DAYLIGHTING Magazine issue 32 Spring 2022

Issue 32 SPRING 2022

ROOFLIGHTS • ACHIEVING A BALANCED LIGHTING STRATEGY • INSTALLATION LOGISTICS • CASE STUDY

PLUS:

AIRSPACE DEVELOPMENTS HOW SUSTAINABILTY ADDS VALUE TO BUILDINGS NEW PROJECTS AND MORE

The rooflighting authority NARM, the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers, represents manufacturers and suppliers of all types of rooflights and has played a pivotal role in establishing the effects of rooflighting on building performance and in the development of rooflight standards which protect the marketplace from potentially poorly performing products – as well as promoting best practice among specifiers and installers.

Recognised as the UK’s leading independent and impartial authority on rooflighting, NARM’s knowledge and expertise is freely available, together with member company

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RIBA accredited CPD materials Available

www.narm.org.uk

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listings, at www.narm.org.uk

R O AD VERHE

LAMINATED INNER PANE ENDORSED BY

THE TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING LEADING UK ROOFLIGHT SUPPLIERS

CONTENTS

REGULARS

05

Editor’s Comment

06

Industry News

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FEATURES

DAYLIGHTING is published by: Bennett B2B Ltd 7 Vicarage Gardens Cropredy, Banbury OX17 1PJ United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1295 750519

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Sustainability How Sustainability Adds Value to Your Building Sotech explore the importance of sustainable buildings and ways that sustainability can add value, 16

New Projects

NARM Daylight Diary Updates from the UK’s influential trade association for rooflight manufacturers

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Daylighting Icons La Vela, Madrid

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Twitterings What’s trending on social media?

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More about DAYLIGHTING Magazine Back issues, free subscriptions & media information

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AD SALES info@bennettb2b.co.uk DESIGN/PRODUCTION info@bennettb2b.co.uk

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EDITOR Paul Bennett paul@daylightingmag.co.uk Mobile: 07900 895110

Rooflights & Roof Windows

WEBSITE www.daylightingmag.co.uk

Daylight, energy saving & health: finding the right balance with rooflights John Godley, representing NARM, considers the the question of how to deliver the best all-round lighting strategy. 18 Don’t be caught out: The logistics of installing a skylight or rooflight

Peter Daniel of the Rooflight Company, explains how to prepare for rooflight installation, to make the process as smooth as possible for your project… 23 Case Study: Keylite roof windows bring daylight to an automated home

CIRCULATION Daylighting is available by email, free of charge to subscribers, by logging on at www.daylightingmag.co.uk Free access is also available via our website and social media. Average impressions per issue are approximately 5,500, however this varies according to social media activity. Our readership is predominantly UK architects, specifiers, contractors, consultants and roofing professionals. Full details are available on our website. www.daylightingmag.co.uk

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Daylight Planning Airspace Development The Sky’s the Limit Manuella Nguessan, of Rapleys Neighbourly Matters team, explains and considers the effect of airspace developments. 31

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content, the publisher does not accept liability for errors. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.

This publication contains editorial photographs which may have been supplied and paid for by suppliers.

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of Monovision flat glass rooflights, our solutions deliver performance & peace-of-mind.

Lareine Engineering is a preferred supplier to leading architects, engineers & contractors, with a service that includes in-house design, manufacture, installation and servicing.

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Daylighting diversity It’s nearly forty years since I first worked with a client in the rooflighting industry – as a junior creative in an ad agency.

or skylight. And there’s a very interesting roof window case study by Keylite on page 26.

After all that time, I’m still impressed by the fact that a relatively ‘niche’ subject continues to generate so much discussion and so much content for a publication like Daylighting Magazine.

For a different perspective on the subject of daylight in buildings, you’ll find an insight into planning requirements for ‘airspace’ development by Manuella Nguessan of Rapleys on page 31.

As daylight in buildings has become increasingly recognised as a valuable asset, the rooflight industry has grown and diversified, bringing greater choice and more complex specification considerations.

Sustainability is never far from the top of our agenda – and this issue carries an article by Sotech on page 16, looking at how sustainability adds value to buildings.

This being a rooflighting feature issue, you’ll see what I mean. John Godley’s article for NARM on page 18, considers the integration of rooflights and artificial lighting, to achieve optimal well-being of building occupants and building energy efficiency.

On page 23, Peter Daniel of The Rooflight Company looks at the logistics of installing a rooflight

Paul Bennett paul@daylightingmag.co.uk

I hope you’ll find it all interesting reading – and as always, if you have any thoughts or comments, please drop me an email.

Finally, before I sign off, I’d like to add my voice to the millions all over the world who have expressed support for the citizens of Ukraine at this tragic time. Our thoughts and wishes are very much with you.

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Issue 27 March/April 2021

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ROOFLIGHTS & ZINC ROOFS URBAN REGENERATION NEW PROJECTS AND MORE

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Previous issues of DAYLIGHTING Magazine are available on-line indefinitely. So you can refer back to old issues whenever you like, right here: http://www.daylightingmag.co.uk/archives/

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Construction set for growth despite potential supply issues, says CPA In its latest quarterly forecast, The Construction Products Association (CPA) forecasts that output in the industry will grow by a robust 4.3% in 2022, slowing to 2.5% in 2023 compared to the 13.3% seen in 2021. This demonstrates the remarkable resilience of the sector to the initial Covid-19 lockdown and the end of the Brexit transition period in 2020.

Housebuilding, the largest sector within the UK construction industry, is expected to remain buoyant while infrastructure will be the major driver for growth.

Projects already underway in all sectors give great confidence for the forecast figures.

Product supply issues, a major challenge in 2021, have eased recently, but may still cause problems, particularly in the peak spring period and particularly for smaller building companies.

Continuing to benefit from the ‘race for space’, output in private housing is forecast to rise by 3.0% in both 2022 and 2023 following 17.0% growth in 2021.

CPA suggests that the doubledigit inflation in house prices will fall as the impact of the end of the stamp duty holiday and the further restriction of the Help to Buy scheme feeds through. The outlook for volume remains positive, with most major house builders reporting strong near-term demand and healthy profit margins fuelled by demand for housing in affordable areas of the UK. Also benefiting from the ‘race

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for space’ in the near-term is the private housing rm&i sector.

Here the CPA forecasts output to remain flat at the historically high level reached with 17.0% growth last year. Rising renovation project costs and higher inflation rates are expected to slow down consumer spending on larger projects. UK households have benefited from building up over £200 billion of savings from the past two years but rising costs are spelling caution for spending compared to 2021.

The CPA Winter Forecast indicates the infrastructure sector to remain as the main driver for growth in 2022. This mirrors the CPA Autumn Forecast which pointed to the five-year spending plans within the regulated sectors of rail, water, roads, and energy, allowing the sector to maintain activity levels and weather supply issues.

Key projects include the Thames Tideway Tunnel, Hinkley Point C and HS2. At least two of these projects report delays due to supply constraints and this could result in further work being pushed into 2023. Taking this into account, the sector is still expected to rise by 9.7% in 2022 and 1.1% in 2023, taking the sector to a new all-time high.

equally across the sector, with smaller specialist sub-contractors feeling the pressure more.

