The Roof Light
Day lighting is the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that during the day
natural light provides effective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to day lighting while designing a building
when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use. Energy savings can be achieved either from the
reduced use of artificial (electric) lighting or from passive solar heating or cooling. Artificial lighting energy use can
be reduced by simply installing fewer electric lights because daylight is present, or by dimming/switching electric
lights automatically in response to the presence of daylight, a process known as daylight harvesting.
Day lighting is a technical term given to a common centuries-old, geography and culture independent design basic
when "rediscovered" by 20th century architects.
There is no direct sunlight on the polar-side wall of a building from the autumnal equinox to the spring equinox.
Traditionally, houses were designed with minimal windows on the polar side but more and larger windows on the
equatorial-side. Equatorial-side windows receive at least some direct sunlight on any sunny day of the year (except in
tropical latitudes in summertime) so they are effective at day lighting areas of the house adjacent to the windows.
Even so, during mid-winter, light incidence is highly directional and casts deep shadows. This may be partially
ameliorated through light diffusion and through somewhat reflective internal surfaces. In fairly low latitudes in
summertime, windows that face east and west and sometimes those that face toward the pole receive more sunlight
than windows facing toward the equator.
Skylight is any horizontal window, roof lantern or oculus, placed at the roof of the building, often used for day
lighting. White translucent acrylic is a 'Lambertian Diffuser' meaning transmitted light is perfectly diffused and
distributed evenly over affected areas. This means, among other advantages, that light source quality standards are
measured relative to white acrylic transmission. White acrylic domes provide even light distribution throughout the
day. Skylights admit more light per unit area than windows, and distribute it more evenly over a space.
The optimal area of skylights (usually quantified as "effective aperture") varies according to climate, latitude, and the
characteristics of the skylight, but is usually 4-8% of floor area. The thermal performance of skylights is affected by
stratification, i.e. the tendency of warm air to collect in the skylight wells, which in cool climates increases the rate of
heat loss.[citation needed] During warm seasons, skylights with transparent glazing will cause internal heat
problems, which is best treated by placing white translucent acrylic over or under the transparent skylight glazing.
With proper skylight design, there can be significant energy savings in commercial and industrial applications.
Savings from day lighting can cut lighting energy use by up to 80 percent according to the US Department of Energy's
Federal Energy Management Program. In terms of cost savings, the DOE reported that many commercial buildings
can reduce total energy costs by up to one-third through the optimal use of day lighting.
Poorly constructed or installed skylights may have leaking problems and single-paned skylights may weep with
condensation. Using modern designs with proper installation will eliminate issues with leaks and provide greater
energy efficiency
Glass
Used widely in large span roof lights such as atria, this readily recycled glazing media benefits from the low cost
availability of low emissive coatings and improved cavities such as argon gas filled. Very low U-values are therefore
simply achieved with the same glazing systems and depth
of sections without the need for triple glazing.
GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester)
A translucent thermo set material under the general heading of plastic that once formed into the required shape can
never be reshaped after curing. A very tough and durable material that in opaque format is used for yacht hulls,
aircraft nose cones and mine sweeper hulls.
Polycarbonate and Other Thermoplastics
Polycarbonate is a clear thermoplastic formed under heat and fixed in shape by cooling. It can be recycled by
eheating to a liquid state. hen correctly processed and handled it can provide excellent impact resistance and good
resistance to UV and weathering.
Other thermoplastics include PVC which is largely used in DIY and agricultural markets, but rarely in industrial or
commercial applications due to its fragility. Acrylic has good UV resistance but is not used in the UK as it does not
meet the required standards for either impact or fire resistance.
Natural Daylight is a vital element in our daily life. The general pattern of life for humans is to sleep at night and work
and play during the daylight hours. Our brain functions and responds to the stimulus of daylight. Providing natural
daylight into the working environment is of fundamental importance for the well being, efficiency and safety for the
people in that environment. The electric light bulb is a poor substitute to the fulfillment of the human requirements.
