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JANUARY 05 - SALE GRAMMAR SCHOOL IMPROVES LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND COUTERACTS VANDALISM

An innovative approach to optimising natural daylight is simultaneously improving the internal learning environment, minimising energy consumption and counteracting risk of vandalism at Sale Grammar School.

The school, which achieved specialist school status in the Visual Arts in September 2003, wanted to extend and improve facilities in line with its new status. The solution was the construction of a new, single storey extension between the existing school building and sports hall, providing a multi-media resource centre, 3D and ceramics suite along with exhibition and display areas. The design of the new building had to take into account that it needed to blend in with the existing buildings, and overcome a lack of daylight due to one elevation being in close proximity to the Sports Hall.

Architectural Project Officer John Ramsbottom, of The Built Environment specialist architectural services within Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, proposed the use of 12 strategically located Sunscoop tubular rooflights from Glidevale Ltd.

The high impact resistant, polycarbonate-glazed, pitched roof mounted dome overcame the risk of potential vandalism and unauthorised entry that was a possibility with conventional windows, and optimised natural daylight within: rooflights allow up to three times more light inside than a comparable-sized window.

Sunscoop also minimises the amount of electrical light required, relying on natural daylight to light the room, reducing energy consumption and helping improve student performance: research shows a naturally lit building increases learning among students.

“The Sunscoops are a huge success. Natural light is so much better than fluorescent light, not only for the students to work in, but to show off the art work,” said the school’s Business Manager and project co-ordinator Mrs Jeanette Buonocore. “The architect had the idea, because of concerns from staff that users would have to rely heavily on artificial lighting. Sunscoops solve that problem, and bring a huge amount of natural light into the whole facility.”

The roof-mounted Sunscoop dome “catches” natural daylight, reflecting it down the specular silvered aluminium tube into the room below. Sunscoop claims 95% reflectivity into the building, with a softer, more natural light against the blues and greys produced by some aluminium tubes. The tube includes an “LSD” (low sun deflector) that intercepts light even when the sun is low in the sky and would normally miss the Sunscoop’s mirror tube

It is available in 250mm, 350mm and 530mm diameter,with a range of purpose designed roof flashings to ensure correct and weathertight fitting. Adjustable elbows further optimise system flexibility and adjustability.

Glidevale claims Sunscoop is the first tubular rooflight of its type to meet the new Building Regulations Part L for thermal performance. Additionally, it is manufactured in the UK, and its wide range of roof interface flashing has been purpose-designed to fit properly into traditional British roof coverings. Flashings are manufactured from fire retardant ABS in a choice of five colours.

Options include a “Skyview” diffuser for all sizes, to substantially improve the spread of light into the room, by means of fresnel lens technology, and in-built “booster” electrical light fitting with low energy bulb for dark/dusk periods.

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