An Approach to Designing An Optimal Shading Device

Abstract

This study suggests an approach for determining the most suitable types of external shading devices that will allow an optimal view of the exterior for windows with various orientations. In this approach firstly, the period of protection required must be assessed, then the type of shading device may be chosen for a given window by consideration of the maximum acceptable width and angles of such shading devices in terms of the visual conditions. The approach is applied to office buildings for any given orientation (example calculations are performed at 10°intervals) for both the overheated period and the whole year. By comparing the results of both periods, it can be seen that it is impossible to apply horizontal and vertical louvres in some orientations without severely restricting the view