Raffshtory or roller blinds for the street are a means of protection from sunlight, additionally providing coolness in the room. They work on the same principle as ordinary blinds. The main feature is that the devices are installed on the outside of the window. When the need for them disappears, the curtains are easily assembled into a roll, a box. Control is carried out using a remote control.
The main material is aluminum, from which special slats are made. By turning them, the user has the ability to change the level of light inside the room. The slats have a convex-concave shape, preventing deformation and increasing resistance to mechanical impacts. The unusual shape also provides the ability to redistribute daylight.
Additional information: roller blinds are easy to install not only during the construction of a building, but also during its active use.
Content
Classification
There are several types of external roller blinds. They differ in the shape of the slats: flat, C and Z-shaped. The latter are most often used to assemble blackout roller blinds.
The following classes also exist:
- with dual control;
- equipped with various electronic systems and sensors;
- asymmetrical structures designed for irregularly shaped openings.
What are roller blinds for?
Roller blinds allow you to solve the following problems:
- Savings on air conditioning, as the sun's rays are reflected from the slats, preventing the glass from heating up. When in the "shade zone", the rooms become cooler by up to 7 degrees Celsius.
- Aesthetically, they make any facade more attractive. The appearance is perfect for facades of any style: for old and new buildings.
- The closed state almost completely deprives the room of light, which is an excellent alternative solution to blackout curtains when needed.
- The rotation of the lamellas allows you to adjust the flow of sunlight, which creates a "diffusion" effect. This function will seem especially convenient to owners of windows on the southern side of the building.
Additional information: roller blinds are used for all rooms. They are often installed in both office buildings and residential buildings.
Another problem solved with the help of roller blinds is safety, because it will be more difficult for an outsider to enter the building through the window. There are also special similar structures that protect against fire. But such blinds work on a different principle. It should be considered in more detail.
Fireproof roller blinds
Fire-resistant roller blinds are installed inside and outside the building. Their use today is much more frequent than the use of standard fire-resistant doors and hatches. Often due to the fact that fire-resistant doors and hatches are manufactured according to standardized dimensions, while curtains do not have such restrictions.
When choosing and buying, you need to remember the following points:
- The materials used for manufacturing must be non-flammable. Often the manufacturer takes heat-resistant fabrics made of reinforced metal threads. Additional durability is provided by applying a heat-reflecting substance.
- There are 3 degrees of fire resistance of fire-resistant roller blinds: EI 60, EI 120, EI 180, where I is the time that the “fabric” retains fire-resistant properties, and E is the integrity of the fabric. Each of them is capable of holding the flame from spreading to other rooms for the same number of minutes indicated by the numbers of the name.
Additional information: do not confuse fire-protective and smoke-protective curtains, as the latter will not be able to keep the fire within one room.
- When choosing between fire-resistant gates and curtains, you should also consider the decorative aspect. The advantage of such "blinds" is that in the absence of fire, they remain wound on the shaft, and therefore do not stand out from the overall picture of the interior.
- If the external sun protection coating consists of slats, then roller fire curtains are made of a solid sheet.
The fire curtain fabric is made of durable fire-resistant material. - There are 2 types of these products: with and without water irrigation technology. The first option involves the additional presence of a water curtain, providing protection from smoke and fire. Automatic closing.
- Installation is carried out not only on openings between rooms, but also at the entrance to elevators, on stairwells, etc.
Fire curtain on the stairs leading to the basement - Models are manufactured with a width of 8 to 40 meters, which allows for fire insulation of rooms separated by large gates and arches. Relevant for warehouses.
Additional information: currently there is no sufficient regulatory framework for the manufacture of fire-resistant curtains. Therefore, before purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with the GOST documents that describe the standards for testing methods for impermeability to smoke, gas and fire.
Roller blinds for facade windows
This type of window covering is called reflexols. They are made of special fabrics in the form of a solid sheet wound on a reel, shaft. The fabrics are highly resistant to atmospheric phenomena. Polyester and polyvinyl chloride are most often used. Such products also guarantee protection from the wind.
Additional information: there are mosquito models made from special nets. They are most often used on terraces and summer areas in cafeterias.
The control can be done manually, using a special lever, and automatically. You can also use a remote control. To do this, an electronic system for winding the fabric onto the shaft must be installed in the design. Modern technologies allow the system to operate silently, so as not to cause discomfort to people inside the room or terrace.
The conditions of use are more severe than for similar structures indoors - the frame is made of high-strength materials. For example, aluminum, which provides reliable protection from weather conditions.
Maintenance work involves certain features:
- Wind with a speed of more than 10 meters per second can damage the structure, so it is recommended to install a special sensor, which will cause the roll to roll up in the event of a strong wind flow.
- The mechanisms can operate without lubrication, however, if vibrations are observed, then consistent grease must be used as a lubricant.
- Cleaning should be done using only synthetic detergents, and abrasive analogues are not allowed.
- When the temperature drops below zero, it is necessary to periodically check whether the parts of the structure have frozen to each other. Otherwise, when trying to start the mechanism, a breakdown may occur.
Additional information: often, the manufacturing period for roller blinds is calculated individually for each customer. It can vary from 14 to 60 days.
Install roller blinds
The roller blind is universal and can be installed on almost any type of surface. Most often, installation occurs on plastic window frames. It is worth remembering that you need to use fasteners that have a high degree of strength and resistance to corrosion and other atmospheric factors. If you neglect this parameter, the operational characteristics of the structure will seriously decrease.
List of elements required for proper fastening:
- holders;
- fixators;
- brackets;
- staples;
- fasteners.
To install brackets, brackets, it is necessary to drill holes in the surface. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare the necessary tools in advance: a drill and a corresponding drill. To attach the box to the window or facade, using clamps, brackets, it is recommended to take hidden screws without threads as fasteners. Thus, the appearance of the building will not be spoiled.
Once the fastening elements are installed, the curtain rod should be hung on them, and then the roll with slats or "fabric" should be installed. Reliable hands can do this job in 20-40 minutes.
The design of the roller blinds consists of the following elements:
- the box where the control mechanism is located (may be electronic);
- a protective device that protects the previous part from weather conditions and rust;
- slats (depending on the model, their width can reach from 5 to 10 centimeters);
- guide elements installed vertically on the side (their task is to guide the slats up and down);
- a thread that serves as a lift (it can be replaced by a special lifting mechanism);
last lamella or bottom bar (used to install guide elements).
Additional information: installation of roller blinds is often entrusted to specialists from the supplier or manufacturer. This is done to ensure the highest quality installation work, since even one mistake can lead to problems with operation in the future.
Modern technologies allow to equip roller blinds with electronic sensors that react to sunlight, wind, and high humidity. Also, if the company provides such services, it is possible to program a certain angle of inclination at the appropriate time of day. It is really better to entrust the installation of such complex structures to professionals.
Additional information: when buying clamps, brackets, you should definitely inquire about their fastening capacity. No less important is the ability to regulate the permissible deviations in the sizes of the main elements.
Today, technology provides sufficient protection for buildings, interior rooms, attics, and terraces using high-quality roller blinds. The materials used for manufacturing do not allow atmospheric phenomena to disturb people inside the buildings. Blinds attached to windows or walls from the façade side are a new solution to the problem of excessive sunlight.
Video: Installing Roller Blinds on an Apartment Window
Photos of raftstor