Noble Francis, CPA Economics Director, offered this insight into the supply chain issues: “Major house builders and main contractors are less affected as they have better visibility of medium-term demand and can plan and purchase well in advance; plus, they are the larger customers of the manufacturers, builders’ merchants and importers.

“Smaller firms, however, have found that availability issues have delayed projects and, consequently, revenue streams whilst sharp cost increases have hit margin, harming their viability even though they have strong workloads. Overall, the latest indications are that supply issues have eased recently, which is a positive sign, although it is still early in the year and before industry activity tends to ramp up in the Spring.” www.constructionproducts.org.uk

While supply issues have eased off over the past six months, the CPA still considers these to be the biggest challenge to overall growth. Questions over sufficient materials, products, labour, HGV drivers and imports will be at the forefront of industry minds.

These challenges are not spread

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Environment Agency initiates ARES PRISM as carbon and cost estimation tool across all projects In order to meet Net Zero ambitions by 2030, the Environment Agency is rolling out ARES PRISM’s newly enhanced estimation and cost management software across its construction projects as the organisation’s cost and carbon tool.

The initial phase of the roll out is nearly wrapped up and involved calculating capital cost and wholelife carbon. Global consultancy firm Aecom was tasked with developing the Environment Agency’s approach, methodology, and datasets to be included in ARES PRISM’s cost and carbon tool. These specifications were configured by the ARES PRISM team into their project estimation software PRISM Estimating so that all of the Environment Agency’s cost and carbon data is held within one solution.

“The Environment Agency now has one approach to two estimates– cost and carbon,” Karl Vantine, Customer Customer Officer at ARES PRISM, said.

“PRISM makes estimates transparent and simple to maintain

from the first concept through to the project’s life cost and carbon operating values.”

PRISM Estimating features builtin carbon rates aligned with BCIS CESMM4. ARES PRISM has aligned its solutions to enable organisations like the Environment Agency to deliver the best value for asset. The software is aligned with PAS2080, offering a framework for calculating carbon in all aspects of the asset lifecycle.

This dataset is fully tailorable to accommodate whole-life carbon within PRISM Estimating and features a common coding structure.

The software easily aligns and integrates with many systems and has elemental assemblies built-in to fully align with BIM models. The EA’s cost and carbon estimators can now build project estimates faster, reference previous projects and assemblies, and use these resources as guides for standard processes.

“This process is now 12 times quicker in parts, freeing up that time to engage earlier in collaboration and assess suitable

options,” Alex Jones, Cost and Carbon Tool Project Manager at the Environment Agency, said. He elaborated on how ARES PRISM is used for decarbonisation, “The platform [lets] us standardise processes and data across regions. We [are] able to develop estimates using master rate libraries and pre-built templates called ‘assemblies’ to speed up estimating of commonly built assets/components.”

ARES PRISM uses a centralised rate library that is based on the best available information from industry sources, as well as the Environment Agency’s own historic project data. New cost and carbon data from delivered projects is automatically updated in the rate library as it becomes available.

Phase 2 will begin February 2022, and will focus on integrating PRISM Cost, ARES PRISM’s cost management solution, into Environment Agency’s projects to integrate with BIM and capture project actuals from the supply chain. www. aresprism.com

Building Safety First Conference, London UK Construction Week, The Building a Safer Future Charter (BSF Charter) and the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) are hosting the Building Safety First conference on 24th March in central London.

This high-level one-day conference will cover the practical ways to achieve urgent and

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necessary culture change in the construction industry, focussing specifically on the issue on everyone’s minds: building safety.

The conference addresses the topic head on, with policy makers from DLUHC, IPA, and industry leaders and stakeholders from across the sector. Both the CPA chief executive officer

Peter Caplehorn and CPA’s chief operating officer Diana Montgomery will be speaking and chairing sessions.

For more information and to book tickets go to: www.constructionsummits. com/#Agenda

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Professional institutions warn over building safety plans The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has warned that late government amendments to its Building Safety Bill – including plans to extend defects liability – are unworkable.

CIC has submitted evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee inquiry that is scrutinising the government’s plans for fixing the building safety crisis.

The evidence highlighted that the proposal to retrospectively extend the limitation period under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act (DPA) to 30 years, announced by ‘levelling up’ secretary Michael Gove on 10th January, could have ‘dramatic’ consequences across the industry.

Currently, the limitation period is six years from the completion of the dwelling. A clause in the Building Safety Bill proposed the retroactive extension of the limitation period under the DPA to 15 years and this is now intended to be doubled.

CIC said that such an increase in level and extent of liability risked shutting SMEs out of housing development and the wider building market, and force competent people to be excluded from providing services due to risk aversion within the insurance sector. The insurance sector itself could undertake its own analysis of the risks and potential costs and walk away from construction, it warned.

CIC also warns that the government will be forced to

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intervene in the professional indemnity insurance (PII) market. “It will be necessary for state intervention to ensure the provision of PII to suitably competent and experienced engineers and others taking on liability for fire safety relating to the necessary remedial works being undertaken via the building safety fund if commercial market insurers continue to insist on excluding cover for fire safety,” the CIC says in its submission.

Furthermore, documents stretching back as far as 30 years may well have been destroyed by now on account of them being considered no longer relevant to liability issues, under current rules.

The secretary of state has more recently announced a raft of further amendments that CIC members believe will further add to the insurance pressures across the sector and could have a harmful impact on the capability to remediate unsafe buildings and build new housing.

The Association for Project Safety (APS) is also a critic of the Building Safety Bill. APS president Jonathan Moulam said: “The Building Safety Bill is a wasted opportunity to make the built environment safer for everyone. The concentration on structural fire risk replays a disaster that should never have happened without looking forward to how safety can be improved more generally.

while pushing small firms out of business. Potential costs could make the existing skills’ crisis worse. Around 70% of people working in construction work for small businesses or on their own and they could just give up if problems obtaining or affording professional indemnity insurance or being faced with paying PII until they are in the 80s just too much.

“There is still time to strengthen the proposed new law to put safety at the heart of any new building or project. APS believes safety can be front and centre if government makes it a duty for any building covered by the bill to be safe both to build and in use.

The government should also consider backing special underwriting provisions – such as it did for home insurance in Northern Ireland or for homes in areas prone to flooding – so that household premiums can be kept to an affordable level.

“APS supports the Construction Industry Council and our colleagues across the construction sector in raising concerns.”

The Construction Industry Council represents most of the construction industry professional institutions, including all the major ones for example, RIBA, RICS, CIBSE, CIOB etc. www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

“The bill as it stands creates dangers of its own and likely to make homes less affordable

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Rights to Light: Rapleys ‘lead the charge’ with Light Knights Property & Planning Consultancy Rapleys LLP are backing Dan Tapscott, Head of Neighbourly Matters all the way in launching a new initiative aimed at the Rights to Light industry, suitably named ‘Light Knights’ {www.lightknights.co.uk}.

Light Knights is intended to bring together Rights to Light and Daylight & Sunlight practitioners as well as those who work in this area including solicitors, land surveyors, insurers, software providers, CAD technicians, architects and planning consultants. The initiative has been established as a club to meet, discuss, support, learn and network with like-minded professionals regularly.

