Leaflet M 04 (11.

96)

Louvre Systems

Weather Louvre Selection

- A Brief Guide
Specifying Louvre is always a compromise, and requires some judgement to
take into account the particular needs of each application. For example, at
one end of the scale, a car park may require maximum ventilation but little
protection from rain penetration. Alternatively, a plant room containing
special machinery or electrical equipment may still need high levels of
ventilation but with maximum protection from water entry.

The ideal design solution is to produce a louvre system which offers the best
RAIN DEFENCE and AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE. Unfortunately
this seems to be unachievable, however, nothing matches the overall
performance set by the Colt Universal Louvre range.

Products manufactured by Colt use 100% recycled aluminium for the

principal aluminium components.

Profiles
1 UL/SH

2 UL/SH

3 UL/SH

1 UL/DH

2 UL/DH

3 UL/DH
Weather Louvre Selection
- HEVAC Classification Method

Specifying Louvre Considerations

There has been a problem for many years in quantifying the * Site location and exposure
performance of louvre systems due to the competing test
standards and lack of application guidance for * Severity of local (site) weather conditions
designers.
* Location and exposure of louvres on building
The HEVAC Standard “LABORATORY TESTING * Airflow rate and direction through louvre
AND RATING OF WEATHER LOUVRES WHEN
SUBJECTED TO SIMULATED RAIN” (currently * Maximum acceptable pressure drop
under discussion as a CEN European Standard), helps
by including a useful classification method. However, * Degree and depth of water penetration acceptable
the responsibility for recommending classifications for
* Special solutions for sloping applications
particular applications still remains with the designer
or specifier. This guide is therefore intended to assist
designers and specifiers to select the most appropriate To get the effectiveness classes into perspective, this
louvre performance classification to suit each specific illustration shows water penetration rates for 75mm/hr
application. rainfall, 13m/s wind and no inlet velocity, which is
reasonably representative of bad UK weather.

Rain defence Rain entry rate

effectiveness (ltr/hr/m2 louvre)

1.0 0.0
0.99 0.75
0.98 1.5
1
litre

x 75 0.95
0.9
0.8
0.7
3.75
7.5
15.0
22.5
re

0.6 30.0
1
lit

1
litre

0.5 37.5
75mm/hr

1m 2

100
1
litre

1
li e
tr 99

98
Louvre Panels

97

1
litre 1
litre
96
Effectiveness

1 1
litre litre
95

94

93
13m/s 92

1
litre
1
litre
1
litre
91
1
litre
1
litre
1
litre
1
litre
90

89

88

Rain Entry Rate

Weather Louvre Selection
- HEVAC Classification Method

British manufacturers of louvre systems in conjunction with HEVAC and BSRIA have developed a test standard which will
help designers differentiate between louvres to suit specific applications. Many factors may affect louvre performance, but
the test environment at 13m/sec (30mph) wind-speed and 75mm/hr (3 inches) for a period of 30 to 60 minutes is fairly
extreme.
Rain Defence HEVAC Test Results Aerodynamic Performance
Classification

Class Effectiveness Rain Defence Actual Rain Entry Rate

(1.0 = 100%) Effectiveness (%) (litres/hr/m2 louvre) Class Coefficient

A 1.00 100% 0.0 1 0.40 and above

0.99 99% 0.75
2 0.30 to 0.399
B 0.989 98% 1.5
0.95 95% 3.75 3 0.20 to 0.299

C 0.949 90% 7.5 4 below 0.20

0.80 80% 15.0
A high coefficient means low resistance and
D below 0.80 70% 22.5 high airflow performance
60% 30.0
50% 37.5

The effectiveness classification should be specified for the design air inlet (core) velocity through the louvre, because it
is velocity dependent. To help put this into perspective the table above shows how “effectiveness” relates to actual rain
entry under standard test conditions, which is representative of severe UK weather.

Applications
Recommendations for the selection of rain defence louvre, based upon actual design inlet air velocities.

Class A - Where excellent rain defence is required and 3 UL No appreciable water penetration
core velocities are above 1m/s and up to 3.5m/s.

Class A - Where excellent rain defence is required 2 UL No appreciable water penetration

and core velocities are up to 1m/s.

Class B - Where good rain defence is required and 2 UL Some water entry but limited depth
core velocities are between 1m/s and 2.2m/s. of penetration

Class C - Where reasonably good rain defence is of 2 UL Significant water entry but limited
benefit and core velocities are between depth of penetration
2.2m/s and 3.5m/s.

Class D - Where maximum airflow is required but 1 UL Only limited protection from
rain defence is not considered important. wind driven rain

The classifications for Colt Universal Louvre are:

3 UL (Triple bank) Class A3 up to 3.5m/s

2 UL (Double bank) Class A2 up to 1.0 m/s Class B2 from 1.0m/s to 2.2 m/s Class C2 from 2.2m/s to 3.5 m/s

1 UL (Single bank) Class D1 all velocities

Performance specifications should always include the design air inlet (core) velocity.
Weather Louvre Selection
- Rain and Air Movement

Conventional Louvre Single Bank Universal Louvre

Double Bank Universal Louvre Triple Bank Universal Louvre

A copy of Colt Technical Paper No 364 - Guide Colt International Limited

to Weather Louvre Selection is available should New Lane Havant
further detailed technical information be required.
Hampshire PO9 2LY
A copy of the HEVAC standard is available from Telephone 023 9245 1111
FETA. (Telephone: 01628 531186). Fax 023 9245 4220

info@coltgroup.com
www.coltgroup.com

© Colt International Licensing Limited 2000. Subject to Modification.

"Colt" and the Colt logo are registered trade marks of the Colt Group.
06.11.97 / Publication No. M04. Issue B