Solar geometry, briefly
The sun's altitude (angle above the horizon) varies through the year. At Cincinnati's 39° N latitude, the summer noon sun is roughly 74° above the horizon; the winter noon sun is roughly 27°. A horizontal sunshade projecting out from a south-facing window will throw shade in summer (steep sun) and let light through in winter (shallow sun).
For east and west façades the sun is lower throughout the year, so horizontal shades work less well — vertical fins or deeper projections are common.
Blade profiles in our line
- H6A — Airfoil. Aerodynamic profile; the cleanest line at distance; premium aesthetic.
- H6T — Tube. Cylindrical blades; rhythmic pattern; contemporary.
- H6JN — Narrow. Lowest cost; preserves view-through.
- H6JP — Standard. More shade, less view-through than H6JN.
Tuning the design
Specify blade angle and spacing together. Steeper blade angle and tighter spacing give more shade but more view obstruction. We'll model your latitude and orientation and recommend the combination — or work from a chip you send us to color-match the rest of the façade.
Construction
Extruded aluminum components keep weight down and corrosion resistance up. Each sunshade ships with outriggers and mounting brackets. Larger spans include rigging support. Finishes: baked enamel, Kynar 500, anodized — standard colors or custom match.
CSI specifier reference: 10 71 00 Exterior Sun Control Devices.