One of the aspects about our business of which we are particularly proud is that we custom-make every order.
This allows us to offer a variety of customizing choices to meet the varying needs of our customers. Not all of our customers make use of these customizing choices though, partly because of the time and thought we put into deciding the standard configurations. The standard positioning of jalousie handles is a good example.
STANDARD LOUVER HANDLE POSITIONS
Unless otherwise specified, we position our handles to the left of the glass (viewed from inside) so that they are easy to operate using the right hand. With studies suggesting that 70-90% of the population is right-handed, this jalousie handle position will suit the majority of users.
Additionally, based on the height of the window, we make some assumptions about the height at which the window will be installed and then position the handles to be within easy reach.
Click here for Altair Louver Standard Handle Positions, as well as the various Altair Louver handle types.
THREE LOUVER WINDOW HANDLE CUSTOMIZING CHOICES
1. Handles on each Altair Louver Window bay can be positioned to either the left or the right of the glass.
2. Handle positions can be adjusted vertically.*
3. Additional handles can be added.*
*Notes:
• At least one blade must always be above or below each handle
• Each handle can operate a maximum of 9 blades
• Not available with the ios Window System.
CUSTOMIZED LOUVER HANDLE POSITIONS – SIX FACTORS TO CONSIDER
1. Left-handedness
While handles positioned to the left of the glass will not be difficult to operate, left-handed homeowners or building occupants may find it a little more comfortable to operate handles positioned to the right hand side of the glass.
2. Group handles together
Jalousies with multiple handles in close proximity will be quicker and easier to open and close as both handles can be operated simultaneously using both hands. The obvious application for this is to position handles ‘back-to-back’ on side-by-side windows.
3. Avoid obstructions
If building fixtures like hand-rails, towel rails (damp towels dry much quicker next to an open window), or built-in desks are close to Altair Louver Windows, attention should be paid to the handle positions to ensure that they are easily reachable. Simply adjusting the vertical position of a handle can make the difference between a window that can be effortlessly opened and a window that remains forever closed because it is too awkward to get to the handle.
The louver window behind this built-in desk is a great example – a handle in line with the desk would be difficult to operate, as would a handle just below the desk.
4. Windows to corners
Remembering that when the window is open, the handles protrude to the inside of the window, it is a good idea to avoid positioning handles side-by-side in corners.
5. Windows besides doors
Jalousie handles should be positioned away from the hinged side of a door to maximize the angle to which the door can open. A fixed door stop is also a good idea to prevent interference between the door and the handles or clips.
6. Windows over counters
Deep counters can limit how high up a window one can reach. In these situations it’s a good idea to have the top handle control the top 9 blades and position the handle as low as possible, even if this results in a window with the lower 3 blades controlled by one handle and the upper 9 blades controlled by another handle which is positioned lower down on the window.
NO LOUVER HANDLES
In some instances the most convenient option is a Powerlouver Window with no handles at all (while not strictly speaking a handle customizing option because there are no handles, still relevant to this topic). Altair Powerlouver Windows remove any need to think about the positioning of handles and, if paired with the Powerlouver Apptivate Control Unit, allow you to control the windows remotely from your smartphone or set them to operate automatically in response to timers or the in-built temperature sensor. Visit our Powerlouver page for more details.
