Architect and Builder February 2017 | Page 13

SANRAL CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE
terms of sun control and Green Building rating points . Woven metal mesh fabrics reduce solar-generated heat gain , while providing lighting benefits within a building .
The best way to control the solar heat gain of a building is to intercept the sun before it enters . Metal fabrics provide attractive design elements while attaining desired sun shading and daylighting effects . Energy is saved by reducing the need for interior lighting and air-conditioning .
With increasing advancement and benefits of sustainable building , metal fabrics allow architects to easily address the challenge of creating appealing designs while addressing solar management . Metal fabrics
are inherently durable and long lasting , but they are more than just resilient to time and weather . Metal fabrics on a number of levels , including boosting the environmental friendliness of a building , improve the function of a façade .
Metal fabrics have been tested in conjunction with a constant glazing for their solar properties in order to calculate an architect ’ s specified glazing values . This allows the architect to determine the total façade solar heat gain coefficient . Since the fabrics have been tested , the architect can measure the solar heat gain coefficient before specifying a product , preventing any unnecessary design processes .
Contact GKD South Africa to discuss the exciting and innovative architectural benefits that the use of metal fabrics in building design provide .
011 412 4770 www . gkd . co . za cathy . vanblerk @ gkd . co . za
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA , USA MELROSE ARCH , JOHANNESBURG
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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