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| BLINDS AND SHUTTERS (Continued) |
| PLEATED BLINDS |
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Made from pleated fabric or paper, usually of 25 mm pleats, these blinds give a soft effect and are particularly suited to unusual window shapes and skylights. Also available are "box pleats" made from two sheets of pleated material. |
| CONSERVATORY AND ROOFLIGHT BLINDS |
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Conservatory and rooflight blinds are normally based on venetian, roller and pleated blinds. Without doubt, external blinds are the most effective solution to the problem of excessive solar heat gain in conservatories. |
| AUSTRIAN, FESTOON AND ROMAN BLINDS |
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Known as "soft" blinds, these can be made from virtually any type of fabric and hang in folds and panels of material. They give a softer, more luxurious feel to an interior and are particularly suitable for co-ordination with other furnishing fabrics. |
| EXTERNAL BLINDS |
| A wide variety of external blinds is available which provide shading, control glare and, in some cases, offer privacy. The most significant property of external blinds is the ability to control solar heat gain. solar heat gain is caused by the amount of solar enery which passes through glazing and which is converted into heat, either directly into the room or radiated from the glass itself. It is generally accepted that 6 mm clear glass will allow 87% of solar energy to pass through. If a high proportion of the solar energy can be prevented from reaching the glass by being reflected or absorbed by external sun-screening, then heat gain will be dramatically reduced. |
| AWNINGS AND CANOPIES |
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The "traditional" awning has been largely superseded in the last 20 or so years by the folding arm awning. This system has the advantage of occupying very little space when retracted, being particularly suitable when space is limited. Continental or Dutch blinds comprise material attached to a quarter spherical frame using anodised aluminium extrusions. This type of system allows almost limitless shapes and styles to be made. The blind may be fixed or folded back against the wall.These are probably the most popular type of external awning in Britain today. Modern materials such as anodised aluminium, stanless steel and rot- and fade-proof fabrics, such as acrylics, make awnings largely maintenance free and capable of with-standing the rigours of our climate. A useful advantage of awnings is that they allow unrestricted outward vision and permit the opening of pivoting or casement windows. |
| EXTERNAL ROLLER BLINDS |
| These blinds can be used in a variety of applications on building facades, sloping windows, conservatories etc. Unlike awnings, these blinds do not project horizontally but follow the fascia or facade of the sbuilding whether it is vertical, sloping or a combination. They provide excellent control of solar heat gain and glare. Materials used include acrylics and woven fibreglass mesh coated with PVC. |
| ROLLER SHUTTERS AND GRILLES |
| Primarily used for security purposes in the UK, roller shutters can be supplied in steel, aluminium, wood and PVC. Grilles, which may be used internally or externally, provide security and are suitable where visibility is required. For smaller openings, such as windows, laths may be made of timber, PVC or aluminium. In Addition to security, shutters provide a high degree of insulation, especially those with foam-filled laths. |
| OPERATING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS |
| Heavier products may require more robust operating systems than manual control and most blinds, whatever their size, may be operated by electric motor and, if desired, by control systems. Control systems can be activated by a number of means including light intensity, temperature, time switch, etc. Interior Venetian blinds, for example, can be adjusted automatically to tilt according to the angle of the sun. More complex installations may have multiple switching and control systems in order to optimise the benefit of the blinds according to the requirements. |
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