16.11.2018
Focus on the sustainability of sun protection fabrics
Sustainability during the construction of buildings, building certifications according to national and international standards, energy-saving – these are the requirements which are set on interior sun protection systems. Architects and persons which are responsible for projects, cared by erfal, will be also advised on the topic “Sustainability in the project area”. Further they will receive specifically product and fabric recommendations for the interior sun protection. The responsible use with natural resources is an important request of our company.
Building certification systems
Architects and planners will be supported during the implementation of the requirements for the building certification systems DGNB, BREEAM and LEED.
DGNB
Deutsches Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen (German association for sustainable buildings)
Six evaluation criteria (Ecology, Economy, Social and functional aspects, Technique, Processes, Location) were introduced by the Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen (German association for sustainable buildings). The participant must reach in each of the above-mentioned categories a good mark to reach later the evaluation Gold/Silver/Bronze. Buildings must meet significantly more than the legal standards in order to achieve the lowest certification level.
BREEAM®
BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method and is the oldest and most common certification system for the sustainable building. BREEAM awards with an easy point system in eight evaluation criteria (Management, Energy, Water, Land consumption and ecology, Healthiness and well-being, Transport, Material, Contamination) a quality seal in four levels.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a system for the classification of the ecological building, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Six evaluation criteria (Sustainable land, Water efficiency, Energy and atmosphere, Materials and resources, Quality of internal spaces, Innovation and design process) were divided into point systems. The total of points then decides one of the four rating levels.
Certifications/Regulations
Cradle to Cradle
The Cradle-to-Cradle sustainability concept describes the possibility of a sustainable production through the integration of natural growth and decomposition products into the production process. Like natural objects, products should be designed in a way that they can be reintroduced into natural supply circuits at the end of their lifecycle and thus they will not pollute the environment.
Greenguard
Freely US-product certification for the improvement of the room air in public buildings. Greenguard fulfil strict emission limits of over 360 volatile organic compounds as well as a limit of all chemical emissions together.
The fabric qualities CORDOBA and MALAGA are certified according to Cradle to Cradle Bronze. These sustainable fabrics are 100 % recyclable and are consisting of at least 65 % recyclable materials (PET). No new polyester and with this raw oil is needed for the production. Approx. 6 discarded PET-bottles are recycled for one square meter of the CORDOBA fabric. The permanent low flammability according to DIN 4102 B1 is still given. They fulfil the EU REACH-regulation and doesn’t consist of chemicals which can impact the human health or the environment. CORDOBA has an opening factor of only one percent.
The qualities MERIDA and ALMERIA are having a reflective coating and can therefore keep out the radiation energy. The “Low-e coating” saves energy (air condition) during the summer and serves at the same time as an isolation during the winter. Thus, you will also save heat costs during the winter season.
CORDOBA, MALAGA and MERIDA are certified according to Greenguard Gold. The room air quality can improve the productivity from 8% to 11%. Further the risk of health problems like dry eyes, skin irritations, headache and concentration loss can be reduced. An acoustics comfort is important for offices with big usage.
The fabrics CORDOBA and MALAGA are absorbing a part of the sound and are damping the spread of sound waves. The measured α-value lies at 60% (for CORDOBA) or rather 30 % (for MALAGA).
The visual comfort avoids the glare at monitors. Further, a good transparency is ensured when using the fabrics MALAGA and ALMERIA. The UV-radiation is filtered by at least 96 %.
The innovative screen fabrics LEEDS and OXFORD are perfect for the usage as a glare protection- They are having an especial high reflection of sun energy in combination with a metallized rear. This fabric is produced from a INGEOTM biopolymer PLA (PolyLactic Acid) – fibre. This fibre is collected from natural plant starch. Afterwards the fibre is transformed into a granule, extruded and woven. The highest quality requirements on a sun protection fabric is ensured. In addition, these fabrics are certified by Cradle to Cradle Gold.
