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Whitesales Commercial is one of the UK’s leading providers of daylighting solutions, offering solutions ranging from simple standard modular rooflights to custom designed self-supporting skylights.
We employ a team of experienced designers, bringing together many years of expertise in daylighting design. Working with the latest AutoCAD software, they can deliver designs for glass and polycarbonate rooflights suitable for almost any building, from domestic dwellings to larger buildings in every sector.
We provide detailed scale-able AutoCAD files as part of every project we quote, together with glazing specifications, U-Values and full details of regulatory standards including compliance with UK Building Regulations.
We are active members of The Rooflight Association, and as such we meet the RA’s membership criteria in terms of quality and regulatory compliance of our products.
For every project undertaken, we will consider the following points in relation to the use and function of the building, to ensure appropriate designs are submitted:
Rooflights are not only the most effective way of allowing natural light into a building, but they can also determine the type and amount of light entering the building.
Direct light passes through the rooflight without any disruption or interference, entering the structure as a straight beam. It therefore gives strong light in a given area but less general light in surrounding areas. It is useful where strong light is required in an area for close detailed work such as painting, or in situations where a very natural environment is desired, or the designer wants people in the building to see the sky through the roof. Direct light will result in shadows and glare on sunnier days.
As the light passes through the rooflight, it is scattered giving a much more even distribution of light into the structure below. It is useful when the requirement is for ambient lighting over a large area with minimal shadows. This is appropriate to most industrial, commercial, and sporting facilities where diffused light is the preference. Polycarbonate and glass in patterned, etched and opal tinted forms provide diffused light.If a material providing direct light and one providing diffused light have the same light transmission, they will let the same amount of light into the building - it is simply distributed differently.
Different materials and different tints of materials provide varying amounts of light into the building. In clear format most rooflight materials will have a light transmission of 80%-90%. This must, however, be checked for the specific rooflight being used; material thickness, diffusing or colour tints, and number of skins can all affect overall light transmission.
In some situations the amount of light entering the building needs to be controlled, usually to prevent overheating. In these instances we may consider tinted glazing materials which will limit the light entering the building – or the inclusion of controllable blinds or shades.
Independent research has shown that rooflights can have a positive impact on reducing energy consumption and emissions to aid compliance with Part L of The Building Regulations.
CIBSE Guide A states the recommended light levels (Lux) required for different activities. These values provide a guide by which we will determine the appropriate design and rooflight area for a given application.
Typically, 200 Lux is the absolute minimum lighting requirement for occupied internal spaces where there’s no requirement for visual tasks requiring detail perception. For general retail and manufacturing areas, 500 Lux is the recommended level.
For further information, please contact us today. sales@whitesales.co.uk
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