Levolux designed, supplied and installed customised a fabric-lined solar shading fin system together with plant screening solutions at the Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC) at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire
Product Features
Microperforated fabric fin
Thermally broken connection to curtain walling
Products
Infiniti Bespoke Fins
Ligniti Ventilation Louvres
The distinctive external solar shading solution at the AIRC created by Levolux comprised 30 engineered fin-shaped frames. Each frame, 1400mm high and 91mm wide, was wrapped in a dark grey solar control micro-perforated fabric that acts as an effective thermal shield.
The fabric-covered fins were fixed back to the curtain walling system using the Levolux Triniti bracket at a pitch of 2500mm, providing the requisite balance of light transmission and solar shading. The use of the Triniti thermally-broken bracket reduces the risk of cold bridging – an important consideration when tying systems back to the curtain walling system.
On the south elevation at the AIRC, Levolux’s Ligniti ventilation louvre systems were installed to provide a plant room screening solution. Four louvred plant screens each measured 6.5m wide by 3.6m high and included concealed louvred doors for access. The ‘S’-shaped louvre profile, set at a pitch of 75mm, ensured that plant and equipment were obscured by the screen and could operate efficiently in a ventilated enclosure.