Cellular Shades, sometimes referred to as Honeycomb Shades, are typically specified for residential projects, but they can also work well in a commercial application. The honeycomb- styled materials can create a natural organic ambience and cleanly designed environment when combined with other shade systems.
The design of a cellular shade is unique in that when it is deployed across the window, it creates pockets, or dead-air spaces, that reduce convection (i.e. circulating warm air) in order to improve the thermal performance at the window where they were installed. Although cellular shades offer a myriad of weaves and colors that face the inside of the building, the outside facing material is typically white to reflect solar light back out through the glass; therefore, cellular shades do an excellent job in controlling both solar heat gain and thermal gain. Along with reducing overall heat gain, cellular shade materials can be used for daylighting and privacy shades, as well as have blackout features.
Cellular shades can be operated manually or motorized, and hidden easily within ceiling pockets. They can also be traversed horizontally across sliding glass doors for easy egress and applied as a “top-down, bottom-up” application when view or daylighting, and privacy is desirable simultaneously.
WPM offers architects and designers full-service design and specification support when we recommend the specific cellular shade materials based on our client’s design objectives. Additionally, we provide all the dimensional information needed to plan for the products’ introduction into the building envelope.
Services Specific to Cellular Shades:
- Research the project and recommend the appropriate shade system manufacturer
- Meet with the design team to select the appropriate cellular shade material
- Meet with the design team to select the appropriate operating system, including motors
- Make integration recommendations when third party controls are being considered
- Provide material samples for the design team to show their client
- Provide cost estimates to complete the installation
- Write detailed Division 12 specifications based on the final selection
- Provide dimensional information to build cellular shades into the building envelope
- Work directly with other subcontractors to assist them in preparing for the shades’ installation