Now requires buildings to have adequate natural daylight as part of the design, minimum 20% of the wall area or
minimum 10% of the roof area, being composed of light transmitting elements.
This document demonstrates how natural day lighting can best be incorporated into the building design. It looks at
the various material options, giving their advantages and limitations, highlighting fixing needs, durability
requirements and legislation issues.
Many of the members of this Association have been making roof lights since the 1950s and 1960s and have a wealth
of knowledge that is available to be tapped. The Associations aim is to impart their knowledge to designers and
contractors to achieve excellent natural daylight design in buildings, so that people
who work in them or who visit them have that feel good factor.
Daylight Design
Daylight is a vital natural resource that will significantly improve the environment within any building. Roof lights
provide three times more light than the same area of vertical glazing. They can also provide a much more even
distribution of light, particularly in larger structures. Where vertical glazing exists, the effective area for natural
lighting will only be within 6m of the wall containing the window. These facts are well understood by most people
involved in building design. However the huge potential of roof lights to provide exactly the amount, type and
distribution of natural light required to meet any given specification is not always appreciated. Roof lights can help to
provide natural light with qualities appropriate to the use of the building.
Benefits of Natural Daylight
Daylight is an essential natural asset. For those of us living in temperate Northern climates, the beneficial effect of
sunlight is easy to recognize; a couple of sunny days seem to lift everyones spirits. Research also shows that suicide
rates are considerably higher imparts of the world where daylight is very limited for significant parts of the year. On a
slightly less dramatic but equally significant level, there is also a growing body of evidence to suggest that buildings
enjoying high levels of natural light are literally more successful than those more reliant on artificial light. In all
Environments the eye and brain functions respond better to natural light, so people perform better, while passive
solar gain can reduce energy costs.
Education
Research demonstrates a clear correlation between classrooms with good natural light and improved student
performance and even attendance. This is because in natural light children concentrate better so are more focused
and less easily distracted. Some studies suggest that health is also enhanced helping to explain the improved
attendance.
Health
In the UK we are used to hearing of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, a clinically diagnosed condition in which the
lack of sunlight in winter makes people feel ill. Natural light helps people to feel better but it can also aid the healing
process. In hospitals, studies have proven that the recovery rate of patients is accelerated where levels of natural
light are increased.
Business
Daylight improves concentration so that working environments, be they factories or offices with natural
light, tend to achieve increased productivity. Research into retail environments suggests that in many situations sales
tend to be better in naturally lit locations; colours are more vivid and true, making goods appear attractive and
encouraging customers to spend more time in these areas. A number of the UKs leading retail organizations include
large areas of roof lights in specifications for all new build projects to ensure a high percentage of evenly distributed
natural light within the interior.
Recreation
People like bright naturally lit environments, evidenced by the huge popularity of domestic conservatories
and sunrooms. It is therefore logical that in their leisure time people prefer facilities enjoying high levels of daylight.
Most sporting and recreational facilities to day try to maximize natural daylight in recognition of this.
Legal Requirements
The revised Building Regulations Approved Document L, for the first time acknowledges the well
proven benefits of natural light, and the effectiveness of roof lights in providing daylight into a structure.
In industrial and commercial buildings revised Document L of the Building Regulations recommends
a minimum roof light area of 10%, and a notional Standard based on 20% roof light area. For full details
of compliance to achieve natural daylight levels with thermal insulation requirements, see Section 4 - Legal
Requirements - Thermal Performance.
Energy Efficiency
On top of its many other benefits, natural light also offers passive solar gain i.e. a free heating source. Evening a
rather dull climate such as the UK, passive solar gain provides significant potential to reduce energy usage. Buildings
that enjoy high levels of natural light evenly spread throughout the structure, will be heated naturally for a
considerable percentage of the year. If the structure includes thermal mass in the form of solid walls and floors,
these will act as a heat store, collecting heat during the day and releasing it as the temperature drops in the evening,
thereby reducing the need for artificial sources of heat throughout the entire day. If window and roof light openings
are maximized on the sunnier southern aspects of a building, and minimized on the cooler northern aspects, and
this is combined with a well insulated, airtight structure containing reasonable thermal mass centrally located within
the building, dramatic reductions in heating costs cane achieved. A reduction in the level of artificial light required in
naturally lit buildings also helps to reduce energy usage. Designers should also take care to avoid solar overheating.
