Roof lights - Solar control can be simple, elegant and fit any shaped space
Sails eliminate glare, create dappled shade and enhance the benefits of natural light
Roof lanterns - Sails harmonise building fixtures, transmit natural light and transform workspaces
Application
A building’s design, location, aspect and materials influence the sun’s intensity as it shines through roof lights.
Our engineers combine form and function into bespoke designs that control glare and excess heat.
InShade sails are easily tailored, twisted, layered and shaped to fit any space, without sacrificing aesthetics and character.
The degree of coverage is balanced against exposure and ventilation to ensure the optimum solution. This assessment controls heat gain and glare while keeping a bright, open feel and the benefits of the glazed roof.
Advantages
InShade sail blinds are a fully bespoke, holistic solution for glazed roofs.
Sail blinds fit any shaped space, and we work closely with clients to determine the area to be covered, leaving open views whenever possible. These options are successful because of our premium materials and technology.
Our special ISX fabric eliminates glare while transmitting more natural light than any other, and our engineers will position it to work with the building’s aspect and internal features to optimise this roof blind solution. The result significantly reduces cooling costs and creates a comfortable, glare-free environment for occupants.
Our premium shade sail solution cuts glare and excess heat, optimises light transmission and comes with a 10 year warranty.
With 20 years in the business, we have an efficient, client-centred process attuned to each locations unique requirements. Our sail blinds are UK designed and manufactured.
Case 1
Relieving excessive heat in open-plan office building
This modern office building was experiencing excessive heat gain in summertime. In an attempt to address the problem, the client had installed solar control window film to the outside of the glass, which proved insufficient and needed replacing every 3-4 years.
tensARC engaged with the client on site. The building had flexible open plan floors, with a roof lantern running East to West. The brief was to create an aesthetic roof blind solution that would control the heat gain and maintain natural light levels on overcast days. Given the experience with the window film, the solution needed to be both cost effective and robust over time.
The client wanted a subtle but visually interesting modern solution that also met all performance requirements. Placing sails between the roof support struts allowed the sails to be installed with magnetic fittings for simple, speedy installation. Layering and overlapping the sails created small open gaps for interest. A repeating, overlapping diamond pattern added visual interest to the design and created variable shade. As light filters through, the variation in shade adds subtle character to the monochromatic décor. Our ISX fabric is exceptionally durable and likely to outlast the current design life of the building, providing a substantial return on investment.
Case 2
Solar control for students in a school library
A library area beneath a roof lantern had excessive heat and glare. The space was in a primary school, and the students found it difficult to study in these conditions and rarely used it. tensARC developed alternative designs, based on extensive experience with similar projects, during a requirements development session with the client. The design provides around 80% coverage to successfully address extreme solar problems and still maintain plenty of natural light for the students. The sails were designed to work in combination with existing, automated roof vents to fully control the temperature of the space below.
The school head wanted the solution to be visually interesting to the students. The children selected a “Four Seasons” theme and chose images from online stock photos. These images were then sublimation-printed on ISX-FR fabric. The printed sails are inherently fire retardant and can be machine washed in a standard domestic machine. When printing is placed on the inside face of the sail, as here, the fabric protects the printing from the sun; the sails still come with the full 7year warranty. The overall effect is functional and inviting, producing a great space for a student to linger with a book.
