DAYLIGHTING Magazine issue 3 March/April 2017 Daylighting magazine mar apr 2017:2

Issue 3 Mar/Apr 2017

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

IN THIS ISSUE:

Daylighting in education DAYLIGHTING & VENTILATION TUBULAR DAYLIGHT SYSTEMS GRP ROOFLIGHTS RIGHTS TO LIGHT AND MORE

CONTENTS

REGULARS 05

Editor’s Comment

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Industry news

FEATURES 12

Daylighting in education • Paul Trace of Lumen Rooflight casts light on the benefits of natural light in the classroom • Education sector case studies and projects

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New Projects

Tubular Daylighting Systems Ian Bell explains how ‘sun tubes’ are making daylight more widely available

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

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Daylight & neighbourly matters What’s the difference between rights to light and daylight & sunlight amenity? Dan Tapscott explains

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The Great Court at The British Museum

• John Godley discusses non-fragility and looks at the ACR[M]001 test • Case study: Filon Fixsafe system

Daylighting icons

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Company profile Twinfix – the polycarbonate pioneers

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Twitterings

GRP Rooflights

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Daylighting & ventilation The roles of daylighting & ventilation in creating healthy and safe internal environments, by David Mowatt

What’s trending on social media?

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Gideon Sykes takes a look at light transmitting cladding

More about DAYLIGHTING Magazine Forthcoming features and information for advertisers & contributors

An update on diffused daylighting

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What’s the optimum rooflight area?

Small differences in rooflight area can have a significant impact on light levels and energy usage: an explanation by NARM’s Technical Committee

DAYLIGHTING is published by: Bennett & Partners Pure Offices Lake View House Tournament Fields Warwick CV34 6RG United Kingdom TEL: +44 (0)1295 770833 EDITOR Paul Bennett paul@daylightingmag.co.uk Tel: 01295 770833 Mobile: 07900 895110 AD SALES Miki Bennett adsales@bennettand partners.co.uk Tel: 01295 770833 DESIGN/PRODUCTION Jemma Pentney jemma@bennettand partners.co.uk Tel: 01295 770833 WEBSITE www.daylightingmag.co.uk CIRCULATION Daylighting is available by email, free of charge to subscribers. Our database currently numbers over 6,000 UK architects, specifiers, contractors, consultants and roofing professionals.

Full details are available on our website. www.daylightingmag.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the consent of the publisher. 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. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website.

Front Cover: Northbrook College, West Sussex.

Circular daylight solutions to dining and corridor areas, by Whitesales. See page 15.

www.daylightingmag.co.uk

Mar/Apr 2017

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Tackling climate change shouldn’t be about politics I was always told “Never talk politics in polite company”. However, right now, it’s almost impossible not to.

What will be the long-term effects of Brexit? Will the ‘new populism’ gain further traction in Europe? Did Russia really intervene in last year’s U.S. presidential election? Will the United Kingdom remain united?

These are all huge questions, each with potentially historic answers and outcomes. However, even with all this global-scale uncertainty and change happening all around us, there remains one issue that (pardon the pun) trumps all of these in terms of potential significance to the human race: environmental damage.

The long-term consequences of ignoring the threat of global warming are potentially more dire than any mere squabbles over territory, power or allegiance.

So it pains me to see that the environment continues to be treated as political issue. This has been brought into sharper focus recently by reports that the United States administration is

Issue 2 Jan/Feb 2017

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER BUILDINGS

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

www.daylightingmag.co.uk

planning to aboloish its Environmental Protection Agency. It would appear that the first steps have already been taken, with the appointment of a climate change denier to its lead role.

I will follow the good advice not to talk politics in polite company, but from my perspective, climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions is not a topic for political discussion: it’s simply a fact we need to urgently address.

Ninety seven percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.

Paul Bennett paul@daylightingmag.co.uk

With this weight of consesus, any arguments to the contrary must now be considered invalid. Whatever the political motives or otherwise of climate denial, we, the majority must continue to support action against climate change, including ...more energy efficient natural daylight in the built environment!

Don’t forget, back issues are always available to read on-line at daylightingmag.co.uk Previous issues of DAYLIGHTING Magazine will be available on-line indefinitely. So you can refer back to old issues whenever you like.

It’s also on our ‘to-do’ list to set up a features index, so if you can’t remember in which issue you read that fascinating feature about XYZ, you’ll be able to find it in a moment.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Construction Industry responds to Article 50 The UK will begin negotiations with the EU’s 27 member states in May 2017 concerning trade, immigration and security, in addition to an interim arrangement which may last up to three years before final arrangements are made.

Issues likely to be discussed include the Northern Ireland border, sovereignty, the European Arrest Warrant and crossborder security arrangements.

Commenting in Parliament, the Prime Minister said: “I want the United Kingdom to emerge from this period of change stronger, more united, and more outward-looking than ever. I want us to be a secure, prosperous, tolerant country, a magnet for international talent – a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe, too.”

The Article 50 announcement received a mixed response from across the UK construction industry.

RIBA President Jane Duncan has written to RIBA members stating

that: “RIBA Chief Executive Alan Vallance and I have been regularly meeting with Government ministers to take your thoughts and concerns right to the heart of Government. We have taken the invaluable feedback you provided in our recent Brexit survey to produce the Global

by Design report, which will help shape these conversations going forward. I was encouraged that mutual recognition of professional qualifications, a key concern for many of you, was recognised within the Government’s Brexit White Paper.

“EU citizens, from outside the UK – people who we count as colleagues, friends and family make a significant contribution to our profession. We would like to assure these colleagues that we are continuing to press Government to ensure your rights are protected as a matter of priority.”

Patrick Flaherty, Chief Executive, UK and Ireland at the multinational engineering firm, AECOM, commented: “Now that Article 50

has been triggered, industry still faces a minimum of two years of continued uncertainty, particularly around issues such as labour availability and construction material costs. Focus must remain on progressing the UK’s ambitious infrastructure pipeline to give confidence to the market in the intervening period.”

The Builders Merchants’ Federation (BMF) focused on the need for a mutuallybeneficial customs agreement based on zero or low tariffs.

The organisation commented that leaving the Customs Union without a comprehensive free trade agreement may unsettle planned investments and confidence, with severe repercussions for the building materials supply chain.

BMF managing director John Newcomb commented: “Builders merchants already face significant material price rises due to currency fluctuations and worry that proper consideration is not being given to other obstacles that hamper trade.”

GGF appoints new Chief Executive The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is pleased to announce that Phil Pluck has been appointed as its new Chief Executive.

Phil brings with him a wealth of experience in leading professional membership bodies and is currently the Managing Director and Commercial Director for the Royal Town Planning Institute.

On accepting the GGF Chief Executive role Phil commented:

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“It is a very real privilege to be joining the GGF as their next CEO ...being part of the GGF at this time to both support its current success and to take it to the next stage of its growth is very exciting.

Alan Burgess, GGF President said: “We are delighted that Phil has accepted the role of Chief Executive and the GGF will undoubtedly benefit from his broad senior management skills and leadership experience. www.ggf.org.uk

Phil Pluck, GGF’s new Chief Executive

www.daylightingmag.co.uk

INDUSTRY NEWS

Glass company calls for better education and enforcement following fraud case One of the UK’s leading advanced glazing system suppliers has called for better education and enforcement in the industry in the wake of a fraud trial in Northern Ireland.

We obviously would not produce nor quote for something non-compliant – but there are designers out there who either don’t understand the implications or don’t care.

Wrightstyle, which supplies its systems internationally, says that many people involved in the specification, supply and installation of fire-rated glazing systems do not have the appropriate technical skills.

“The worst offenders, and there are a few, are glass and systems companies who will supply to anyone, but are seemingly unconcerned how the systems or materials are used or installed.”