Dan Tapscott comments: ‘I believe the Rights to Light and Daylight & Sunlight club will benefit from such an organisation and I am delighted to be able to get this off the ground with the support of Rapleys. The Party Wall networking clubs I have been associated with have been invaluable and the aim is to make Light Knights the equivalent for all practitioners in the Rights to Light field.’

Industry Perception Rights to Light and Daylight & Sunlight services have been thrust into the spotlight in recent years and as the number of specialists grow, so too does the pursuit of further knowledge.

In 2014 the Law Commission issued a review on Rights to Light practice with

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various recommendations to reform the industry.

In the past year new ‘ambulance chasers’ have entered the arena leading to insurers seeing a sharp rise in claims and therefore premiums impacting development viability.

In 2019, the RICS opened an APC pathway to chartership specifically for those working in the Rights to Light industry, demonstrating both the growing numbers of practitioners and requirements in the field.

Turning to Daylight & Sunlight, the application of this guidance is now widespread across local authorities. BRE Report 209 – ‘Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight: A Guide to Good Practice’ is on the cusp of being revised and there have been many new advances in technology such as climate-based modelling which may come into play soon.

Yet, despite the growing recognition of the specialism and technological advances surrounding these subjects, until now there has been no professional network of support.

Introducing Light Knights This is not a completely untested initiative. In the mid-1970s a group of surveyors established a successful and ongoing Party Wall specialist club called the Pyramus & Thisbe Club {https:// www.partywalls.org.uk/}. Dan has been a member of this club for over 15 years and has always found the network to be an invaluable resource.

However, there is no such organisation catering for Rights to Light practitioners, hence the introduction of the Light Knights club {www.lightknights.co.uk}.

The name Light Knights has been chosen not only to reflect the subject but also because members will become ambassadors to the profession – a leading light.

A forum to meet and discuss these subjects together with promoting best practice should be to the benefit of all those working in the industry.

Event Details The inaugural event is to take place in London this coming June. The launch event shall be free to attend, with tickets allocated on a first come first served basis. Thereafter, following the establishing of a committee, the club intends to meet three times a year, to broadly coincide with the spring, summer and autumn equinox.

Robert Clarke, Senior Partner at Rapleys comments: ‘Rapleys are delighted to support Dan and the Neighbourly Matters team as they embark on this exciting venture.

More details will be shared on the dedicated Light Knights LinkedIn and website page {www.lightknights.co.uk} or alternatively you can contact Dan Tapscott directly at dan. tapscott@rapleys.com .

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Management buyout at Filon Products much business as usual’.

Filon’s range of GRP construction products include profiled GRP rooflights, GRP valley troughs for pitched roofing and a lightweight GRP over-roofing system designed to refurbish existing asbestos cement roofs without the disruption and cost of asbestos removal and disposal.

Filon Products Ltd, the innovative GRP construction products manufacturer, has reached another important milestone.

Mark Wilcox, along with the senior management team of Craig Bainbridge, Laura Francis, John Charles, Bharat Gandhi, Sally Stokes, Richard Davies, and Nigel Brumby, have completed a management buyout.

This means that with immediate effect Steve Vickers is stepping down from his position as Managing Director and Mark is taking his place.

Steve will stay with the company for a while and focus his efforts on the Technical Department; he isn’t leaving in a rush so the benefit of his experience, knowledge and expertise will be available for some time yet.

Steve commented ‘I want to convey my support and very best wishes for the new team that are

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taking over the Company. They are all talented and very capable individuals who have the best interests of the Company and its workforce at heart.’

The new Filon board of directors, with Mark as Managing Director includes Craig Bainbridge, who steps up to the position of Operations Director and has full responsibility for the operational side of the business. Laura Francis completes the board as she takes on the position of Financial Director.

Mark Wilcox, continued ‘The MBO is a natural step for us and falls in line with our succession plans. We’re fortunate to have been able to use the same legal and accountancy firms as in the previous MBOs and enjoyed crucial support from HSBC and all the necessary finance is in place so we can continue with the same excellent service levels our customers rely on. It’s pretty

Flat sheeting is also available for a host of applications including road traffic signs and Filon’s Product Development team is always looking for something to push them, so if you have a requirement for GRP products, give them a call.

2022 is already set to see some innovative new products being launched and more information will be available later in the year.

Mark Wilcox concluded: ‘Here’s to the next chapter in the story of Filon. Best wishes to all and a huge thanks to our customers and suppliers alike for their continued support. Special thanks go to Steve Vickers and Julie Cox who retired from her position as Financial Director in late 2021.

They worked tirelessly at Filon for many years and have handed it on in great shape’. www.filon.co.uk

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Halio showcases AI-controlled Smart Glass

Halio, builder of technologically advanced smart windows, has showcased AI-controlled smart glazing at the recent SK CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The support of energy efficient technology, wellness solutions, and a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) are shared by SK, a lead investor in Halio, Inc., and Halio.

Halio claims this electrochromic glass solution addresses the ten must-haves for architects, developers, and environmentalists as they formulate strategies to achieve net zero buildings.

The state-of-the-art smart glass is the first to address critical design and performance issues, including clear and tint color, responsiveness and speed, tint uniformity, and cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) for autonomous operation. Halio’s AI determines the maximum amount of daylight that can enter the building in real-time to deliver up to 20% energy savings and minimizing glare management that leads to occupant wellness.

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Architects and developers are additionally drawn to the Halio Smart Glass because its hermetically sealed EC device enables it to be integrated into third-party windows with a variety of coatings and has proven durability and performance, even if the window seals fail. Halio has a neutral grey tint instead of the blue tint prevalent in other systems, and when clear, is indistinguishable from ordinary low-E glass.

The cloud-based control system future-proofs the investment in system electronics while facilitating easy integration into building management systems such as Siemen’s Connect Ecosystem, including Desigo CC and related platforms, Amazon Alexa, Crestron, Apple Homekit, and other IoT systems.

The Halio Solution includes the industry’s most advanced smart glass, connected to on-premise tint controllers, communications gateways, and sky camera daylight sensors. A cloud-based AI autonomously controls the system, reacting to

daylight changes in real-time and monitoring the façade tint levels to adjust tint algorithms over time.

After years of extensively studying electrochromic glass solutions, Viracon, the leading architectural glass fabricator in America, chose Halio as its EC technology partner.

Viracon PLUS™ Smart Glass powered by Halio is setting a new standard for commercial smart glass. In addition, an exclusive Marvin and Halio partnership allows Marvin and Halio to bring smart glass to the residential construction market by offering homeowners the high-quality window and door products Marvin is known for with the unique glazing solution of Halio.

This partnership allows Marvin and Halio to bring smart glass to the residential construction market by offering homeowners the high-quality window and door products Marvin is known for with the unique glazing solution of Halio. www.halioinc.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Building Beauty Awards Announces £10,000 Prize The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust is delighted to announce that a £10,000 prize will be awarded to the overall winner of its new Building Beauty Awards, to be presented for the first time in 2022. This is the joint biggest architecture prize currently awarded in the UK and the biggest in England.

