‘All you need is louvre’
‘All you need is louvre’An introduction to louvres or ‘What is louvre?’
Louvres are external shutters formed from several fixed or operable angled horizontal blades mounted in a frame suitable for installation into a structural or glazed opening within a building or as a free-standing structure to a roof plant area (or similar). They can be manufactured from a variety of materials including aluminium, metal, wood, glass or acrylic, copper, stainless steel or titanium.
Louvre panel systems are in high demand for a variety of applications; for industrial and commercial units and buildings either to control the penetration of direct sunlight; enhance natural and smoke ventilation, with the additional benefits of internal temperature control, whilst maintaining a barrier against the elements such as strong winds and heavy rain as well as dirt and debris; to provide screening; or a combination of these and to effectively reduce noise from plant room machinery such as air conditioning units, specialist acoustic louvres can be installed.
Click here to read more about Solinear’s SoundEX products
Why ventilation louvres are good for our health or ‘We just want to be louvred’
Whether it is helping to maintain a comfortable temperature, or moderating the amount of daylight that gets in, the louvres and solar shading systems developed and manufactured by Solinear are built with employees in mind, helping to maintain adequate air flow circulation around the building, while simultaneously keeping the internal temperature at the required level. Most airborne germs thrive in warm, humid conditions, so the long list of benefits on offer make louvred structures a must-have for any commercial building where the need to supply a cool, well ventilated environment throughout the summer, as well as the rest of the year, is essential in keeping sick days to a minimum.
Louvres are the gills of a building and clean air means healthy occupants. When ventilation is limited or non-existent then major issues can arise such as Sick Building Syndrome.
Click here to read our blog on Sick Building Syndrome
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics sickness absence rates survey show that the average number of sickness absence days that UK workers take has nearly halved since 1993. This could be due to the correlation between the higher cost of living and employers who don’t offer sick pay thusly there is an increase in presenteeism, where people go to work even though they are ill as money is a deciding factor. It could also be that designers and architects create ‘healthier’ buildings, with good ventilation, working conditions, in general, have improved since the 1990s as well as a healthier life expectancy as people improve their diets and partake in physical activities in their spare time, particularly desk-bound office workers who are more aware of the potential dangers of a long-term sedentary lifestyle. Whatever the reasons for sickness absence and for the reduction in sickness absence, it is evident that the design, construction and maintenance of a healthy working environment is vital to help ensure that employees are fit and well.
The often-overlooked psychological well-being of employees, when it comes to building design, must be a consideration as well as the obvious physical benefits of having a healthy, well-ventilated louvred building, so that employees are focused and able to achieve their full potential.
It is worth considering that people are always influenced by their surroundings, so it takes no stretch of the imagination to realise that smart design equals smart thinking. A sleek, cutting-edge office can be a psychologically stimulating environment, helping to improve the overall mood of the workplace, therefore, the addition of stylish and contemporary louvred panelling may also assist in giving workers that extra bit of inspiration alongside being more physically comfortable.
Other benefits of ventilation louvres or ‘The Louvres an’ The Air’
It’s not just people who need clean air – generous airflow is vital for storage and stored items, equipment and machinery too where debris, dirt and moisture can be extremely destructive.
Each building’s requirement from its louvres will differ depending on its usage, for example, a plant room containing specialist machinery or electrical equipment may require high levels of ventilation with maximum protection from water ingress whilst a car park may require maximum ventilation but minimal protection from rain penetration. In some cases installing louvres is sufficient action to remove the need for any further mechanical cooling systems and the energy requirements that come with them.
Click here to view the case study for Solinear louvres at Doncaster Civic Offices
Aesthetics of architectural and ventilation louvres or ‘The Look of Louvre’
Traditionally, louvres weren’t frequently considered as key design components in modern architecture, but simply a rather mundane but necessary technical device and although the practical benefits of louvres and solar shading have made them more commonplace these days on many commercial buildings, there is still the somewhat overlooked and untapped potential to utilise these systems as completely bespoke, full façade features enhancing any building and make it a landmark of its surroundings.
