November 2018

Daylighting
LET THERE BE NATURAL LIGHT
The benefits and demand for natural light in residential and commercial properties mean
contractors should be aware of the right products to achieve this, according to Scott Leeder,
Commercial Director at VELUX Modular Skylights.
According to several studies carried out over
the years, including the ‘Distinctive Benefits
of Glazing’ by Visiting Professor at the
Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development,
David Strong, the levels of natural light that we are
exposed to have profound implications on our
health, happiness and productivity. As most people
spend over 80% of their lives indoors, the amount
of glazing on a building can affect our quality of life.
It is valuable for specifiers and project partners
such as architects, contractors, and site
managers to be aware of these benefits as they
apply to buildings in a wide range of sectors. For
example, in healthcare, research findings
demonstrate that access to adequate daylight
provides; a reduction in the average length of
hospital stay, quicker post-operative recovery,
reduced requirements for pain relief, quicker
recovery from depressive illness and disinfectant
qualities. Beyond its health and wellbeing
benefits, using daylight to illuminate facilities can
also reduce energy use by avoiding over reliance
on artificial lighting.
Optimising light and ventilation
As such it is essential that commercial buildings,
including educational, healthcare, retail and office
facilities, incorporate optimum levels of natural
light and ventilation. Critical to this is the amount
of and positioning of the glazing, rooflights and
skylights. Equally important is the position and
orientation of the rooflight and a knowledgeable
rooflight manufacturer should be able to work
with you to optimise the position and orientation
of skylights. Our prefabricated skylight system,
for example, can be fitted together in multiple
ways, with eight different sizes to deliver
flexibility for a wide variety of commercial
projects.
“VELUX Modular
Skylights can be fitted
up to three times faster
than a traditional
installation,
minimising time spent
on the roof and
ensuring a watertight
seal”
Developed in collaboration with architects Foster
+ Partners, our modular skylights feature a
minimalist design with super-slim profiles and
they are fully prefabricated in a factory controlled
environment, so they are quick and easy to
assemble on site.
In fact, VELUX Modular Skylights can be fitted up
to three times faster than a traditional installation,
minimising time spent on the roof and ensuring a
watertight seal is achieved exceptionally quickly,
so rain won’t hold up the installation. This is vital
for developments where time and budget
constraints can put a strain on schedulers and
builders alike. The prefabricated design reduces
the time required working at height, too.
Distinctly different
With regular access to natural light and ventilation
having an impact on our happiness, ability to heal,
wellbeing, learning performance and productivity,
a growing number of building designers are
incorporating skylights into their developments.
Our prefabricated modular skylights are
revolutionising both how skylights look – and how
they’re installed. Created with both architects and
installers in mind, the striking design allows for
more daylight and more fresh air, which is matched
by their performance and vastly improved
installation. Our enlightening eBook, ‘10 reasons
why prefabricated VELUX Modular Skylights will
transform your next project’, provides further
details on this. The eBook is available to download
free from the VELUX website.
Contact VELUX
01592 778225
www.velux.co.uk
@VELUXGBI
48 TC NOVEMBER 2018