THE RANGE AND ITS LIGHT AND HEAT PERFORMANCES

TERREAL offers a range of sunscreens in a wide variety of lengths and cross-sections (square, rectangular and ovoid), with six products going from a small economical format to large-size sunscreens. Usually fitted horizontally, possibly slightly tilted around their length, whether intended for decoration or protection from the sun, these sunscreens offer a wide and varied potential range of uses for everyone.

Barrier against extreme heat in summer Sunscreens cut out a part of solar radiation.

Sunshine is useful in winter for heating the building but sometimes becomes a problem in summer, especially in buildings that have large glazed areas. The rise in the indoor temperature then leads to the use of air conditioning, a costly and controversial solution, given its damaging effect on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions).
In summer, the sun is high in the sky and solar radiation is largely blocked by the sunscreen, which either reflects or absorbs it. A material with a high thermal inertia, terracotta delays and reduces the re-emission of energy absorbed within it. Non-transmitted energy does not even reach the windows, which therefore does not heat up from a “local greenhouse effect” (a disadvantage with interior sun protection, such as blinds).

Light diffuser

Strong absorbers of incident solar energy, terracotta sunscreens play an equal role as horizontal reflectors: incident light “bounces” off the horizontal surfaces of the sunscreens and supplements direct lighting through solar radiation, with indirect light which penetrates more deeply into the room.

Open door to free solar energy and light in winter

In winter, incident solar radiation, produced by a sun which is low on the horizon, does not suffer from the presence of a sunscreen. The shade it provides is weak on this occasion due to the space between the blades, if it has been installed in its traditional orientation with the blade horizontal.
Then there is full benefit from the reduced need for electric heat and light; without disturbing the effectiveness of the openings normally provided in a building. A sunscreen also allows for the inclusion of larger, more “productive” bays in the design, carefully sized in relation to the orientation of the façade without the downside of overheating in summer.