In the framework of the CE JOULE III Programme, further to the SCL activities in PASCOOL Project, the project SOLAR CONTROL has been supported. The project participants, co-ordinated by Conphoebus, include also Universities of Sevilla and Ljubljana, NOA, TNO, BRE, VTT, Fraunhofer and GENEC, as well as leading manufacturers such as SOMFY and Pilkington. The project is aimed at undertaking investigations on the performance of shading devices in order to overcome the existing lack of support towards industry and final user, thus improving the dissemination of knowledge and the effectiveness of the application of these techniques. The final outputs of this project are: Proposal of Prenormative Testing Standards for shading devices; Upgrade of the existing simulation models by integration of new validated algorithms; Design and implementation of a smart solar control assembly; Design Guidelines & Shading Component Handbook. In the light of the above objectives, the main ongoing activities concern: characterisation of the most interesting shading devices (external, interpane and internal, isotropic and non isotropic) for the assessment of the overall performance (thermal, daylighting, ventilation) development, validation and integration in existing simulation tools of new algorithms of the shading devices behaviour in respect to solar radiation, visible radiation and ventilation development of new smart solar control systems for integration into the building envelope, with special attention on their impact on energy consumption and improvement of the indoor comfort as well preparation of Design Guidelines and a Shading Component Handbook for European architects and building designer.