DAYLIGHTING
INTRODUCING NATURAL LIGHT TO
LIVING AND WORKING SPACES
What is Daylighting?
Daylighting is the placement of
windows or openings and
reflective surfaces in order that
sunlight can provide effective
lighting into the building
interiors.
Daylighting is the integration
of natural light into the
building interior spaces where
task lighting is not the primary
consideration , as in corridors,
lobbies and residences.
What are the
components of
Daylighting?
The components of
Daylighting are:
1.Direct sun
2.Diffuse sky
3.Indirect sun – sunlight
reflected from the ground
or adjacent structures
Why the need for Benefits of Natural Light:
Daylighting? The benefits of natural light have been
demonstrated both in terms of energy savings
1. The cost of money and on how it affects building occupants.
(buying power) is
The positive impact of natural lighting to building
decreasing.
occupants include:
2. Energy cost is 1.Improved mood and morale – workers have
increasing greater job satisfaction
3. Demand for “green” or 2.Less fatigue – people feel less “stressed out”
sustainable design in 3.Reduced eyestrain – natural light is motivating
and calming
buildings.
4.Improved “connection” with outside
environment – likely to have a sense of what is
Natural Light on Spaces: happening outside.
•Offices – improved productivity, reduced stress, lower absenteeism and turnover
•Educational space – improved attendance and academic performance
•Healthcare space – reduced strain and fatigue for staff; improved well-being of patients
•Industrial space – improved safety and productivity
•Retail space – more customers and increased sales
What are the methods
used to introduce light
into the buildings?
1. Perimeter Lighting –
use of windows and
light shelves
2. Top Lighting – use of
skylights, clerestories
and monitors
3. Core Lighting – use of
atrium and light wells
4. Optical Lighting – use
of fiber optics, prisms,
mirrors, parabolic
reflectors and other
means.
WINDOWS
National Building Code
Windows are the most
common way to admit light Rule VIII – LIGHT AND VENTILATION
into a space. Their vertical Section 808. Window Openings
orientation means that they 1. Rooms intended for any use, not
selectively admit sunlight
and diffuse daylight at provided with artificial ventilation system,
different times of the day shall be provided with a window or
and year. windows with a total area of openings
There are three ways to equal to at least 10% of the floor area of
improve the amount of light
available from a window: the room, provided that such opening shall
1.Place window close to a be not less than 1.00 square meter.
light colored wall However, toilet and bath rooms, laundry
2.Slant the sides of window rooms and similar rooms shall be provided
openings so the inner with windows or windows with an area not
opening is larger than the
outer opening less than 1/20 of the floor area of such
3.Use a large light colored rooms, provided that such opening shall
window sill to project light not be less than 240 square millimeters.
into a room. Such window or windows shall open
directly to a court, yard, public street or
alley, or open watercourse.
National Building Code 4. There shall absolutely be no
openings on/at/within/through
Section 808 all types of abutments (such as
2. Required windows may open firewalls) erected along
into a roofed porch where property lines except for
the porch; permitted vent wells. This Rule
a. Abuts a court, yard, public strictly applies to all new and
street or alley, or open existing developments.
watercourse and other public
open spaces; 5. In locating window openings it should be borne in
mind that in cases of extreme emergencies windows
b. Has a ceiling height of not
must serve as emergency egress to vacate the
less than 2.70 meters;
premises or access for rescue operations. Such
c. Has one of the longer sides windows shall meet the following requirements:
at least 65% open and a. They can be opened from the inside without the
unobstructed. use of any tools;
3. Eaves, canopies, awnings (or b. The minimum clear opening shall have a width not
media agua) over required less than 820 millimeters and a height of 1.00 meter;
windows shall not be less c. The bottom of the opening should not be more
than 750 millimeters from the than 820 millimeters from the floor;
side and rear property lines. d. Where storm shutters, screens or iron grilles are
used, these shall be provided with quick opening
mechanism so that they can be readily opened from
the inside for emergency egress and shall be so
designed that when opened they will not drop to the
ground.
