Skylights can be a great way to add natural lighting and air flow into any space. Ancient Romans used an open source design called an “oculus” as the first example of a skylight in Western architecture. Modern examples of this include: roof window, unit skylight, tubular skylight, sloped glazing, and customizable. They can aid in not only allowing direct and indirect sunlight, but also gives a space a direct, visual connection to the outdoors.
Specific Kinds of Skylights
- A fixed skylight is composed of a specifically structural perimeter frame. This supports the glazing infill. The glazing infill is usually made of glass or plastic. This kind of skylight does not allow for ventilation. However, an operable skylight does.
- An operable skylight is considered both a light source and a ventilation unit. Often these are hinged structures that can be opened or closed depending on the wants and needs of the individual. An operable skylight is often called a roof window, as well.
- A retractable skylight is another kind of rooflight. In some cases, the window pains roll away from each other, which opens up the surface and to permit an unaffected view of the outdoors.
- Sloped glazing specifically refers to the kind of glazing and framing assembly that slopes more than 15 degrees from the vertical. This often causes a change in the entire roof structure, though it may only consist of one single sloped construct.
About Professional Organizations and Ratings
There is a rating system for sky lighting, which is important to consider when thinking about installing one (or more) in a structure. The NFRC is the National Fenestration Rating Council. They offer accreditation and certification for companies that comply with their systems. The NFRC approval specifically rates visible transmittance of light. The U-Factor, on the other hand, is related to the amount of heat lost in any building assembly. Finally, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, is the rating that measure an assembly’s amount of transferred heat from the outside world into the indoors. Specifically, this pertains to the amount of solar heat.
When searching for a company to install a skylight or to learn more about rules and regulations concerning roof windows, then the Royal Institute of British Architects is a good source. Their certifications and accreditations convey professionalism, experience, and compliance.
Positive Effects of Skylights
A skylight can have a positive effect on every aspect of human function in a space. Studies have resulted in higher test scores for students who learn in classrooms with at least one source of natural lighting. Daylight also positively affects a person’s psychological and physiological well-being. In some cases natural lighting can help with productivity. Best of all, installing a skylight helps with reducing the total energy costs by using the optimal amount of daylight. A study prepared by VELUX America in 2014 concluded that the use of sunlight emitting openings reduced the annual heating and cooling energy use and costs. A skylight can also be a much-needed aesthetic change to any room that adds illumination to any kind of space. Read more about this topic and other topics related to skylights here.