Rooflights, Their Types, Purpose And Characteristics, As Well As Features Of Installation And Repair

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Skylights: how to mount a skylight dome

Skylights or skylights are analogous to roof windows. Unlike the latter, the lanterns are not flat, but voluminous, therefore they are able to provide natural light to a greater extent than other translucent structures.

Content

• 1 Rooflights and their purpose

• 2 Types of rooflights

  • 2.1 Photo gallery: examples of rooflights of different shapes
  • 2.2 Constructive varieties of rooflights
  • 2.3 Types of rooflights with regard to functionality

• 3 Design of skylights

  • 3.1 Video: a bird's-eye view of an anti-aircraft lantern

  • 3.2 Material for rooflights

    3.2.1 Table: Comparative characteristics of materials for an anti-aircraft lantern

• 4 Calculation of anti-aircraft lantern

  • 4.1 Video: designing an anti-aircraft lantern with a complex ridge knot
  • 4.2 Calculation of the metal structure of the roof light

• 5 Installation of a skylight

  • 5.1 Video: instructions for insulating the light dome
  • 5.2 Video: installation of an anti-aircraft lantern

• 6 Repair of anti-aircraft lantern

  6.1 Table: Determining the causes of malfunctions and possible solutions

• 7 Reviews of light domes

Anti-aircraft lights and their purpose

Light domes on the roofs are not yet very common, despite the fact that in shopping centers zenith lights were used even during the Soviet era, and before that, St. Mary's Cathedral in Florence and the Capitol of Washington acquired such decoration. But thanks to the efficiency, versatility and benefits from the use of light domes, they are gradually conquering the market and are installed even in industrial enterprises, warehouses, sports complexes.

A rounded skylight perfectly completes the futuristic look of a multi-storey building

The main functions of rooflights:

• provide natural lighting of the room throughout the day (as an additional source of natural light or as an analogue of windows in rooms where their installation is impossible / undesirable);
• create natural air circulation without forced draft;
• help remove smoke in case of fire;
• to create decorative lighting (realized with the help of film stained glass or colored polycarbonate).

The glass pyramids of the Louvre in Paris are also skylights, and the smaller ones serve only for illumination

Thanks to these light domes, it becomes possible to save energy that would otherwise have to be spent on lighting and forced ventilation. In addition, the domed roof looks very aesthetically pleasing. You have probably seen in the films huge skylights installed above the banquet halls of fashionable hotels, swimming pools and concert venues. They are also installed in large office spaces, as it has been proven that with an additional dose of sunlight, employees are much more productive.

Types of antiaircraft lights

When looking at the skylight dome, first of all, its shape attracts attention: it can be hemispherical, pyramidal, prismatic, similar to an outlandish crystal, etc. Not only decorativeness, but also the efficiency of lighting, the type of material used, depends on the appearance of the skylight. and as a result of this, the durability of the structure. For example, the higher the side walls of the dome, the more light enters it in the morning and evening. But the rounded low domes are more resistant to wind loads.

Photo gallery: examples of rooflights of different shapes

Exclusive roof lamp, concave inward, should be equipped with an active heating system

Leaf-shaped anti-aircraft lantern - simple and decorative

Dual slope anti-aircraft lantern is the most reliable and economical solution

The pyramidal skylight dome with golden frame is ideal for high-end buildings

A dome of such a rounded shape can only be made of acrylic.

The umbrella-shaped light dome is effective and reliable

A semicircular ribbon lantern looks best over a long pool.

Constructive varieties of anti-aircraft lamps

Depending on the technical design, the light domes are subdivided into:

• point skylights located in groups along the central axis of the roof, mesh or singly in the center of the roof;
• strip skylights, which are usually mounted along the entire length of the roof;
• panel, which are essentially large skylights that protrude slightly above the roof (ordinary skylights are mounted flush with the roof finish).

Light domes vary in design

Tape skylights can significantly weaken the overlap and therefore require a heavier and stronger framework. They are most often installed in single-storey industrial buildings and shopping centers with a welded metal frame. The usual size of a belt structure is 1–2 m in width and up to 10–15 m in length. They are more difficult to maintain than point counterparts. Strip light domes are only installed in flat roofs.

Spot skylights are better suited for small spaces, they are easier and easier to install, and also more diverse in shape, therefore they are more often used for decorative purposes. The most popular sizes are 2x2 and 3x4 m, the larger domes are much more expensive, and the smaller ones are ineffective. A point dome can be installed in a roof with a slope angle of up to 25 degrees, but there are also skylights built into a sheer wall.

The anti-aircraft dome around the balcony is a very spectacular, but complex construction

Experts still recommend installing panel light domes on a slightly tilted base. Their sizes usually range from 1.5x3 to 3x6 m.

Types of rooflights with regard to functionality

Depending on what tasks are solved with the help of light domes, they include:

• fireproof (needed to remove smoke and gases in case of fire; differ in opaque walls, polymer-powder painting of the frame and an electronic remote opening mechanism with an independent power source);
• lighting (designed for optimal lighting of the room with natural light; stand out with the most transparent walls, increased height, most often they do not open);
• ventilation (they are primarily responsible for intensive air exchange in the room, help to create a comfortable microclimate in a room filled with people; for them, manual opening or automated using a remote control is provided);
• decorative (designed primarily to create an impression from the outside and inside; often have a complex intricate shape and increased dimensions, glass is replaced with colored glass or stained glass is used, much attention is paid to the aesthetics of the frame);
• combined (combine the functions of all or several of the described varieties).

