SHADING DEVICES

Introduction: Windows may contain several elements including shading devices. The design of these
elements reflects various functions including thermal control. There are three types of shading devices:
 Vertical
 Horizontal
 Egg-crate

Vertical Swing Devices

Vertical Shading Devices consist of pilasters, louver blades or projecting fins in a vertical position. Their
performance is measured by the horizontal shadow angle 6 (delta). They are commonly referred to as fins
and are most effective on western and eastern elevations.

Horizontal Shading Devices

Horizontal Shading Devices are usually in the form of canopies, long verandas, movable horizontal louver
blades or roof overhangs. They are best suited to southern and northern elevations and their performance is
measured by the vertical shadow angle e (epsilon).

Egg-Crate Devices
These are combinations of vertical and horizontal devices. They are usually in the form of grill blocks or
decorative screens. Their performance is determined by both the horizontal and vertical shadow angles 6 and
E (delta and epsilon).

The design of sun shading devices for thermal comfort involves four steps:
1. Determination of when shading is required
2. Determination of the position of the sun at the times when shading is required
3. Determination of the dimensions and proportions of the required shading device
4. The actual design of the shading device

There are many different reasons to want to control the amount of sunlight that is admitted into a building.
In warm, sunny climates excess solar gain may result in high cooling energy consumption; in cold and
temperate climates winter sun entering south-facing windows can positively contribute to passive solar
heating; and in nearly all climates controlling and diffusing natural illumination will improve day lighting.

Well-designed sun control and shading devices can dramatically reduce building peak heat gain and cooling
requirements and improve the natural lighting quality of building interiors. Depending on the amount and
location of fenestration, reductions in annual cooling energy consumption of 5% to 15% have been reported.
Sun control and shading devices can also improve user visual comfort by controlling glare and reducing
contrast ratios. This often leads to increased satisfaction and productivity

External shading devices are preferable and more effective than internal ones. This includes devices fixed to
the outside of the window or attached to building envelope. Among the operable units are louvers made of
wood or metal, exterior venetian blinds, shutters, awnings and fixed or movable overhangs.
Thus, solar control and shading can be provided by a wide range of building components including:
1. Landscape features such as mature trees or hedge rows
2. Exterior elements such as overhangs or vertical fins
3. Horizontal reflecting surfaces called light shelves
4. Low shading coefficient (SC) glass
5. Interior glare control devices such as Venetian blinds or adjustable louvers

Designing Shading Systems

Given the wide variety of buildings and the range of climates in which they can be found, it is difficult to make
generalizations about the design of shading devices. However, the following design recommendations
generally hold true:

1. Use fixed overhangs on south-facing glass to control direct beam solar radiation. Indirect (diffuse)
radiation should be controlled by other measures, such as low-e glazing.

2. Do not worry about shading north-facing glass in the continental United States latitudes since it
receives very little direct solar gain. In the tropics, disregard this rule-of-thumb since the north side of
a building will receive more direct solar gain. Also, in the tropics consider shading the roof even if
there are no skylights since the roof is a major source of transmitted solar gain into the building.

3. Remember that shading effects day lighting; consider both simultaneously. For example, a light shelf
bounces natural light deeply into a room through high windows while shading lower windows.

4. Do not expect interior shading devices such as Venetian blinds or vertical louvers to reduce cooling
loads since the solar gain has already been admitted into the work space. However, these interior
devices do offer glare control and can contribute to visual comfort in the work place.

5. Study sun angles. An understanding of sun angles is critical to various aspects of design including
determining basic building orientation, selecting shading devices, and placing Building Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV) panels or solar collectors.

6. Carefully consider the durability of shading devices. Over time, operable shading devices can require
a considerable amount of maintenance and repair.

7. When relying on landscape elements for shading, be sure to consider the cost of landscape
maintenance and upkeep on life-cycle cost.

8. Shading strategies that work well at one latitude, may be completely inappropriate for other sites at
different latitudes. Be careful when applying shading ideas from one project to another.