roomwithaview

Deep blue
Tailor made screenglass covers
Project in the picture
Sailing smoothly
roomwith
room
roomwithaview
withaaview
the sun à la carte
editorial
editorial
The Kyoto Protocol has been all over the world press, for a number of reasons. One reason is that scientists
EXTERNAL SOLAR SHADING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
now seem to agree that global warming is an actual fact and that carbon dioxide is amongst the
culprits. Another reason is the refusal of President Bush to accept the Kyoto commitment, which has led to heavy criticism, often from countries
that have energetically supported the Protocol, but failed so far to take any effective measures to make even the slightest contribution toward
the very ambitious Kyoto goals. The European Union, however, has committed itself to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, mostly CO2 ,
by 8% in the period 2008 to 2012 compared to the level of 1990.
Yet, the almost philosophical debate about
‘Sustainable Construction’ is progressing,
with some practical results. One area is
the adoption, by an increasing number of
countries, of Energy Performance Regulations
for new buildings. A full forty percent of all
energy used in the EU goes to constructing
and operating buildings. That’s why any
attempt to reduce the energy consumption,
and therefore the production of greenhouse
gases, has to tackle this area.
In the ‘old’ approach, only transmission losses
of the envelope were taken into account when
a building was being planned. The building
permit was often subject to a calculation of
these losses, on the basis of the U-values of
the building components. In the new approach
every part of the building that eats energy
is taken into account: the heating system,
ventilation, lighting, hot water and, of course,
mechanical cooling or air conditioning. That’s
where external solar shading comes in.
Energy Performance Regulations have
already been adopted in France (RT2000),
Germany (EnEV), Great Britain (Part L2
of Building Regulations) the Netherlands
(introduction of the EPC, or Energy
Performance Coefficient), Spain, Sweden
and the USA (the new ASHRAE approach),
while similar legislation is being prepared in
Belgium and Greece. At the
level of the European Union,
a proposal for a directive on
the Energy Performance of
buildings has been adopted in first reading
by the European Parliament and the Council
of Ministers and is expected to be published
before this year is over. A minimum standard
on energy performance for new and renovated
buildings will then apply.
Ruy Othake Cultural,
Sao Paulo, Brazilia.
Solar Control Systems do play an important
role in this subject: Helioscreen’s external
systems can reduce the incoming solar energy
by up to 90% – thereby reducing the cooling
load substantially or even eliminating the need
for air conditioning in moderate climates. Our
CAPSOL Visual Interface software program
allows you to calculate the effect of our
screen fabrics on the indoor climate: it will
tell you by how much the Gargash Entreprises,
temperature can be reduced Dubai
and how much less energy will be needed
for cooling to room temperature in summer
conditions, when our blinds are installed on
the outside. All the pertinent data to allow such
a calculation (transmittance, reflectance)
are available for all our fabrics.
That’s our way to make a contribution to a noble
cause – and to reducing your energy bill.
Dick Dolmans
Residence, Buggenhout,
Belgium, Arch.: W. De Bondt.
Shaoxin Square Art Centre,
Shanghai, China.
Residence 1,
Santiago, Chile.
Residence 1,
Santiago, Chile.
Deep
Deepblue
blue
NEW WARPING MACHINE
Helioscreen’s striving for high quality goes hand in hand with a continuous process of modernizing its machinery. One of
our latest investments is the replacement of the warping equipment. The big blue machine is a beautiful piece of Swiss craftsmanship that
will help us improve our performance and help you succeed in your business.
Beam warping is considered one of the most critical operations in the quality chain of a weaving plant . That’s why only the best equipment is good
enough. After extensive testing and careful evaluation of various alternatives, we chose for a Benninger machine, reported to be among the top in quality.
www.helioscreen.com
www.helioscreen.com
Helioscreen fabrics may not be as sexy or fashionable as, say, bathing suits,
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE HELIOSCREEN WEBSITE
but if you find the world of solar shading as fascinating as we do,
you must make a tour at Helioscreen.com and add it to your favourite links.
The main menu allows you to find all the
things you always wanted to know but were
afraid to ask. For special features and specific
information, a pop-up display is used and with
a simple “click” your favourite image or text
can be downloaded or printed.
