Bris Soleil

Bris Soleil and other shading devices are a popular way of controlling solar gain and adding stylish features to a building.  Overhangs or louvers reduce the direct radiation from the sun falling on the glass.  Shading devices including the enhanced performance provided by solar control glass, gives many opportunities to comply with the requirements for limiting overheating in buildings and, reducing the need for energy hungry air conditioning systems.  The incorporation of shading devices can appear in different forms from extended mullion and transom caps to extended blockwork projecting from the building.  The orientation of the building and solar incidence need to be calculated to get the maximum benefit.  Glass fins using the colour options of Pilkington Optifloat™ tint can be utilised in place of solid building materials.

Note that casting shadows across glass increases the potential for greater temperature differentials across the panes that can lead to thermal fractures.  The risk of thermal fracture can be designed out of the building and we recommend that a thermal risk calculation is carried out with all solar control products regardless of the inclusion of shading devices.