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AMCA Certified Louvres Now Available in Europe

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Construction Specialties (CS) has introduced AMCA‑certified architectural louvres to the European market, providing specifiers with access to reliable and independently verified performance data.

As an AMCA member, CS also participates in the AMCA Certified Ratings Programme (CRP). Under this programme, louvre performance is independently tested and subject to ongoing audits, helping to ensure that published data remains accurate over time. This sets it apart from other standards used to verify louvre performance, which typically result in a one-off test report.

AMCA certification complements the EN 13030 testing already carried out on CS louvres in Europe, adding a further layer of independent verification and ongoing validation.

A total of 15 AMCA‑certified louvre models are now available, including a selection of weather louvres designed to resist wind-driven rain ingress under demanding conditions, as well as several ventilation louvres engineered to maximise airflow performance where rain defence is not critical.

All models have been tested in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 500‑L: Laboratory Methods of Testing Louvers for Rating, which defines how louvre performance is assessed under a range of airflow and environmental conditions. Testing covers key characteristics such as airflow performance, pressure drop, water penetration and wind-driven rain resistance.

In addition, two of CS’ rain defence models are now AMCA 550 Listed, demonstrating proven resistance to high-velocity wind-driven rain.

By combining independently verified data with ongoing compliance checks, AMCA certification supports more informed specification and greater confidence in performance throughout the building lifecycle, helping to ensure that louvre systems perform as expected in both testing and real-world conditions.

For more information visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/products/architectural-louvres/

ENGINEERED FOR EFFICIENCY: CS LOUVRES POWER VENTILATION AND RAIN PROTECTION

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The new Leipzig South Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant is setting a benchmark for sustainable energy infrastructure in Germany. As part of this forward-looking project, Construction Specialties (CS) supplied high-performance Rain Defence Louvres to ensure efficient airflow and protection—without compromising on design.

About the Project
Built on the site of the historic Ernst Thälmann power station, the plant combines cutting-edge Siemens gas turbines with advanced emissions-reducing technology. With over 93% efficiency, it provides both electricity and district heating to Leipzig—all while meeting strict environmental standards.

The Challenge
To maintain both functionality and aesthetics, the plant required a ventilation solution that could deliver reliable airflow, defend against wind-driven rain, and visually integrate across different parts of the facility.

The CS Solution

CS supplied its RSH-5700AL Rain Defence Louvres, tested to EN 13030 and achieving Class A rain protection at up to 3.0 m/s. A total of 245 m² of louvres were installed across the Main Power Plant, Gas Supply Facility, and Pump House—delivering consistent performance in both intake and exhaust applications.

Seamless integration

The project involved close collaboration with planners and architects to ensure a consistent aesthetic and optimal performance. The louvres were finished in various RAL colours to match each building’s design, helping unify the visual identity of the facility.

Completed in October 2023, the Leipzig South CHP Plant now plays a key role in expanding the city’s district heating network—powered by smart design and reliable ventilation from CS.

For further project information on the project visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/blog/leipzig-south-combined-heat-and-power-plant-leipzig-germany/

CS LOUVRES PROVIDE AIRFLOW AND RAIN DEFENCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE DATA CENTRE

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Construction Specialties’ (CS) rain defence louvres are providing airflow and maximum rain defence for one of the largest data centres in Europe.

Following a successful acquisition of Hydrokraft AS in 2022, Arkon Energy has started the development of additional infrastructure, aiming to harness the facility’s total capacity potential. Located in Glomfjord, Norway, the centre runs entirely on eco-friendly, economical hydroelectric power.

The focal point of the project was the implementation of a rain defence louvre system that would not only provide efficient intake airflow but also withstand the significant wind load requirements typical of this region. The louvre system had to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, blending well with the existing envelope design. An additional consideration was selecting a finish that would ensure longevity without impacting cost or lead times.