The 2022 Building Beauty Awards celebrate buildings, engineering structures and urban landscaping schemes completed since the beginning of 2019 that add beauty to our environment.

Everyone is welcome to submit an entry free of charge at www.buildingbeautyawards. com. The deadline for entries is the end of March 2022.

The judging panel will be led by one of Britain’s foremost design critics, Stephen Bayley Hon FRIBA, Chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust and founder of The Design Museum in London. He will be joined by the architectural commentator Paul Finch OBE, the architectural writer Clive Aslet and the cultural historian Kassia St Clair. Other judges will be announced shortly.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in early Summer 2022.

The winning architect will also be invited to help select recipients of the new Building Beauty Grants: aimed at promoting small beautification projects. Grants can be applied for at www.buildingbeautyawards.com

MBS user forum MBS Software have held their annual User Forum for the last 7 years and now after a 2 year hiatus (for obvious reasons!), MBS are excited to recommence the event to showcase all things new within the software.

The forum, which hopefully coincides with the release of the BRE guide ‘Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight’ will bring together the industry for a much needed gathering in a non virtual environment.

Attention to the BS EN 17037 methodology will be top of the agenda alongside the MBS Revit plug-in.

For further information, please contact Cieran Towse: ct@mbs-software.co.uk

RCI Show 2022 Organisers Mark Allen Group extend thanks to everyone that attended the RCI Show 2021 and are pleased to announce that the 2022 event will be going ahead at the Stadium MK in Milton Keynes on 28-29th September 2022.

The RCI Show is the largest UK event where the entire roofing, cladding and insulation supply chain comes together.

For further information, visit: www.rcishow.co.uk

UK Construction Week London 2022 UK Construction Week London will connect the whole supply chain in an event designed to oil the wheels of construction commerce at London’s ExCeL on 3rd-5th May 2022.

With Government support and education on how to tap into major investment opportunities in housing and infrastructure,

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UKCW London will be the must attend construction event this Spring.

To register go to: https://www. ukconstructionweek.com/ uk-construction-weekregister-as-an-attendee www.ukconstructionweek.com

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NEW PROJECTS Linmere Community Hub, Bedfordshire The Farmstead is a community hub at the new Linmere village being created near Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire. Work on the Farmstead was project managed by Gardiner & Theobald LLP and supervised

by Ingleton Wood, The stunning glass façades were created

by Syte Architectural Glazing using Reynaers aluminium CW50 curtain wall and CP130 LS Doors with Aluprof MB – Sunprof’s brise soleil system. www.linmere.com

Luxury living development, Edinburgh A total of 56 Keylite Conservation Roof Windows have been installed as part of the careful renovation of Edinburgh’s B-listed Boroughmuir High School into 87 luxury apartments

by CALA Homes (East).

Boroughmuir, nestled in Bruntsfield in the south of Edinburgh, is regarded as one of the Scottish capital’s most prized Grade B listed buildings, constructed pre-WWI between 1911 and 1914 by renowned architect, John Alexander Carfrae. www. keyliteroofwindows.com

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NEW PROJECTS Brunel University, London Kawneer’s AA®100 curtain wall, AA®540 vents, and series 190 and AA®720 doors were specified by the regular Kawneer users for the latest redevelopment of the Wilfred Brown Building at the university in Greater London.

The curtain wall forms a new sawtooth façade to the first and second floors and is complemented by the AA®540 window vents and also Structurally Silicone Glazed, series 190 heavy-duty doors to the main entrance, www.kawneer.com Sowenna CAMHS, Cornwall Sowenna CAMHS is Cornwall’s first Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services unit. The project demanded products that could provide a high level of thermal performance, whilst also enhancing the building’s levels of natural light and help achieve a BREEAM Excellent building status.

Kawneer to utilised multiple products from their portfolio, which perfectly suited the specifications and helped the project achieve the required performance levels. www.kawneer.com

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SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable Buildings: How Sustainability Adds Value to Your Building The future of the construction industry is green, with the UK government announcing plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Construction companies have also begun to consider how to lower their carbon footprint.

According to a report by the WBCSD, the construction industry should follow the embodied carbon reduction strategy. This means repurposing material when possible, rather than using raw materials. By repurposing materials, construction companies can reuse materials and minimise waste. This will ensure sustainability stays at the forefront of construction.

This article will explore the importance of sustainable buildings within the construction sector. We’ll also look at how sustainability can add value to your building.

The importance of sustainable buildings The construction industry is responsible for up to 11% of global carbon emissions. To combat this, the National Engineering Policy Centre stated that the sector must reduce carbon emissions by 78% before 2035.

This includes all stages of production, from sourcing materials to generating electricity during construction.

The Green Building Council has urged the construction industry to limit emissions of embodied carbon. As well as taking part in carbon offsetting projects, the report recommends actions to decarbonise construction.

The recommendations include retrofitting existing homes, investing in industrial decarbonisation, and adopting a minimum standard of key appliances for new buildings.

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How sustainability can add value to your building Whether you’re installing carbonsaving gadgets or redesigning an entire building, sustainability in construction has many forms. Here are four ways this will add value to your building.

Rainscreen cladding will insulate buildings A protective layer that sits on the outside of a building, rainscreen cladding provides direct protection against the weather. The outer layer stops rain, while the inner layer improves the structural integrity and insulation of buildings.

“The construction industry is responsible for up to 11% of global carbon emissions.

To combat this, the National Engineering Policy Centre stated that the sector must reduce carbon emissions by 78% before 2035. ”

This is a great way to add value to your building while also being environmentally conscious in your design. Rainscreen cladding is capable of reducing energy costs in both domestic and commercial buildings, saving up to 40% of bills per year. As well as being economically conscious, this will stop people overusing heating.

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SUSTAINABILITY In turn, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere will reduce.

Solar panels will boost the price of domestic buildings Solar panels harness energy from the sun and generate electricity to power buildings. As well as being environmentally conscious, solar panels are a cost-effective energy source. According to a study by the Green Match, a 6kW solar panel grid can save a homeowner an average of £430 on electric bills within a year. This is an attractive selling point to anyone!

It comes as no surprise that installing solar panels can boost the price of domestic buildings by 14-38% within the UK. This varies depending on where the property is and could add £90,000 to a London home or £40,095 to an Edinburgh home. Regardless of location, incorporating solar panels in your design is a great way to be sustainable and add value to your property.

Energy-efficient Daylighting saves energy and reduces emissions The IEA (International Energy Agency) states that electric lighting accounts for a staggering 19% of global energy usage and the resulting emissions of harmful greenhouse gases. Introducing more natural daylight into buildings has been proven to reduce this figure by minimising the requirement for artificial lighting during daylight hours.

For homeowners and businesses alike, ‘daylighting’ brings welcome reductions in energy bills as well as contributing to a more sustainable world.

Investors will prioritise sustainable buildings There are many good-natured reasons to build with sustainability in mind.

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Creating a future free from carbon emissions is only one of those. On top of that, investors are prioritising sustainable buildings, so it pays to think sustainably about buildings.

In fact, out of 4,000 workers in the construction and commercial property sector, 55% believed that investors were more concerned with sustainability in buildings than the year before. As the market for sustainable buildings continues to change, it’s a good idea to build with a green future in mind.