That Ulster court case saw a glass company fraudster jailed last month for supplying ordinary laminated glass as fire-resistant glass.

Specifiers should only purchase firerated internal and external systems from a reputable company that has test documentation to prove that their systems will do what they claim, and deal only with suppliers that have dedicated technical departments able to guide customers through complex compliance issues.

The fake glass was supplied to dozens of victims across Ulster, the Republic of Ireland and the rest of Britain.

Among his dozens of unwitting clients were hospitals and primary schools all of whom, at considerable cost, will have to make good his wrongdoing.

The police officer in charge said that “the potential loss of life in this case cannot be underestimated.”

Referring to the case, Tim Kempster, MD of Wrightstyle, said that his “overwhelming feeling is one of sadness rather than outrage because many issues of fire safety are still badly understood by too many specifiers in the building industry.

“The Northern Ireland case was one of criminal fraud, but what about the less deliberate omissions in fire safety that could have the same catastrophic consequences in the event of a serious fire?

“We regularly see examples of this type of case,” said Tim Kempster.

“For example, designers have come to us specifying a fire-rated curtain wall but with a non-fire rated door.

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Tim Kempster, Managing Director of Wrightstyle

Purchasing decisions for a product as critical as fire-resistant glazing should never be based on cost alone.

“Too often, we have seen firerated glass put into a non-rated aluminium frame – completely useless,” said Tim Kempster.

“The Irish fraudster is now safely behind bars or, indeed, a fire-rated cell window, unless he supplied it. But wilful ignorance and laziness are just as dangerous.

“The answer must lie in better continuous professional training for specifiers and for better enforcement from, for example, building control officers – to ensure excellence of written records at every stage and that appropriate glazing systems have the correct certifications and are properly installed,” he said. www.wrightstyle.co.uk

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O U R S TA N D A R D I S S O M U C H M O R E T H A N S TA N D A R D A L L R O O F L I G H T S W I T H L A M I N AT E D I N N E R PA N E S A S S TA N D A R D Sunsquare Limited offer a range of Rooflights including solutions for fixed units, hinged opening with electrical opening mechanism, rooftop access and walk-on Rooflights.

For more information telephone 01284 848 790, email sales@sunsquare.co.uk or visit www.sunsquare.co.uk The first and only Rooflight manufacturers to be BSI verified and awarded a Kitemark.

INDUSTRY NEWS

NARM membership grows Bury St Edmunds based glass rooflight specialist Sunsquare has become a member of NARM, the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers.

the benefits of close collaboration with other leading experts, shared funding of potentially advantageous research and early access to research findings.

NARM Chairman Tom Ogilvie said: “We are delighted to welcome Sunsquare to our ranks as the most recent member of our growing association. NARM represents the interests all leading UK rooflight suppliers and we look forward to working with Sunsquare in what I am sure will be a mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Established over thirty years ago, NARM is a member of CPA, the Construction Products Association and represents the rooflight industry in consultation with the Government and its subcontractors, CIBSE, AECOM and the BRE, on issues relating to Part L. NARM plays a key role in providing information to ensure that legislation is based on best practice.

Chris Chaney, Managing Director of Sunsquare said: “We are a quality focused business, driven by innovation and we look forward to tapping into the knowledge and influence that NARM offers to enhance our existing quality accreditations.”

NARM has been for many years an influential force in the UK construction industry, drawing on the combined expertise of many leading rooflight companies. Member companies enjoy

NARM is also a supplier member of the NFRC – National Federation of Roofing Contractors – and is represented on relevant BSI committees for all rooflight product standards. Through this position the association also represents the UK industry with reference to European standards. www.narm.org.uk

Filon Products sponsors RIDBA awards GRP rooflight and roof sheet manufacturer Filon Products sponsored the Production & Process category at this year’s RIDBA (Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association) Awards.

Filon’s chemical resistant Citadel sheeting was used by category winner A.J. Lowther & Son Ltd, on a project which was also shortlisted for the prize: the refurbishment of a galvanising plant in Stoke-on-Trent.

Steve Vickers, Filon’s Managing Director, said “We are active members of RIDBA and fully supportive of their role as a champion for excellence in the design and construction of rural and industrial buildings.” www.filon.co.uk

www.daylightingmag.co.uk

Antony Lowther, Managing Director of A.J. Lowther & Son (centre), accepts the winner’s trophy from TV presenter Kate Humble and Filon Managing Director Steve Vickers.

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NEW PROJECTS Central Square, Leeds An Em-Glaze bespoke smoke ventilator supplied by Whitesales, was recently installed at Central Square, a presigious new office building in Leeds.

The glazed unit was installed to enhance daylighting as well as increasing public safety with automatic opening in the event of a fire. www.whitesales.co.uk

Chill Factor E, Manchester FaulknerBrowns Architects specified Rodeca’s translucent cladding panels on the UK’s largest indoor ski/ snowboard centre, Chill Factor E at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.

Some 200 times tougher than glass, Rodeca panels enable light transmission between 5-65% and at the same time are highly efficient insulators of heat (< 0.71W/m²K) and sound (21-43dB). www.rodeca.co.uk

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NEW PROJECTS INEOS Headquarters, Grangemouth, East Stirlingshire Kawneer’s AA®110 zonedrained curtain walling with 65mm sightlines, top-hung casement windows and commercial entrance doors were specified by Michael Laird Architects for the landmark headquarters at INEOS’ 1,700-acre site in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire. www.kawneer.com

The Green Unit® Passivhaus building pods These carbon neutral pods have been developed for use in a variety of sectors.

FAKRO’s FTP U5 roof windows provide an installed U value of 0.97w/m2k, as well as being non-vented to provide high levels of air tightness, making them suitable for Passivhaus projects like this. www.fakro.co.uk

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DAYLIGHTING IN EDUCATION

Naturally bright Paul Trace from Lumen Rooflight casts a light on the benefits of natural daylight in the classroom.

It’s no great surprise that people are attracted to natural light and that most of us feel better when the sun comes out.

However, beyond the “feel good” factor there are many tangible benefits to increasing the amount of natural daylighting entering a building. This is particularly true of schools or places of learning as the use of natural light has significant advantages for both students and teachers.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of daylight on the learning environment. Enhanced student performance and motivation, increased teacher and student attendance, reduced energy costs, as well as a positive effect on the environment are some of the improvements seen in school buildings that use well-planned day lighting concepts.

Studies have shown that natural daylight can improve exam results by up to 26 percent, as well as having a positive effect on rates of attendance and the health of children.

Cost benefits Aside from the physical and psychological benefits, natural light also offers an environmentally friendly means of saving money on energy costs. It stands to reason that the more natural light entering a building, the less energy for lights and heating is required.

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Looking at this compelling list of benefits, one might be surprised that optimising day lighting in schools is often regarded as a design preference instead of a basic responsibility.

Legislation Legislation issued in 2002 recognised this by making it a legal requirement for buildings to have adequate natural daylight as part of the design. The legislation states that a minimum 20% of the wall area or 10% of the roof area must comprise of light transmitting elements.

For schools, specific guidance on natural lighting is available in Building Bulletin 90 (BB90) ‘Lighting Design for

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DAYLIGHTING IN EDUCATION Schools’. It stresses that natural lighting during daylight hours should always be the major source, supplemented by electric light when needed.

The BB90 document contains a comprehensive section covering lighting design and the importance of rooflights. As it points out, rooflights let in light from the brightest part of the sky and are not generally affected by external obstructions, such as trees or other buildings. They also provide a more even pattern of light than vertical windows.

According to leading consultants, horizontal rooflights provide two and a half times more light than vertical windows (the equivalent of 10,000 candles on a sunny day), which is more than 200 times the light needed for most educational tasks.

