The green approach has been adopted on multiple levels at a new recycling plant in Kent. And Gilberts- Britain’s leading independent air movement specialist- is similarly contributing in more than one way.
The depot on the Thames estuary is naturally ventilated, harnessing air circulating through a bank of six louvre screens between 6.8m and 21.4m long and 2.1m high strategically positioned at high level on the roof.
The louvres’ location optimises air flow through the building, ensuring compliant ventilation without any electrical consumption.
Gilberts WGK louvres with 100mm blades deliver over 50% free ventilation area; with the scale of the louvre panels- 70m in total- the wider blade offers a more balanced visual appearance alongside the abutting profiled metal cladding.
Further balancing the aesthetics, Gilberts finished the louvres in green to blend with the surrounding facades.
Says John Hanger, Gilberts’ louvre expert, “The project took green seriously. Its purpose will help the environment, recycling electrical goods rather than them going to landfill. Its ventilation is sustainable. And the finishing touch was to use mineral green as a primary colour choice.”
The recycling plant is the latest in a line of eco projects for which Gilberts has supplied louvres. These include the world’s single largest bespoke- and UK’s first- offshore wind monopile factory for SeAH Wind in Teeside and Pembrokeshire County Council’s new Eco Park Waste Recycling facility.
Gilberts’ louvre product range has been developed to provide a comprehensive package that keeps pace with the evolution of building design and structural interfaces. It includes standard, high performance, site assembled façade, screening and acoustic louvres, available in a range of ratings for weight, ventilation, weather, insects and even bird ingress. Fixings can often be tailored to individual site preferences.
Innovatively, with its in-house design expertise, Gilberts has the capability to create bespoke configurations which can be both CFD modelled and tested within its own laboratory to give customers complete ‘fit for purpose’ peace of mind.
Gilberts also offers a comprehensive range of coatings across its louvres, available in any RAL colour, applied to louvres of almost any size.