Overall, sustainability adds value to your building. Considering its cost-effectiveness and greenattractiveness, we can see why.

As the government pledges to reach net zero, the construction industry continues to adapt to new ways of operation. How will you build with sustainability in mind? www.sotech-optima.co.uk

Sources https://www.gov.uk/government/ news/uks-path-to-net-zero-set-outin-landmark-strategy https://www.weforum.org/ agenda/2021/07/constructionindustry-doesn-t-know-where-itstands-when-it-comes-to-carbonemissions/ https://www.raeng.org.uk/news/ news-releases/2021/september/ construction-sector-must-movefurther-and-faster-t https://www.constructionnews. co.uk/sustainability/cop26-buildingregs-reform-set-out-to-drivecarbon-revolution-12-11-2021/ https://www.designingbuildings. co.uk/wiki/Rainscreen https://rcimag.co.uk/gl-roofing/fivekey-benefits-of-rainscreen-cladding https://www.euronews.com/ green/2021/10/20/heat-pumpsuk-households-can-get-5000-toreplace-gas-boilers https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/ blog/2014/06/solar-panels-arethey-worth-it https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/ solar-panels/property-value https://uk.ramboll.com/news/ruk/ sustainable-buildings-market-study2021-impacts-of-covid-19-andbeyond

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ROOFLIGHTS

Daylight, energy saving & health: finding the right balance with rooflights As the trade association representing UK rooflight manufacturers, NARM is naturally keen to extol the virtues of natural daylight and the very effective role that rooflights play in providing it contributing to building amenity, wellbeing of building occupants and energy efficiency. By John Godley, representing NARM

In recent years, two additional technologies have developed to the point where they now must be considered: LED lighting and Solar PV. This now raises the question of how to deliver the best lighting strategy, and what is the best all-round lighting solution for any given building?

To find the answer, let’s first take a brief look at the options:

Rooflighting The first and obvious benefit of rooflights, is that they can deliver abundant natural daylight into the building with zero energy demand.

This in turn contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings - a fact well documented in countless studies including research commissioned by NARM1.

Equally important is the beneficial effect of natural daylight on building occupants. There is a huge volume of evidence globally, that confirms the

fact that exposure to natural daylight is critical to health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that pupils perform better, hospital patients recover more quickly2 and office & factory workers are more productive, when occupying daylit spaces3, when compared to those in artificially lit spaces.

LED lighting Energy-efficient LED lighting is replacing incandescent bulbs at a rapid pace now that many countries have instituted mandatory phase-outs – and recent developments have addressed the issues of first-generation LED bulbs which were costly and had a narrow, focused light beam.

“The first and obvious benefit of rooflights, is that they can deliver abundant natural daylight into the building with zero energy demand. This in turn contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions...”

Although still more expensive, LED lighting systems typically use less energy, and can last longer than incandescent lighting. Therefore, widespread use of LED lighting has the potential for a significant impact on overall costs, energy savings and emissions however it should be remembered that the performance

1. https://www.narm.org.uk/new/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/NTD06.2-2014.pdf 2. https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Daylight_benefits_in_healthcare_buildings 3. http://www.h-m-g.com/Projects/daylighting/summaries%20on%20daylighting.ht

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ROOFLIGHTS

Natural daylight improves internal environments and promotes wellbeing

of LEDs degrade over time, and this degradation is affected by factors such as operating duration, current and temperature.

At present, there is no standard definition of lifetime for LEDs, or at what point the LEDs should be replaced when the lighting output has fallen to some pre-determined percentage of its original value.

Perhaps the biggest drawback of LED light bulbs is that they emit more blue light than incandescent bulbs.

This blue light can cause a disruption to the circadian rhythm, negatively affecting the ability to fall asleep and the quality sleep therefore the benefits of daylighting should not be ignored when it is available.

Photovoltaic (Solar PV) panels Solar PV systems use photovoltaic

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cells to collect solar energy from the sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity without generating harmful emissions. PV panels are relatively inexpensive to install and can generate sufficient ‘clean’ energy to meet a building’s requirements in terms of lighting and other uses, depending on building orientation and hours of daylight.

Unless stored in batteries, solar energy has to be used as it is generated.

These batteries can require a large storage space and be expensive. In most cases, it is better to just use and store solar energy during the day and take energy from the grid or batteries during the night. Combining with the free natural daytime light, the solar generated power can be used more beneficially. Electricity can also be fed into the grid however there can be quite significant restrictions on how

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ROOFLIGHTS

Workers in environments with high levels of natural daylight have been demonstrated to achieve increased productivity.

much this might be depending upon the locality of the building and demand on the grid.

Specification choices & challenges So, with all these options available, where does that leave today’s specifier when it comes to a lighting strategy?

For the answer to this, we need to look at some practicalities as well as basic facts.

Daylight alone can’t meet all lighting needs, so it stands to reason that during the hours of darkness, artificial lighting is the only option – and LED lighting powered by solar PV panels will provide an extremely energyefficient and sustainable solution.

During daylight hours, there remains no substitute that can match the wideranging benefits of natural daylight: proven contributions to health, wellbeing and overall ‘feelgood factor’

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– with no energy requirement and zero emissions. Plus: some rooflights can be specified to incorporate ventilation. Not only can this facilitate pleasant, healthy internal environments - it can also provide further energy savings through reduced cooling loads. Conversely, correctly specified rooflights and shading systems can also serve to reduce heating requirements throughout the colder months by providing beneficial solar gain when required. These factors further contribute significantly to reduced operational costs over the lifetime of the building.

The obvious conclusion is that the optimum lighting solution for almost any type of building, is daylight, supplemented by Solar PV powered LED lighting - with further efficiency gains through automatic lighting controls to ensure electric lights are switched off during daylight hours.

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ROOFLIGHTS Most buildings will have sufficient roof area, relative to internal space, to allow correct siting of PV panels and rooflights of sufficient size and specification to meet the building’s needs. Commonly a rooflight area of between 12 and 18%, depending upon building use and rooflight specification, is appropriate in most instances to optimize the energy performance of the building and meet the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations (conservation of fuel & power) as well as providing sufficient beneficial daylight to internal areas.

The remaining areas of the roof area can therefore be made available for siting PV panels, however designs should take into consideration the recommended positioning of solar PV panels and rooflights, which are

often complementary to each other in terms of north/south orientation, and consideration given to the provision of clear space between the rooflights and any installed panels to allow cleaning and maintenance of both.

Whilst much attention is given in the media to electric vehicles, renewable energy and other environmental concerns, it’s a sobering fact that lighting currently uses around 20% of the electricity generated in the UK, with a corresponding emissions rate.

And with energy costs rising at an unparalleled rate, these considerations will play an increasingly important part in meeting environmental and economic goals and obligations.

