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
The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
Conserving places with climate resilience in mind.
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.