Besides items such as “company”, “physical
background”, “case studies”, “links”,
“service” or “newsletters” (yes, this very
same Room with a view 4 is available from
the website as a pdf-file), there are of course
the more basic and technically more profound
chapters such as “fabrics” and “systems”.
A fine example of distinctive software is
the digital fabrics catalogue, which comes
as a supplement to the well-known yellow
Helioscreen bible. Besides an overview of the
samples, you can find all available technical
details via the browser. Mechanical and
photometric properties for each fabric are
clearly classified and all sample images can
be seen in great detail.
The more advanced user can go for a
customized query. For example, a search
can be done on a predetermined, fixed
transmission value, and all fabrics that meet
this value will be selected and presented
to you. A query can also be made based on
Openness factor or Light Transmittance.
The “Systems” link refers to Smartscreen,
the improved external solar shading blinds
from Helioscreen. All specifications such as
descriptions, data sheets, images, AutoCAD
drawings etc are available in digital format.
The drop-down menu allows you to make
the most appropriate choice regarding
maximum dimensions, winding diameters,
motorised or manually operation, shape of
headbox, etc.
Every website is of course a just-do-it-andfind-out-yourself-thing. It is up to the user to
experience all the technical and commercial
advantages. A final look at the case studies,
gathered from Helioscreen partners all over
the world, shows the wonderful and creative
applications of solar shading devices with
Screenglass fabrics.
It shows indeed the results of the close
partnership between architects, contractors,
and solar shading experts that Helioscreen
has been promoting.
Bernard Flamant
SCRAMBLE SQUARES PUZZLE
WANT TO TRY YOUR LUCK?
www.helioscreen.com will reward ten skilful
puzzle-game-players who are able to find the
game link on our website and find the solution
to the “scramble squares puzzle”.
We hold ten Amazon gift certificates of
100$ each for those of you who solve the
puzzle and will be on the winning side when
an innocent hand will draw ten names. The
game will be accessible during the month of
August only, starting on August 1 at 00.00 h
and closing down on August 31 at 24.00 h.
Come visit us and try your luck!
Daylight
Daylightand
andVisual
Visualcomfort
comfort
LIGHTTOOL — VISUAL INTERFACE
At Helioscreen, we’re in the business of improving your thermal and visual
comfort. With blinds and fabrics that stop the sun from overheating your
building and that reduce the amount of light that enters the building. Often, we concentrate on the thermal part, with data like the
transmittance and reflectance of the fabrics and the shading coefficient, as a measure of efficiency in keeping the heat out.
But visual comfort has become very important, now that every desk has a PC, from
the receptionist to the plant manager to the
managing director. Too much light, too much
reflection and glare are common complaints
from those of us who spend hours, every day,
in front of a computer display. So, natural light
is banned or restricted.
But then, you can notice that offices often
have the electric lights on, even when it’s
bright outside. That’s what happens when
solar shading systems have been chosen
that take too much light away. We think that
carefully planned use of natural light has a
very positive effect, not just on the energy
demand of a building, but also on human
behaviour and work efficiency. Therefore, we
find it our business to let just enough natural
light into the building, through carefully
designed fabrics that combine transparency
with a high degree of efficiency in arresting
the sun’s heat.
You may be familiar with Helioscreen’s Capsol Visual Interface. This powerful Windowsbased scientific calculation program allows
us to calculate just how much solar energy
will enter the building, what its effects will
be on the inside temperature and – of course
– what our fabrics will do to prevent this and
how much energy you will shave off the air
conditioning energy demand. With figures
that are quite impressive, depending on the
location and orientation of the building and the
quantity and quality of the glass – obviously.
Now we’re working on a similar tool for light
distribution. In co-operation with Daidalos
Engineers, Amber Imaging and the Belgian
Building Research Institute, we’ve launched
a project that will allow us to simulate and
visualize the distribution of natural light in an
office, depending on a number of variables:
• Location on earth (and its values of luminous flux)
• Orientation of the facade
• Bright daylight or cloudy sky
• Angle of the sun (day and season)
• Type of window
• Type of solar shading used
On the basis of an ‘archetypical’ office,
serving as laboratory, realistic, three-dimensional photo-like drawings will be generated, with iso-lux curves. You won’t have to
be a rocket scientist to make your choice
and compare the effect of various types
– or colours – of Helioscreen solar shading
fabrics and draw conclusions that architects will be interested in and that show how
natural light will be distributed in the building.