“...a rooflight area of between 12 and 18% is appropriate in most instances to optimize energy performance and meet the requirements of Part L”

For further information, visit www.narm.org.uk

LOW CA RBON GR P DAYL IGHT SO LU TIO NS

ZENON ROOFLIGHT DIFFUSION MAKES LIGHT WORK OF DARK WORKSPACES Perfect for both new builds and refurbishments, our innovative Zenon Pro and Zenon Evolution GRP rooflights have the potential to allow three times more natural light into an interior space than a window or other vertical glazing the same size. That means safer working environments while reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Thermally efficient, insulated and constructed with significantly less cradle-to-grave embodied carbon than traditional rooflights, over the lifetime of a standard building, Zenon Evolution is the eco-conscious choice for specification.

Zenon Low Carbon GRP Daylight Solutions Brochure

DISCOVER MORE: WWW.HAMBLESIDE-DANELAW.CO.UK/ZENON-ROOFLIGHTS T: 01327 701 920 E: SALES@HAMBLESIDE-DANELAW.CO.UK

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SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

45+ YEARS OF ROOFING INNOVATION

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the Conservation Rooflight

Trusted to deliver high performing, elegant rooflights. www.therooflightcompany.co.uk | 01993 833155 Trusted by architects, respected by builders, loved by homeowners.

ROOFLIGHTS

Don’t be caught out: The logistics of installing a skylight or rooflight Rooflights are a staple in modern and period homes alike. Their versatility and ability to add light to hard-to-reach places means they are a favourite amongst both specifiers and homeowners. But when it comes to handing over your designs to your clients, they might benefit from a few tips on how to install a skylight or rooflight. If they don’t plan, the dream you’ve designed for them may become a nightmare to make a reality. Peter Daniel, Product Innovation Director at the Rooflight Company, explains how to prepare for rooflight installation, to make the process as smooth as possible for your project…

Whether a rooflight is being installed on a single storey extension, or a multi-storey home or apartment building, the universal question is how will it get up there?

As with most things on a construction site, rooflights will be delivered on the back of a lorry and left at ground level. So, the installation must be managed between the contractor and homeowner. But there are things they will need to consider before the rooflight even arrives on site and, as a trusted specifier, they may look to you for guidance.

The first consideration is access. Can a lorry enter the site? It’s common at the Rooflight Company for us to deliver multiple products to different customers using the same vehicle.

We purposefully use large vehicles to deliver our products to reduce our milage and, therefore, carbon emissions. If a large HGV can enter the site, there won’t be any problems, but this is not always the case.

If the site is too small to accommodate

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an HGV, it’s important that we are made aware as soon as possible so that we have time to make alternative arrangements. Although we typically deliver kerbside, we can adapt our delivery process to accommodate special requests.

Once delivery is finalised, the next consideration is how to offload the rooflight once it arrives. Never underestimate the size and weight of these products. While our products are made from steel and aluminium, once the glass is added to the frames, they are often too heavy to be offloaded by hand. It’s also worth noting that multiple products are often delivered on the same pallet, so it’s easy for the weight to build up.

“Once delivery is finalised, the next consideration is how to offload the rooflight once it arrives. Never underestimate the size and weight of these products. ”

Even products such as our small neo Advance Skywalk, which is under 1m2, still weighs more than 100kg, as it has been designed to be walked on. So, it’s a good idea to have organised some form of mechanical assistance ready to offload the product. Delivery can be refused on health and safety

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ROOFLIGHTS grounds if the site is not properly prepared to accept the goods, which can delay project timelines and cause headaches. That said, we publish the weight of each of our products in the corresponding manual, so it’s simple to prepare.

For installation, some larger glazed units may require a crane to manoeuvre them into place, which will need to be organised ahead of time.

Smaller units won’t always require this, so instead of one large rooflight it might be easier to opt for smaller linked products, which are installed separately. This can also be better for the long-term should your client need to replace a unit in a decade or so’s time. We have a dedicated bespoke team available to create options to solve this very issue.

The key thing your client needs to have in mind is preparation. As with any other aspect of a project, it’s important to always be thinking two or three steps ahead to ensure that everything runs smoothly. If you get any questions you can’t answer, we can always provide advice and assistance either to you or directly to your client.

Our rooflights are designed for easy installation, with comprehensive installation manuals provided, but the team at the Rooflight Company is always on hand. You can call us on 01993 833 155 or email us via info@ therooflightcompany.co.uk at any stage of your project.

For more information about the Rooflight Company, visit: www.therooflightcompany.co.uk

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O

F

Always check this with your supplier, as we are aware that some rooflights are being supplied with toughened glass inner panes: a potential danger.

AZING

ON LY

For the safety of building occupants, NARM advises that inner panes on all glass rooflights must be laminated glass.

A

CHO I CE E F

GL

For safety’s sake, check for the tick symbol.

THE

Overhead glazing:

S

IMAGING

R O AD E VERH

The term ‘toughened’ implies a degree of safety which in the case of rooflights, is misleading – as toughened glass can shatter, putting those beneath a rooflight at risk.

LAMINATED INNER PANE

For more information, visit: www.narm.org.uk

ENDORSED BY

THE TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING LEADING UK ROOFLIGHT SUPPLIERS

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RIBA accredited CPD materials Available

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ROOF WINDOWS - CASE STUDY

Keylite roof windows bring daylight to an automated home Mark and Helen McCall have always been advocates for smart home living.

Running the website ‘Automated Home’ for 25 years, the couple constructed their first self-build in 1999, building on their love and knowledge of home technology as the sector grew.

Then in June 2019, the couple started their journey toward building their second self-build, a fully automated property that would prioritise lowenergy and low running costs, all integrated into one smart home system.

After finding the perfect spot in the drumlins of County Downs, already complete with planning permission for a traditional style home, the McCalls had to change the permissions to their own contemporary design and get to work on the build.

Working with 2020 Architects, based in County Antrim, the property was designed to be south facing in order to take advantage of solar gain in the main living areas, specifying six Keylite roof windows in ‘the barn’ – an open plan living, dining and kitchen area – and one in the first-floor landing.

The build had taken place with no major issues until March 2020, when the site closed for ten weeks during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, despite this, the project only fell behind schedule by a few weeks, and the couple moved into their brand new, fully automated home in July 2020.

Homeowner, Mark said: “We incorporated a lot of smart home tech into our first self-build home, which was

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a more traditional style, but each piece of hardware was running off a different system or app. We knew that this time round we wanted everything to be as integrated and automated as possible, controlling the whole home all from one place.

“As a low-energy household, insulation and ventilation are two very important factors for us. 2020 Architects understood that we needed high-performance roof windows that would complement the insulation, air tightness and other features we incorporated into the property.

“Being able to open up our roof windows to expel any excess heat has been fantastic, particularly this summer.

Yet once the windows are closed, Keylite’s fully integrated expanding thermal collar and triple glazing ensures that minimal heat can escape, which has made the windows perfectly compatible with the rest of the features in our home.

“Keylite’s technical department went above and beyond.

They spoke to our smart home suppliers and supplied additional pieces of hardware which allowed us to integrate the windows and blinds into our own system.”

“Another one of Keylite’s big selling points was its electric roof windows.

These usually come with a standard remote control set up, but Keylite’s technical department went above and beyond. They spoke to our smart home suppliers, Epitome Living, and supplied additional pieces of hardware which allowed us to integrate the windows and blinds into our own system.

