External sliding shutters
|
|
Sliding shutters made of waterproof, hardwearing materials attach to tracks fixed to building façades. Like sliding doors, shutters can slide away completely, revealing windows in full. Furthermore, their inherently dynamic nature can enliven a façade’s appearance. When opened, shutters typically stack behind each other, while multiple shutters can be overlapped within the same track to fully shade wider windows.
| Overheating mitigation | High | Blocks most of the solar gains when fully closed. Effective in all orientations |
| Winter solar gains | High | Allows maximum solar gains when fully opened |
| Daylight | Medium | Depends on the free area of the shutters and how much they are closed. In winter allows maximum daylight when fully opened |
| Ventilation | Medium | Allows ventilation, but depends on the free area of the shutters and how much they are closed |
| Wind resistance | High | Robust device fitted within channels |
| Operability | Low | Manually operated that requires leaning out the window. Not suitable for reduced mobility occupants. The performance depends on occupant behaviour |
| Maintenance | Medium | Inspect channels and wheels |
| Cost | ££££ |
|
“ The sliding mechanism of the shutters and their Hanham Hall, South Gloucestershire |
This is an extract from Shading for Housing, Design guide for a changing climate, published by the Good Homes Alliance and the British Blinds and Shutters Association in 2023. You can download the guide in full at: https://bbsa.org.uk/new-design-guide-on-shading-for-housing/
--BBSA
[edit] Related articles
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.