Group 4.C - Skylights 1-3: Introduction to Skylights for Daylighting of Buildings Flashcards
1. Using Skylights for Day-lighting of Buildings 2. The Skylighting System 3. Daylighting Design
Daylight impacts human biological responses and vision. T or F
T.
Some health benefits of daylighting include:
Hint: SVD SAM
SAD reduction Visual Clarity D - Aids in Vitamin D production Sleep patterns improved - Pineal gland Alertness Mood improved
Unit skylights are defined as
Complete factory-assembled fenestration unit of not more than one panel of glass or plastic.
(…installed on a sloped or horizontal orientation primarily for daylighting)
How have skylights (daylighting) been shown to improve student performance in classrooms.
20% higher standard math tests score
26% higher reading scores
Two main strategies for incorporating daylight are:
Side lighting
Top lighting
What is the difference in natural light distribution between side-lighting and top-lighting?
Side-lighting distribution is more abundant closer to the window or light shelf. Top lighting (skylights) can spread light more evenly in a space.
In commercial buildings in the US, what % of floor area is directly below a roof? What does this mean?
60%
60% of U.S. commercial floorspace could benefit from unit skylights.
What does the term “foot candle’ refer to?
The illumination produced by a source of one candle at a distance of one foot.
Equal to one lumen/s.f.
The sky is ___ times brighter straight-up than on the horizon, even on a cloudy day.
Three times.
How much illumination (f.c.) is provided by direct sunlight and blue-sky (away from the sun)
5,000 - 10,000 f.c.
1,000 - 3,000 f.c.
What entity provides recommended illuminance levels for various spaces and uses?
Illuminating Engineering Society (I.E.S)
List the IES recommended illuminance levels (f.c. / l/s.f.) for each space: Warehouse Classroom Retail General Office Library Manufacturing
5-30 l/sf 20 - 50 20 - 50 20 - 50 30 - 50 30 - 75
In a top-lighting context, is building orientation a critical factor?
No.
Unit skylights receive direct sunlight all day long. .
In designing skylighting system some building characteristics to consider include:
Ceiling Ht.
Color of surfaces
Shelving
Partitions.
A properly designed skylighting system works in conjunction with what other building system?
Why?
Automatic lighting controls.
To allow reduction of artificial lighting as daylight levels increase.
In what 4 ways have modern skylights addressed water intrusion issues from site-built skylight assemblies?
Better, factory formed components
Improved gaskets and sealants
Condensation containment
Thermally-broken frame
What standard provides guidelines for effective skylight installation.
AAMA 1607
Cite examples of what aspects of a skylight system are strategically typically considered in the design?
Skylight aperture
Light well
Light well depth
What general aspects of skylight performance are impacted by material selection?
(Hint: DALE)
D Durability
A Amount of Visible light
L Light Diffusion
E Energy Performance
List some glass material options for skylights in terms of glass material quality and surface treatments
Glass:
Quality: Tempered, Laminated
Treatment: Low-E coated, Sand Blasted or chemically etched, Ceramic frit
List 5 plastic and polymer material options for unit skylight lenses:
PAFIM CI
PolyCarbonate Acrylic Fiberglass Insulated panel Molded sheet Co-polyester Impact Modified
List factors that must be considered in evaluating glazing materials:
Visible Transmittance
Haze Factor
SHGC
U-factor -thermal conductance
What does haze factor refer to
The ratio of diffusely transmitted light (>2.5 deg of scatter) to the total transmitted light of a glazing material.
What are NAFS requirements regarding haze?
What standard is referenced?
Max allowed scatter of original light transmittance: 10%
ASTM D1003
