Latest News
Window Energy Ratings
To help the consumer an EU system for window ratings will be introduced next year. Please follow th link for more details
http://www.eurowindoor.org/uploads/media/EuroWindoor_Position_on_Window_Energy_rating_final.pdf
Make It Safe Campaign: Child Safety
The BBSA has endorsed the use of child-safe blinds and safety devices for many years but in June 2009 at the BBSA AGM it launched a full campaign called ‘make it safe’ to promote blind cord safety and to highlight the options available to make your window blind safe.
As members of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) we fully support the BBSA’s ‘make it safe’ campaign’.
Child safety is always of paramount concern and the BBSA is urging homeowners and building users where children are present, to ensure they consider reducing potential risks associated with blind operating cords.
The BBSA and it’s members have been very active in developing simple, effective low-cost safety features that are suitable for all blinds. These include a safe way of securing cords by tension devices as well as connectors which simply pull apart should undue pressure be applied, but that can simply be connected again. There are also different operating methods and even window blinds which do not have looped operating cords, so there are lots of options available.
Many of the options offered by BBSA members can be retrofitted to existing blinds so you do not have to wait until you replace a blind to improve it’s safety.
For more specific advice please do not hesitate to contact our sales office.
Child safety- are there any safety requirements for blinds fitted in areas used by children?
Child safety: What are Hallmark Blinds taking to ensure child safety?
Child Safety: What safety devices are there?
CIBSE Presentation: Retrofitting Solar Shading.
26th October 2009, CIBSE
Case Study: refurbishing a heritage site- Kings Cross Eastern Range- shading constraints
Energy Efficient Savings
Building Modelling used to show energy savings from efficient use of solar shading
The development by our trade associations of sophisticated computer modelling of building performance is now enabling us to demonstrate the effects of efficient shading more simply. On a typical building model it shows that effective solar shading can recover the cost of installing the blinds in just over two years compared to the energy running costs of an air-conditioned building without shading. The savings are substantial and that does not allow for the saving on the capital expenditure for the air-conditioning plant in the first place.
As energy costs continue to rise the contribution that effective shading can make to reducing them is probably far more than you would imagine.
Follow the link below to our index of discussion topics on issues and solutions
Energy Efficient Solar shading
EU Standards and Building Regulations
EU Standards
After over 15 years of involvement by our trade association to ensure that they are realistic, most EU standards have now been approved. Compliance is not compulsory so implementation will gradually take effect as the standards become more recognised and companies can justify the cost of certifying compliance.
EU Directives and Building Regulations
Solar shading was introduced into Part L of the regulations for most commercial buildings in July 2004 to meet the UK governments’ commitment to the Kyoto accord. Although the initial requirements seemed to have been introduced rather rapidly revisions introduced in 2006 allow for more accurate calculation methods that eliminate many of the anomalies of the original proposals.
The need for solar shading is also included in the SAP Code calculations for energy efficiency of domestic new buildings that were introduced in 2006.
Awkward shapes?
Info on Energy 
European Standards
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