“We use a smart home automation system called Loxone, which controls everything – our heat pump, lighting, music, security and access, and of course our Keylite roof windows and blinds – all from our smartphones or the wall-mounted tablet in the kitchen.

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ROOF WINDOWS - CASE STUDY

“We have a pole-mounted weather station on our roof which measures the amount of light, rain and wind speed, and feeds back into our automated home system. If the house begins to overheat, the system will automatically open the windows to ventilate the room, and if the weather takes a turn, the windows will close. It’s a fantastic feature and is just one less thing we have to think about.”

Keylite premium electric kit which was further linked into the automation by Epitome Living.”

Gareth Crooks, Senior Architectural Technician from 2020 Architects, adds: “Incorporating the Keylite roof window within the design was not only to allow for additional light to access the open plan kitchen/dining/living area, but also to help ventilate the large open plan space from potential solar gains due to the large gable window and two sets of sliding doors.

Although a contemporary home, the stone walls reflect many of the agricultural buildings that surround the area, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the beautiful County Down countryside.

“When it reached the technical stage, the homeowners wanted to incorporate further automation, so we agreed that Keylite roof windows were the way forward with the introduction

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The property’s structure is split into two buildings. Looking towards the house from the front, the left side is a vaulted single storey barn that contains an open plan area with a small utility room and pantry behind, and an integrated double garage beyond that.

While inside boasts three bedrooms, high and vaulted ceilings, concrete stairs, solid floors and walls, as well as low maintenance finishes, on the outside a roof mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar system will be installed later this year to generate electricity from the sun. www.keyliteroofwindows.com

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STAY SAFE

with GRP rooflights from Filon Safety is at the front and centre of our product policy: Our technical expertise has contributed directly to UK rooflight non-fragility classification over decades, with Filon personnel playing key safety roles in influential trade associations including NARM (National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers) and ACR (Advisory Committee for Roofsafety).

Our unique, patented Fixsafe system is the only solution that allows profiled rooflights to be safely installed from within the building envelope, without the need to access fragile roof areas.

We offer a range of fire grades to provide compliance with Building Regulations.

Our Supasafe triple reinforced rooflights provide high impact resistance, spanning and load-bearing capabilities.

We’re the UK’s longest established manufacturer of profiled rooflights by continuous process, with a successful track record of excellence in design, product performance and customer support. As you’d expect, we’re also currently employing Covid-secure working practices throughout our operations.

Filon: truly a ‘safe pair of hands’ for specifiers.

Telephone 01543 687300 Email: sales@filon.co.uk

www.filon.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

daylight diary SPRING 2022

2022: tackling our ‘to-do’ list NARM, the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers, is what polititians sometimes refer to as ‘a broad church’, with member companies representing many different types of rooflight.

This in turn means that the range of topics we cover in our work is wide and diverse. For example, the factors affecting markets for domestic and commercial rooflights are often very different from those facing manufacturers serving factories and warehouses.

Whatever the rooflighting application, our mission is to support manufacturers, specifiers, installers and the wider public, with the aim of enabling informed decisions to deliver better solutions.

To that end, this year we are applying our combined energies across a variety of initiatives, through our working groups and sub-committees: • Driving and supporting best practice in the fields of daylighting, energy saving and building safety • Ongoing engagement with standards bodies, other trade associations and legislators in the UK and Europe • Updates to our rooflighting technical library which is freely available on-line • Communication with our external audiences via an increasing range of

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NARM’s membership comprises manufacturers of rooflights for all markets

channels, to reach out to professionals and end-users • Development of CPD materials to be made available via our membership of the RIBA CPD Providers Network • Maintaining close contact with and support for our member organisations.

In early March, our Annual General Meeting will be held at Swindon’s National Self-Build & Renovation Centre: our first in-person meeting since the start of the Covid pandemic, during which time we worked together via on-line platforms.

We’re all looking forward to a productive meeting with regular attendees and guests.

For further information about NARM, please visit www.narm.org.uk

FOLLOW US FOR LATEST UPDATES

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NARM BECOME A NARM MEMBER NARM CPD MATERIALS

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Regulations: • BRE • BREEAM • BS EN 17037 • EN 17037 • LEED v4 • EFA

Waldram tools – daylighting software MBS has been developing software for over 25 years, delivering applications that are powerful and easy to use.

VSC – Waldram Diagram

Spring 2022 brings the expected release of the BRE’s 3rd edition of ‘Site planning for daylight and sunlight: a guide to good practice’. The guide has been updated to include the new metrics outlined within BS EN 17037.

MBS has been working hard to incorporate the new metrics within the software, so that its users can hit the ground running following the BRE’s release.

Used by Architects, Daylighting Consultants, Rights of Light Consultants, Planning Consultants, Local Authorities and Sustainability Consultants.

Radiance Based Image

Climate Based Daylight Modelling

• VSC • NSL/DD • ADF • APSH • 2hr Sunlight to Amenity • Daylight Factor • sDA / Illuminance Method • Sunlight Exposure • View • DGP • Solar Glare • Solar Radiation • Rights of Light • UDI • ASE • Transient Shadow • Façade Analysis

Available in:

info@mbs-software.co.uk

www.mbs-software.co.uk

01903 689000

DAYLIGHT PLANNING

Airspace Development The Sky’s the Limit Manuella Nguessan, of Rapleys Neighbourly Matters team, regularly deals with Rights to Light and Daylight & Sunlight amenity. In this article she explains and considers the effect of airspace developments.

What are airspace developments?

The General Permitted Development Order

Over the last decade there has been an increase in the number of airspace / rooftop developments being built across England and Wales. Airspace, or rooftop developments, refer to the construction of new homes in the ‘air rights’, on top of existing buildings, by the use of additional storeys.

On 1st August 2020 the Government introduced changes to Part 20 of the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) making it easier to develop an additional one or two storeys on certain existing commercial, residential and mixed-use buildings.

Permitted Development Rights (PDR) enable homeowners to undertake certain types of work on their property without the need to apply for planning permission. In effect, this allows more housing to be delivered in shorter timescales than usual, contributing to the governments short term plans to improve the housing crisis.

Over recent years, this form of development has been seen as one to prioritise in order to help reduce the housing shortage, as it works to create extra space from the same footprint at ground level. In the new London Plan, published in March 2021, the guidance sets out a number of strategies to help tackle the housing crisis which includes the development of tall buildings. Additionally, the 2021 Tall Buildings Survey, mentions that 91,758 new homes could be provided by the tall buildings in the pipeline. 48 per cent of these buildings will be close to transport links, located in outer London boroughs and within East London.

Thus, contributing to reducing the impacts of the housing crisis in London by developing upwards.

However, the increase of high-rise buildings across the capital could be argued to cause the reduction of adequate Daylight and Sunlight to the surrounding neighbours besides altering London’s skyline.