However, it should not be forgotten that vertical windows provide views to the outside world, which may be of benefit to the health and well-being of building occupants.

Of course, rooflights can also provide views of the sky and promote a sense of well-being and connection with the outside – without the distractions encountered with views through vertical glass windows, making rooflights particularly well suited to classroom applications.

Creating better learning environments: some compelling statistics The Building Research Establishment (BRE) released the results of analysing more than 70 research studies and documents in its paper, Health and Productivity Benefits of Sustainable Schools. Here are examples of just three conclusive research findings:

In tests, cognitive function was 15% worse with CO2 at around 945ppm than it was in fresh outdoor-fed air, and 50% worse when CO2 reached concentrations of 1,400ppm.

‘Daylighting in Schools’, a study by the Heschong Mahone Group, demonstrated a 25% improvement on test scores in daylit classrooms over classrooms with the least daylight.

The Alberta Department of Education analysed 21,000 students’ results and discovered that sunlit classrooms resulted in students performing 20% faster in maths tests and 26% faster in reading tests.

www.lumenrooflight.com

“According to leading consultants, horizontal rooflights provide two and a half times more light than vertical windows”

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www.daylightingmag.co.uk

DAYLIGHTING IN EDUCATION George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh Lareine Engineering supplied andinstalled these glass rooflights as part of a refurbishment project at Edinburgh’s distinguished George Heriot’s School.

The Company offers a complete range of fully compliant, glass & polycarbonate glazing options and configurations, with class leading U-Values www. lareineengineering.com

Northbrook College, West Sussex Whitesales provided contemporary circular daylight solutions to dining and corridor areas, including units more than 3 metres in diameter. In total, 12 of the Company’s EmGlaze modular circular glass rooflights and 19 bespoke Em-Glaze shedlights were installed at this further, higher and adult education university in Worthing, West Sussex.

Shown opposite is the canteen area. www.whitesales.co.uk

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Kingspan Kapture Increasing wellbeing and comfort in Educational buildings For students, day lit rooms that offer the correct amount of light for the task at hand, improve visibility and visual comfort, thereby enabling increased recognition and legibility.

Kingspan Day-Lite Kapture

Kingspan Day-Lite Kapture Air

Achieving 100% uniformity through its unique shape and material, Kapture offers exceptional levels of light transmission, coupled with 100% diffusion to eliminate glare.

With the same daylighting technology features a motorised actuator to provide daily ventilation and thermal comfort.

Additionally, the nano-prismatic directs all the light to the work plane, providing the light levels required in any building for more hours than any other standard polycarbonate rooflight.

Additional optional features include automatic rain and wind closing sensors, carbon dioxide detectors, black-out blinds for presentations as well as smoke safety opening.

Learn More Contact us on:

Tel: +353 (0) 42 96 98 500

Email: KLA@kingspan.com

  

Visual comfort Increased concentration Enhanced health

CASE STUDY – advertorial

Trumpington VELUX Modular Skylights Community College VELUX Modular Skylights deliverTrumpington daylight to an inspirational schoollearning in Clay Community College. Anew 21st century environment Farm, Cambridge, where stimulating space fosters effective learning Architect: Avanti Architects Contractor: Morgan Sindall Located in the centre of the new Clay Farm urban extension to the south of Cambridge, the new Trumpington Community College was designed and built with strong sustainability in mind, featuring VELUX Modular Skylights.

Aiming for an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating, sustainability drove every aspect of the college masterplan, including a transport target for 90% of students to arrive by foot, bicycle or public transport.

Trumpington opened in September 2016 and is the first new secondary school in Cambridge for 50 years.

Providing 750 places and specialising in science, it will meet the needs of this growing area, where 4,000 new homes will be built over the next ten years.

Internally, the design is compact yet airy: • Two L-shaped floor plates overlap around a central heart space • Corridors are kept to a minimum • A large, open staircase travels up through the three floors • Cellular teaching spaces are combined with unstructured open- plan areas • Spaces can be adapted for different size groups, enabling individual learning.

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There’s also a specialist autism centre, and a sports centre with a vast Astro turf area. After hours, the building’s facilities are opened up for use by the local community.

Welcoming external façades and spaces Externally, the wrapped façade reflects the interior overlapping floor plates. A science and outside learning terrace faces south, making the most of fine weather days for teaching and learning in the fresh air.

The ‘school square’, a new public open space, faces the school and forms an

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CASE STUDY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; advertorial

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CASE STUDY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; advertorial

attractive sequence of spaces flowing from the square into the building and out towards the south-facing terrace.

The school is mainly clad in anodised aluminium, while the sports building is primarily brick, creating a textured interconnected aesthetic.

VELUX Modular Skylights and sustainable design Light and fresh air fill the heart of the school thanks to the prolific use of VELUX Modular Skylights. Ventilation is primarily via this central space, where staff can remotely operate the motorised VELUX Modular Skylights whenever needed. Tempered air is also brought in through a buried labyrinth.

Double-sided window glazing to classrooms also provide good natural daylight.

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The future-proof design includes exposed concrete soffits providing thermal mass for cooling overnight, and cooler embedded pipework allowing activation for adaptation to future climate change. Renewable energy is provided by a ground source heat pump and PVs, and rainwater harvesting is also employed.

The VELUX Modular Skylights promote the energy efficiency of the building and offer a robust life expectancy, helping to deliver on an excellent BREEAM rating.

The project features a total of approximately 552m2 of VELUX Modular Skylights. Work commenced in June 2014 and was completed in June 2016.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; At Trumpington Community College...the VELUX Modular Skylight system has helped us create an exceptional working environment... we are delighted with it!

Andrew Hutchinson OBE, Executive Principal, Parkside Federation Academies

www.velux.co.uk/modularskylights

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Designed for architecture, engineered for performance

Willesden Green Cultural Centre building, London

Spend more time designing, less time specifying.

VELUX Modular Skylights come fully prefabricated and give you the flexibility to design various modular combinations. The composite material boasts excellent energy performance and enduring strength, ensuring you have the best solution for your next building project. With an elegant design, VELUX Modular Skylights are the ideal choice for commercial buildings.

For more information, visit velux.co.uk/modularskylights or call 01592 778 916.

CAD & BIM OBJECTS Download free at velux.co.uk/ modularskylights

TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING SYSTEMS

Tubular daylighting systems: making daylight more widely available

By Ian Bell, Managing Director of Daylight Delivery Systems Limited Tubular daylighting systems, also known as sun tubes or sun tunnels, are designed to capture, transfer and deliver natural light to places that were once thought impossible.

The more advanced systems include design technologies and super-

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reflective tubing (up to 99.7% reflective) which can allow daylight to be delivered using tube lengths of over 20 metres â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and systems to be used in far more complex and innovative ways, as shown in the diagram below.

Tubular daylighting systems are easy

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TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING SYSTEMS to install, often requiring no structural changes. They are also energyefficient, eco-friendly, affordable and virtually maintenance-free, making them the ideal choice for many commercial and residential applications.

With tubular daylighting systems, it’s now possible to illuminate large open plan areas as well as individual rooms that are deep within a building: rooms that previously would have relied on artificial or ‘borrowed’ light.

Tubular daylighting systems can be routed through walls, basements, roof voids and for even subterranean applications.

How do quality tubular daylighting systems work?

The concept is simple: tubular daylighting systems pipe natural light collected at roof level through highly reflective tubes in the roof void to a diffuser in the ceiling that delivers daylight into the area below. The original concept was patented by Solatube in Australia over 25 years ago and has since been adopted by other manufacturers around the world.

A quality tubular daylighting system will give significant amounts of daylight for its size, delivering the same (or often more) daylight as traditional windows, but through a far smaller aperture.

