home owners were looking for, while striking the right balance of energy efficiency, heat control, glare reduction, and not compromising views to the outside,” said Simon. “They are so impressed with the results of the external shades, they are going to add them to other windows at the house, completing the look.”

Simon Barratt highlights another recent residential project, in which the tenants of a newly built London apartment also sought a solution from Guthrie Douglas to mitigate the problems of excessive heat in the kitchen and dining area, caused by three large window panels, totalling 19.29sq m. He was able to establish the right product to solve these excessive heat issues, which resulted in the building being fitted with a TESS^TM420 system, with Tess Screen 3% fabric. A key feature to this product is the auto mechanisms on the external rails are ultra-smooth, with slim stainless steel wire, or channel guides to minimise the load imposed on the building structure.

The external shading systems work all year round, too. Because external blinds block or allow a certain percentage of natural visible daylight to come through into the building, they alleviate the need for air conditioning, artificial light and winter heating, because they naturally regulate the thermal gain within a building.

Extraordinary projects require extraordinary engineering, Guthrie Douglas work with some of the world’s leading architects and designers to devise bespoke shading solutions that bring intelligent solutions to any problem.