Blinds & Shutters - issue 1/2023

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Smooth sailing
tensARC says
energy efficiency is
a core benefit of
sail blinds
Indoor roof blinds must perform under severe
conditions. In summer, when the sun is at its
highest and its hottest, roof glazing can
experience intense UV, extreme temperatures (e.g.,
70C/160F) and four times the heat gain of wall
windows. Any solution must mediate heat yet
preserve the benefits of a glass roof, by bringing in
natural light and maintaining an open feel.
Sail blinds are fixed roof blinds which can be
tailored to fit any space, whilst cutting heat gain,
eliminating glare yet transmitting large amounts of
soft, natural light. This functionality is required for
roof applications and the intensity of those
conditions. Additionally, sail blinds defy gravity
without the need for support wires; in fact, their
simple form belies the tensile fabric engineering that
keeps them taut and elegant. These design
characteristics also support energy efficiency,
creating easy, attractive and cost-effective solutions.
The correct fabric selection is critical for an
effective and durable solution. InShade sail blinds are
made from a unique, UK-manufactured light-filtering
textile, ISX, that was designed specifically for this
application. This translucent fabric has a special 3-
dimensional structure that maximises the
transmission of natural light while eliminating glare.
With 100% glare reduction, 70% heat reflection, and
20% light transmission, the solar performance of this
tightly knitted fabric is optimised for roof blind
applications. As a result, rooms retain lots of soft,
natural light, and sail blinds need no adjustment
when the day turns from sunny to overcast.
Cutting heat gain without compromising on
natural light translates into significant savings on
summer cooling costs. Leveraging natural daylight
also means that less artificial light is needed, thereby
enhancing the quality of light within the space. In
the winter, sail blinds made from ISX fabric can
reflect radiant heat back into the space from
internal sources such as underfloor heating, making
rooms cosier, and reducing heating costs.
Sail blinds are positioned to account for the
direction of sunlight and other fixed aspects of the
environment. Sun-tracking software can address
problem areas with targeted solar shading, and the
configuration can be optimised for any space. Tensile
fabric engineering keeps the sail in place.
We developed InShade as a solution that can be
configured easily for all glazed roof conditions and
requirements. Every sail is machine washable and
comes with a 7-year warranty. An inherently fireretardant
fabric is available for lifelong protection
with no additional maintenance. Sail blinds create
pleasant, dappled shading and a diffused light for a
relaxing atmosphere, providing a simple, elegant,
fixed roof solution suitable for year-round use with
no need for adjustment.
38 Blinds & Shutters • ISSUE ONE 2023