A sneak preview.
SOME BASICS
When dealing with light, the challenges are
threefold: providing enough light, avoiding
annoying reflection in computer displays
and taking care of glare. Glare is a matter
of contrasts in luminance. As for the quantity
of light, generally in an office environment
300 to 500 lux are required and it’s easy to
measure this. But a human eye rather reacts
to the brightness of the surfaces and the
difference between the brightness of the
working surface to the surrounding surfaces.
This is called ‘luminance’ and is expressed in
cd/m² (candela per square metre). Whenever
the contrast values are too great, the eye has
trouble adapting itself. There should not be
a greater difference in luminance between
a computer screen and the wall or window
behind it than 3 to 1. Achieving that often
requires a mobile shading system.
To avoid direct reflections in a computer
video unit, direct sunlight must be avoided,
but also diffuse light can be annoying. The
position of the computer screen is important,
of course, and it is best placed at straight
angles with the windows. But a Helioscreen
shading fabric with low light transmission
and a high absorption often does wonders
to this problem.
Project
Projectininthe
thepicture
picture
A heavy increase in occupancy can bring about many unforeseen consequences in even the newest building.
SOPHISTICATED SUNSCREEN SYSTEM AT KBC LEUVEN
A meeting room has to be converted into office space, office furniture arrangements must be
re-evaluated, walk space becomes workspace, etc. When spaces are utilized in a way that they were not originally intended, even the incidence
of healthy natural light can become an enormous problem. This was precisely the recent scenario in the KBC Building in Leuven, Belgium.
The unusual complexity and dimensions of
the building and the shape of the glass in
the roof combined to make it a challenging
project of exceptional magnitude. The ideal
solution proved to be an automated sunscreen
system utilizing 120 fabric panels measuring
2.8 meters by 14.1 meters each. They are
moved along the inside of the glass surfaces
with stainless steel cables, another perfect
solution custom designed by Helioscreen.
Now irritating reflections, which made work
difficult at best and sometimes impossible at
worst, are history. And all while retaining the
most efficient levels of natural light.
WHEN THE INTERNAL
ARRANGEMENT OF A BUILDING
CHANGES
The KBC Building in Leuven, Belgium dates
from 1987. Designed by the renowned architect
Michel Jaspers, the building features a central
atrium and an efficient open-space office
design. The concept maximizes flexible office
arrangements and enhances spontaneous
communication between employees. There
is a wonderful feeling of openness and bright
and airy space, thanks to three gigantic glass
domes. After the recent merger of Kredietbank
and CERA however, occupancy soared from
1850 to 2300 employees. And that is when the
problems started. New office arrangements to
accommodate the greatly increased number
of employees caused serious light reflections
on computer screens. The full impact of the
problem was not easy to estimate based
solely on employee complaints. So to avoid
the risk of investing in a non-optimal solution,
management opted to have a full study of
the problem performed by the architectural
firm AR-TE.
COMPREHENSIVE PRE-ANALYSIS
First on the agenda was to objectify the
complaints. Then, the seriousness of each
complaint was quantified. This in turn became
the basis for the definition of an adequate
solution. All of this was linked to an investment
budget. AR-TE divided the building in 41 blocks
or zones. A detailed, zone-by-zone analysis
was conducted to identify the critical angle
of incidence of sunlight passing through the
windows. This determined and defined the
actual problem zones by hour and by month.
The analysis clearly identified which zones
required a sun screen system and how often
it would have to be activated.
real technical challenge. We contacted seven
well-known companies. Only two said they
could carry out the entire project. We chose
Helioscreen.”
“To guarantee the success of a project of
this magnitude, thorough preparation was
obviously needed. Helioscreen built a pilot
installation to simulate the shape of the domes.
