S3 - Synchronised Solar Shading
Through leveraging open protocols via KNX® and SMI® blind motors, our new S3 Synchronised Solar Shading system seamlessly interacts with any Building Management System.
With sustainability and cost-effectiveness being prevalent in architects and designers' minds, innovative solar shading solutions that optimise building performance are providing huge opportunities to impact a building's efficiency and energy management. Beneficial to contractors is the reduced number of components an S3 Synchronised Solar Shading solution requires. This means less wiring, quicker and more cost-effective installations and easier system management.
Enhanced natural lighting
Reduced cooling load
Improved thermal comfort
Natural ventilation
Occupancy based control
Maximised fabric performance
Future-proof systems
Product Spotlight
S3 Core
S3 Core comprises of a quiet 230v intelligent and programmable tubular hardwired motor with positional feedback. The parallel connection wiring system drastically reduces the amount of cable requirement needed on installation, providing a cost saving. The S3 Core system is designed primarily for areas in which solar shading is needed for smaller and individual areas rather than where integration into a BMS is required. The operation method for S3 Core is via standard push-button switching.
Product Spotlight
S3 Advanced
While sharing the same basic functionalities as its predecessor, S3 Advanced elevates automated solar shading to the next level. S3 Advanced can be linked to BMS via Tridium Jace controllers to provide standard time clock operations and head end functionality for system monitoring, adjusting and fault finding. The option of customisable control via KNX switches provides multiple aligned stop positions and full floor control, alongside the smaller areas.
Product Spotlight
S3 Premium
S3 Premium is the epitome of intelligent solar shading. In addition to Core and Advanced features, S3 Premium has can be programmed to astro time clocks, energy management systems and advanced sun tracking systems using 3d building or KNX positional data modelling. This ensures optimised glare and heat gain control, while our energy management system utilises data from occupancy and internal temperature sensors to maximise a building's efficiency.
Contact our Spec Team
If you'd like to specify S3 for your project, or you have a question regarding automated solar shading, please complete the form below and our expert team will be in touch.
| S3 System Options | S3 Core | S3 Advanced | S3 Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Area Control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Floor Control / Basic Building Control | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Full Building Control | ✓ | ||
| BMS Link Via Jace (BacNET) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Basic Switch Operation, Hardwired | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| KNX Switching | ✓ | ✓ | |
| KNX Touch Screen (Customisable) | ✓ | ||
| Intermediate Positions with Alignment | ✓1 only | ✓up to 16 only | ✓0-100% |
| Fault Finding | ✓limited | ✓ | |
| Basic Time Clock Functionality | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Astro Time Clock Functionality | ✓ | ||
| Basic Head End Functionality | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Customisable Head End Functionality | ✓ | ||
| Basic Sun Sensor Interface | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Pro Sun Tracking System | ✓ | ||
| Weather Management System | ✓ | ||
| Environment Management System | ✓ |
S3 Benefits
Enhanced natural lighting
Our Synchronised Solar Shading systems allow diffuse daylight into the building while blocking direct sunlight. By optimising natural lighting, we can reduce the requirement for artificial lighting which in turn results in lower electricity consumption and the associated CO2 emissions. S3 can be used as part of a daylight harvesting strategy, by working in tandem with light sensors to maintain a desired level of natural light in a space. When the sensors detect sufficient natural light, the blinds can adjust to balance this out and supplement with artificial lighting only when necessary. This approach optimises energy usage by minimising the use of electric lighting during daylight hours.
Reduced cooling load
Particularly important when complying with Part O and Part L of the Building Regulations, S3 systems can be programmed to close or adjust their position during periods of intense sunlight or high indoor temperatures. By blocking or shading windows, S3 prevents direct sunlight from entering the building and significantly reduces heat gain. And with S3 helping to maintain cooler indoor temperatures, this reduces the need for excessive cooling through the use of energy sapping HVAC systems. Not only does this result in savings on bills, more importantly, it reduces the amount of C02 being emitted by a building.
Improved thermal comfort
S3 can also contribute to warming a space in the colder months by leveraging solar heat gain. During winter, for example, S3 can be programmed to raise the blind position and allow sunlight to pass into and warm the space. In colder climates or during the coldest parts of the day, S3 can be programmed to close after capturing the sunlight to retain heat within the building.
Natural Ventilation
S3 can be weaved into a building's ventilation strategy to comply with Part F of the Building Regulations and deploy or retract the blinds as necessary to maintain compliant rates of ventilation. For example, if the CO2 levels within a room become too high, S3 would be triggered to retract, raise the blinds and coordinate with the windows to open and allow air to circulate.
Occupancy Based Control
Integration with occupancy sensors allows S3 to change the height of the blinds accordingly. When a space is unoccupied, the blinds can be programmed to close automatically to reduce the build up of heat gain or heat loss through the windows. This improves the energy efficiency of the building and reduces energy bills.
Optimising Fabric Performance
While S3 can position the blinds to be in the optimum position throughout the day, the system will only fully maximise a building's energy efficiency when paired with a metallised blind fabric. And vise versa. Metallised blind fabrics reflect the majority of solar radiation entering a space to prevent a build up of heat gain while also minimising the impact of glare.
Future-proof systems
Our S3 systems are designed to be fit for the future. The open protocol nature of S3 is independent of any fixed supply chain, meaning all components of the system are interchangeable with any SMI or KNX devices in the market. Furthermore, any KNX engineers with suitable training can maintain and upgrade the system. This is specifically designed to give the client complete control over their building.
S3 is fully digital to ensure any future changes to switching or zoning are only software based and once the backbone of an S3 system is in place, there is never a need for further disruptive and expensive wiring.
S3 Components
Click the logos below for specific S3 component datasheets
Logo Options
S3 Blind Fabric Options
Metallised Blind Fabrics
For optimal solar shading performance, we strongly recommend pairing an S3 system with a metallised blind fabrics.
Metallised blind fabrics, like our SilverScreen® fabric, are manufactured with a reflective metallised coating on the back of the fabric and can reflect up to 85% of solar energy entering a building.
The combination of S3 and a metallised fabric ensures the solar shading solution is operating at its full potential and enhancing the energy efficiency of the building.
Sustainable Fabrics
Updated in 2023, our fabric range includes six sustainable, PVC-free fabrics all made from either recycled PET bottles, plant-based fibres or recycled polyester.
While not at the performance levels of metallised fabrics, our sustainable fabrics are all fully recyclable and help architects meet building accreditations like WELL, BREEAM and NABERS.
Screen
Screen blind fabrics are incredibly popular due to their versatility.
Usually available in 1% and 3% openness, screen blind fabrics provide excellent thermal and visual comfort levels while maintaining a view to the outside.
Screen fabrics can also be manufactured with a metallised backing to enhance their performance.
Blackout
Popular in commercial, hospitality and residential settings where complete privacy is required, blackout blind fabrics prevent 100% of light from entering a space.
Blackout blind fabrics tend to be stronger than traditional fabrics and can be manufactured with a metallised backing if required.
Dimout
Unlike blackout fabrics, dimout blind fabrics allow small flickers of light to pass through into a building.
The level of light entering the space is affected by the colour of the fabric, with darker fabrics able to eliminate greater levels of light than lighter fabrics.