Type of Light
Roof lights are not only the most effective way of allowing natural light into a building, they can also
determine the type and amount of light entering the building.
Direct or Diffused
Direct Light - As the name suggests light passes through the roof light without any disruption or interference,
entering the structure as a straight beam. It therefore gives strong light in a given area but less general lighting the
surrounding area. It is useful where strong light is required in an area for close detailed work such as painting, or in
situations where a very natural environment is desired, or the designer wants people in the building to see the sky
through the roof. Direct light will result in shadows and glare on sunnier days. Polycarbonate, PVC and glass in clear
and most tinted options provide direct light.
Diffused Light - As the light passes through the roof light it is scattered giving a much more even distribution of light
into the structure below. It is useful when the requirement is for ambient lighting over a large area with minimal
shadows. Most industrial, commercial and sporting facilities prefer diffused light for these qualities.
Direct Light Diffused Light
Poor distribution of light Good distribution of light
GRP in all forms, Polycarbonate, PVC, and Glass in patterned and opal tinted forms provide diffused light. If a
material providing direct light and one providing diffused light into the building has the same light transmission, they
will let the same amount of light into the building, it is simply distributed differently.
Amount of Light
Different materials and different tints of materials provide varying amounts of light into the building. In
clear format most single skin roof light materials will have a light transmission of 80%-90%. This must
however be checked for the specific rooflight being used; material thickness, diffusing or colour tints, and number of
skins can all affect overall light transmission. In some situations the amount of light entering the building needs to be
controlled, usually to prevent overheating. Tinted materials will limit the light entering the building. It is impossible
to give a general guide to the light transmission achieved through the various tinted options available, as these vary
not only from material to material but also from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Roof light Construction
There is a wide range of metal and fibre cement roof cladding systems and flat roof membrane systems in the
market. The type of system, building design and usage will influence the choice of roof light.
Roof lights are very effective options for delivering natural daylight deep into the interior areas of industrial,
commercial, recreational and agricultural buildings.
IN PLANE ROOFLIGHTS
1. Single Skin Roof light
2. Site Assembled Double Skin Roof light
This type of construction consists generally
of a shallow profiled roof light sheet to
match the metal liner, a spacer system,
perimeter closure and an outer roof light
sheet matching the metal weather sheet.
This fully compliments the assembly of the
Metal roof.
3. Site Assembled Triple Skin Roof light
A typical assembly of three site assembled
Roof light sheets, where the internal sheet
could be replaced with a transparent
insulation core.
4. Factory Assembled Double Skin Rooflight
A factory made and assembled unit using purpose
designed box assembly of roof light sheeting. It
incorporates a rigid spacer at the purlin line to
provide a secure fixing assembly. The units
are designed to match and compliment metal
composite panels.
5. Factory Assembled Triple and Multi Skin and
Insulated Core Assembly
A typical unit of outer skin and lining panel to
Match the metal composite, with one or
multiple layer or transparent insulation
internal to the box, of various designs to
provide the requisite U-value.
OUT OF PLANE ROOFLIGHTS
a. Dome Roof light
A dome or pyramid in double or triple
skin format manufactured from standard
sizes, but can also be purpose made to
suit existing up stand dimensions
b. Dome Roof light with Manufacturers Curb
A dome or pyramid with integral up stand
manufactured to standard sizes, but can
also be purpose made to suit exiting
opening roof sizes. Other up stand heights
can be supplied to accommodate various
depths of roof insulation. Ventilator options
not shown.