Daylight has many advantages, but there are also challenges; solar heat gain, glare and seasonal light fluctuations are all concerns when it comes to using daylight to illuminate interior spaces. Tubular daylighting systems overcome these challenges, meeting architectural and environmental requirements and also providing high quality lighting with predictable light output and design flexibility.

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What to consider when specifying a tubular daylighting system?

Most tubular daylighting systems consist of a glazed fitting on the roof to gather the daylight, reflective tubing through which the daylight is transferred and a ceiling fitting in the room below to evenly diffuse the daylight.

Above: These systems are over 6 metres long; they have been weathered onto the metal composite roof and are about to be connected in order to provide daylight to offices below the roof void area.

The roof element is usually domed, though some are flat. Ideally, a roof element should: • Be secure and weathertight • Comply with UK building regulations • Actively harvest additional daylight • Self-clean to avoid build-up of air-borne debris

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TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING SYSTEMS

Domed or flush roof elements?

On north, east or west aspects and when the sun is low in the sky in the early morning or evening time, roof domes have an advantage over flat or flush roof elements as they usually incorporate technologies such as Fresnel lenses or reflectors to ‘harvest’

Rigid or flexible tubing?

The tubing should be as reflective and specular as possible in order to transfer daylight efficiently.

Typically, quality systems will use rigid tubes with a reflectivity of between 98 and 99.7%.

Rigid tubing is usually made from aluminium with a highly reflective

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daylight – so more daylight enters the tube at roof level throughout the whole day, whatever the time of year.

Domed elements usually incorporate technologies such as Fresnel lenses or reflectors to ‘harvest’ daylight

Flat or flush roof elements tend to be efficient only on south-facing aspects when the daylight can enter the tube aperture directly.

laminate surface or aluminium with a silvered surface.

Flexible tube systems are also available and these use flexible, foillined ducting, but these are far less efficient at transferring daylight than their rigid counterparts. Independent tests have demonstrated that rigid tube systems can deliver up to 10 times the light of the same sized flexible tube system.

Typically, quality systems will use rigid tubes with a reflectivity of between 98 and 99.7%.

www.daylightingmag.co.uk

TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING SYSTEMS Each supplier has their own recommendations for the optimum distance of their tubular daylighting system and system sizes (diameters) offered. Much depends on the system quality and reflective properties of the tube material.

Thermal and acoustic efficiency Quality tubular daylighting systems can offer excellent thermal and acoustic efficiency – often better than traditional, double-glazed windows.

Look for a system with a double-glazed ceiling diffuser system to prevent heated (or cooled) air escaping into the roof void. Flashing insulators or insulated flashings are a significant help too in maintaining thermal efficiency.

Thermal efficiencies of up to

0.5 W/m²K can be achieved with some systems (see below).

Quality suppliers will offer a wide range of roof interfaces to suit most roof types, commercial and residential.

Diffusers – or ceiling fittings – diffuse the intense daylight that is transferred down the reflective tubing and ensure the light is evenly distributed in the room below. The diffusers are required to ensure uniformity of light and visual comfort. The best systems offer double-glazed ceiling and roof components to ensure thermal efficiency.

Quality systems can offer excellent thermal and acoustic efficiency.

The ceiling fitting is the most visible element of the daylighting system – and seen by the occupants every day, so it is important to look for style as well as function.

Typical high quality tubular daylighting system

1. Inner dome 2. Twin-skinned insulated roof flashing – available for flat or pitched roofs 3. Neoprene flashing seal/insulator 4. Climate controi lens – creates thermal compartments within the tube 5. Multlayer foil insulation to BS EN12667 & ISO8302 (0.0345 W/m²K) 6. Double glazed ceiling diffuser

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TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING SYSTEMS Ensuring compliance It makes sense to specify products that have recognised UK accreditation such as British Board of AgrĂŠment Certificates or similar, to ensure compliance to UK building regulations, codes and fitness-for-purpose.

This is usually a requirement of building control, as well as government agencies, architects, specifiers and industry insurers.

Summing up on sun tubes Tubular daylight systems have been around for decades, delivering daylight to places previously thought to be impossible to reach.

More recently, as developments have made them more efficient over greater distances - and with a wider range of sizes, styles and characteristics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; specifiers are becoming more aware of the creative possibilities of these systems. Look out for some interesting new applications in the coming months! www.solatube.co.uk

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Daylight Delivery Systems Limited www.solatube.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

daylight diary The ‘voice of the rooflight industry’ does more than just talk!

NARM, the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers, may not be the UK’s biggest trade association, but it must count as one of the most active and influential relative to the size of its membership.

Here’s what NARM is working on right now In 2017, together with the NFRC, of which NARM is a supplier member, we will be working hard to provide installation guidance and support for best rooflighting practice among roofing contractors.

NARM’s influential Technical Committee plays an active role in advising Government on future Building Regulations, and has just published new guidance on glass specification for rooflights, which is available on the NARM website at http://www. narm.org.uk/products/glass/specificguide/. This will be followed later this year by a document outlining the new Approved Document Part Q: Security in Dwellings – and how this affects rooflight specification – plus other documents.

A complete library of NARM Technical Documents giving guidance on many aspects of rooflighting best practice, is available free of charge on NARM’s website, at http://www.narm.org.uk/ downloads/guidance/ NARM has published a RIBA approved on-line CPD seminar, entitled ‘An

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2017

introduction to daylighting with rooflights’. This is available at http://www. narm.org.uk/cpd/ NARM is a member of Eurolux - the body representing the interests of European rooflight manufacturers. A NARM representative has attended recent meetings to ensure the UK’s voice is heard in relation to standards and compliance.

NARM is a member of the Construction Products Association, further strengthening the Association’s position and voice within the construction sector.

NARM works closely with the ACR - the Advisory committee for Roofsafety and actively supports initiatives for site safety NARM is committed to supporting sustainability in the built environment.

The association is highly active in promoting the generic benefits of daylighting, in terms of emissions reductions and benefits to health & wellbeing.

Download NARM Technical Documents at www.narm.org.uk NARM has also published a RIBA approved on-line CPD Seminar entitled An introduction to daylighting with rooflights. BOOK NOW. Become a NARM member: http://www.narm.org.uk/about-us/ become-a-narm-member/

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INSIGHT - DAYLIGHT & NEIGHBOURLY MATTERS

Shedding light on the subject: What is the difference between Rights to Light and Daylight & Sunlight Amenity?

Rights to Light and Daylight & Sunlight Amenity are two separate neighbourly matters which require detailed consideration during the course of a construction project.

Ignore them and they can have serious implications on a scheme. Embrace them and there is scope for maximising the development potential on your site.

Dan Tapscott, head of the Neighbourly Matters team at Rapleys LLP explains the differences between these two subject areas.

Daylight & Sunlight Amenity Daylight & Sunlight Amenity is purely a Planning matter with the final decision as to what is acceptable being given

by Local Authorities. It focuses on the amount of natural light received within a proposed development as well as to the surrounding properties before and after construction. It considers the amount of direct light (sunlight) and the light from the sky received in all directions (daylight) associated with a proposal. The subject relates to habitable rooms

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so bathrooms, circulation space and storage areas are ignored but it does consider external amenity space such as gardens, parks and playgrounds.

Guidance on individual Local Authority requirements in respect of Daylight & Sunlight Amenity should be contained within their Local Development Plans.

The most commonly accepted set of industry guidelines on this subject is BRE Report 209: Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Guide to Good Practice (2nd Edition) which sets out a sequence of steps to review the situation.

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INSIGHT - DAYLIGHT & NEIGHBOURLY MATTERS Right to Light By contrast, a Right to Light is an easement, similar to a Right of Way that is protected by law. If someone blocks or infringes the passage of light to an unreasonable degree the objector can raise a claim for damages, or at worst an injunction. This could lead to the offending parts of the development being removed and have a wide ranging knock on effect to the project.

