Careful choice of solar shading is required in buildings to allow good use of winter solar gain and daylighting without summer overheating. It may be needed to stop a building overheating, reduce cooling costs, prevent glare (particularly where computer screens are used), or provide privacy for building occupants.
This report describes the commonly used shading devices and some new developments. It gives the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of shading device. A decision table is included to help find the best solution for a particular building application. The guidance focuses on shading requirements in the UK and similar climates and latitudes.