The Shading Solution Pyramid
The Shading Solution Pyramid is a specification strategy for Architects. The base of the Pyramid addresses the important elements of function that the Engineered Shading
Solutions employ. These areas are: Sustainable Design, Dynamic Facades, Fabric Technologies, Level of Function and Automation & Integration.
Once the Architect determines these elements of function, then solutions can be specified. The Pyramid offers three solution option scenarios: Residential, Commercial and Facility Solutions. The peak of the Pyramid is the goal of Engineered Shading Solutions. This is where the specifications are written according to the premise that function dictates form, and the Shading Solutions will not add stress to the systems but actually reduce stress from the systems. As well as provide a productive and comfortable environment for its occupants.
Sustainable Design
The definition of Sustainable Design by the AIA is:
“Sustainable design is a collaborative process that involves thinking ecologically—studying systems, relationships, and interactions—in order to design in ways that remove rather than contribute stress from systems.”
This is an excellent way of understanding the concept of sustainability when Engineered Shading Solutions are being considered. A well thought out and designed Shading Solution should reduce stress to important systems of the building. These areas include HVAC, lighting and the occupant’s connection with the outdoors which increases worker productivity and for student’s better test scores.
The mistakes occur when poorly designed Shading Solutions actually add stress to systems by not filtering the light, or not minimizing glare or not manipulating the energy that regulate heat exchanges through the windows.
Dynamic Facades
Since the advent of man seeking shelter, the concept of the Third Skin was critical to survival. Human skin is the first skin, our clothing is our second skin and the facades of our buildings are the Third Skin. The Third Skin describes the intimate relationship between humans and the living space. Today, the concept of the Third Skin has evolved into what’s called the Dynamic Façade. The Dynamic Facade is the filter between the indoor and outdoor environments. This filter should provide protection from the elements, such as heat and cold, an exchange of ventilated fresh air, sufficient natural daylight, and a connection with the outdoors.
The intention of today’s building skin is to create a place for the occupants to live, work or learn in comfort along with a visual connection to the outside world. The Dynamic Façade is designed to filter and manipulate sunlight, regulate heat exchanges, provide ventilation and reduce energy costs.
With the advent of today’s Dynamic Facades, window coverings play a critical role in the success of the Façade or Third Skin. With this need of high performance of window coverings, they have evolved into Engineered Shading Solutions.
The Dynamic Façade’s components are made up elements that manipulate the light by filtering it or reflecting it deeper into the building space. There are many innovative components in the Dynamic Facades of today’s buildings. Some of these elements are shown in the schematic above include Motorized Louvers which are designed to provide sun control. Light Shelves will reflect light deeper into the building space. Motorized Shades to reduce glare, control the light, regulate thermal energy transfer and remedy glare. Ventilators will improve indoor environmental quality by providing controllable natural ventilation. Insulated Back Pans provide an additional layer of thermal barrier that optimize overall thermal comfort.
The performance of the Dynamic Façade is based on the three critical building systems:
Lighting, HVAC and Shading Solutions. This can be thought of as a 3 legged stool or TheDynamic Façade Tripod. The three legs
represent the three building systems that support the Dynamic Façade. Without each of these systems providing its unique benefits to the Dynamic Façade, the building would not achieve its optimal performance.
The success of any Engineered Shading System rests upon the fabrics specified. To determine the type of fabric, the Architect needs to consider the question of what does the project require to control the light, regulate thermal energy transfer and remedy glare.
There are five strategies within Fabric Technologies that need consideration in specifying the correct fabrics for projects. They are: Openness, Transparency, Glare Control, Heat Reflection and Design.
Openness is the density of the weave. A 1% open weave, means that 99% of the fabric is closed. The tighter the weave offers more solar protection and glare control but less transparency then say a 10% open weave. Some fabrics offer several openness options. E Screen by Mermet is available in 1, 3, 5 and 10% openness. This is great when you want to use the same fabric in the same color but different openness depending on the orientation of the windows. For example you may use 5% on eastern and southern exposures, 3% on western exposure, 10% on northern exposure and 1% in bathrooms for additional privacy.
Transparency is one of the feature benefits of Solar Shading fabrics. Occupants feel a connection with the outdoors when they can see through the shades when they are lowered. The more open the weave and the lighter the color allow better visibility through the fabric. The photo below shows a side by side comparison between a white fabric and a black fabric in 1, 3, 5, and 10% openness.