After a thorough consultation process, the RSH-5700 horizontal bladed rain defence louvre from CS’ architectural range was selected. This model offered the ideal balance of performance (class A 3 up to 3.5 m/s), cost-effectiveness, and visual appeal for customer’s requirements. The final finish choice was a standard polyester powder coat in matt RAL 7035, closely matching the facility’s cladding panels. The finish was warranted for 20-years (subject to a regular maintenance schedule), following an assessment based on site’s location.

The modular nature of the RSH-5700 louvre system facilitated ease of installation, a crucial factor given the project’s scale and location. Its robust design ensured durability and longevity, vital in a region prone to high wind loads. Installed at the building’s front, the system covers approximately 580m2, serving as the primary airflow intake. This solution effectively met the dual challenge of high-level performance and architectural integrity.

For further project information visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/blog/arkon-energy-data-centre-glomfjord-norway/

An accredited CPD presentation on Design and Specification of Performance Louvres.

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A ‘Helping Buildings to Breathe’ CPD by Construction Specialties (CS), accredited by the CPD Certification Service, has been developed for architects and contractors who want to gain an understanding of how to specify the right ventilation louvre for their building, to ensure both functional and aesthetic requirements are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CPD explains why louvres are used on buildings and how their design may impact on the airflow and rain defence performance they provide. Weather louvre testing methodology and resulting classification are also discussed, to help specifiers easily compare louvre solutions available in the marketplace and choose products to suit the building’s needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the presentation looks at various louvre design options available to achieve a desired effect on the façade and integrate louvres with other building elements.

CS has been manufacturing and selling louvres globally for nearly 70 years and offers a wide range of solutions from high performance rain defence models to simple screening louvres.

The CPD presentation can be delivered in person, or via a webinar. For further information and to book visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/resources/cpd-seminars/a-breath-of-fresh-air-the-design-and-selection-of-performance-louvres/

A newly accredited CPD on ‘Helping Buildings to Breathe’

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A ‘Helping Buildings to Breathe – The Design and Specification of Performance Louvres’ CPD by Construction Specialties (CS) has been recently accredited by the CPD Certification Service. The presentation has been developed for architects and contractors who want to gain an understanding of how to specify the right ventilation louvre for their building, to ensure both functional and aesthetic requirements are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CPD explains why louvres are used on buildings and how their design may impact on the airflow and rain defence performance they provide. Weather louvre testing methodology and resulting classification are also discussed, to help specifiers easily compare louvre solutions available in the marketplace and choose products to suit the building’s needs.

Finally, the presentation looks at various louvre design options available to achieve a desired effect on the façade and integrate louvres with other building elements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CS has been manufacturing and selling louvres globally for nearly 70 years and offers a wide range of solutions from high performance rain defence models to simple screening louvres.

The CPD presentation can be delivered in person, or via a webinar. For further information and to book visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/resources/cpd-seminars/a-breath-of-fresh-air-the-design-and-selection-of-performance-louvres/

 

CS LOUVRES PROVIDE AIRFLOW AND RAIN DEFENCE FOR HIGH SECURITY DATA CENTRES

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Construction Specialties’ (CS) high performance rain defence louvres are providing maximum airflow and rain defence as part of an innovative cooling and power system at two, high-security, energy efficient data centres in Germany.

Controlling the temperature and humidity of the air within critical infrastructure such as data centres is an important consideration. It’s why the Noris Network’s two state-of-the-art data centres in Nuremberg and Munich have adopted an innovative Combined Energy & Cooling Cells (CECC) with KyotoCooling®, offering 70% less energy consumption for cooling and operation compared to more traditional solutions. In order to provide optimum airflow and maximum protection from wind-driven rain within the space-efficient design, the specification for both centres saw the installation of CS Rain Defence Louvres.

At the Munich facilty, CS Rain Defence RSV-5700 Louvres were installed on opposite sides of 10 towers located on the rooftop of the facility. The louvres allow efficient airflow into the towers, while preventing rain ingress on the intake side and letting the air out on the exhaust side.