This test bed allowed them to make sure that
the guide cables and mechanical mechanism
functioned flawlessly. Other tests were
conducted to ensure that the panels rolled
up the inclines properly. This was particularly
important because of the extreme length
of the panels. Helioscreen even subjected
the panels to a special thermal treatment to
ensure that they retained the optimal shape
during rolling.”
REMOTE CONTROL OF PARAMETERS
Project leader Rik Van Weerdt, manager
of technical installations at KBC: “Once
the requirements and performance
characteristics of the system were clearly
established, we started searching for a
supplier. It quickly became apparent that the
The first phase of 24 screens was placed
into service in the most critical zones at
the beginning of 2000. The second phase
was completed in 200 2 with another 54
screens. A comprehensive sensor on the
roof measures the intensity of light in three
directions and sends the information to the
control system. This system measures and
compares ambient light against preset
parameters. Whenever light intensity
exceeding 40klux is measured for longer
than 1 minute, the sunscreens roll out.
dimensions of the glass domes presented a
Screens will take one of three possible
CRITICAL POINTS TESTED
WITH PILOT INSTALLATION
positions, each position being a function
of the height of the sun. When light intensity
registers under 30klux for more than 20
minutes, the sunscreens retract.
The customer can easily adapt any of the
parameters himself . Helioscreen can also
reset the parameters via a modem link,
according to the seasonal circumstances.
The building management system (BMS) can
take over the operation of the sunscreens
instantly in the event of an emergency such
as a fire alert.
The third phase of the project
will be executed soon. Another
42 screens will be installed
in the last dome as well.
When completed, KBC will
have an efficient and very
cost effective solution. And
all those troublesome light
reflections that caused so
much annoyance and reduced
productivity will truly be a
thing of the past.
Tailor
Tailermade
madescreenglass
screenglasscovers
covers
REQUIRE GRE ATEST CARE
Tailoring Screenglass fabrics needs to be done with the greatest care and
accuracy because of the technicality of the material and a rather complex
range of manufacturing options. Helioscreen manufactures around 200.000m² of tailor made fabrics a year, to the satisfaction of
many sunblind manufacturers throughout the world. This result can only be achieved when working with a highly skilled staff
and with affection for the company and the Screenglass material.
1.CUTTING OF THE FABRICS:
It is of the utmost importance that the covers
are cut perfectly square, respecting minimal
dimensional tolerances. Depending on the
cover dimensions, the job and customer
requirements, the orientation of the fabric
is chosen (covers can be cut out of the width
or the length of a roll) in order to minimize
cutting losses. Two different types of cutting
equipment ensure a square and neat cut:
1/ Helioscreen works with two semi-automatic
machines equipped with crush cutters, that
cut in two operations (length and width
consecutively). This is suitable for smaller
orders with a multitude of dimensions or
for big covers (our biggest cutting table
2/ a fully automated machine cutting width
and length in one operation, suitable for
important manufacturing runs with constant
measures 8 x 8 m)
dimensions.
A
B
2. WELDING:
All welding is done with High Frequency
welding equipment. We offer following
possibilities:
A. 4mm diameter bead for a finishing at
top and/or bottom (fits in our slot roller and
bottom bar) B. 8mm side tape reinforcements welded with an automated welding
machine allowing to weld 6 linear meters in
a row C. mid-welds, joining two pieces of
fabric horizontally for covers bigger than
2,5 m in width and drop D. pockets at top
and/or bottom in which one can integrate a
bead or bottom bar. Intermediate pockets:
fabric strip which are welded onto the
cover in which one can insert reinforcement bars
C
WHY WOULDN’T YOU
COOPERATE WITH A SPECIALIST
FOR YOUR COVER TAILORING?
Over the years Helioscreen has gained
unrivalled expertise in the manufacturing
of large or special shaped covers – Please
contact us for further information!
D
Sailing
Sailingsmoothly
smoothly
Did you know that Helioscreen’s unique fabrics are not only found in many prestigious
buildings around the world, but also on sailing boats? They are successfully
used on biminitops, the name given by sailors to the system that protects the skipper from sunburn on his scalp.
The Belgian company Suncode developed
a unique system to cover the cockpit of
sailing boats, based on our transparent
fiberglass fabrics. They call it HelioTop.