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“Over recent years, this form of development has been seen as one to prioritise in order to help reduce the housing shortage, as it works to create extra space from the same footprint at ground level. ”

The changes to the PDR include some design constraint criteria to be taken into consideration for this type of development. These include: • Original building must be at least 3 storeys in height from above ground level; • Original building must be built between 1 July 1948 and 5 March 2018; • On staggered buildings, the highest part of the building can be built on, but the staggered part can’t be filled in; • Floor to ceiling heights cannot exceed 3m or more than the ceiling

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DAYLIGHT PLANNING

height of the existing building; • Newly developed buildings must be flats; • Overall height of the roof of the existing building cannot be greater than 7m higher than the highest part of the existing roof; • Building must be freestanding and have been purpose built for flats; • On completion, the building cannot be more than 30m in height; • On completion, the building must have no visible support structure; and • The development must take place in the existing curtilage of the building.

Due to the new changes, a prior approval notice must be sent to the local authority to authorise the construction of the new development.

At this stage, the local authority will consider the impact of the airspace development on the amenity and loss of light of the surrounding neighbours, privacy and if the development provides adequate light to the internal rooms. The prior approval notice also takes into consideration the design and architectural features of the front and side elevations, and how the development will impact air traffic or have any impacts on defence assets and any protected views.

How are Neighbourly Matters impacted?

The PDR does not provide any

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guidance on the levels of Daylight and Sunlight, neither does it set out any requirements for the impacts on neighbouring buildings due to the increased massing. However, the Building Research Establishment’s Report 209 “Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight – A Guide to Good Practice” (2011 2nd Edition), [BRE Guide 209] provides guidance on ways to reduce the impact of a proposed development on neighbouring surroundings, and ways to achieve adequate natural light within the proposed development. This is done by undertaking a BRE Daylight and Sunlight assessment to ensure the protection of the neighbours’ access to Daylight and Sunlight, and also to check the adequacy of light available to the internal rooms.

These assessments are recognised by local authorities when submitted alongside prior approval notices and are recommended to help them understand the potential impact of the proposed development.

“Due to the new changes, a prior approval notice must be sent to the local authority to authorise the construction of the new development.

At this stage, the local authority will consider the impact of the airspace development on the amenity and loss of light of the surrounding neighbours...”

Given that it is a vertical extension it would be recommended to also carry out preliminary Rights to Light studies to gain an initial understanding of the potential light loss and risks associated with developing upwards.

Subsequently a Rights to light Risk Analysis may be warranted to quantify the associated risk and determine strategies to deal with them.

There is also the availability of envelope studies. These are a highly useful design tool to assist in informing

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DAYLIGHT PLANNING

a design team whilst avoiding triggering issues arising for the neighbouring properties.

Party Walls Another important aspect of construction the developer should consider, is whether the proposals trigger the provisions of the Party Wall etc Act 1996.

Under Section 20 of the Act, A ‘party structure’ is defined as: “a party wall and also a floor partition or other structure separating buildings or parts of buildings approached solely by separate staircases or separate entrances”.

This definition means that the extending of party walls or work on the roof being extended upon may trigger the requirement for notification to be served on the relevant parties.

Other things to consider As we can see, there are several aspects a developer will need to keep in mind when considering an airspace development. Those mentioned above mainly relate to natural light and agreements between neighbours.

From a Neighbourly Matters perspective, developers shall also have to be mindful as to how they can practically construct their proposal without causing a trespass and oversailing an adjoining owners property. Crane oversail, scaffolding or hoardings are all aspects which may require further consideration

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as neighbours won’t necessarily automatically consent to such requests.

Further considerations a developer will need to review will relate to ensuring the existing building is able to withstand the additional structure and whether the design adheres to relevant access and fire safety requirements.

The developer would also need to ensure the new units have adequate access to services as they will need good use of Wifi, gas, electricity and water services.

Conclusion Overall, the change in the General Permitted Developments Order will increase the number of airspace developments being delivered across the capital and country. This will contribute to the Governments wider agenda of providing more affordable homes to help alleviate the housing shortage. However, developers have a responsibility to ensure this form of development does not have a negative impact on neighbouring properties and the homes they are creating.

Rapleys advise on all manner of Neighbourly Matters from Daylight & Sunlight, Rights to Light, Party Wall and Access Arrangements such as crane oversail and scaffold licences.

Operating nationally and working ‘both sides of the fence’ for developers and neighbours to development across all property sectors. We are therefore well placed to assist and advise. rapleys.com

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DAYLIGHTING ICONS The biggest: the best: the most awe-inspiring; the most outrageous; the most influential...

In this regular feature we indulge ourselves and our readers with images of daylighting projects throughout the years that simply deserve a double page photograph...

La Vela, Madrid La Vela is the main building in the new headquarters of the BBVA banking group.

It was built in accordance with the sustainability criteria required to earn the LEED Gold certificate, the strictest sustainable construction standard, using low environmental impact materials.

The building envelope is one of the defining features of the project, as the façades have been designed to minimize energy consumption.

The complex’s over 49,000 m2 of glass surface is sheltered by more than 2,800 prefabricated louvers, oriented according to thermal insulation and efficiency criteria.

Virtually 100% of the office space grants views of either the neighboring areas or the inner patios.

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DAYLIGHTING MAGAZINE

DAYLIGHTING Magazine back issues Click on the cover images below to open back issues Issue 2 Jan/Feb 2017

Issue 3 Mar/Apr 2017

Issue 4 May/Jun 2017

Issue 5 July/August 2017

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Passivhaus Daylighting

Daylighting in education

DAYLIGHTING & HEALTH PATENT GLAZING NON-FRAGILITY GLAZING INNOVATION AND MORE

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Daylighting at work

Controlling heat & glare

CLIMATE BASED DAYLIGHT MODELLING BIM GLASS ROOFLIGHTS DAYLIGHTING INNOVATIONS AND MORE

DAYLIGHTING AT HOME DAYLIGHTING IN FARMING DAYLIGHT & NEIGHBOURLY MATTERS AND MORE

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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

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HOW ROOFLIGHTS CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN

EDITOR Paul Bennett paul@daylightingmag.co.uk Mobile: 07900 895110 WEBSITE www.daylightingmag.co.uK

Issue 20 January/February 2020

THE INNOVATION ISSUE

Issue 13 November/December 2018

DELIVERING DAYLIGHT TO DUNDEE’S NEW V&A

Issue 29 July/August 2021

Issue 31 November/December 2021

DAYLIGHT vs DENSITY

CLIMATE BASED DAYLIGHT MODELLING

WHY A PROPOSED NEW UNIVERSITY BUILDING IS CREATING CONTROVERSY p23

A REAL WORLD APPROACH

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DAYLIGHT MODELLING REFURBISHMENT SMART GLAZING PLUS • NEWS • PROJECTS • AND MORE

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BUILDING SAFETY ROOFLIGHT SPECIFICATION DESIGNING WITH DAYLIGHT AND MORE

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ROOFLIGHTS & ZINC ROOFS URBAN REGENERATION NEW PROJECTS AND MORE

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MEDIA INFO

2022 THE QUARTERLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE FOR SPECIFIERS & CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

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DAYLIGHTING Magazine is published by Bennett B2B, a UK communications and publishing business offering a complete range of specialist services for companies serving the construction sector: • On-line publishing • Copywriting • Design for web and print • Photography • Video & drone services • 3D imaging • PR • Consultancy Telephone 01295 750519 Email: paul@bennettb2b.co.uk www.bennettb2b.co.uk