Following the successful application in Munich, the same louvre model was installed at the Nuremberg South data centre, on the intake side of KyotoCooling cells.

The louvres also met the client’s high security requirements, with the RSV-5700 modules configured to provide RC2 burglar resistance class for additional layer of protection to prevent unauthorised access into the buildings.

Featuring a complex, extruded aluminium blade profile, arranged in a vertical orientation, the RSV-5700 is a space efficient louvre achieving an impressive Class A rain defence up to 3.5 m/s, combined with Class 3 airflow. Its performance has been verified in third party testing to BS EN 13030.

The RSV-5700 system is supplied pre-fabricated in sizes meeting project requirements for fast and easy installation.

With data centres a critical element of our global economy, their functionality and design must never be compromised. The installation of CS Rain Defence Louvres has ensured efficient airflow and flawless weather resistance for the long term.

For further project information visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/blog/noris-network-data-centres-nuremberg-munich-germany/

CONSTRUCTION SPECIALTIES EXPANDS LOUVRE OFFERING ACROSS EUROPE

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Global leaders in specialist building products, Construction Specialties (CS), is expanding its architectural louvre offering to help architects, contractors and engineers meet any building ventilation and design requirements.

With the introduction of new high performance rain defence and ventilation louvre options, combined with more than 60 years global experience in the manufacture and sale of louvres, CS can offer expert advice and support, in every aspect of louvre specification.

CS’ rain defence louvres are designed to offer specifiers the best combination of airflow, rain defence and spatial efficiency, whilst the ventilation options allow maximum airflow and provide some rain defence.

The expanded offering also includes options allowing architects to satisfy both form and function elements of their design. PerformTM variants are installed behind attractive perforated screens, which mask their appearance. Conversely, customisable Bold LineTM models can add drama to the louvred façade with accent blades, colours, and shade.

Third party tested and classified in accordance with BS EN 13030:2001, CS louvres are evaluated on two key performance areas – their effectiveness in restricting rain penetration and their efficiency in allowing airflow in and out of a building. This makes finding the right louvre solution much simpler and gives specifiers reassurance that the louvres they specify will meet their building’s performance requirements.

 

Throughout the years, CS louvres have been successfully installed in many of the world’s most prestigious buildings, including the World Trade Center in New York and more recently in Manchester’s Engineering Campus and Noris Network Data Centres in Germany.

For further information about CS Architectural Louvres and selection of case studies visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/products/architectural-louvres/

CS LOUVRES FIND A HOME AT THE UK’S LARGEST ENGINEERING CAMPUS

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The £420m Manchester Engineering Campus (MECD) benefits from a range of Construction Specialties’ (CS) architectural louvres providing excellent airflow and long-lasting protection from wind-driven rain.

The engineering campus will be home to a community of 8000 students and staff. With the University of Manchester committed to environmental sustainability, a green approach to the design was paramount with the project targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’.

For the largest building on the campus, 80,000m2 the MEC Hall, CS louvres were specified for the rooftop plant areas to provide both natural ventilation and smoke clearance ventilation. A custom clip in louvre, powder coated in RAL 9005 Black, complemented the vertical grid of metal slats on the façade. In active louvre areas bird guards and motorised uPVC volume control dampers were installed behind louvres, while non-active areas thermally-insulated blanking panels were fitted. On the sides facing internal hall atriums, CS SLA-I screening louvres, powder coated to blend in with the wall colours, were installed in inverted configuration to hide the louvres and dampers from view.

Linked to the MEC Hall by a second floor walkway, the Upper Brook Street Building (Engineering Building B) houses a large teaching lab and lecture hall. CS supplied its high performance rain defence model RSV-5700 and double louvred doors for this building. The louvre modules were fabricated with a glazing frame to allow easy integration within the curtain walling system.

Featuring a complex, extruded aluminium blade profile with multiple draining channels, arranged in vertical orientation, RSV-5700 is a high-performance louvre designed to provide maximum defence against wind-driven rain penetration. Independently tested to EN 13030, RSV-5700 offers class A rain defence up to 3.5m/s core velocity, combined with a class 3 ‘good’ airflow rating.