Besides the functionality of the frame, the
system equipped with Helioscreen fabric
offers the special features that all sailors
are looking for: transparency of the shelter
above them, so they can see the position of
their sail, combined with a very high degree
of reflection of energy (solar radiation) and
light (UV radiation).
Transatlantic sailor Etienne Thon recently
experienced the new HelioTop and was
quite impressed: “…From the Canary
a very positive article about his experience
with the SunCode Bimini on his yacht Firefly.
Said Bray: “We published some details in April
1998, although it was not until a Sun Code
Heliotop was fit to Firefly that I appreciated
just how clever this screen is … It is supported
entirely on a special framework that fits onto
the steering pedestal – no other struts and
stays are needed – in minutes. Secondly, the
Helioscreen glassfibre fabric reflects 90% UV,
but from below you can see through it, so the
helmsman keeps an eye on the sails. Thirdly,
and this is the clever bit, the screen is not fixed
in one position. It can slide from side to side,
rotate and be adjusted to provide maximum
shade whatever the angle of the sun”.
Islands to Brazil via Cape Verde, the Atlantic
crossing was tough. Ten hours of sunshine
per day and temperatures well over 35°C,
with winds changing from zero to 40 knots
in a matter of seconds… Our bimini weathered
everything without a hitch or squeak…“. And in
the April, 2000 issue of the prestigious magazine
Want to try it on your boat or your friend’s boat?
Contact Suncode at www.biminitop.com or
fax +32.53.83 53 16 or send an e-mail to Joe
Vandermijnsbrugge, Suncode’s President, at
[email protected]
Yachting World, Editor Andrew Bray wrote
Luc Janvier
Helioscreen n.v.
Dijkstraat 26
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A S I A Culture and Art Center, Shaoxing (China) Public Health Laboratory Centre, Shenzhen (China) Guangxi Industrial
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T +32.9.348.90.00
Shatin Government Offices, Hong Kong Singhealth Polyclinic, Singapore M I D D L E E A S T Alexandria Biblioteca,
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F+32.9.348.06.69
and Commercial Bank, Nan Ning (China) Xinshiji Recreation Center, Kun Ming (China) Tai’Shin Bank, Taipei (Taiwan)
the sun à la carte
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REFERENCES
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Caïro (Egypt) Citibank Headoffice, Dubai,(U.A.E) Internet City, Dubai (U.A.E.) Media City, Dubai, (U.A.E.) Mazda/Peugeot
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Showroom, Kuwait (Kuwait) DHL Building, Beirut (Lebanon) Audi Showroom, Beirut (Lebanon)
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EUROPE
Hogeschool
Amsterdam, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) Zuidertoren, Brussels (Belgium) City Center, Brussels (Belgium) Eurostation, Brussels
(Belgium) Omega Pharma, Deinze (Belgium) BCEE, Luxemburg BIL-Dexia, Luxemburg LMG Skychefs, Copenhagen Airport (Denmark)
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prestigious projects
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worldwide. Some of
Janeiro (Brazil) Banco de Toquio, Sao Paolo (Brazil) Plaza 01 Building, Sao Paolo (Brazil) Arts Museum, Guayaquil (Ecuador) Cemex,
Millenium Project -Twin Towers, Venice (Italy) Meganom Project, Moscow (Russia) L A T I N A M E R I C A Shell Building, Rio de
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Monterrey (Mexico)
AUSTRALIA
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County Court, Melbourne Melbourne University, Melbourne Telstra, Melbourne Bridge Climb,
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www.helioscreen.com
[email protected]
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Helioscreen products
can be found in many
the latest projects are:
B-9160 Lokeren, Belgium
Room with a view 4, July 2002
is published by Helioscreen. Layout,
design and production by Lucifer.
Final editing by Bernard Flamant, Helioscreen.
For reproduction of articles and queries,
contact Helioscreen.
Sydney King Street Warf, Sydney
Bank Audi,
Beirut, Lebanon.
Eden Biome St Austell, U.K.
Al Rostami Group,
Dubai.
Publicis, Rotterdam,
Netherlands.
Residence,
Beirut, Lebanon.
DHL
Beirut, Lebanon.
Internet City,
Dubai.