How to Specify a Sand Trap Louver: Size, Materials and Schedule
To specify a sand trap louver, give the exact opening size, design airflow, type and model, and a material and coating suited to the site. What to size, choose and put on the schedule.
To specify a sand trap louver, give the exact opening size, the design airflow, the type and model (Goodwind's GT-STL), and a material and coating suited to the site's exposure. Louvers are manufactured to size, so exact dimensions matter more than a catalog size. This guide covers what to size, what to choose, and what to put on the schedule.
Sand Trap Louver Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | GT-STL |
| Type | Sand trap louver |
| Blades | Vertical, sightproof |
| Base | Sloped sill that sheds collected sand |
| Mounting | Exterior wall intake and exhaust openings |
| Sizing | Manufactured to size from exact opening dimensions |
| Materials (Goodwind louver range) | Aluminum, stainless steel, or galvanized steel |
| Finish (louver range) | Powder coated, anodized, or custom colors |
| Coating (louver range) | Zinc, no-zinc, or special coatings for corrosive or coastal environments |
Material, finish and coating options are listed for Goodwind's louver range as a whole. Confirm with Goodwind which combinations apply to the sand trap model, and do the same for the blade-angle options (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°) listed for the range.
How to Size a Sand Trap Louver
Start From Airflow and Free Area
Velocity through a louver is the airflow divided by its free area, which is the open area the air can actually pass through. Free area is smaller than the nominal face area of the opening. As an illustration, 3.0 m³/s through a louver with 1.2 m² of free area passes at 2.5 m/s. These numbers are an example, not Goodwind data. The free area for a given size comes from the data sheet, and the same arithmetic applies to the grilles in our air distribution design guide.
Check Pressure Drop and Sand Separation at Your Airflow
Pressure drop, and how well a louver handles sand, can both depend on the airflow through it. Ask for the figures at your design airflow and for the exact size you need, not a generic rating.
Choosing Material and Coating
Choose material and coating from the site's corrosion and weather exposure. Goodwind's louver range includes special coatings for corrosive or coastal environments, which matter on coastal-desert sites where sea air is a factor alongside sand.
What to Put on the Schedule
| Item | What to state |
|---|---|
| Type and model | Sand trap louver, GT-STL |
| Opening size | Exact width and height of the opening |
| Design airflow | Airflow through the louver, plus any maximum velocity or pressure drop |
| Material | Aluminum, stainless steel, or galvanized steel |
| Finish and coating | Powder coated, anodized or custom color, with a coating suited to the exposure |
| Quantity and location | Number of openings and which walls they are on |
How to Specify a Sand Trap Louver
For MEP Consultants at the Design Stage
Put Airflow and Limits on the Schedule
List the design airflow and any velocity or pressure drop limit for each opening, not just the louver size. A schedule that carries those figures lets any substitute be checked against the same limits.
Tie Coating to Exposure
State the site exposure, for example inland desert or coastal, so that material and coating follow from it instead of defaulting to whatever is standard.
For Contractors at Procurement Stage
Send Exact Dimensions
Because louvers are made to size, submit the exact opening dimensions rather than rounding to a standard size.
Confirm Type, Material and Finish Against the Drawing
Several louver types look alike once installed but are not interchangeable. Check the sand trap type, material and finish against the drawing before ordering. Our sand trap vs weather louver comparison shows how the types differ.
FAQ
What model is Goodwind's sand trap louver?
The model is GT-STL. It uses vertical sightproof blades and a sloped sill to keep wind-driven sand out of exterior wall intake and exhaust openings.
How is a sand trap louver sized?
From the exact opening dimensions and the design airflow, using the louver's free area and the data sheet figures for pressure drop at that airflow.
What materials are available?
Goodwind's louver range is available in aluminum, stainless steel, or galvanized steel. Confirm the options for the sand trap model with Goodwind.
Can a sand trap louver be made to a custom size?
Yes. Louvers are manufactured to size, so submit the exact opening dimensions.
Ready to size one? Contact Goodwind with your opening size and airflow, see what to ask before buying, or read the sand trap louver guide and the wider louver guide.