Building Louvers: Design, Purpose, and Applications Explained
Building louvers can be used for a variety of applications on the exterior of buildings—many of which individuals often forget about during the design process.
Because of their application, there are also several different types of louvers that are used on buildings to help perform different functions.
If you’re in the market for some louvers and want to learn about the purpose of louvers in building design, here’s what you need to know.
What are Building Louvers?
In short, building louvers are an architectural feature that are added to buildings, which are made out of angled slats that are composed of metal.
What is the Purpose of Louvers in Building Design?
Building louvers have a variety of different purposes in building design.
They provide necessary airflow to spaces while restricting debris, insects, and rainwater, and they also work to let in sunlight while blocking unwanted onlookers.
They can also help filter air and make it cleaner, control humidity, trap sand particles, and even catch and drain rainwater through built-in gutters. Another purpose of louvers, however, is to provide stylistic elements to a building's exterior.
Types of Building Louvers
There are many different types of louvers for buildings—all of which have different purposes in buildings. Here are some of the most common:
Basic Louvers
Basic lovers don’t move and they aren’t drainable. They are typically used for providing protection from rainwater for intake ventilation vents but can sometimes be found on windows as well.
Adjustable Louvers
Adjustable louvers can be adjusted tighter together or more open by either a manual knob or an electric remote. These types of louvers allow the operator more control over the level of air and light allowed into a space, depending on the conditions. This also applies to privacy, where the slats can be completely closed and visibility dropped to zero.
Architectural Louvers
Architectural louvers have the most impact on a building's design, as they are typically custom-made to fit into a building’s aesthetic. They can also be made in a certain shape, color, and size to mesh with the other appearance of the building’s facade.
Acoustic Louvers
Another type of louver are acoustic louvers, which are designed and included in a building’s design to block sound from escaping or entering space. Industrial buildings, for example, where a lot of noise is produced—often use acoustical louvers to block sound while still allowing air flow.
Storm-resistant louvers
Storm-resistant louver are built specifically to endure high-wind speeds and wind-driven rain. These louvers have the purpose of withstanding the most extreme storms, including hurricanes.
Sand-trap Louvers
Sand-trap louvers, on the other hand, are created to improve air quality within a building by trapping large particles of sand in particularly sandy areas. Plus, these louvers are typically self-cleaning as well.
Drainable Building louvers
Drainable louvers may be the most valuable type of louvers in building design and functionality. The reason is, they have built-in gutters and special slats designed to catch water and drain it into the gutters where it’s then redirected outside the building.
As a result, this prevents a cascading waterfall effect you might see with basic louvers. They can also be used as drainable window louvers, which help prevent water from getting into the building.
Hidden louvers
There is also a somewhat uncommon class of louvers known as hidden louvers. Unlike architectural louvers, which are made to be featured as part of the design, hidden louvers are made to look as if they aren’t even louvers at all.
They are blended into the design in such a way that they still perform their desired function—but without standing out whatsoever.
Who Makes the Best Building Louvers?
Aire Renaissance by OSA offers quality and variety within the drainable louver niche–one that is unmatched by many.
We offer basic, acoustical, storm-resistant, sand-trap, hidden, and even custom louvers for buildings, with the difference being that every louver we make is drainable.
We also work with some of the best architects and experts to implement new concepts into our louvers that aren’t found anywhere else on the market.
High Quality Louvers Make a Big Difference in Building Design
If you need to add louvers to your building, make sure to invest in a quality building louver manufacturer that you can trust.
Whether you want style, functionality, or both, Aire Renaissance by OSA builds some of the best drainable building louvers you’ll can find.
Interested in learning more about our building louvers?