Louvre systems are becoming more sophisticated with the advancement of design and production methods. Therefore, they are available in a variety of configurations, materials, finishes and coatings to meet the requirements of almost any project so attitudes are slowly changing, as louvres increasingly offer a diverse range of uses for both engineers and building designers including providing aesthetic and economic screening for an unsightly roof plant, equipment or building façade.
In the case of The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, affectionately known as ‘Sick Kids’, Solinear combined both practicality with vibrant child-friendly aesthetics.
Solinear Managing Director Tony Dwyer commented:
“With Solinear, nothing is off the shelf. Every product is designed from scratch. On this project, we demonstrated the huge benefits that come from working with experts in their field, capable of designing bespoke products to our client’s exact specifications.
Our louvres have increasingly become valued for providing aesthetic impact, as well as for their functionality, playing an important role in planning striking architectural features and bringing a unique identity to a building.
We were delighted to be able to contribute to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children – and we’re confident that the products we installed will continue to provide an outstanding level of performance for many years to come.”
Click here to read more about The Royal Hospital for Sick Children project
https://www.solinear.co.uk/solinear-helps-sick-kids-in-royal-hospital-transformation/
History of ventilation louvres or ‘Ex louvres’
History of ventilation louvres or ‘Ex louvres’It has been discovered that people in the Middle Ages were using primitive domelike lantern wooden louvre systems – basically utilising a barrel – in the construction of their houses and were fitted over roof holes in large kitchens to allow ventilation while keeping out rain and snow.
Eventually, these crudely constructed louvres, evolved into more elaborate designs made of pottery, taking on the form of faces where the smoke and steam from cooking would pour out through the eyes and mouth, whilst other louvre systems of the time were of a similar design to modern louvres, with slats that could be opened or closed by pulling on a string.
Click here to view Solinear’s bespoke modern louvres at University of Sheffield – Factory 2050
Development of modern louvres or ‘Modern Louvre’
Technology has, of course, moved on from the humble piece of string; modern louvre systems can now be opened and closed in a number of ways; with a metal lever, pulleys, through motorized operators, a variety of sensors or by a simple switch mechanism.
Adjusting with the single touch of a button, or even more conveniently by being linked to a temperature sensor that works in conjunction with a climate control system, can result in employees being more productive. Satisfaction with the temperature and lighting of the work environment without having to continuously get up and go elsewhere in the building to manually adjust the louvre settings results in minimal disruption to work as well as co-workers. Having to frequently consult with colleagues regarding the work environment, or worse still not considering co-workers’ comfort, can cause friction especially in a busy office environment.
Motorised louvres can be a highly beneficial addition to any commercial building. Smartly designed to provide businesses with numerous benefits, they can add some highly marketable features to an office, making them well-worth bearing in mind for those considering the best options.
Click here to view Solinear’s operable solutions
Environmental benefits of ventilation louvres or ‘Louvre Makes the World Go ‘Round’
Well, that’s not strictly true, however, the Earth-friendly credentials of louvres are impressive though.
Motorised louvres are not only convenient and time-saving, but they can also be a great way to maximise a building’s energy efficiency too. Sensors add a further level of automation, linking the driving mechanism to a temperature sensor, for example, thus creating a louvre system that opens or closes automatically, depending on the required internal temperature and the unpredictable weather conditions outside.
Installing louvres can be about far more than merely allowing a degree of light in – it can help a business achieve noticeable savings as well as conserving energy. Louvres maximise natural ventilation on hot days and, when closed, retain heat on colder days meaning reduced reliance on the air conditioning or central heating for artificial temperature control, maintaining a consistent environment for the building’s inhabitants, with the least impact on the environment at large.
According to an article by Viviane Chan in Buildings Magazine, it has even been proven that integrated louvres, on commercial buildings, offer up to three times the reduction in energy consumption when compared to triple glazing, so the benefits are clear.
