Curiosity, Courage, and the Making of a Performance Louver

A person who stays curious but never ventures out will always remain who he or she is.
This was very much who I was in early 2024.

I loved conducting R&D on aluminium products — testing ideas, refining profiles, pushing technical boundaries — yet many of those ideas stayed quietly on my desk. I explored, but I hesitated to share. More than once, my boss reminded me that curiosity alone is not enough; sometimes, you have to step off the boat and trust the journey.

Figure 1: Aluminium Angled Profile Screen



Figure 2: (Aluminium Moveable Panel 'Kinetic Facade')



Figure 3: (Aluminium Corrugated Perforated Panel)

When Data Centres Changed the Conversation

About a year and a half ago, when data centres in Johor were rapidly expanding, I was tasked with developing a product that was both essential and often overlooked: performance louvers. These louvers sit quietly on façades and plant rooms, yet they play a critical role in protecting equipment — especially in environments where cooling fans operate continuously behind the façade.

Figure 4: (Aluminium Performance Louvers in Johor)

The challenge was immediate. Clients wanted high airflow (large free area), yet demanded near-zero rain ingress. Unfortunately, these two variables do not naturally coexist. The more open a louver is, the more vulnerable it becomes to rain penetration — a risk that data centres simply cannot afford.

I spent months — and many sleepless nights — designing, testing, and redesigning profiles, trying to strike a balance between airflow and weather protection. I wanted perfection, only to realise that engineering is always about compromise, control, and understanding limits.

Figure 5: (R&D on Performance Louvers)

From Concept to Series Pro Louvers

After nearly three months of intensive R&D, we launched our SP.ace Series Pro Louvers — Aluminium Triple Bank Performance Louvers.

Figure 6: (Aluminium Triple Bank Performance Louvers)

This system features a triple-layer blade configuration, designed to deflect and break down heavy rain before it can penetrate the building envelope. Water is channelled through our proprietary side mullion, then safely discharged through a weep hole located at the front face of the louver.

The system is modular in height, allowing flexibility in design, while the panel width is intentionally limited to 1 metre to ensure long-term structural integrity.
 

Pausing, Reflecting, and Re-engineering

As the Johor data centre market slowed slightly in late 2024, we placed our performance louver sales on hold. While designers continued to specify them for lift lobbies and warehouses, we took the opportunity to reflect and refine.

Then came an urgent request: a client not only wanted a competitive price, but also demanded verified test data — specifically, rain penetration performance to ensure that no water would enter the building.

This request reflected a broader shift in the Malaysian market. Clients no longer want products that are merely cheap or visually appealing; they want solutions that are cost-effective without compromising quality.
 

Value Engineering Without Compromise

In response, we re-engineered our louver system. The original design used 1.2 mm thick aluminium extrusions. Through careful analysis and testing, we transitioned to a 0.6 mm thick rolled-form aluminium profile.

Figure 7: (2 Aluminium Coil weight over 300kg equivalent to 3kPa over on the louvers surface)

The result?

• Significant cost reduction (nearly threefold)

• No compromise in structural integrity

• Maintained performance under simulated 3 kPa wind load, as demonstrated by the aluminium coil loading test shown above

This step reaffirmed our belief that good engineering is not about adding material — it is about using the right amount of material, intelligently.
 

But What About Rain Performance?

This is a fair question — and an important one.

In my honest opinion, even double-bank louvers are susceptible to rain ingress during heavy storms. When rain protection is critical, especially for sensitive environments, triple-bank louvers are the responsible choice.

The drawings below reflect our relentless R&D journey — countless iterations before arriving at a solution we could confidently stand behind.
 

Putting Our Claims to the Test

On 7 January 2026, I made a personal decision: if we truly believed in our product, we needed independent verification. We invested close to over hunder thousand ringgit to send our aluminium performance louvers for testing in accordance with BSRIA EN 13030.

The test procedure is rigorous:

• Water spray rate: 90 litres/hour

• Wind speed: 13 m/s

• Constant spray and wind conditions

• Variable suction airflow behind the louver (measured in m³/s)

Water penetration was collected and measured in grams over 15-minute intervals as airflow increased from 0 to 3.0 m³/s.

Figure 8: (Louvers hung over the Opening for BSRIA EN 13030 test)



Figure 9: (Blower going at a wind speed of 13m/s)



Figure 10: (Pressure Gauge showing the airflow rate 'suction')

The results were clear:

Measured Water Penetration Results (A rough calculation based on on-site data acquired)

Typical Data Centre Airflow in Malaysia

Intepretation for the Data Center Use

Suitability Statement

Conclusion

Reach out to us — we are always ready to help.