The custom clip louvre was also specified for the new build extension to the Grade II listed Oddfellows Hall and RSV-5700 system was installed in 3 elevations of the York Street Building.

The specification and installation of CS’ architectural louvres will ensure the buildings can boast striking aesthetics and functionality whilst supporting the sustainability strategy of the campus.

For further project information visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/blog/manchester-engineering-campus-mecd-manchester-uk/

CS LOUVRES ARE A CLASS APART AT NEW UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

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The University of Northampton’s stunning new £330 million Waterside Campus is set to be a template for sustainability having been built to low carbon, BREEAM Excellent-rated construction standards. Central to the natural ventilation strategy, Construction Specialties’ (CS) architectural louvres will provide excellent airflow and long-lasting protection from wind-driven rain.

EnergyCentre-1-lrEnergy Centre

EnergyCentre-8-lrAs part of the Energy Centre’s natural ventilation strategy, CS’ RSH-5700 rain defence louvres fitted with bird screens were installed at the ground floor level of the South and East elevations forming an air intake area and at the upper mezzanine level of the West elevation which serves as an air exhaust area. The LA-600C acoustic louvres were specified to be fitted behind RSH-5700 louvres in both locations to help achieve noise emission limits stipulated in BREEAM and local planning authority requirements.

Fabricated and delivered to site as modules for efficient installation, RSH-5700 louves were powder coated in RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey, in keeping with the colour of surrounding cladding.

LearningHub-1-lrLearning Hub

LearningHub-4CS louvres were also specified for the campus’s Learning Hub. Fitted to two opposite sides of the building’s 5th floor rooftop plant room, they provide air intake and exhaust functions. On this building, the preference was for a louvre model with vertical blade orientation that blended with the overall building design. RSV-5700 rain defence louvres powdercoated in RAL 9018 Papyrus White, complete with bird guards or blanked off with single skin blanking panels in non-active areas, were installed flush with the polycarbonate walling system.

Solution

Featuring a complex, extruded aluminium blade profile with multiple draining channels, RSH-5700 and its vertical blade version RSV-5700 are high-performance louvre systems designed to provide maximum defence against water penetration whilst maintaining good airflow characteristics. Both systems have been third party tested to EN 13030 standard and achieved Class A rain defence up to 3.0m/s and Class A up to 3.5m/s respectively.

With a class 3 ‘good’ airflow rating, the two louvre models allow the passage of air, whilst providing the area beyond the boiler and plant equipment on both the Energy Centre and Learning Hub with highly efficient protection from rain penetration.

For further project information visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/blog/northampton-university-campus-northampton-uk/

 

CS UNVEILS NEW ACROVYN® COLOUR RANGE

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To reflect changing interior design trends, Construction Specialties (CS) launches a new palette of colours and finishes for its top selling Acrovyn® wall protection range.

2021 Colour Palette Banners - SquareIn refining their colour offering, CS worked with specialist Colour Consultants, undertaking a thorough review of contemporary design schemes across market sectors, as well as current trends in materials and patterns.

The resulting palette comprises 36 Solid Colours, from timeless classics to on-trend shades, and 12 Decorative Finishes including a selection of beautiful woodgrains, contemporary concrete patterns and metallics. It gives specifiers an opportunity to express their creativity in delivering a desired mood to their design and co-ordinating wall protection with other interior design elements.

The Acrovyn® range is renowned for its quality, ease of maintenance and durability in protecting interior walls, doors and other surfaces from impact damage. As well as expanding their colour palette, CS introduces new solutions to the UK market, such as products with bactericidal properties and a wider range of PVC-Free models. The updated range will allow specifiers to achieve required functionality and protection in all building areas, while delivering beautiful interiors that last.

DecorativeFinishes SolidColours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explore our new palette of colours and finishes here:

www.c-sgroup.co.uk/2445

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