Design Case Study 1: SIZING OF WINDOWS
LIGHT SHELVES
Light shelves effectively enhances the
entry of light through reflection at
windows on the equator-facing side
of a building.
The light shelf projects beyond the
window face and reflects sunlight
upwards to illuminate the ceiling.
This reflected light may contain little
heat and typically reduces deep
shadows, thus reducing the need for
artificial lighting
Section showing how daylight illumination vectors become more horizontal as light travels deeper
into a space.
SKYLIGHTS
Skylights are horizontal
windows, roof lantern,
light tubes placed at the
roof and used to admit LIGHT SHELF
light to the spaces below.
CLERESTORIES
Clerestory (Clearstory) is
an upper zone of wall
pierced with windows
that admit light to the
center of a lofty room.
MONITOR NORTH
Monitor is a raised section of
a roof, usually straddling a
ridge; has openings, louvers,
or windows along the sides
to admit light or air.
Design Case Study 2: SKYLIGHTS FOR A
WAREHOUSE
Skylight: 5% to 10% of ceiling area
TOPLIGHTING
a.Skylight Opening
1. 5% to 10%
(maximum) of ceiling area,
space at 1 to 2 times the
ceiling-to-work plane
height.
b.Clerestory (Clearstory)
Opening
1. 10% of wall 4.50 meters
area. Space 1.50 times the Clearstory: 10% of wall area
ceiling-to-work plane
height. At a point 4.50 Add 50 mm glazing height per 10 fc
meter from the rear wall:
for clear climate (5000
footcandle), provide 50 mm North
of glazing height per 10
footcandle on average work Work plane
plane.
c. Skylight/ Clearstory Spacing
1. Small skylights at 3.00
meter ceiling height should 1.0H
be spaced at 3.00 meters.
Greater or less ceiling height
can be determined by a
ratio of 1:1.
H= 3.00 m
2. Clearstories at a 4.00 = 4.00 m
meter ceiling height should
be spaced at 6.00 meters.
Greater or less ceiling height
to spacing can be 2.0H
determined by a ratio of
1 : 1.5.
3. Large skylights ( larger
than 3.00 square meters) at
a ceiling height of 4.50
meters should be spaced at
H= 4.50 m
9.00 meters. Greater or less
ceiling height to spacing can
be determined by a ratio of
1 : 2.
LIGHT TUBES
Light Tube, also known as
Solar Tube is a device
placed into a roof and
admits light to a focused
area of the interior.
These somewhat resemble
recessed ceiling light
fixtures. They do not allow
as much heat transfer as
skylights because they
have less surface area.
LIGHT WELL
Light well is a shaft within a
building, open to the outer air at
the top, used to admit daylight
and air through windows opening
onto the shaft.
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE: RULE VIII – LIGHT AND VENTILATION
Section 809. Vent Shafts
1.Ventilation or vent shafts shall have a horizontal cross- sectional area of not less
than 1.00 square meter for every meter of height of shaft but in no case shall the area
be less than 1.00 square meter. No vent shaft shall have its least dimension less than
600 millimeters.
2.Unless open to the outer air at the top for its full area, vent shafts shall be covered
by a skylight having a net free area or fixed louver openings equal to the maximum
required shaft area.
3.Air ducts shall open to a street or court by a horizontal duct or intake. Such duct or
intake shall have a minimum unobstructed cross-sectional area of not less than 0.30
square meter with a minimum dimension of 300 millimeters above the street surface
or level of court.
LIGHTWELL
SKYLIGHT
Design Case Study 3: LOCATION OF LIGHT
WELLS
FIBER OPTIC DAYLIGHTING
Fiber optic daylighting
systems are an evolving
technology that may
provide a solution for
daylighting designers.
These systems uses fiber
optics combined with solar
light collectors to transmit
daylight to spaces
historically difficult to
daylight using sidelighting
or toplighting strategies.
Light in a fiber optic cable
travels through the core by
bouncing off the cladding.