Glare control is necessary when Daylighting strategies are employed. When natural light is reflected deep into space the downside is the added stress caused by glare. An effective way of minimizing glare is with solar shading. Darker colors are more effective at reducing glare then lighter colors. The chart below compares M Screen 5% White/White against 5% Charcoal/Sky. You can see that the darker color offers better glare reduction then the lighter color.
Let’s compare the same two fabrics for heat gain. As you can see in the graph below, the lighter color offers significantly better performance. White/White allows 36% heat gain, while the Charcoal/Sky 65% heat gain.
Many times fabric selections are made based on design decisions. Architects may not like a white color shade on the building façade and will select a darker color regardless of the inferior heat reflection. Similarly, a Designer may choose a darker color for the interior. Fortunately, there is a new fabric technology that allows a darker colored fabric to be selected that doesn’t compromise on heat reflection. E Screen with Kool Black uses Near Infrared Technology to improve heat reflection by 25%. This gives the Architect and Designer all the benefits of glare control, transparency, heat reflection along with the added advantage of using darker colors.
The Level of Function is divided into two basic categories: Manual or Motorized. Manually controlled shades are raised and lowered by a spring roller, clutch roller or a crank mechanism. These are fine for simple applications but are not part of The Dynamic Façade. In order for shading solutions to be included in the Tripod, they must be motorized.
There are various devices that are used to power Shading Solutions. For larger and heavier shades Line Voltage motors are required for its extra torque capabilities. The costs of 120v motors are the highest because of the additional expense of an electrician. The chart below shows how the cost decreases with the lower voltage motors because of the simplicity of installation without an electrician. Also, notice that lower voltage motors have less torque and larger size shades may not function with the low voltage or battery powered motors.
Automation & Integration
Automation & Integration concerns how the motors are controlled. The original controlled shades controlled the shades with wired wall switches, with the power terminated in an electrical closet. This provided simple control but was not flexible because each command required a separate switch. As you can imagine, the added expense of an electrician added great costs to the job.
The latest technology is Radio Frequency or RTS. The RTS system utilizes special motors with a built in antenna array which allows for wireless, radio based, remote control of motors. In addition to the special RTS motor, the system consists of single and four channel hand held transmitters and wall mounted transmitters. This offers great flexibility in control with various programming options along with timers and sensors
The Digital Network
The InSync Digital Network (ISDN) is the latest generation of bus-line enabled Intelligent Tubular Motors and controls. The ISDN components are integrated into a cost effective system designed to operate a wide range of window coverings and projection screens over a standard RS-485 network.
Precise control of end product movement is accomplished by the advances offered with the latest InSync ILT intelligent motors. Each intelligent motor is supplied with a unique hard coded address at the point of manufacturing. This unique addressing scheme makes it possible to identify and control every motorized window treatment on the ISDN system either individually or in groups.
Control of the product on the ISDN system is accomplished by using one or more InSync Smart Switches or IP interface. The IP Interface / Web Server allow the deployment of a virtual smart switch. This virtual switch is a GUI control device accessed by any PC that is connected to the LAN, placing local control of an individual’s solar protection a mouse click away.
By eliminating the need for wall mounted switches for local control of individual areas, the flexibility of the system is greatly enhanced while at the same time reducing installation costs. Now, a change in the building layout or the re-purposing of the interior space no longer requires costly rewiring. It is now just a simple matter of adding or deleting the motors in one group and reassigning them to the new configuration design via software.
The InSync Digital Network is capable of controlling thousands of motors on a single RS-485 network. Each segment of the ISDN system architecture supports 256 unique devices. These unique devices are a combination of InSync Smart Switches, ILT Motor Interface Devices (TAPS) and Smart Sensor Control Interfaces. System scalability is one of the major benefits of the IDN system design approach. With the ISDN, network design remains a constant and allows system designs incorporating 50 motors to follow the same wiring architecture as a system with 1000 motors.
SolarFlex – Sun Tracking Automation
SolarFlex is a sun tracking automation software which takes your buildings floor plan and runs the shades accordingly. Shades will run up and down based on the sun’s intensity, azimuth, and light penetration needs. SolarFlex can work with other switching devices or alarm systems as well.
Benefits of SolarFlex are:
- Maximum light and glare control
- Energy Efficiency
- Daylighting Autonomy is maximized.
- User records are kept
- System can be manipulated or reprogrammed easily to account for changing exterior conditions.
- Remote management of system is possible.
To install this system, one will need to dedicate a control closet to locate a PC with the software loaded on it. A small weather station will also need to exist on the roof. All controls on the job will need to be addressed and those addresses must be recorded for programming the SolarFlex.
