Do you know what louvers are? What purpose do they serve?
Do you know what louvers are? What purpose do they serve? They are certainly elements that you have seen in modern architecture but might not have a name for. They are those angled slats and flat strips that you might see near the corners of wrapped around homes or buildings. They allow for airflow while ensuring that other elements like dirt, water, and debris stay outside and away. Now that you know what exactly these are let us talk about the different kinds and how they work.
Free Spaces
There is a lot of math and thought that goes into designing a new set of louvers. The free area takes your total open area and divides it by the wall’s opening. In this calculation, the obstructions, including the louver blades and frame, are subtracted. Typically, the free area takes up around 35 to 60 percent of the wall opening. The higher the percentage, the more air can enter, which will ultimately reduce the cost of the louver installation. When louvers are designed properly, they allow minimal water, debris, and no intruders to enter.
Water Performance
There is a point in louvers and their design where water penetration is allowed to flow through. It will use a measurement that calculates the air intake velocity when the louver will begin to leak. With your traditional types, water penetration is tested by letting air flow through the louvers as a measured amount of water is then added to the airstream. At a point, the velocity of the air is then slowly increased until the water will enter. These tests, in the end, are conducted to measure just how effective they are at stopping water from passing through their slats.
The Science Behind Louvers
Effective louvers do require a lot of educated calculations. They are based heavily on principles of free area and water entrance. To allow as much air through these property louvers as humanly possible with minimal water penetration, professional contractors and louver builders calculate various percentages related to volume, resistance, and velocity. These percentages are then placed right into tables and studied.
Airflow Blockage
Another test is conducted to measure the amount of airflow resistance caused by obstructions like filters, coils, ductwork, or other building structures. Professionals run air right through the louver to be measured at different velocities. The amount of air resistance depends on many factors, like the shape and the angle of the blades especially.
QUALITY LOUVERS FROM HERCULES CUSTOM LOUVERS
When you are ready for quality louvers, the professionals at Hercules Custom Louvers are ready to help. For more information and to learn how we can meet your custom louver needs, contact Hercules Custom Louvers online or giving us a call at 1-800-331-2590. We will ensure your investment serves your property for years to come! For updates and to see projects we’re working on, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.