Because the cladding does
not absorb any light from
the oscillating wave it can
travel a great distance
FIBER OPTIC CONCRETE
WALL
Another way to make a
secure structural concrete
wall translucent is to
embed optical fibers in it.
Daylight and shadow
images can then pass
directly through a thick
solid-concrete wall.
PRISMS AND MIRRORS
The spandrel panel (the
panel that covers the parts
of a building between floors
and windows) is composed
of an array of mirrors with
computer controlled servo
motors that track the sun.
This array then directs the
light against two reflectors
that concentrate it on
another reflector, which
shoots this concentrated
beam through the plenum
(the space between a
dropped ceiling and the
floor above).
PROS VERSUS CONS
Type of Advantages Disadvantages Ability to Retrofit
Daylighting
Skylight 1. Less likely to be 1. More light and heat Fairly easy depending
obstructed in summer (strain on roofing system
2. 3x more effective on aircon)
than vertical
window
Atrium or Bring light to different 1. Too much to top Extremely difficult, not
floors floors practical
Light Well 2. Not enough to
lower floors
Light Tube 1. Diffuse light Only effective on top Relatively inexpensive
efficiently floors and easy to install
2. Block out harsh depending on space
light and heat
Fiber – Optics Possible to pipe light 1. Directional, focused Easy to difficult
anywhere you can place light depending on space and
a cable with zero added 2. Expensive place into existing
heat lighting system
DAYLIGHTING GENERAL RULES OF
THUMB
1. Daylighting, even more than artificial lighting,
needs to be considered early in the design
process.
2. A useful conceptual approach to a
daylighting scheme is to think in terms of
bouncing the daylight off exterior and
interior surfaces into the interior to be lit.
3. Direct sunlight is almost always too bright to
work under.
4. Direct sunlight on critical task areas should
be avoided.
5. Direct skylight and sunlight should be used
sparingly in noncritical areas.
6. For the best daylight, consider increasing the
number of windows, rather than just
increasing the size of one window or glass
area.
7. Daylight should be bounced off surrounding
surfaces. In hot climates, this should be
outside ( roof, ground, walls, shelves, etc.) to
reduce heat gain.
8. Daylight should be brought in high and let
down softly.
9. Daylight can be filtered through trees, plants,
screens and drapes.
10.Daylight from one side of a room can cause a
glare problem. Daylight admitted from two or
more sides will tend to balance the light in the
room.
11.Office building window daylighting usually
affects the 4.50 meter perimeter of the plan. The
next 4.50 meter gets daylight but must be
supplemented with artificial light. Past 9.00
meters, there is no daylight.
Partial Daylight
Full Daylight
4.50 meters 4.50 meters
No Daylight
Depth of Penetration
A Rule of Thumb states that the depth of the daylight penetration is about 2.5 x
the height of the window opening measured from the floor to the window
head.
12.North facing windows, skylights, or
clearstories give the best daylight.
13.Northern orientations will receive only minor
direct solar penetration in the early morning
and late afternoon during summer.
The Use of Sawtooth Roof
14. North light North
should be used
where soft, cool,
uniform Display Area
illumination is
needed.
15. South light should be
allowed only where
intense, warm, variable
illumination is
appropriate.
16. Southern orientations
are relatively easy to
shield from direct solar
penetrations by using
horizontal louvers or
overhangs. Vertical Type Sun Shading Devices are best for East- and West-facing windows while
Eggcrate Type are best for hot climates at any orientations
17. Eastern and western
orientations are almost
impossible to protect
from direct solar
penetrations (heat and
glare)while at the same
time allowing occupants
to see out the window
18. Consider sun control
devices for south -, east-,
and west –facing
Horizontal Type Sun Shading Devices are best for south-facing windows
windows.
19. Skylights can be a problem
due to heat gain from too
much sunlight.
20. Skylights and clerestories can
be used to deliver light deep
into the interior of a building.
Clerestories can be designed
to best avoid direct sunlight.