The planet is in a fragile state so it’s crucial that the environment is uppermost in the thoughts of architects, the construction industry, businesses, and homeowners too. Great eco credentials don’t just benefit the environment – they help gain respect and confidence and win contracts as ‘dirty’ businesses are exposed and ostracised. Eco-friendly houses are also more desirable to a growing number of buyers who are seeking out energy efficient, low-running-cost homes.
As city life becomes more crammed there is a growing trend for rooftop flower and veg gardens and even inner-city beekeepers who maintain rooftop hives. Noise pollution can be infuriating and highly disruptive as well as possibly damaging for those who seek refuge in their hobbies and pastimes potentially resulting in resentment and friction so it’s worth considering sound reducing louvres for areas where noise is an issue. Make louvre not war! Sorry – nearly finished with the louvrely puns.
It is well worth researching the eco-benefits that a custom designed system can offer when considering whether to incorporate solar shading and louvre systems into a building project. The Solinear team is happy to assist with any queries regarding environmental awareness and products.
Click here to find out more about Solinear louvre systems and options
Architectural and ventilation louvres as a deterrent or ‘Tough Louvre’
Designed to withstand the most unforgiving of British weather and everyday wear and tear, good quality louvres themselves are robust, secure and solidly built. Think suit of armour for a building.
So, another benefit of installing motorised louvres is that they can be an additional deterrent against unwelcome attention by making it appear even more secure. In the same way that leaving lights on in an office at night makes it appear that there is someone present in the building; louvres do the same. Smart as well as tough and off-putting to would-be intruders.
As well as offering smart operable solutions – click here to find out about Solinear’s Guardian Steel security louvres
Solinear louvre systems or ‘From Solinear with louvre’
Why choose a Solinear louvre system?
Solinear’s Louvre and solar shading systems can be fully modified to customer specifications. If a client is committed to going as green as possible, or would simply like to explore options, the Solinear team offers great expert advice and spread the louvre. Sorry – last one. Honest.
Solinear’s louvres are suitable for installation into any structural or glazed opening within a building or as a free-standing structure to a roof plant area (or similar) and can be supplied in a ‘factory assembled’ format or alternatively, as a broken down ‘kit-form’ system to ensure a ‘tailored’ and practical solution to any large louvre screening requirement.
Architectural louvres systems are manufactured from extruded aluminium to Solinear custom brand geometric design profiles, with inherent airflow and weather performance data and capability, available through testing and CFD software modelling, ensuring correct and optimised system performance wherever used on a building façade. All Solinear Aquarius™ louvre systems are available with a range of standard perimeter flashings to ensure a full and complete weathered interface with the building structure.
Solinear’s Aquarius™ architectural louvre system is manufactured from corrosion resistant mill finish aluminium and usually supplied with a powder coated or anodised finish to any standard RAL or anodised colour range. Louvre systems are also available in stainless steel, galvanised mild steel or plastisol (These materials require the louvres to be fabricated and supplied as factory assembled modular panels).
The Aquarius™ XLINE Louvre system generally offers the designer four standard blade spacings 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm. However, due to the flexibility of the louvre support system, virtually any blade pitch is achievable. The louvre system has a full range of accessories including bird-guard, insect mesh, security bars, insulated and single skin blanking panels.
Solinear specialises in ‘operable solutions’ offering motorised louvres, for ease of use, as well as standard operating systems.
If you have something more specific in mind, Solinear’s talented design team can suggest a bespoke option; offering bespoke steel fabrications, security mesh and gratings systems which work in tandem with Solinear’s existing louvre and solar shading ranges. Solinear’s team of experienced designers and structural engineers are also happy to design and manufacture one-off pieces of metalwork and offering bespoke solutions tailored to the customer. Please get in touch with your requirements and Solinear will endeavour to fulfil them.
Photos: Solinear’s Soundex L150G acoustic louvres (finished in Basalt Grey) installed around the north and south roof plantrooms above the quadruple height atrium and white circular ‘dummy’ louvre at Heartspace – University of Sheffield.
Photos were taken by Lewis McHale