The weather station on the roof will let the PC know if it is sunny or not. If it is not sunny then the shades will not deploy. If it is, then the PC using the GPS of the building, time, and date will know the position of the sun and run the shades.
The system can have wall switches or other devices to override the sun sensors. The system will recalibrate every few hours to correct any overrides, and the system can be set not to respond to override commands if desired.
Remote Access with TaHomA
TaHomA by Somfy is a new home automation system that gives you total control over the critical energy-management devices in your home: motorized interior and exterior window coverings, lights and thermostats. With TaHomA, you can manage the balance between natural light, artificial light and temperature to maximize your home’s energy savings with the convenience of one-click control both at home and away.
How would you like to make adjustments to your lights, shades or thermostat from your smartphone, tablet or computer? Are you looking for a way to maximize your home’s energy efficiency? What about sophisticated lighting control with customizable Scenes and Schedules for a truly automated experience? Or maybe you’re looking for a simple way to control all aspects of your home including natural light balance, artificial light and temperature all from the same controller.
In-Wall Table Top Scene Controllers: TaHomA authorized dealers can add preprogrammed Scenes to scene controllers for easy access.
Computer: TaHomA’s web-based interface is accessible from any computer with an internet connection. Simply log into your TaHomA controller at www.somfytahoma.com with the username and password created by DWF to access all of TaHomA features and functions.
Mobile Devices: There are currently apps available for the iPad, iPhone, iPad Touch or any Flash supported tablet where you can log into your TaHomA controller from just about anywhere.
What you can control with TaHomA
Blinds, Shades, and Draperies: Natural Beauty with Enhanced Functionality: Create the perfect balance of natural and artificial light with the convenience of motorized blinds. Whether you are entertaining, reading or simply relaxing in the comfort of your home, you can easily create the ideal ambiance for any occasion.
Projection Screens: Pick the movie, make the popcorn, and let TaHomA take care of everything else! Create a “Movie Night” Scene that lowers your projection screen, opens the draperies, turns off the lights and lowers all the shades.
Awnings: Extend your living space with motorized awnings powered by Somfy by Decorating with Fabric. Use your favorite mobile devise to adjust your awning without getting up from your lawn chair.
Roller Shutters: Did you know roller shutters are one of the best ways to increase security and make your home more energy efficient?
Exterior Solar Screens: Enjoy the outdoors even more with motorized exterior solar screens. Create the perfect Scene with home furnishings from the sun and eliminate glare from TVs and computers while still enjoying the view.
Solutions
Now that you are familiar with the array of Shading Solution options from Sustainability to Façade Integration to Fabric Technologies to Level of Function to Automation & Integration, it is now possible to specify products and solutions for various types of projects.
There are three solution types: Residential, Commercial and Facilities. Let’s start with Residential and what we call InSync Home.
Residential Solutions – The InSync Home
InSync Home is the collection of Shading Solutions for the automated and integrated home. Using the base of the Shading Solution Pyramid, let’s layout possible scenarios.
Sustainable Design: The premise of Sustainable Design is to design in ways that remove rather then add stress to systems. While sometimes form may trump function in the home, the InSync Home considers function first before design in order to follow the Sustainable Design principle of Engineered Shading Solutions reducing stress from systems.
Dynamic Façade: The concept of the Dynamic Façade is not solely for large facilities. Those same concepts apply to the home and are sometimes called The Healthy Home or Baubiologie.
Baubiologie, which means Building Biology, looks at homes or dwellings can be seen as an organism. The term third skin accurately describes the intimate relationship between humans and their living space. It illustrates vividly how closely we are interrelated with our living environment and also in how many ways we are dependent on it. Building biology is defined as the study of the holistic interrelationships between humans and their living environment.
Engineered Shading Solutions within the Dynamic Façade of the home are designed for light control, heat reflection and UV protection. When planned for, Shading Solutions for the home are part of the building system just as HVAC and lighting are.
Fabric Technologies: Fabrics for the InSync Home range from translucent open weaves to translucent closed weaves (for privacy with light) to blackout. Function of the room will determine the fabric openness choice. Living spaces may require light and UV filtration while bedrooms may have Dual Shades for both translucency and blackout control.
Level of Function: While manual shades may be suitable for most homes the InSync Home is designed with Motorized Shading Solutions. Many systems can employ low voltage motors when lower torque drive because of smaller sized openings. This is advantageous because the low voltage motors are smaller in diameter which is convenient for recessing in tight pocket areas as well as quieter then line voltage 120v motors.