21. “Gun slots” (slit windows) against 22. To be economically effective, office
wall can provide illumination at daylighting strategies may require
minimum heat gain. automatic controls that adjust the level
of electric lighting to complement the
available natural light during the day.
Controls may be photocells, 2- or 3-step
“gunslot” or slit window lighting, continuous dimming, or motion
detectors.
This wall reflects
light from “gunslot”
Photocell Switch
or
Motion Detector
Dimmer Switch
23. New forms of daylighting are Pipe
Lighting (fiber optic technology) and
Translucent roof membrane
Light Piping
Translucent Roofing Sheet
24. Design in light-sensitive
applications such as museums must
pay particular attention not only to
Ultraviolet (UV)Light but also to the
visible light which is responsible for
some fading. Certain glazing options
will reduce these negative effects of
light to acceptable levels.
Artscience Museum in Singapore by Moshe Safdie
25. Some new options available to
designers promise greater optical
control capability. Prismatic
elements can provide varying
degrees of light control and solar
control.
DESIGNING FOR DAYLIGHTING
RULES OF THUMB FOR SIZING OF
WINDOW OPENINGS
SIDELIGHTING
a.Window Opening
1. Ten percent (10%)
minimum to twenty five percent (25%)
of floor area.
b.Room Depth
1. Two (2) to 2.5 times the
window height.
2. Usually 4.50 meters to
9.00 meters.
c.Window Height to Depth of
Penetration of Light
1. A 2.40 to 2.70 meter high
window will give full daylight to a depth
of about 4.50 meters. As window
height increases, depth increases at a
ratio of 1 to 2.
2. A 2.40 to 2.70 meter high
window will give partial daylighting
(requiring additional artificial lights) to a
depth of about 6.00 to 9.00 meters. As
window height increases, depth
increase at a ratio of 1 to 3.
SIDELIGHTING
d.Window Width
1. To get even light
distribution, a window opening
should be at least half (50%) as wide
as the length of its wall.
Window Width = minimum of 50% of Wall Length
e.Window Area
Wall Length
Window Area to light 1 square meter of
floor area
Types of Space Window Area
(in Square Meters)
Sunny Cloudy
A. Theater, storage 0.006 0.018
B. Dining, corridors, closets, storage 0.018 0.036
C. Waiting, exhibition, lobbies, lockers, residential 0.036 0.068
dining, stairs, toilets, elevators, loading docks
D. General office, exam rooms, manufacturing, 0.068 0.16
reading rooms, dressing, display
E. Drafting, laboratory, kitchen, exam room, sewing, 0.16 0.33
desks, files, work bench, reading, manufacturing,
classroom
F. Artwork and drafting, records, assembly 0.33 0.66
Skylight: 5% to 10% of ceiling area
TOPLIGHTING
a.Skylight Opening
1. 5% to 10%
(maximum) of ceiling area,
space at 1 to 2 times the
ceiling-to-work plane
height.
b.Clerestory (Clearstory)
Opening
1. 10% of wall 4.50 meters
area. Space 1.50 times the Clearstory: 10% of wall area
ceiling-to-work plane
height. At a point 4.50 Add 50 mm glazing height per 10 fc
meter from the rear wall:
for clear climate (5000
footcandle), provide 50 mm North
of glazing height per 10
footcandle on average work Work plane
plane.
c. Skylight/ Clearstory Spacing
1. Small skylights at 3.00
meter ceiling height should 1.0H
be spaced at 3.00 meters.
Greater or less ceiling height
can be determined by a
ratio of 1:1.
H= 3.00 m
2. Clearstories at a 4.00 = 4.00 m
meter ceiling height should
be spaced at 6.00 meters.
Greater or less ceiling height
to spacing can be 2.0H
determined by a ratio of
1 : 1.5.
3. Large skylights ( larger
than 3.00 square meters) at
a ceiling height of 4.50
meters should be spaced at
H= 4.50 m
9.00 meters. Greater or less
ceiling height to spacing can
be determined by a ratio of
1 : 2.
END OF PRESENTATION
