Solar screen
Encyclopedia
The term solar screen generally refers to fixed framed panels of dense mesh
which are mounted to the exterior of a commercial or residential window
. These may also be installed over skylights, doors
, and other fenestrations of a building. In some cases, a solar screen might install in the normal place of a full window insect screen
. In other instances the solar screen, also referred to as a solar shade screen, might be installed in projected mounting that places the shading device beyond the flush window plane.
Materials that are used to shade windows from the sun will have various percentages of amount of shading they provide. This will range from 60% to 100% shade. An insect screen alone will provide approximately 25% shading factor as the strands of the screen will physically block that much direct sun. The solar screen works in a similar manner by having thicker yarns
and more densely placed strands creating more blockage of the direct sun rays.
Materials that makeup the base material of the yarns are generally fiberglass
or polyester
. The yarns are typically coated with Polyvinyl chloride
in varying thicknesses to make up the overall yarn thickness. This protects the base material and allows for various colors to be used for decorative purposes.
Mesh
Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to web or net in that it has many attached or woven strands.-Types of mesh:...
which are mounted to the exterior of a commercial or residential window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
. These may also be installed over skylights, doors
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
, and other fenestrations of a building. In some cases, a solar screen might install in the normal place of a full window insect screen
Window screen
A window screen, insect screen or bug screen is a metal wire, fiberglass, or other synthetic fiber mesh, stretched in a frame of wood or metal, designed to cover the opening of an open window. Its primary purpose is to keep leaves, debris, insects, birds, and other animals from entering a building...
. In other instances the solar screen, also referred to as a solar shade screen, might be installed in projected mounting that places the shading device beyond the flush window plane.
Materials that are used to shade windows from the sun will have various percentages of amount of shading they provide. This will range from 60% to 100% shade. An insect screen alone will provide approximately 25% shading factor as the strands of the screen will physically block that much direct sun. The solar screen works in a similar manner by having thicker yarns
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
and more densely placed strands creating more blockage of the direct sun rays.
Materials that makeup the base material of the yarns are generally fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
or polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
. The yarns are typically coated with Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
in varying thicknesses to make up the overall yarn thickness. This protects the base material and allows for various colors to be used for decorative purposes.