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Recent Projects

• Dublin Airport T2
• 45 Park Lane Hotel
• Grand Hyatt New York
• Central St Giles, London

International Projects

• RBS Castlerock, US
• Harley Davidson Museum, US
• HALO, Illinois
• Schlumberger, New York

faq /

External sunshading has long been an integral and vital element of European architecture yet, in Britain, it is only now becoming recognised as a design issue. As a result, systems are not just being utilised to control heat gain but as an aesthetic element in the overall design of buildings.

Although external venetian blinds are used, probably the most commonly employed external louvre system is brise soleil. This is generally an arrangement of horizontal or, sometimes, vertical louvres or fins that are used to shade window openings and can be fixed or adjustable.

external louvre systems reduce solar heat gain by up to 95%

Taking the 'sting' out of the sun, brise soleil systems require virtually no maintenance, work with large areas of glazing and do not obscure the windows. Visibility for the building's occupants is maximised and windows can still be opened. Importantly, external louvre systems, whether brise soleil or venetian blinds, offer significant advantages when it comes to the battle against solar heat gain, reducing it by up to 95% against only 40% when just using internal blinds.

There is no doubt that if the sun can be stopped from hitting the glass in the first place, it is cheaper than allowing it to enter the building then having to cool the building by mechanical means. As a result capital costs, such as air-conditioning plant, are reduced, as is ongoing energy consumption.

external systems can pay for themselves within as little as 3 years

Levolux has been involved in projects where an external system has been put onto a building and it has paid for itself within three years. In addition, productivity increases since it is a well-known fact among employers that, when midday summer sunshine sends building temperatures soaring, staff work-levels start to plummet. Another important point for many companies is the ‘green factor’, with the desire to be seen to be energy efficient ranking high.

Louvres can be mounted at a fixed angle but increased control of the internal environment is achieved when they are adjustable through manual or motorised operation. They can be controlled by means of a gearbox and handle, by switch control or, to accomplish full automation and ensure maximum protection from solar gain, through the use of automatic solar controls.

Brise soleil systems frequently contribute much in achieving a stunning architectural concept since they can be tailored to specific needs, are offered in a wide variety of colours and finishes and may be fixed to new or existing buildings of most construction types.

The bold visual presence of louvres helps architects to establish distinctive identities for their clients' buildings and local authority planners also generally welcome the innovative appearance of such systems.

Caledonian University, Glasgow.

An excellent example of the use of brise soleil is the new faculty block and teaching wing of the Caledonian University in Glasgow. Levolux was approached early in the project and worked closely with the contractor. Even so, the solution was by no means straightforward since, although predominantly a seven-storey teaching block, the focal point of the building is the main entrance ‘drum’.

New profiles were extruded for the project and the Levolux walk-on brise soleil, or ‘T’ tread system that includes balustrading, was employed. For the drum, small facets were inserted into the brise soleil to enable it to wrap all the way round.

The aluminium 'T' tread element incorporates a serrated top which forms a platform above the sunshading louvres without affecting their efficiency. The system is cantilevered from the face of the building and careful planning at the design stage meant that the steel fixing brackets could double as a hanger for the curtain walling.

easy access and on-going savings

Unlike normal brise soleil systems, which may create ‘shelves’ that make long term maintenance and window cleaning difficult, the unique walk-on brise soleil provides all the advantages of a normal system. In addition, it boasts easy access and on-going savings since scissor-lifts or cherry pickers are not required to reach higher levels. In some cases, instead of balustrading, a latch-way safety system is incorporated.

Maintenance of louvre systems, however, the louvres should be wiped down on a regular basis so it is normal to build this into the window cleaning contract. Generally all the components are self-lubricating but, where motorised systems are employed, it is usual to run them once a year while making an inspection.

Marketing louvre systems is becoming easier as the need for sunshading is increasingly understood and it is more often seen. It is a learning process for the specifying market and it is a case of taking the product to them and explaining the advantages.

suppliers must work with architects and specifiers to find exactly the right solution and detailing

Although using standard parts, the louvre system is not an off-the-shelf answer to sunshading since few projects are the same. The supplier must be prepared to work with architects and specifiers to find exactly the right solution and detailing. It is also necessary to be able to give the mechanical and electrical consultants the necessary figures to make their calculations.

The louvres are available in a range of widths from 100mm to 500mm as standard, however a huge level of design flexibility is possible and bespoke profiles are frequently considered and may be produced to meet specific building requirements

Tolerances are tight so the manufacturing process has to be to a very high standard. Levolux louvre systems are produced from extruded aluminium sections with aluminium end-caps, all of which can be anodised or polyester powder coated. The framework and supports for the system may be either extruded aluminium sections or steel, dependent upon specific requirements, and can be supplied natural, anodised or polyester powder coated to any RAL colour.

From a marketing perspective it is worth remembering that louvre systems are not always used for sunscreening. On occasions they serve a purely architectural role and have been employed variously as wall cladding, ventilation grilles, sight screening, pergolas, pedestrian ways and sun terraces!