Specifying solar shading or architectural louvre systems for a complex project means more than picking a product from a datasheet.
You need a knowledgeable, experienced and trusted partner who understands the building envelope, can work within your programme and maintains responsibility from design through to installation – without offloading any potential issues back to you.
Solinear is that partner.
We are a UK specialist in solar shading and architectural louvre systems, based in York. We design, manufacture and install façade systems from a single source, meaning that architects, main contractors and M&E teams deal with one accountable organisation throughout.
What Makes Solinear Different
Single-source accountability
Most façade packages involve a chain: a product supplier, a separate fabricator and an installation subcontractor — each with their own programme and individual liability limits. Solinear removes that chain, streamlining the process. Our experienced in-house team manages design, engineering, UK fabrication and site installation under one contract. If anything needs resolving or clarifying, there is just one phone call to make.
Early-stage design collaboration
We work with architects from RIBA Stage 2 onwards. That’s important because the decisions made at Stage 2 and 3 such as blade geometry, material selection and structural fixing strategy, are the ones that determine both shading performance and buildability. Bringing a specialist in at Stage 5, for example, can result in expensive surprises. Solinear has BIM Level 2 capability and produces 2D drawings and 3D models as part of our standard process, so your documentation remains consistent from concept to construction.
UK manufacturing and supply chain control
Solinear’s fabrication facility is UK-based, which means we have the advantage of direct control over quality, lead times and material traceability – we are not reliant on overseas supply chains that can potentially result in delays or specification variance. For time-critical programmes, this is a material advantage.
Installer experience on complex sites
All Solinear site operatives hold CSCS certification. Our project management team produces full RAMS documentation and works to MCG site standards. We have delivered façade packages across healthcare, education, commercial, transport and industrial sectors — including high-security sites and occupied buildings where programme discipline and coordination with other trades is critical.
Technical depth across a broad product range
Solinear offers a comprehensive range of systems covering solar shading, ventilation louvres, acoustic attenuation and bespoke façade screening:
Where standard products do not fit the project brief, we engineer bespoke systems using standard components as a starting point – reducing cost without sacrificing performance.
Sectors and Project Types
Solinear has a proven track record across the following UK building sectors:
Healthcare
Including Great Ormond Street Hospital, where louvre systems had to integrate with strict infection control and logistical constraints on a live site.
Commercial and mixed-use
Including the Majestic building in Leeds (now home to Channel 4’s northern HQ) and the Battersea Power Station redevelopment, where both visual quality and programme certainty were non-negotiable.
Transport and infrastructure
Including London Underground at Nine Elms, where steel louvre systems were specified to meet both security and ventilation performance requirements simultaneously.
Prestige and cultural
Including the First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank, an award-winning project where the solar shading geometry was integral to the architectural concept.
Industrial and data centres
Bespoke façade packages for data centre operators where free area, acoustic performance, and security rating are governed by strict technical specifications.
Education, leisure, and retail
Across a wide range of new-build and refurbishment projects throughout the UK.
Performance We Can Demonstrate
Solinear systems are specified where one or more of the following performance requirements must be met:
Solar control
Reducing solar heat gain to support Part L compliance and occupant thermal comfort, without eliminating daylight or views. Blade geometry and orientation are engineered for the specific elevation and latitude.
Ventilation free area
Louvre systems are sized and specified to meet BS EN 13030 and project-specific airflow targets. We calculate free area and pressure drop as part of our standard design output.
Acoustic attenuation
SoundEX acoustic louvres are independently tested and can achieve attenuation levels suited to plant enclosures, data centres, and acoustically sensitive environments. We can provide tested performance data at enquiry stage.
Security
Aquarius GUARDIAN steel louvres are available in LPS 1175 and other security-rated configurations for applications where forced entry resistance is a specification requirement.
Sustainability
Timber systems (Solex Medera) are available with FSC-certified material options. Aluminium Timber-effect systems use recycled alloy content as standard. Additionally, our in-house manufacturing reduces transport-related carbon versus imported systems and we continue to look at further means of improving our sustainability values.
Accreditations
Solinear holds Constructionline Gold, Safe Contractor, CHAS, and SMAS accreditations alongside ISO 9001 Quality Management certification. These are maintained annually and are available to download from our accreditations page.
Working With Us
We work directly with architects and specifiers, with principal contractors and as specialist subcontractors within glazing, building envelope or M&E packages. Our process is the same regardless of the procurement route: early engagement, clear design deliverables at each RIBA stage and a defined scope that does not drift.
If you have a building elevation with a specific performance target — solar heat gain coefficient, free area percentage, acoustic insertion loss or security rating – send it to us, and we will produce an outline specification with indicative system options. No commitment required.