6c. Dome Roof light with Manufacturers
Adaptor Curb
A dome or pyramid with integral adaptor
curb usually manufactured to suit existing
up stands. Ventilator options not shown
6d. Barrel Vault Rooflight
A low profile or semi circular barrel vaulted
Roof light in solid or multi-wall, double or
triple skin format and normally
manufactured to suit specified dimensions.
Can be supplied to suit builders up stand
or with other up stand heights to
accommodate various depths of roof
insulation. Ventilator options not shown.
Rooflight Configuration
The factors to consider when designing the roof light
configuration are :
a) Is there sufficient general lighting to create a pleasant and suitable internal environment?
b) Is there a requirement for increased or controlled light levels in specific areas of the building e.g. play area in a
sports hall?
c) The relationship between the height of the building and the diffusing quality of the roof lights to provide good
general light at ground level.
d) Degree of roof maintenance and roof access envisaged.
e) Weather ability and minimizing laps, especially between dissimilar materials. There are a number of possible
configurations for the roof lights.
7. Chequerboard Roof lights
This allows for individual roof light units, both
in plane and out of plane, and provides the
most uniform distribution of light. The roof light
is fixed to the metal cladding or roof deck on
all four sides and is therefore well supported.
This design has the maximum number of end
laps or flashings and therefore requires the
maximum attention to the sealing details by
the roofing contactor with resultant increased
costs.
8. Ridge Lights - Barrel Vault Rooflights
Using a barrel vault roof light along the ridge can
Provide an aesthetically pleasing design and a
relatively uniform distribution of light only if the
roof slope is short. The major advantage over
the chequer board arrangement is that they reduce
the number of metal/translucent junctions to be
fixed and sealed. However, at the ridge they are
subject to high wind loads. Since it is recommended
that roof lights should not be walked on at any
time, where roof access is expected and frequent,
ridge lighting provides a safer option.
9. Ridge to Eaves - In Plane or Barrel Rooflights
Both profiled and barrel rooflights can be
fixed from ridge to eaves or from ridge
downslope. They minimize the number
of metal/translucent junctions and could
eliminate rooflight end laps, thereby
improving reliability and servicing.
However, since the rooflight industry
does not recommend walking on rooflights
at any time,a ridge to eaves layout will limit
access across the roof.
10. Mid Slope Rooflights
This configuration is only possible with rooflights
which match the roof profile. It provides a compromise
between chequerboard and ridge to eaves in terms of
light distribution and buildability. It avoids
all areas with high wind uplift and llows
general roof access if the metal roof is
suitable for walking on. This design is now
very popular on new build work.
11. Continuous Run - In Plane Rooflights
Good levels of lighting achieved but less
used on modern design. Care needs to
be given to manufacturing and fitting
tolerances of the metal sheets and
rooflights to avoid a build up of
tolerance difference. Replacing old
reinforced glass fixed in T bars with
modern profiled rooflights or panel
systems is common practice and very
effective.
12. North Lights - In Plane Rooflights
This configuration could be viewed as a
Continuous run as above but is not subject
to tolerance difference between metal
sheets and rooflights. North lights on new
build is no longer common practice but
refurbishment with modern rooflights or
panel systems is easily achieved.
13. Random Design on Flat Roofs
Barrel and Dome Rooflights
Used on flat or low pitch roofs, the
rooflights are placed according to need
and roof design on purpose designed
upstands.
14. Curved Roof - Barrel Vault
Rooflights
Placed on an upstand that curves to the
roof, barrel vault rooflights can be applied
to run over the crown of the roof and
stopping either mid slope or down to the
eaves. Ideal for metal standing seam system
roofs and single ply membranes.
15. Structural Glazing
Bespoke structures of almost any shape
and design, normally constructed from
aluminium or steel sections and glazed
with polycarbonate or glass units of
varying specifications. These custom
built structures are generally detailed
by the rooflight manufacturer to an
architects brief and allow immense
freedom of design.
A
Report On
Roof Light
Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
Submited By:- Sandeep Singh
PRN NO.-2007017000005007
B.Arch IVth Year 8th Sem.
Submitted To :- Lect. G.K.Goyal
