climate faÇade

Climate façades use intelligent thermal modelling to create a movement of cool air across the face of a glazed building.

Why are they important?

Building façades are typically viewed as aesthetic features that add visual impact to many types of commercial construction. However, they also have an important practical function - shielding the interior of a building from a surrounding environment of heat, wind, rain, solar gain and noise.

How do they work?

As well as providing a physical defence, today’s climate façades make the most of a simple law of physics to give buildings a cooling ‘air wash’. As air warmed by the sun passes through the protective façade and into the shade it starts to reduce in temperature and fall - creating a cooling effect between the façade and the building envelope.

Managing solar gain

While heat from the sun can be beneficial at certain times of the day or year, too much 'solar gain' during the middle of the day or in summer can cause overheating.

Climate façades can be used on their own to provide shade or alongside other systems, such a brise soleil. They can even incorporate moving blades to optimise solar shading performance.

Managing glare

The use of architectural façades is one of many ways to reduce glare and make the interior of a building more comfortable for its occupants. However, the specification of each façade needs to be carefully designed - often with differently angled blades - to deflect the angle of the sun, which will vary on each side of the building, at different times of the day.

In short

• Façades give buildings a physical defence against rain, wind, glare and noise
• Climate façades use simple laws of physics to naturally cool a building and manage solar gain
• Façades are often a building’s most stunning architectural features and can be specified in a range of designs and finishes
• Climate façades can be used on their own or alongside other systems, such a brise soleil

For advice on solar shading performance and options, contact one of our project consultants.