Brise Soleil Colour Finishes for Building Design
Colour choice for your Brise Soleil is an extremely practical decision that affects appearance, weathering and maintenance of the solar screen over time.
Powder Coat, Anodising, or PVDF
Powder coat is by far the most common Brise Soleil finish due to the large colour palette available at a sensible price. Anodising is a good finish for aluminium and has good weathering properties although the colour range is somewhat restricted. PVDF coatings are good for harsh or coastal locations as they hold colour well against UV exposure.
How RAL and BS Standards Work
Be sure to refer to the RAL and BS 4800 references when selecting finishes with fabricators and contractors. These references will enable you to refer to shared language and assist in avoiding on-site colour discrepancies. Specify the finish system as well as the colour reference (e.g. RAL 9005, Powder Coat). The same RAL reference number can look very different when coated with a PVDF finish compared to a Powder Coat finish.
Darker Tones and Heat Absorption
Incorporating dark tones into your building’s design will absorb significantly more solar heat than pale fins. The surface temperature of the fins will increase which in turn can cause thermal movement. This needs to be taken into account when fixing the fins and allowing for any possible expansion.
Coordinating with Cladding and Glazing
Match the finish colour of your Brise Soleil to the dominant building facade material rather than trying to create contrast with the building finishes. A neutral finish will look better as it ages than a ‘ statements’ finish.
Heritage and Sensitive Sites
On heritage sites such as listed buildings and those within conservation areas, the finish colour and material of solar shading systems can be subject to special conditions. Recognised advice on the use of colour and materials on sensitive sites is provided by Historic England.
For Brise Soleil, see alusystems.uk/brise-soleil-solar-shading.
Specifying the finish at the outset will save a lot of hassle down the line.
