• Designed for use as an air intake or exhaust louvre in situations where exposure to high levels of wind and rain are expected, and where water carry over is required to be minimal
• Also suitable for use as a natural ventilation device providing passive air flow to internal spaces
• Self-draining via rear blade profiles and concealed mullions, suitable for tall louvre panels
• No size limitations. Panels can be modulised and assembled on site to and dimension, with the clip-fixed front blade profile providing a continuous appearance
• Constructed from extruded aluminium and suitable for salt-spray zones and other corrosive environments when powdercoated appropriately
• Compatible with all common structure and cladding types, including precast concrete, metal cladding, fibre cement sheet and unitised curtainwall systems
• Ancillaries such as bird mesh, insect mesh, dust filters, mechanical dampers and plenums can be supplied fitted to the rear face

Due to its relatively high pressure loss, the VL-3SD should be used with care when mechanical plant is operating near the limit of its design capcity. If a lower pressure loss is required, the double bank VL-2SD louvre system should be considered instead.

Installation Requirements

Installation requirements for the VL-3SD louvre system vary dependent on the site wind loads, louvre panel sizes, cladding type and primary structure detailing. Ventüer provides full shop drawings for all installations which show sequencing, fixing type and sizing, flashing requirements and sealant details. Installers should make themselves fully conversant with these shop drawings prior to installation commencing.

• When sized correctly, the VL-3SD louvre system complies with the requirements for natural ventilation of buildings under the New Zealand Building Code clause G4
• When installed in accordance with Ventüer technical literature, shop drawings and site-specific engineering the VL-3SD louvre system complies with the requirements for structure under the New Zealand Building Code clause B1
• When installed in accordance with Ventüer technical literature and shop drawings the VL-3SD louvre system complies with the requirements around external moisture as outline in New Zealand Building Code clause E2

The VL-3SD louvre system was developed in New Zealand in 2013. Since that time it has been used extensively on a wide range of projects including hospitals, apartments, commercial office towers and sports centres throughout New Zealand. Refer to the Ventüer website for detailed case studies.

Performance tested for weather resistance and airflow performance to BS/EN:13030, the VL-3SD is classified as follows:

• Aerodynamic Coefficients:
  • Air Inlet: 0.201, Class 3
  • Air Extract: 0.157, Class 4
• Rainwater Penetration:
  • Class A - up to 2.5m/s suction velocity
  • Class B - up to 3.5m/s suction velocity

Engineered to withstand site-specific structural, seismic and wind loads in accordance with NZS:1170.

Fixings, flashings and sealant details are designed to comply with NZ Building Code Clause E2.

Warranty and Maintenance

Warranty information and maintenance requirements to comply with B2 can be found in the Ventüer Aluminium Ventilation Louvre Operation & Maintenance Manual.

Environmental Information

All Ventüer ventilation louvre systems are fabricated from aluminium which is extruded locally here in New Zealand. The majority of this aluminium is "green aluminium", meaning that the electricity for smelting is supplied from renewable energy sources (such as is the case with Tiwai Point, which relies on hydro-power).

Any waste generated during manufacture is fully recycled, as can be any louvres at the end of their useful life.

All powdercoating of louvre components is carried out by certified applicators and the use of chromate treatment processes is strictly avoided.

Effective use of passive ventilation devices such as louvre systems can significantly reduce the energy consumption of a building, reducing both its carbon footprint and whole of life cost.