Rooflights

Rooflights ~ the useful penetration of daylight through the

windows in external walls of buildings is from 6
000 to 9
000
depending on the height and size of the window. In buildings with
spans over 18
000 side wall daylighting needs to be supplemented
by artificial lighting or in the case of top floors or single storey
buildings by rooflights. The total maximum area of wall window
openings and rooflights for the various purpose groups is set out
in the Building Regulations with allowances for increased areas if
double or triple glazing is used. In pitched roofs such as northlight
and monitor roofs the rooflights are usually in the form of patent
glazing (see Long Span Roofs on pages 480 and 481). In flat roof
construction natural daylighting can be provided by one or more
of the following methods :-

1. Lantern lights … see page 496.

2. Lens lights … see page 496.

3. Dome, pyramid and similar rooflights … see page 497.

Patent Glazing ~ these are systems of steel or aluminium alloy

glazing bars which span the distance to be glazed whilst giving
continuous edge support to the glass. They can be used in the
roof forms noted above as well as in pitched roofs with profiled
coverings where the patent glazing bars are fixed above and below
the profiled sheets … see page 495.

Typical Patent Glazing Bar Sections ~

494
 Rooflights

Typical Pitched Roof Patent Glazing Details ~

495
Rooflights

Lantern Lights ~ these are a form of rooflight used in conjuction

with flat roofs. They consist of glazed vertical sides and fully
glazed pitched roof which is usually hipped at both ends. Part
of the glazed upstand sides is usually formed as an opening light or
alternatively glazed with louvres to provide a degree of
controllable ventilation. They can be constructed of timber,
metal or a combination of these two materials. Lantern lights in
the context of new buildings have been generally superseded by
the various forms of dome light (see next page)

Typical Lantern Light Details ~

Lens Lights ~ these are small square or round blocks of

translucent toughened glass especially designed for casting into
concrete and are suitable for use in flat roofs and curved roofs
such as barrel vaults. They can also be incorporated in precast
concrete frames for inclusion into a cast insitu roof.

Typical Detail ~

496
 Rooflights

Dome, Pyramid and Similar Rooflights ~ these are used in

conjuction with flat roofs and may be framed or unframed. The
glazing can be of glass or plastics such as polycarbonate, acrylic,
PVC and glass fibre reinforced polyester resin (grp). The whole
component is fixed to a kerb and may have a raising piece containing
hit and miss ventilators, louvres or flaps for controllable ventilation
purposes.

Typical Details ~

497