No matter how well insulated a home is, the heat during hot summer days can become unbearable without sun protection. It is precisely sun protection that can provide a pleasant and cool climate. There are many options on the market: external, internal, or integrated directly into the glazing. In this article, we will try to show you the respective advantages and disadvantages of individual sun protection solutions.
Internal Sun Protection
If you don't want to make any structural changes (e.g., in a rented apartment or a heritage building), various solutions for internal sun protection can be considered: horizontal blinds, Roman blinds, roller blinds, pleated blinds, vertical blinds, curtains. They can be quickly installed without any effort, improve the interior, and come at a relatively affordable price. They are protected from extreme temperature fluctuations and weather influences, which allows them to maintain their appearance and functionality for a long time. The textiles used are anti-static, dust and dirt-resistant, and easy to maintain. The latest trends in sun protection focus on screen and blackout fabrics. They are designed to provide maximum UV protection while allowing light to be filtered. Blinds with screen fabrics allow light penetration and heat absorption, reducing heat transfer through windows by lowering solar heat in the room and blocking harmful UV rays.
For pleated blinds, the current trend is the duette fabric, which has a honeycomb structure. Please translate "Rolplast" to English. In its product range, Rolplast offers a collection with energy efficiency class A++. Thanks to the honeycomb structure, Duette fabrics can withstand heat flow, reduce energy consumption, and save heating and cooling costs. This structure creates a natural air cushion that retains summer heat from the outside and reduces heat loss from the window during winter. Duette fabrics block between 95% and 99% of harmful UV rays. In summer, heat absorption in the window can be reduced by up to 78%, and they effectively reduce noise by up to 45%. Test data: IBP-Bericht ESB-004/2011 HOKI/. The information is provided by Hunter Douglas www.duette.de. Depending on specific circumstances, window heat loss can be reduced by up to 46%, resulting in heating cost savings of up to 51%.
Excluding products with the mentioned textiles, internal blinds have several disadvantages, with the main one being low heat reduction. As soon as solar radiation enters the window, it enters the interior, causing thermal stress. If not eliminated through ventilation, the heat accumulates. Therefore, the material is as important as the processing when it comes to internal sun protection. In terms of heat reduction and blackout capabilities, these systems are less effective compared to external sun protection.
External Sun Protection
The fact that external sun protection systems are the most effective is due to the physics of the building: external roller shutters, louvers, awnings, and canopies prevent the so-called heat trap (also known as the "greenhouse effect") right from the start by partially absorbing the sunlight. In front of the glass, they convert light into long-wave infrared rays that cannot penetrate through the windows and therefore do not heat up the interior. External sun protection (such as roller shutters) is particularly recommended for attics as it also protects against hail and heavy rain.
There are different models of external shutters, depending on the installation method, material, and drive. Thermal-insulated aluminum slats filled with polyurethane foam are commonly used. Two sizes are used with heights of 39 mm and 52 mm, with the choice mainly depending on the size of the shutter.
External roller shutters and louver blinds offer excellent quality, high safety, and exceptional comfort. They offer much more than just room darkening.