Rights to Light (or Rights of Light; there is no difference) can be acquired in several ways but the most common is via enjoyment for over 20 years by virtue of the Prescription Act 1832 or through being granted from one landowner to another when land is subdivided.

Once in place it is notoriously difficult to prove abandonment of the right, even if the aperture has been infilled.

Transferred rights via the coincidence in the position of ‘new’ apertures to ones that have previously been removed is another area that will require consideration.

Rights to Light can be enjoyed by any aperture such as a window, door or rooflight belonging to any room, habitable or otherwise. The easiest way of considering the subject is thinking about the amount of ‘blue sky’ which can be seen at the working plane (roughly desk or kitchen work surface height) within a room. If ‘interference’ in the level of ‘blue sky’ is caused by the construction of a new building or structure and this is deemed to be to an unreasonable degree, then there may be grounds for the neighbour to take action. A Right to Light cannot exist to an external space such as a garden.

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Design out or manage risk at an early stage The above should be a reminder to all developers, large or small, that just because a scheme may have been granted planning permission, this does not necessarily mean it can be constructed without further action. It is therefore crucial that consideration of these subject areas is given as early as possible, designing out risks or managing them accordingly.

For both subject areas there are separate indicative rules of thumb which can be applied before determining whether a more detailed review is warranted. Thereafter, the way in which analysis using 3D models and specialist computer software is conducted follows similar lines for both subject areas and is often combined.

It is at this stage, provided there is some flexibility in the design, that the analysis can significantly aid the design team in making use of as much of the client’s site as possible.

Envelope Studies, in effect, reverse engineer by finding the pinch points to the neighbouring properties and produce a design envelope to help guide the architect in maximising the development potential on the site.

Just because a scheme may have been granted planning permission, this does not necessarily mean it can be constructed without further action...

...for both subject areas there are separate indicative rules of thumb which can be applied before determining whether a more detailed review is warranted.

Forthcoming issues of DAYLIGHTING Magazine Will feature further articles

by Dan – on carrying out a Daylight & Sunlight Amenity Study and practically reviewing and advising on a Rights to Light matter. dan.tapscott@rapleys.com

www.daylightingmag.co.uk

GRP ROOFLIGHTS

Understanding non-fragility & GRP rooflights

By John Godley, Technical Manager for Hambleside Danelaw The construction industry is currently guided by ACR[M]001:2014 “Test for Non-Fragility of Large Element Roofing Assemblies” [fifth edition], known as the ‘Red Book’, published by the ACR – Advisory Committee for Roofsafety.

The ACR[M]001 test

It prescribes how a roof assembly should be tested to resist the impact of a person falling onto it, and then supporting their weight, clarifying how the assembly is then defined as ‘fragile’ or ‘non-fragile’, classified A to C. It is important to understand that the test is not of any single product, but all of the elements required of a correctly installed roof.

The application of this test and classification for in-plane rooflights is further defined in the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM) Technical Document NTD03, Application of ACR[M]001 ‘Test for Non- Fragility of Large Element Roofing Assemblies’ to GRP Profiled Rooflight Sheeting’.

Non-fragile rooflights Two factors impact on the period of non-fragility of roof assemblies: • quality and durability of the individual components.

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Diagram courtesy of NARM

The impact testing is a ‘soft-body’ test specifically defined to concentrate a destructive load over a small area, at the most critical, worst case scenario locations of that assembly. Only by extensive testing for all failure modes can the tester gain a clear understanding of how and where the assembly will fail.

• quality of installation of the entire roof.

Manufacturers can only indicate the expected period of non-fragility based on extensive testing, and cannot offer performance guarantees on products not manufactured or installed by them.

Further guidance is available from

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GRP ROOFLIGHTS

In-plane GRP rooflights, Network Rail depot

NARM and The Metal Cladding and Roofing Manufacturers Association (MCRMA).

Imported GRP rooflight sheets claiming to be manufactured to UK recognised weights and specifications cannot be assumed to carry the same level of surface protection or achieve the same non-fragility ratings for the same periods if not compliant with the UK Annex to BS EN1013.

‘Walkable’ and ‘Walk-On’ Rooflights Some built-up cladding systems incorporate a 0.70mm thick steel liner sheet in a profile depth usually exceeding 30mm. This liner assembly should be tested to achieve a nonfragile classification as a single skin only, to allow installers to safely traverse it while installing the cladding system – often referred to as a ‘walkable liner’.

It should be noted that profiled rooflight sheets in such an assembly, even though tested and demonstrated

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to achieve the required non-fragile rating, are still not ‘walkable’ and should never be subjected to foot traffic, regardless of specification.

Rooflights should never be walked on unless specifically designed and approved for this purpose. Irrespective of the strength of a rooflight and the non-fragility classification, foot traffic could damage the structural integrity or surface protection and consequently impact upon the long term performance of the product.

Polycarbonate and GRP should never be considered suitable materials for ‘walkable’ applications.

Rooflights designed to be walked on, and for use where they will be deliberately walked on, should be designed for much greater loads -the only suitable material is glass, subject to specific specifications for each application.

Polycarbonate and GRP should never be considered suitable materials for ‘walkable’ applications. www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk

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Rooflights

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GRP ROOFLIGHTS - advertorial

Filon Fixsafe is ‘first choice’ for industry-leading roofing contractor Weatherproofing Advisors Ltd, one of the UK’s leading industrial and commercial roofing contractors, has made Filon Fixsafe a key part of its stringent Health & Safety programme.

Weatherproofing Advisors attaches the greatest importance to health and safety, considering this to be a responsibility ranking above all other management functions within the organisation. The company has even created a memorable marketing campaign around safety super-hero ‘R.U. McSafe’ – to highlight its zerotolerance approach to safety on-site.

So when Director James Turner was made aware of the Fixsafe System for safe replacement of roofing sheets, a trial was immediately set up.

James picks up the story: “Fragile roofs are one of the biggest safety hazards facing construction workers, accounting for almost one fifth of all the fatal accidents which result from falls from height in the construction industry. Responsible roofing contractors go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their employees when accessing fragile roof areas for maintenance or repair. This usually involves the erection of scaffolding and safety nets, often involving more time and cost than the repair itself.”

and it allows whole the process to be carried out without the additional time and costs involved in setting up scaffolding and safety nets. With safety at the top of our priority list, we have now initiated a policy of ‘Fixsafe first’ for all our projects. This means that Fixsafe is used as a matter of course, wherever internal access is possible. ” With site safety pioneers like Weatherproofing Advisors making Fixsafe their system of choice, the team at Filon Products believe that the convenience and simplicity of the system will make it an industry standard for profiled roof repairs. In the longer term, the expectation is that even those contractors who may otherwise have cut corners on safety, will choose to use Fixsafe where possible, for reasons of practicality and cost – as well as safety.

With Fixsafe, replacing rooflights and roof sheets can now be carried out from below, using a scissor lift. This removes the need to access fragile roof areas.

www.filon.co.uk

He continued: “Filon’s Fixsafe system removes the need for operatives to access fragile roofs, because the entire process can be carried out from below, using a scissor lift. This makes the whole process significantly safer and more controllable. Our initial trial confirmed that Fixsafe is also very practical and simple-to-use on-site …

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Innovative upgrade & refurbishment solutions for profiled fibre cement or metal roofs & cladding

Replacing rooflights or roof sheets?

Fragile roofs put lives at risk and you could be liable.

NO NEED TO ACCESS FRAGILE ROOFS

Insist your contractor uses Filon Fixsafe.

