Page 42 - Green Builder January 2017 Issue

Made for the Shade

These guidelines can help designers choose patterned panels
that let in just the right amounts of sunlight and fresh air.

PBY JULIET GRABLE
ATTERNED ARCHITECTURAL
PANELS can be used for shad-
ing, privacy screening, railings
or building façade treatments.
Westminster, Colo.-based Para-
soleil (www.parsoleil.com) offers

36 standard patterns, and the company’s design-

ers can create custom panels. But some patterns

may be more suitable than others, depending on

the design objectives. For example, a pattern that

creates an effective privacy screen may not be the

best choice when the primary objective is shading.

To deliver the best product for each situation,

Parasoleil has studied how the human brain perceives

patterns, along with how different patterns interact

with light and air. Here are some considerations for

selecting a patterned panel for shading:

Openness. This characteristic refers to the

percentage of the panel that has been removed.

In general, a pattern with an openness between

15 percent and 25 percent allows air to circulate.

It also provides sufficient shade control for areas

that receive direct sunlight.

Airflow. When it comes to the comfort of exterior

spaces, fresh air circulation is just as important as

shade. A more-open pattern better facilitates air

movement and heat transfer. A general rule for

ensuring comfort of outdoor spaces is to increase

the openness by 3 percent for every 10 degrees

above 85 degrees F.

Distance. As the distance from the overhead CREDIT: PARASOLEIL

structure to the objects being shaded below

increases, sunlight tends to “wrap” around the edges

of a patterned panel, shrinking the shaded square Shading, naturally. Patterned architectural panels from Parasoleil installed at the Denver
footage below it. To compensate for this spillover Botanical Garden provide effective shading. They also create interesting shadows that
(and subsequent solar gain), panels installed over change with the sun’s path.
11 feet above ground require a pattern that is 5

percent to 10 percent tighter. more shaded while leaving others more exposed.

Structure. This is the type of pattern that affects the distribution of light and Material. In general, aluminum or copper are the best choices for patterned

airflow provided by the panel. A modular pattern consists of repetitive, self- panels used for exterior shade. Steel rusts, especially in damp climates, and water

contained units and creates a more uniform distribution of light and airflow. passing through the panel can potentially stain objects below. Rusting around

A continuous pattern is less predictable and random, and it doesn’t appear to the fasteners can compromise the integrity of the connection and potentially

have a discrete beginning or end. This irregularity may cause some areas to be create an unsafe condition.

40 GREEN BUILDER January/February 2017 www.greenbuildermedia.com