What is BS EN 14501 about?

BS EN 14501 applies to the whole range of shutters, awnings and blinds defined in BS EN 12216, described as solar protection devices in this document.

It specifies the corresponding properties and classifications:

Relating to thermal comfort
The solar factor (total solar energy transmittance)
The secondary heat transfer factor
The direct solar transmittance
Relating to visual comfort
The darkening performance
The night privacy
The visual contact with the outside
The glare controls
The daylight utilization
The rendering of colours

NOTE 1: The characteristics covered by BS EN 14501 are specific requirements that are complementary to the intrinsic requirements that internal blinds, external blinds or shutters shall fulfil in accordance with EN 13120, EN 13561, and EN 13659, respectively

NOTE 2: Some of the characteristics (e.g., gtot) are not applicable when solar protection devices are not parallel to the glazing (e.g., folding-arm awnings).

BS EN 14501 is not applicable to solar protection devices using fluorescent materials.

Who is BS EN 14501 for?

BS EN 14501 on blinds and shutters is useful for : 

Construction industry 
Architects
Manufacturer, supplier and installer of shutters
Workplaces
Civil engineer
Contractor of building
Researcher or producer of solar devices
Operators of solar protection devices

Why should you use BS EN 14501?

Thermal comfort is mainly governed by the operative temperature within the room depending on the air temperature, the air velocity and the temperature of the surrounding surfaces.

Solar protection devices influence thermal comfort in three aspects:

The mean operative temperature and/or the cooling loads are influenced by the solar gains which mainly depend on the size of the windows and the total solar energy transmittance gtot. BS EN 14501 guides you in calculating total solar energy transmittance gtot
The solar protection device may cause higher local values of θop when irradiated by the sun due to higher temperatures on the inner surface of the glazing or solar protection device. This effect can be quantified with the help of BS EN 14501
The solar protection device may prevent persons and surroundings in the room from being irradiated directly. The direct-direct solar transmittance τe, dir-dir specified in BS EN 14501 helps you quantify this effect

BS EN 14501 helps you to determine solar protection device after being fitted to a window that is directly illuminated by the sun for characterizing the incident radiation which is mainly directional, the transmitted radiation which is partially directional or partially diffuse

Thermal comfort helps you to protect from direct transmission of heat or solar by controlling solar energy transmission and heat factors of solar transmission. While visual comfort helps you with darkening performance that represents the capacity of an internal blind, external blind or a shutter in the fully extended and closed position to reduce light penetration and visual contact with outside.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 14501:2021 supersedes BS EN 14501:2005, which is withdrawn

The main modifications of this project of revision are relating to:

The revision of the performance classification for the darkening performance
The revision of the performance classification for glare control. The new classification is based on GDP (daylight glare probability) calculations and considers the cut-off angle of the curtain material
The addition of a fifth reference glazing (triple glazing)
The addition of an informative annexe giving recommendations on the class for glare control to be used depending on the location and orientation of the building, as well as on the size of the glazed area, the distance from the façade and the light transmittance of the glazing

BS EN 14501:2021

Blinds and shutters. Thermal and visual comfort. Performance characteristics and classification

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Mar 2021