In the context of the current “dual carbon” strategy, building energy conservation has become an important issue in the global construction industry. Studies have shown that in summer, more than 40% of the building air conditioning load comes from solar radiation entering the room through the exterior windows. Therefore, in the path of improving building energy efficiency, building external shading technology is becoming a widely recognized, efficient and feasible solution.
Compared with traditional methods such as improving glass insulation performance or reducing air permeability, external shading systems that directly block the source of solar radiation are more effective and economical. In building energy-saving calculations, external shading can significantly reduce the air conditioning load caused by sunlight. And it is now one of the commonly used building energy-saving optimization methods globally.
Indoor shading often fails to block the radiant heat source itself. Besides, after the sunlight penetrates the glass and shines on the curtains, the curtains will become a “secondary heat source” instead. And this always increases the indoor heat load. But the external shading system like external blinds and sunshades can intercept the heat before it enters the building, greatly reducing the cooling energy consumption.
Compared with active equipment (such as smart glass, light control system, etc.), the external shading system has low investment cost, simple maintenance, and significant energy-saving benefits. It is one of the most cost-effective passive energy-saving solutions.
Through the reasonable design of materials, structures and colors, the external shading not only has the shading function, but can also be integrated with the curtain wall system. By this way, it gives the building facade a stronger sense of hierarchy and visual beauty, and achieves a perfect unity of function and form.
SunFrame’s exterior shading innovations are on full display at the Burj Al Mana Tower in Qatar. This landmark high-rise commercial building features a custom curtain wall system from SunFrame combined with intelligent external aluminum perforated shading panels, designed to withstand the intense sunlight in the Middle East. The project integrates fixed sunshades with adjustable louvers to achieve energy-saving and aesthetically pleasing facades, while ensuring year-round thermal comfort and significantly reducing air conditioning energy consumption, becoming one of the best examples of high-performance green curtain wall design in the Middle East.
Based on the building function, orientation and design requirements, building external shading can be divided into the following categories:
Type | Description | SUNFRAME Manufacturing Capability |
Fixed Shading Panels | Horizontally or vertically mounted outside windows; simple and durable | ✅ Yes |
Adjustable Louver Systems | Manually or electrically adjustable to suit varying sunlight angles | ✅ Yes |
Motorized Blinds/Shading Screens | Retractable control system; ideal for high-rise buildings or smart façades | ✅ Yes |
Grille Shading Systems | Integrated with façade design; diverse forms with strong aesthetic appeal | ✅ Yes |
Mashrabiya / Perforated Screens | Inspired by Middle Eastern architecture; combines shading with decorative value | ✅ Yes |
As a professional manufacturer of curtain wall systems and shading systems, SunFrame not only has rich design and processing experience, but also has a complete production line, which can provide customized shading solutions for different types of construction projects.
In Europe, America, Japan, the Middle East and other regions with high requirements for building energy efficiency, external shading has long become a standard configuration for green building design. For example:
☞ In countries like Germany and France, the government requires new buildings to be equipped with effective external shading devices.
☞ In the Middle East, due to strong sunlight, Mashrabiya-style perforated shading elements are widely used.
☞ In regions such as Singapore and Australia, high-performance facade systems are advocated, in which the shading function is deeply integrated with the curtain wall design to form a dynamic facade trend.
Driven by the integration of architectural aesthetics, intelligent technology and low-carbon concepts, external shading will no longer be an auxiliary component, but an integral and important part of the building facade. The future external shading system will pay more attention to:
As a manufacturer with a mature curtain wall shading product line, SunFrame will continue to promote the development of global green buildings with high-quality products and system solutions.
If you need a customized external shading solution, please contact us. SunFrame focuses on the integrated design and manufacturing of high-performance curtain wall and shading systems. And we will be your reliable partner.
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