ALL WORK CARRIED OUT FROM BELOW

Figures published by the Health & Safety Executive show that falls through fragile roof materials caused over one quarter of fatal accidents in the construction industry.

Fixsafe addresses the problem and is playing a major role in reducing this statistic.

Fixsafe allows sheets to be replaced from below, eliminating the need to access fragile roofs and thereby greatly increasing site safety. By removing the requirement for costly safety netting, roof staging or external scaffolding, on-site time is reduced and access equipment costs are minimised.

Replacing rooflights from below is an HSE recommended method and complies with Regulation 9 of the Work At Height Regulations 2005. Protect your roofers and yourself by insisting on Fixsafe.

We also offer: â&#x20AC;˘ Insulated rooflights for energy-saving upgrades and refurbishment â&#x20AC;˘ Lightweight over-roofing for cost-effective roof refurb with minimal disruption.

For details, please call us on 01543 687300 or visit www.filon.co.uk

Filon Fixsafe allows replacement rooflights or roof sheets to be installed from below, avoiding the need to access fragile roofs

Filon Products Ltd, Unit 3 Ring Road, Zone 2, Burntwood Business Park, Burntwood, Staffs WS7 3JQ

DAYLIGHTING & VENTILATION

Developing strategies for better internal environments David Mowatt, Director of Lareine Engineering, discusses the dual roles of daylighting & ventilation in creating healthy and safe internal environments Every building, whatever its purpose, must provide a controlled internal environment that is protected from the variable and uncontrollable external climate.

The requirements of the internal environment will depend on the intended use of the building and this will naturally determine the requirements for the building envelope.

Generating and maintaining a controlled internal environment is a complex process and the design of the building envelope is an important factor in determining comfort levels

and safety of occupants within the building, as well as the energy performance of the building itself.

Appropriate levels of daylight and fresh air are crucial to the success of a building and a balanced, holistic approach to design and specification of daylighting & ventilation systems will generally provide the best results.

Common pitfalls of poor daylighting & ventilation design are: poor energy utilisation, inadequate control of internal temperatures, poor air quality, glare and very importantly, compromised safety of building

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Residential apartment buildings ...can be greatly enhanced by introducing high levels of daylight to public areas. They also present specific challenges for ventilation system design, with many dividing internal walls and high demands for safety, privacy and security of individual units.

1. Louvred ventilators allow clean fresh air to be drawn in to replace stale air 2. Roof ventilation terminal to exhaust stale air and fumes 3. Central pyramid skylight delivers daylight to stairwell â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with built-in AOV (automatic opening vent) panels for smoke ventilation is case of fire

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DAYLIGHTING & VENTILATION

occupants. So it makes sense to consider all of these factors at an early stage of the building design.

such an attractive option to those looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save on power costs.

Every sector provides specific challenges to the design and specification of daylighting and ventilation systems and every building needs to be considered independently.

In addition to low running and maintenance costs, key benefits of effective natural ventilation include:

The key advantage of a holistic approach is that system components can be specified to perform dual functions. Rooflights, for example, may be specified with integrated ventilators.

Single-point supplier responsibility can also provide advantages in terms of cost and project co-ordination.

• Improved environment for IT and production/manufacturing equipment, resulting in reduced maintenance costs

Natural comfort ventilation – naturally effective

• Improved conditions for products and goods resulting in longer shelf life with fewer rejects

Natural ventilation is the preferred solution for today’s buildings in many sectors, due to its energy efficiency.

Natural ventilation requires no mechanical energy, which is why it’s

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Above: Roof glazing with louvred ventilators

• Improved wellbeing and increased productivity of building occupants

• Pleasant internal environments support increased building usage and property values

Natural ventilation falls into two broad categories, which may operate together or independently of each other:

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DAYLIGHTING & VENTILATION 3 Wind-driven (or wind-induced) cross ventilation, where pressure differences between one side of the building and the other draw air in on the high pressure side and draw it out on the 1 low pressure side.

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Buoyancy-driven stack ventilation (the stack effect), where cool air enters the building at low level, is heated by sources inside the building (people, equipment, heating systems etc), becomes less dense and therefore rises through the building to be ventilated to the outside at the top The design of natural ventilation systems can be complex because of the interaction between wind ventilation and the stack effect, as well as the effect of building geometry and the distribution of openings. This can require analysis using computational fluid dynamics.

central atriums to control the flow of smoke into the mall or atrium.

Shopping malls and office complexes

Maintaining a clear layer below the smoke is another critical factor. It needs to be high enough to keep escape routes clear. This can have a bearing on the design of smoke barriers which can affect building usage.

...are busy and often multi-level buildings requiring high levels of natural daylight and often with complex requirements for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation.

Natural ventilation can also be influenced by occupant behaviour, for example, a person near to a window choosing to close it. For this reason it can be beneficial to automate natural ventilation systems, or to provide training for occupants.

Ensuring a supply of replacement air is another essential aspect of system design. As smoke and gases are extracted, sufficient fresh air needs to be introduced to take their place.

Without this fresh air supply, the building will become depressurised and the smoke ventilation system will be ineffective.

Integrated smoke ventilation systems Natural ventilation systems can also be designed to incorporate smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVS) to remove smoke from the building in the event of fire. SHEVs allow low level escape routes to be kept clear of smoke as well as reducing damage to the building.

System design must take a variety of factors into account which will be specific to the building.

With large roof spaces, for example, it’s important to limit the spread of smoke.

This requires high level smoke barriers to divide the roof space into individual smoke containment reservoirs.

Smoke barriers are also often used in shopping centres and buildings with

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1. Louvred ventilators allow clean fresh air to be drawn in to replace stale air 2. Fixed louvres and roof ventilation terminals to exhaust stale air and fumes 3. Dual purpose louvred ventilators can provide both smoke & natural ventilation and can be integrated into rooflights

It should be noted that when considering any smoke ventilation system design, it is important that it carries full BS EN12101 Certification.

Beware of terms like ‘in accordance with BS EN12101’. These claims do not necessarily mean that a product or system has actually been tested to BS EN12101 – and that in turn can mean that a specification made in good faith could actually be non-compliant and therefore potentially dangerous. To safeguard yourself, your client and your client’s building occupants, you need to be 100% certain of compliance. www.lareineengineering.com

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ROOFLIGHTS VERTICAL GLAZING NATURAL VENTILATION SMOKE VENTILATION LOUVRE SYSTEMS ACCESS SOLUTIONS

Daylighting & ventilation from concept to installation

NEW BUILD & REFURB FOR EVERY SECTOR

With an experienced in-house design and specification department, plus our own teams of installers around the country, we are able to provide outstanding engineered daylighting and ventilation solutions for virtually any kind of project: new build or refurbishment.

Our ‘concept to installation’ approach allows continuity and close quality control over every stage of every project, to deliver excellence – every time.

Call us today to discuss how we can help to bring your next project to life.

T 01506 448140 F 01506 448141 E info@lareineengineering.com www.lareineengineering.com

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

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

The Great Court at the British Museum Designed by Foster and Partners and completed in 2000, the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court transformed the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing inner courtyard into the largest covered public square in Europe. It is a two-acre space enclosed by a spectacular glass roof with the worldfamous Reading Room at its centre.

The glazed canopy is a fusion of engineering excellence and economy of form. Its unique geometry is designed to span the irregular gap between the drum of the Reading Room at the centre of the courtyard and the surrounding courtyard facades. It forms both the primary structure and the framing for the glazing, which is designed to reduce solar gain.

As a cultural square, the Court also forms a link in the pedestrian route from the British Library to Covent Garden, the river and the South Bank.

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DAYLIGHTING ICONS

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LIGHT TRANSMITTING CLADDING – advertorial

An update on diffused daylighting Architectural journalist Gideon Sykes looks at three case studies which dramatically illustrate the ways in which diffused daylighting is increasingly transforming building design.