Automation & Integration: Wireless control is the most often choice for Engineered Shading Solutions for the InSync Home. The convenience of providing either power for 120v motors of low voltage, gives the flexibility if controlling the shades with wireless wall switches, hand held remotes or integration with Home Automation Systems such as Crestron, Lutron or TaHomA. The TaHomA System by Somfy also provides remote access to shades, lighting, thermostats, and awnings.
Commercial Solutions – The InSync Office
InSync Office is the collection of Shading Solutions for the automated and integrated office. Using the base of the Shading Solution Pyramid, let’s layout possible scenarios.
Sustainable Design:
Continuing under the premise of the goal of Sustainable Design, which is to reduce stress from systems, the InSync Office looks to provide worker comfort along with increased productivity. The idea is to identify the potential pitfalls that may cause stress in the office related to the building systems and utilize Engineered Shading Solutions to remedy these areas.
Dynamic Façade:
Often the façade of an office is an existing condition, requiring the Architect or Designer to manipulate the building skin with new windows and/or shading solutions. Engineered Shading Solutions as an integral part of the Dynamic Façade, in the InSync Office can reduce glare, provide blackout conditions for presentations, and reduce HVAC loads with strategic automated Shading Systems.
Fabric Technologies:
There are specific functions in the InSync Office that direct fabric selections. Glare control is often a major area of stress in offices. Large windows offer generous amounts of daylight which tend to cause high levels of glare, interfering with worker productivity. Glare can be significantly reduced with darker color fabrics.
When complete “blackout” is needed, Light Block Systems with side and bottom tracks are installed along with opaque shade cloth. Of course, the level of transparency is also an issue as workers perform better with a view. Today’s Fabric Technologies provide transparency along with glare control and effective heat reflection.
Level of Function:
As in all situations, manually controlled shades are an option. In the InSync Office however, motorized systems are specified. Either line or low voltage motors can be installed, depending on size. RTS or Radio Frequency motors are excellent for small offices as they are easy to specify and require minimal labor for an electrician. Smaller size shades can function with low voltage motors.
Automation & Integration:
With small offices, simple wireless controls offer reliable performance. With larger offices, the Digital System may be desired for its added features of control through an office management system. Additionally, remote or local access is an option where the user can control the shades, projection screens, thermostat and lights with a Smart Phone or Tablet.
Facilities Solutions – The InSync Facilities
Sustainable Design:
There are many issues relating to Sustainable Design when it comes to Facilities such as large office buildings. Stress related issues that can be remedied with Engineered Shading Solutions include: Glare Control due too excessive Daylighting. Large heat loads
due to unprotected glass facades. Light Pollution caused by uncovered windows at night time. Every one of these factors can be addressed easily with Engineered Shading Solutions.
Dynamic Façade:
The Dynamic Façade on larger Facilities needs to integrate Engineered Shading Solutions to maximize its potential. The Dynamic Facade’s components are made up elements that manipulate the light by filtering it or reflecting it deeper into the building space. There are many innovative components in the Dynamic Facades of today’s buildings. Some of these elements are shown in the schematic above include Motorized Louvers which are designed to provide sun control. Light Shelves will reflect light deeper into the building space. Motorized Shades to reduce glare, control the light, regulate thermal energy transfer and remedy glare. Ventilators will improve indoor environmental quality by providing controllable natural ventilation. Insulated Back Pans provide an additional layer of thermal barrier that optimize overall thermal comfort.
Fabric Technologies:
Fabrics for InSync Facilities can be specified upon the orientation of the windows. East and South facing windows should use 5% openness; West windows need a tighter weave, such as 3% openness. Northern exposures are fie with 10% openness. If glare is a primary concern, then darker color fabrics offer better glare reduction then lighter color. For heat reflection, lighter colors provide much better performance than darker colors.
Level of Function:
The Level of Function for InSync Facilities revolves around the Digital Network. This requires Line Voltage along with data cables to carry the information throughout the system. Additionally, minimal labor is required by the electrician as the shades only need 120v power at each window while the data cables can be installed by InSync Solar.
Automation & Integration:
For large facilities, the Digital Network offers the most robust solution for Shading Solution controls.
The InSync Digital Network is a system of solar shades with intelligent motors linked to an IP interface box and potentially other input devices such as hospital bed controls, wall switches and sun sensors.
• Timed functions from an IP interface automate a facility for any needs—i.e., light pollution control at night if seeking a LEED credit.
• Flexible programming and priorities mean that local wall switches can be set at a priority level that works with the automation system.
• Virtual wall switches can be programmed into the IP interface allowing operation of shades from any computer with access.