THE sun is an inexhaustible source of energy that provides sustenance to all forms of life on Earth. However, especially in equatorial and tropical climates, the solar radiation takes the form of light that is sometimes pleasant and soothing to the human senses and sometimes overbright, and heat that is always unbearable. All of this is aggravated by the phenomenon of global warming and the cost and environmental impact of generating electricity from fossil fuels, to air-condition buildings.







Buildings absorb heat and transmit it to the interiors. According to Hunter Douglas, the installation of modern sun louvre systems can help to reduce this heat absorption. The company however points out that not all louvre blind systems meet all the fundamental requirements, with traditional louvre blinds, for example, installed inside or outside buildings, offering good protection against dazzling light, but reducing the build-up of heat only slightly.

Hunter Douglas says that since the company’s new generation of large, aerofoil-shaped sun louvre systems, incorporates advanced technology, they facilitate natural climate control, whilst at the same time, providing the architect the space to express his or her creativity.

Hunter Douglas offers a wide range of semi-finished products, made from a choice of materials including aluminium, steel, wood, glass and plastic, in various colours, shapes and sizes, permitting numerous possibilities for their customisation to the requirements of individual projects.










The versatility of the systems and the large fin sizes (up to around 500 mm) possible, make for interesting applications. The louvres can be made moveable, through manually- or mechanically- operated controls, for adjusting the amount of light entering the building and controlling the thermal loads into the structure, in accordance with the relative position of the sun, whilst ventilating it. They can be made to function as fully closed or fully open systems and can even be shifted from side to side.











The highest efficiency is achieved by louvre blind systems fitted to the outside of buildings, at a certain distance from the wall. The intervening space then allows for natural ventilation. The sun’s rays are reflected back, before they reach the wall behind and are converted into heat. This is an efficient and economical method of heat control. In addition, the transparency of the architecture is preserved, and the inhabitants of the building can enjoy the natural daylight as it filters in through the windows and provides an unimpeded view of the outside.

The Luxalon Standard Aerofoil Louvre System, from Hunter Douglas, consists of six different aluminium-extruded fins, with widths ranging from 200 to 450 mm, in increments of 50 mm. Other available fin sizes are 100 mm, 150 mm and 500 mm, but these do not correspond to the standard fixing system.

The Standard System is available in non-adjustable and adjustable versions. In the non-adjustable version, the fins are fixed to the frame. The angle of the fins can be fixed in increments of 5º from 0º to 180º. The fins are locked into position while fixing.

In the adjustable version, the fins can be set at any angle, from 0º to a maximum of 120º. In the Standard System, each fin has its own maximum fin-span, in accordance with local requirements. The fins are supplied with a protective finish.

The supporting framework can be fabricated from aluminium or galvanised steel and orientated horizontally, vertically or at any other angle.














The Luxalon Standard Aerofoil Louvre systems can be easily and quickly installed with a minimum of tools. For the non-adjustable system, each fin is ‘clicked’ into position by sliding a U-profile section over the fin suspension bracket. For the adjustable system, two axles for each fin, are assembled on the frame. The fins are fixed on the axles and aligned with a setscrew. The driving rod is attached and adjusted. The motor is then installed to provide the required angle of rotation of the fins.










Several completed projects in Europe and elsewhere, have proven the performance of the new generation louvre systems, according to Hunter Douglas.