Kalwall is considered to be the most insulating light transmitting cladding (and skylighting) systems available. Its purpose is to transmit ‘museum quality’ light evenly into an interior without glare or harsh contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is flooded with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced. Unlike glass, it requires virtually no regular cleaning.

The translucent panels are factory prefabricated to the exact size and configuration for each project. Panels

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can be flat or curved, and opening or fixed glazed window units can be incorporated. The standard 70mm thick panel offers insulation up to 0.28W/ m2K - equivalent to a cavity filled solid wall.

The interior view This enormous 17,000sqm Audi showroom (above) in west London was designed by Wilkinson Eyre architects.

Seven storeys in height, three are capable of displaying up to 116 cars and two in the basement house a 32bay workshop and extensive parking facilities. The volume of the new building has a powerful geometry with a raking façade. These are spectacular, double-height spaces in which cars can

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LIGHT TRANSMITTING CLADDING – advertorial be displayed, dramatically enhanced by the Kalwall cladding which floods the sales floors with diffused daylight.

At night, the Kalwall emits an attractive glow from the internal lighting.

The exterior view One of the most unusual projects which dramatically illustrates the role of Kalwall cladding is Roundwood Youth Centre in London’s Brent (above right). Here Morgan Sindall appointed architects Saunders Boston who worked closely with Mace’s Design Studio, the original concept and planning designers for this landmark project. Of particular interest is the way in which the envelope is wrapped around a series of offset building elements all of which are clad with Kalwall. Energy running costs are reduced because of its superior insulation which means less reliance on artificial lighting.

The vertical view Kalwall is also widely used for roofs, from single skylights to complete structures. This is the Canadian Our Lady of Hope Mausoleum in Ancaster Ontario, designed by Young + Wright/ IBI Group Architects . Entered under a large cantilevered canopy, the Mausoleum is symmetrical with its major elements located along its north axis. The dramatic break of the building occurs along its central concourse where the raised organically shaped roof floods the interior with light. This is achieved by imaginative use of the design flexibility and daylighting performance of Kalwall.

New building and refurbishment Apart from being widely specified for

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all types of new build project – such as schools, pools, leisure centres, retail facilities, public buildings - Kalwall is increasingly used for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. Case studies and technical information available from Structura UK Ltd, Tel: 01233 501 504 or visit www.structura-uk.com/kalwall

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COMPANY PROFILE – advertorial

TWINFIX – the polycarbonate pioneers It’s nearly thirty years since Twinfix Limited offered its first roof glazing system, and they have gone from strength to strength, but always maintained their core values and devotion to polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate glazing in it’s different forms has always played a central role in the company’s core product offering of canopies, walkways and rooflights.

Established in the late 1980s, Twinfix was one of the first companies in Europe to develop a range of glazing bars and fixing accessories specifically designed for installing polycarbonate.

These glazing bars formed a core product in Twinfix’s range and remain a popular product, from which the highly respected Twinfix non-fragile Multi-Link roof panel system evolved.

The Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel – an industry standard The Multi-Link-Panel NF features an innovative reinforcing technique that allows the glazed panels to pass the HSE test procedure for Non Fragile Roofing Assemblies (ACR[M]001:2014) as detailed in HSG33.

Light in weight and available in a range of colours and tints, the Multi-LinkPanel is also incredibly quick to fit.

Today, Multi-Link remains the definitive system of its kind, with an outstanding track record stretching back nearly twenty years and installations throughout the UK and Europe.

Director Vicky Evans, is a passionate advocate of polycarbonate as a

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Twinfix panel systems are manufactured in the UK at the Company’s Warrington Headquarters

glazing material, but she is quick to point out that it requires specialist knowledge and understanding to gain the most benefit from its excellent characteristics.

“Polycarbonate sheet offers light transmission that’s broadly comparable with glass, plus extremely high impact resistance and tensile strength, making it perfect for all kinds of roof glazing applications. However, other characteristics of the material, like flexural strength and dimensional stability are very different from glass and require a different approach. This is where we believe our expertise and experience with polycarbonate gives us an edge on projects where polycarbonate glazing is the appropriate choice. It’s also enabled us to innovate and develop new solutions

Twinfix was one of the first companies in Europe to develop a range of glazing bars and fixing accessories specifically designed for installing polycarbonate

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COMPANY PROFILE – advertorial to cover a wider range of installation requirements.”

Today’s Twinfix designs & installs: • Glazed canopies, shelters & walkways • Industrial roof glazing; modular panels or in sheet and bar form • Northlight replacement • Vertical glazing; using either solid or multiwall polycarbonate • Balcony screen glazing • Solid polycarbonate anti-vandal glazing • Flashings, rainwater goods & accessories Georgian Wired Polycarbonate – another Twinfix innovation Another example of Twinfix innovation is the development of their Georgian Wired Polycarbonate glazing. This new material provides the look of Georgian Wired glass, with the lightness, impact resistance and excellent light transmission of polycarbonate sheet.

It’s also safer to handle, without sharp wire on cut edges. Twinfix Georgian Wired Polycarbonate is proving extremely popular for heritage refurbishment projects. Victorian railway station canopies are an example of this.

Twinfix: innovative approach, traditional values Twinfix is a family business, run by founder Graham Kench’s daughters Vicky Evans and Sarah Kench, together with fellow directors Dan Smith and Paul Greenfield. As an accredited CHAS contractor with membership of Constructionline, Link-Up and NARM the Company is committed to quality, health & safety and to working in an environmentally responsible manner.

Twinfix have also recently attained the RISQS qualification which will allow them to become more involved with future rail projects.

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

Twinfix works in many sectors, including • Rail • Education • Industrial • Commercial • Healthcare • Leisure • Domestic

Panels are pre-assembled and delivered to site ready to be installed. Speedy installation is achieved with the unique ‘fix and link’ design of the bar system.

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Twinfix Georgian Wired Polycarbonate Non-Fragile Rooflights Twinfix is a family run business.

As experienced innovators they offer a range of well-engineered glazing products, many of which are fitted on the roofs of Rail Stations and Depots.

The benefits of this system are: • Safe in use: All Multi-Link-Panels pass the ACR[M]001:2014 drop test, in accordance with HSE recommendations, with a ‘B’ designation.

The Multi-Link-Panel is an aluminium framed modular rooflight system, designed with a unique fixing method that results in incredibly quick installation times.

• The Twinfix Georgian wired grade solid polycarbonate is particularly popular as it mimics Georgian wired glass.

In order to drive efficiencies within their work in rail Twinfix have utilised up-to-date 3D printing to aid product innovation and development, employing this new technology to view a 3D model of a revised Multi-Link bar design for use in future rail applications.

• Polycarbonate absorbs vibrations without cracking, crazing or breaking.

For ease of specification the Multi-Link-Panel is available as a BIM object for download in IFC and Revit formats from the Twinfix website.

• The light weight of the finished product results in less stress to the fabric of original buildings.

The modular roofglazing panels can be glazed with Twinfix Georgian wired effect polycarbonate. This clever innovation looks like Georgian wired glass, but is much lighter and will not crack, craze or break. Perfect for heritage applications.

• The aluminium framework can be powder coated to a RAL colour to suit your project.

• Sleek in-line access hatches (developed at the request of Network Rail) offer unobtrusive and safe access through the glazing for maintenance purposes.

• Factory manufactured rooflight panels means no costly mistakes on site.

For more information contact us on:

Tel: 01925 811311

5952FD_Twinfix_Rail Advert A4_March 2017_v1.indd 1

Email: enquiries@twinfix.co.uk

www.twinfix.co.uk

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TECHNICAL

What’s the optimum rooflight area?

