FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Thermal blinds are designed to provide insulation for windows, helping to keep rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They work by trapping a layer of air between the blind and the window, which acts as a buffer against the outside temperature. At Direct Fabrics, we offer a range of thermal blinds in various styles and fabrics, including blackout options.
Yes, thermal blinds can be very energy-efficient, especially when used in conjunction with other insulation measures, such as double-glazed windows and draft excluders. By reducing heat loss through windows, thermal blinds can help to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. At Direct Fabrics, we offer a range of energy-efficient thermal blinds that are designed to meet the highest standards of insulation and performance.
Thermal blinds can be made from a range of fabrics, including polyester, cotton, and PVC. At Direct Fabrics, we offer a range of thermal blinds in various styles and fabrics, including blackout options, so you can choose the best option to suit your needs. Our thermal blinds are designed to be both stylish and functional, providing insulation and privacy while also enhancing the overall look of your room.
As a family business, we at Direct Fabrics aim to provide a uniquely professional and personalised service for all our customers, however big or small. We work within contract furnishings sectors and have over 60 years of experience, ensuring we provide unparalleled quality in all projects we assist in. We are only too aware that each customer will have individual requirements, whether it’s a metre of fabric or a contract for a hotel, school or nursing home, we’ll be able to tailor our service for you.
All members of our customer service team pride themselves on giving every customer clear concise advice and informing you, whatever stage your order’s at, from quick quotations to receiving free samples, and then post-order. When you pick up the phone, you’re able to speak to the team between 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday. You may even speak to the Director himself as he plays a keen role in the day-to-day operations of the company.
Our humble story started with Joe Simon commenced trading in 1947, his market stall was the place to buy velvet in the North East. The chances are that if you are from the North East, a member of family will remember the ‘curtain men’, Joe and son Martin, from the early days. Nowadays Direct Fabrics is a third-generation family business; for over 60 years we have expanded our business with loyal and dedicated staff.
ECS Enterprises Ltd’s trading entity, Direct Fabrics, still prides itself on the same ethics that Joe and Martin Simon stood by. We share our passion for textiles with all our clients to make your projects run smoothly and ensure the quality of soft furnishings you expect from a British manufacturer. We continue to provide you with a comprehensive range of quality fabrics including bedding, towels and restaurant linens, all at competitive prices. We’re preferred by some of the most prestigious hotels including the Marriot, Sheraton, Hilton and many more.
We look forward to doing business with you and we look forward to receiving any questions or comments you may have.
Edward C. Simon
(Director)
ECS Enterprises t/a Direct Fabrics
Company Registration - 08543363
VAT Number 181905107
Thermal Blinds and Curtain Lining – Understanding Thermal Properties
This document is a work in progress and will be updated as time goes on.
Thermal curtains are designed to stop heat energy entering a space and the heat / cold escaping from a space.
So if you are using them in your home they complement your windows to create a further barrier to the outside.
Why Use thermal Curtains
Thermal curtains add a level of insulation to the space and work to keep your space;
- Warm and comfortable in the winter
- Cooler in the summer
Understanding Thermal Acronyms and information
When talking about thermal properties there are a variety of words used and these combine to provide the thermal information of the fabrics used.
U-value is a measure of thermal transmittance which is the ability of a material to transfer heat. All elements of a building have U-values for example walls, windows and other insulation materials such as plasterboard. The lower the U-value, the lower the heat loss through that particular material. Therefore a material with a low U-value is a good insulator. The U-value of glazing is always improved by installing blinds.
Example U Values of Windows
|
Standard
|
Glazing
|
U-value
W/m2K
|
G Value
|
|
EN 14501
|
Clear Single Glazing
|
5.8
|
0.85
|
|
EN 14502
|
Clear Double Glazing
|
2.9
|
0.76
|
|
EN 14503
|
Double Glazing with low emissivity
|
1.2
|
0.59
|
|
EN 14504
|
Solar Control double glazing
|
1.1
|
0.32
|
|
EN 13363-1
|
Triple Glazing
|
2
|
0.65
|
|
EN 13363-1
|
Double clear glazing with low emissivity
|
1.6
|
0.7
|
Understand Gtot
Total solar energy transmittance (gtot) relates to the performance of solar protection devices such as blinds or curtains and is the percentage of solar energy incident on the fabric of a blind or curtains that is transmitted to the interior of the building, including both the transmittance of the solar protection device itself and of the window glazing.
The lower the g-value or gtot, the lower the heat gain. The value of gtot is between 0 and 1, where 0 equates to no radiation being transmitted into the room and 1 means all radiation (100%) is transmitted. So a gtot of 0.25 (25% heat gain, 75% heat rejection) reduces heat gain three times more effectively than a gtot of 0.75 (25% heat rejection). External shading helps to significantly reduce gtot values and has a much more significant impact on gtot than internal shading.
Although the levels of Reflectance (Rs), Transmittance (Ts) and Absorptance (As) can vary depending on the type of material, its colour, thickness, etc., their total will always add up to 100% of Solar Irradiance. Reflectance (Rs) + Transmittance (Ts) + Absorptance (As) = 100% of Solar Irradiance
What is the goal of thermal curtains
The goal when using thermal curtains is to reduce the solar transmittance into the space and as such reduce the amount of solar energy passing into the building and inturn keeping the room cooler in the summer.
The opposite is also the case when trying to keep heat inside a room. We want to stop transmittance of energy passing back out of the window. So again putting a fabric between the room and the window will reduce heat loss through the window.
What to do with your blinds and curtains to improve
To maximise the thermal benefits within your space your should do the following
Summer
● Close the blinds at night on the east-south elevations to protect from early morning heat gains
● Open the blinds at night on the west and north-west elevations to assist night time cooling
Winter
● Close the blinds after the sun goes down to retain heat
●On Sunny days open the blinds during the daytime to maximise heat gain from the winter sun and close blinds at night.
Winter Blinds in unoccupied rooms should always be closed.
Heat Loss through windows
● Conduction – direct loss of heat through the window to the outside
● Convection - where the warm air in the room hits the cold surface of the glass and cools the air inside the room
● Radiation and Re-radiation - this is where the cold surface of the glass absorbs the heat from inside the room
● Air leakage – heat lost through cracks in the frame or from around poorly fitted glazing
Improvements in Blinds when using a blind
|
|
Clear Single Glazing
|
Double Clear Glazing
|
Double Glazing with Low emissivity
|
|
Glass Alone
|
U=5.8 W/m2K
|
U=2.9 W/m2K
|
U=1.1 W/m2K
|
|
High Air Permeability
|
4
|
2.4
|
1
|
|
Average Air Permeability
|
3.5
|
2.2
|
1
|
|
Low Air Permeability
|
3.2
|
2.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Improvement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glass Alone
|
5.8
|
2.9
|
1.1
|
|
High Air Permeability
|
31%
|
17%
|
9%
|
|
Average Air Permeability
|
40%
|
24%
|
9%
|
|
Low Air Permeability
|
45%
|
28%
|
9%
|
Credits and
BBSA website for some of this informatio
https://www.shadeit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BBSA-Guide-to-low-energy-shading.pdf
Here to help on all your projects
As a company we want to work with you on a personal level, so if you want a bespoke quote or have questions, then please send a message or call the team, we are here 9-5pm and want to offer the very best service to all our customer
