FAQs

Our façade and louvre systems are designed as performance solutions, with unique engineered fixing details for each project. Because of this bespoke approach, we don’t hold a blanket CodeMark certificate. Instead, Design Certification is provided once the engineering is complete, ensuring full compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) for your specific project.

Louvreclad is an Australian company with the head office located in Bundamba, QLD. We currently have dedicated installation teams in QLD, NSW and VIC with supply only available to SA, NT, and WA. Louvreclad predominately supplies to Australian projects but welcomes global enquiry for supply contracts.

Louvreclad's Louvre Performance Calculator allows you to select from the full range of performance-tested louvres and offers an option to select vermin or insect mesh when calculating project-specific pressure drops. If you are specifying BAL mesh, please select 'Insect mesh' as insect mesh has a similar aperture to BAL mesh.

All our products are custom made, designed and engineered to suit the project. Therefore, maximum span is dependent on the louvre/sun blade size and configuration, local wind pressures and structure available for fixing.

Louvreclad can extrude up to 6.5m lengths. However, depending on the design, you may need to split the blades up into sections to meet spanning requirements and to allow for thermal expansion and differential movement. Please seek project-specific design advice from our technical team.

 

Depending on the required blade size and span, you can choose from our Caprice, Barossa, or Vulcan Series®. Alternatively, our Elliptical Louvres range may also suit your needs.

Louvreclad advises against fixing vertical and horizontal sun blades directly to window mullions, as this may compromise the structural integrity of the mullion and void its warranty. However, if this approach is essential to your design intent, Louvreclad can provide performance-engineered solutions to address these requirements. For tailored advice and the optimal solution, please contact Louvreclad’s technical team.

It is best to select a louvre based on pressure drop requirements rather than free open area. You can then select the right louvre using Louvreclad's Louvre Performance Calculator to calculate your project-specific pressure drops.

Most fixed blade aluminium louvres can be extruded up to 6.5mtrs however, blades can also be butt joined to provide the continuous look to meet your design intent without size limitations. Continuous length blades depend on design, engineering and structural support specific to each project.

Roll formed louvre blades can be up to 8m length and press formed blades a max of 4m long.

Performance Louvres are custom-designed and engineered to align with your specific design intent. They can be fabricated as individual panels or as continuous louvres, supported by aluminium subframes and mullions, which are tailored to meet the size requirements of your project.

• Ensure the louvre is tested to AS/NZS 4740.
• The mechanical engineer defines the required airflow rate (m³/s) for mechanical plant or passive ventilation.
• The mechanical engineer also specifies the maximum allowable pressure drop (Pa) across the louvre to maintain fan performance.
• The architect and engineer collaborate to balance the louvre façade area (m²), pressure drop, rain resistance, and louvre selection to achieve a functional and aesthetic design.
• Select a louvre that meets both the aesthetic and performance requirements, including acoustics, aerodynamics, and rain resistance (e.g., Jupiter Series 2 Stage Louvre – Class A3).

Note: Rain resistance decreases with higher airflow velocity, and pressure drop decreases with larger louvre face areas. Example schedules are available in the draft specification.

In Australia, the AS/NZS 4740:2025 sets out the test method and standard for testing natural ventilators. This method of testing and performance classification provides comparative performance data for both rain defence and airflow. Standardised testing method offers protection to the specifiers and clear guidance to contractors on project requirements and performance expectations.

While Louvreclad offers options within this range, it's important to note that FOA measurement methods and standards vary across the industry, often yielding different results. Additionally, FOA alone does not reflect a louvre’s aerodynamic performance or rain resistance capabilities, making it an incomplete measure of performance. We recommend selecting louvres based on pressure drop rather than FOA, using our Louvre Performance Calculator for accurate results. For tailored advice, please contact our technical team. For more details, refer to the Louvreclad Performance Louvre white paper.

Pressure drop (measured in Pascal) is a measure of air resistance through an opening. In building ventilation, the maximum acceptable pressure drop is usually set by the fan performance and air flow requirement through the minimum louvre size.

Free Open Area is a geometric measurement proportional to the pitch of the louvre blades.

Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling is the analysis of fluid flows using numerical solution methods. CFD enables us to perform numerical experiments in a virtual laboratory.

The applications for CFD are incredibly diverse; it can be used to solve huge atmospheric and industrial processes to fine detail flows in living creatures and nanofluid applications.

For louvres, it allows us to simulate the test parameters set by AS/NZS 4740:2000 which gives us the rain resistance and aerodynamic performance of any given louvre profile.

Louvreclad offer a standard 12-month standard warranty alongside the powder coat or anodise manufacturer’s warranty. Project specific extended warranties are available on request (POA)

Please see our colours & finishes matrix here.