NARM, The National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers, has played an important role representing the UK’s rooflight industry in consultation with the Government and its subcontractors, CIBSE, AECOM and the BRE, on issues relating to Part L of The Building Regulations. The following article by NARM’s Technical Committee, explains how small differences in rooflight area can have a significant impact on light levels and energy usage.

It is now well understood that correctly specified rooflights save energy and reduce CO2 emissions, making them a critical contributor to meeting Part L of The Building Regulations covering the Conservation of Fuel & Power and the equivalent regional regulations.

Independent research by the De Montfort University’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development has shown that minimal losses in thermal insulation are greatly offset by energy savings resulting from reduced demand for electric lighting and that generally speaking, the greater the rooflight area the greater the potential savings. However, there is a limit before overheating may become an issue, so an optimum area needs to be identified.

There is never a specific solution in respect of rooflight area – judgement is required on a project by project basis. However, the example shown overleaf, demonstrates how data can be interpreted to inform a decision.

NARM can supply data for different building locations, for rooflights with varying degrees of light transmission and for different daily time windows.

The first consideration in establishing rooflight area, is the use of the

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building. As a typical example, in retail and manufacturing areas, the recommended light level* is 500 Lux. Establishing the appropriate rooflight area to achieve the desired light level is the next point to consider. The larger the rooflight area, the more hours each year the required light level will be provided by natural light. This is the crucial factor affecting energy and emissions reductions – as during these hours, the need for electric lighting is removed.

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TECHNICAL

This graph shows how rooflight areas will affect illumination levels.

In this example for a single storey building located in London, between the hours of 6am and 6pm daily, with rooflights providing 50% light transmission. You can see that as the rooflight area along the bottom of the graph increases, the length of time a given illumination level is achieved, is extended.

So for a building requiring 500 Lux, looking at the yellow line, you can see that with 10% rooflights, 500 lux would be achieved for approximately 2000 hours or 46% of the working year.

If rooflight area is increased to 15%, 500 lux is then available for just over 2500 hours, or 58% of the working year. So a building with 10% rooflights will require electric lights to be turned on for approximately 30% more hours per year than if the building was fitted with 15% rooflights.

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It’s important to note that the savings will only be made if the lights are switched off during periods when they are not required and for this reason automatic lighting controls should always be specified as part of the project.

Recent research carried out by Elmhurst Energy supports these figures and gives detailed savings in building running costs resulting from improving daylight levels and installing lighting controls in existing buildings. The results show savings in running costs of up to £5.92/m2/yr, and savings of CO2 emissions up to 28.7kg CO2/m2/ yr can be achieved, with results from industrial and retail buildings very consistent. Slightly lower savings were achieved in the rooflit areas of a school (savings in running costs of £2.92/m2/ yr, and savings of CO2 emissions of 14.7kg CO2/m2/yr) primarily because significant sections of the rooflit areas were also well lit by windows, reducing

“Correctly specified rooflights will provide an outstanding longterm returns on investment”

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TECHNICAL the effect of improved illumination through rooflights.

These figures demonstrate that correctly specified rooflights will provide an outstanding long-term returns on investment with short payback periods – as well as contributing to improved sustainability credentials for the building occupier.

For a deeper insight into energy saving with rooflights, the following documents can be downloaded free of charge from www.narm.org.uk.

NARM Technical Document NTD 06.2 ‘Designing with Rooflights Supporting Part L Building Regulation’ NARM Technical Document NTD 10 “An independent report by Elmhurst Energy, on Improving Daylighting and Lighting Controls on existing nondomestic buildings’. *As listed in CIBSE Guide A

NARM’s technical guidance documents can be downloaded free of charge, from www.narm.org.uk

The National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers represents a complete cross section of the rooflight design and material type manufacturers in the UK. This includes: in-plane profiled rooflights, continuous barrel vaults, modular domes and pyramids, panel glazing systems and architectural glazing systems for skylights, lantern lights and atria.

‘Many of the earliest examples of designing for daylight can be seen in sacred buildings’

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Plastics in Construction Telephone: 01395 516001 www.plasticsinconstruction.co.uk

Inspiring Architecture All great architecture starts with a simple idea. Then comes the inspiration to turn it into built reality.

At Wrightstyle we work with architects around the world, bringing to life even the most challenging ideas.

We aren’t just one of the world’s most innovative suppliers of complete and guaranteed steel and glass systems. We’re also world leaders in reinventing what glass and steel facade systems can do.

From large-span or fire-resistant glazing to curtain walling able to withstand a lorry bomb, we are at the forefront of our technologies, pushing the boundaries of what glass and steel are capable of achieving.

Our interior and exterior systems can be found worldwide, and we have a portfolio of examples to illuminate and surprise.

Our systems don’t simply protect buildings against the full range of threats. The inherent strength of steel and our opticallybrilliant glasses allow architects to think in new ways.

So if you’ve got a design idea, talk to us.

We’ll help provide the inspiration to make it happen.

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High Performance Steel & Glass Systems

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Twitterings Follow us for regular updates between issues... in the meantime, more highlights...

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DAYLIGHTING MAGAZINE

Stay up to date with DAYLIGHTING Magazine!

Coming up through 2017 – we will be running features on just about every daylighting-related topic you can think of – and some you may not have... We’ll also be offering a wider range of opportunities for advertisers, including low cost product and project feature advertorials, a product finder and an email delivery service, allowing clients access to our email contacts database.

MAY / JUNE • Tensile Membrane Structures • Glass Rooflights • Daylighting in the Workplace • BIM • Climate-based Daylight Modelling JULY / AUGUST • Domestic Daylighting • Controlling Heat & Glare • Daylight in Agriculture & Horticulture • Architectural Glass SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER • Daylight for Dramatic Effect • Daylighting in the Retail Sector • Refurbishment • Modular Rooflights • Daylight Harvesting

Bennett & Partners Pure Offices Lake View House Tournament Fields Warwick CV34 6RG United Kingdom TEL: +44 (0)1295 770833 EDITOR Paul Bennett paul@daylightingmag.co.uk Tel: 01295 770833 Mobile: 07900 895110 AD SALES Miki Bennett adsales@bennettand partners.co.uk Tel: 01295 770833

2017 Editorial Programme REGULAR FEATURES: Industry News & Comment, Technical Focus, Daylight & Energy Saving, Daylighting Standards

DAYLIGHTING is published by:

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER • Daylight & Renewable Energy • Daylighting in Factories & Warehouses • Lighting Controls • Translucent Cladding • Roof Windows Media Information Pack Our Media Information Pack gives details of circulation, advertising rates, 2017 features and editorial policy.

Copies can be downloaded at: www. daylightingmag.co.uk Stay up to date between issues: follow us on social media.

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DESIGN/PRODUCTION Jemma Pentney jemma@bennettand partners.co.uk Tel: 01295 770833 WEBSITE www.daylightingmag.co.uk CIRCULATION Daylighting is available by email, free of charge to subscribers. Our database currently numbers over 6,000 UK architects, specifiers, contractors, consultants and roofing professionals.

Full details are available on our website. www.daylightingmag.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the consent of the publisher. 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. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website.

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n D io ts K O W CP uct fligh BO O IBA rod oo N R nt r e n i it h lin A w n- r: g O ina htin m lig Se a y d to

NARM represents suppliers of glass, polycarbonate and GRP rooflight systems for daylighting applications across every sector.

Specifying rooflights?

Look for the logo that means peace-of-mind NARM, the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers, is the influential trade association representing the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rooflight industry. We are closely involved in developing and implementing legislation affecting UK rooflighting. Choosing rooflights from a NARM member company is the simple and certain way to ensure adherence to standards and legislation. You can also gain access to a wealth of free and objective specification information on our website.

www.narm.org.uk