Penthouse Louver: Enhancing Ventilation in High-Rise Buildings
Louvers serve a very specific purpose for buildings in most cases. They allow air in and/or out while preventing water or wind from entering. They can also be used for privacy, but their main purpose is facilitating ventilation in openings such as windows, exhaust vents, intake vents, and more.
High-rise buildings often make use of louvers for these purposes but also sometimes use penthouse louvers. Penthouse louvers are commonly found in large high-rise buildings and serve the same purpose as regular louvers—ventilation. However, penthouse louvers differ from standard louvers in that they are much larger and have a unique design.
Many high-rise buildings could benefit from a well-designed, high-quality penthouse louver for improved ventilation and even aesthetics. In case you’re interested in penthouse louvers, let’s break down what they are, how they’re built, and who makes the best ones.
What is a Penthouse Louver?
A penthouse louver is a four-sided ventilation unit that typically protrudes from the roof of a building, usually mounted on a curb. It features louvered vents on all four sides of the opening, with a roof on top. This design allows the penthouse louver to intake much more air than a louver placed on a flat plane, such as a wall.
There are many variations of penthouse louver design, but the basic concept is four sides and a roof, allowing air intake from almost 360 degrees, as opposed to a single louver that only allows air from one direction. Penthouse louvers are especially effective on roofs because air can flow in from all directions, which maximizes ventilation.
In addition, penthouse louvers can be constructed around a building’s HVAC system, allowing the unit to intake and exhaust air through the louver on all four sides while protecting it from wind, rain, and pests. They also improve aesthetics by concealing unsightly equipment. Penthouse louvers can also help block noise from noisy equipment like generators, cooling towers, or HVAC units—especially when designed as acoustic louvers.
Uses of a Penthouse Louver
Penthouse louvers have several applications. Their main purpose is to allow maximum ventilation in large buildings like high-rises. They can also shield sensitive equipment, such as electrical systems, from the elements—preventing malfunction from exposure to water, wind, or pests like birds and bugs.
Aesthetics is another key function of penthouse louvers. They add a clean and appealing stylistic element to the roof of a high-rise building, while concealing unsightly equipment. Additionally, acoustic penthouse louvers can help reduce noise pollution from equipment, and some penthouse louvers even serve as smoke evacuation systems, opening to release smoke when detected in areas like elevator shafts.
Location and Materials
Penthouse louvers are most often seen on the roofs of high-rise buildings, typically near the edge of the roof curb. They can also be found in unheated spaces, such as above lift shafts in commercial and public buildings.
In terms of materials, penthouse louvers are commonly made from aluminum extrusions combined with a galvanized steel roof. Aluminum is lightweight and resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for outdoor use. Additionally, some penthouse louvers are constructed from materials specifically designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, such as hurricane-rated louvers for storm-prone areas.
Who Makes the Best Penthouse Louvers?
While many companies have a penthouse louver offering on their website, Aire-Renaissance by OSA makes some of the highest-quality penthouse louvers and is willing to custom-design your penthouse louver to meet your specific needs. Instead of offering a standard penthouse louver, they have a number of different louver offerings that can be implemented into a penthouse louver design.
Their basic louvers have non-drainable and a drainable version, and would work well for any basic penthouse louver project. However, they also make equipment screens which are specifically used for shielding unsightly equipment from view. This type of penthouse louver would be best for anyone who just needs aesthetic function and not ventilation capabilities.
For high-rise buildings in storm-prone areas, Aire Renaissance by OSA offers storm-resistant louvers that are specifically designed to endure harsh weather conditions, including hurricanes. For noise reduction, their acoustic louvers can be used to create penthouse louvers that help reduce equipment noise.
In cities like New York, where high-rise buildings dominate the skyline, Aire Renaissance’s aluminum louvers can be used to build penthouse louvers that fit seamlessly into the architectural landscape. Their hidden louvers offer a unique option for those wanting a louver that blends into the building’s exterior, almost unnoticeable to the naked eye.
In general, Aire Renaissance by OSA is the go-to company for any high-rise building in need of a penthouse louver. Their clients include some of the most prestigious names in New York, and their louvers are designed with input from world-class architects and engineers.
If you need a penthouse louver for your high-rise building, Aire Renaissance by OSA is the company to contact.