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JANUARY 06 - ILLUMINATING RESEARCH ON TUBULAR ROOFLIGHTS

New research by the Silsoe Research Institute (SRI) is throwing light on the performance of tubular rooflights, showing they can deliver up to eight times more light than a single conventional tungsten 60W electric bulb*.

Scientific studies have already proven that natural daylight is better than artificial light, improving performance and effectiveness of building occupants and increasing a feeling a well-being, and that rooflights provide up to three times more natural light penetration into a building than equivalent sized vertical glazing. The Silsoe Research Institute monitoring study ran for five months in 2004 and is continuing this year. The study was commissioned by Glidevale Ltd, manufacturers of Sunscoop, one of the leading brands of tubular rooflights and has concentrated on monitoring actual external and internal light lux levels over a range of diameters and pipe lengths. The work has shown that even the smallest 250mm diameter Sunscoop gives up to four times more light than a single 60W bulb without a shade on a clear summer day with direct sunlight. Even on an overcast day without direct sunlight, it still yields more light. The largest 530mm dia Sunscoop yields over eight times the light of a single 60W bulb in those same sunny conditions, and over double the amount in the overcast conditions!*

Glidevale maintains the research will give specifiers sound, practical information to enable them to design internal lighting effectively, whether new build or refurbishment/ retro-fit. It is further helping them optimise natural daylight by extending the Sunscoop range. Sunscoop was one of the first tubular rooflights launched in the UK, aimed at providing a natural daylight source in dark areas that have no or insufficient windows.

The roof-mounted glazing "catches" natural light, reflecting it in down tubes ducted through the roofspace and ceilings, into the room below.

The standard Sunscoop Starter Kit now includes a 3mm thick polycarbonate glazed roof mounted dome, a SR95 specular tube providing 95% reflectivity, two elbows giving up to 30° adjustment, two intermediate tubes and a circular ceiling diffuser.

Options now include the SR98 Mirror tube which offers 98% total reflectivity, a secondary glazing skin for further thermal performance, and a light and sun deflector to maximise direct light transmission.

Also available are light attenuating dampers to provide control over the light entering the room, integral light fittings that use a low energy lamp to provide night-time illumination if required, a fire protection collar and a Skyview diffuser which spreads the transmitted light over a greater area.

Glidevale's Sunscoop can be fitted to pitched or flat roofs, and incorporates a range of roof flashings in a choice of colours to optimise ease of fitting and blending with the roof fabric. For pitched roofs there is also the option of an in-line or traditional skylight roof flashing. The Sunscoop glazing and flashings are all AA fire rated, enabling use without restriction in number, spacing, position or proximity to neighbouring properties.

Full details of the SRI research are available from Glidevale: www.glidevale.com; tel 0161 962 7113; fax 0161 905 2085; email info@glidevale.com.

Editor's note: the SRI statistics quoted relate to a 250mm dia Sunscoop using 95% specular reflectance tubes with a 1m system length yielding internal light levels of 261lux on a clear summer day with direct sunlight ( with external light levels of 100klux), and 53lux on an overcast day without direct sunlight with external light levels of 20klux). A 60W light bulb yields a level of 50lux. A 530mm dia Sunscoop with a 1m system length gives a 572lux level on a summer day rated as above, and 128lux on an overcast day as rated above. Light bulbs were Philips Classictone 240V 1000 hour with pearlescent finish and no shade.

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