Sunscreens and Solar Shading

Stainless steel sunscreens can be an important part of sustainable design. They allow natural light to enter buildings while shielding windows and walls to limit heat gain. They help to lower air-conditioning costs, increase occupant comfort, and reduce the building’s total environmental impact. They can also shelter windows and walls in the winter to limit heat loss. In landscape design, sunscreens such as arbors, make the external environment more comfortable during the summer. 

Photo: Catherine Houska, Courtesy of the Nickel Institute
These Type 316 stainless steel sunscreens were installed to limit the heat gain in these storefronts in Boston (USA).


For more information about the benefits of stainless steel sunscreens and international examples of applications, read the feature articles:

If an appropriate stainless steel and finish are specified for the location, it requires minimal maintenance because of its corrosion resistance and the ability to avoid coatings. It is important to realize that sunscreens and other window screens create sheltered environments that do not benefit from natural rain cleaning. If these areas are not manually cleaned then a more corrosive environment is created because they will typically accumulate higher levels of corrosive salt in coastal or deicing salt laden environments or pollutants.

This can make the specification of more corrosion resistant materials and smoother finishes necessary since the back of the sunscreens will be visible to building occupants. Specification guidance is available on IMOA's Stainless Steel Selection page.