Fireproof skylights with pneumatic opening mechanism - the most reliable option for industrial buildings

Manufacturers can match the color of the light dome frame to the exact color of the glass unit frame

Some manufacturers divide skylight domes into solid and opening ones. From the functional purpose of skylights, it is obvious that models intended only for lighting can be deaf. But given that the price of the opening system is not so high, at least one of the four lights on the roof should be made opening. If you plan to install one large dome, it is best to equip it with all available functions, this will be the most expedient from an economic point of view. You can choose between mechanical and electrical fittings, both options provide for remote opening.

The design of rooflights

There are several basic types of skylight design, but it is usually not possible to simply buy or order a generic product. Like plastic windows, skylights are made strictly to order, taking into account the characteristics of your building. At the same time, the price of domes identical in appearance can vary significantly due to the materials and fittings used.

Video: anti-aircraft lantern from a bird's eye view

Material for rooflights

For the frame of the rooflights use:

• plastic (lightweight, inexpensive, easy to install, easy to maintain, does not require rust treatment, but is only suitable for small structures with acrylic inserts and serves less metal);
• aluminum (rather light, does not rust in the air, can be easily painted in any colors, is several times more durable than plastic, can be used with glass, but it is much more expensive than its plastic counterpart).

In rare cases, the frame of an anti-aircraft lantern is made of laminated veneer lumber with additional impregnation, but wood is used only when it is impossible to achieve the desired effect with the help of other materials.

Even a light dome made of plastic and cellular polycarbonate has a very complex profile.

Various translucent materials are used to fill the base of the light dome.

Table: comparative characteristics of materials for an anti-aircraft lantern

Material	Advantages	disadvantages
Tempered glass	environmentally friendly, safe; perfectly transmits light; does not break under a layer of snow; can be used for 80 years and longer; chemically inert; resistant to abrasive substances.	fragile, can break during hail, puts forward increased requirements for the correct calculation and installation of the frame; heavy, requires a more durable frame, exerts a load on the roof structure; does not provide light scattering, the lighting in the room may be uncomfortable; difficult to install, not suitable for the construction of domes of complex shapes with smooth bends; transmits heat, to ensure energy saving you have to choose glass with sputtering, heat-reflecting films or active heating.
Monolithic polycarbonate	durable, 250 times stronger than ordinary glass; not afraid of high temperatures and open fire.	deteriorates from ultraviolet radiation, therefore, for flashlights, you should select polycarbonate with a protective film and carefully monitor so that it is not damaged during installation; weighs more honeycomb sheets and acrylic.
Cellular polycarbonate	very lightweight, suitable for lamps with a plastic frame; diffuses light well; is inexpensive.	requires caution in installation; easily damaged by hail, can break under a layer of snow; has a low weather resistance; service life does not exceed 5 years.
Acrylic	easily molded to create custom designs; allows the construction of light domes with a minimum number of jumpers; provides easy penetration of natural light; suitable for the construction of large lanterns on industrial buildings; does not deteriorate from UV rays.	for reliable thermal insulation, several layers of acrylic with air spaces between them are required
Polyester Sheets	resistant to high temperatures; are not afraid of blows, including hail; are not damaged by most active chemicals.	scatter light too much due to low transparency of the material; have low decorative qualities; are more expensive than acrylic sheets; for normal thermal insulation, several layers will have to be mounted.

When a skylight is built only for ventilation and smoke removal, its frame is filled with opaque sheets (from fiberboard to tin), but most skylight domes are still transparent. The manufacturers of these structures say that the most popular lanterns are acrylic and polycarbonate sheets.

Calculation of the anti-aircraft lantern

Skylight manufacturers claim that they can be installed on any roof area and type of roof, but it's important to understand that this is only theoretically true. In practice, the roof structure can impose significant restrictions. For example, on an acute-angled Gothic roof, it will not be possible to install a large polygonal dome; flat glass structures are better suited for such steep slopes.

The intricate decorative dome perfectly demonstrates that the design of the skylight should be done in conjunction with the design of the entire roof

In addition to the number of skylights, you need to carefully consider their location. Ideally, the maximum amount of light should enter the room with a minimum of heat. In addition, it is important to provide active ventilation in summer, and to prevent heat loss through the dome in winter. Building regulations also require spotlights to be placed evenly on the roof, which prevents arbitrary functional areas of the room from being illuminated.

Video: designing an anti-aircraft lantern with a complex ridge knot

Calculation of the metal structure of the anti-aircraft lantern

As a rule, such calculations are performed by specialists from the manufacturers of glass domes. There are no specialized programs and online calculators for self-calculations on the network yet. Therefore, the most reliable way to get a good result is to seek advice from several companies, compare their prices and proposed structural parameters.

A special design is required for the opening for a roof light in a monolithic concrete slab

When determining the maximum possible opening in the floor structure, one should take into account the material and dimensions of the slabs, the location of the stiffeners, etc. For a monolithic concrete slab, the dimensions correspond to GOST 22701.4–77 (slab grade PF-4AIIIvT, weight - 2.3 tons, steel content 112 kg, concrete volume 0.91 m ³). If at least one of the indicated parameters deviates, the found value will turn out to be incorrect. That is why you should not use drawings of skylights downloaded from the network and trust firms that are ready to make a 3D project without even looking at your roof.

If you decide to do the calculations yourself, the calculations should take into account the standards:

• the minimum height of the dome above the roof is 30 cm, the average is 60 cm, the maximum is 80 cm;
• minimum glazing area - 2 m ², maximum - 10 m ² (for translucent polymers);
• for the interior decoration of the installation sleeve, materials with a light reflectance of about 0.7 are used;
• the maximum angle of inclination of the edges of the dome is 30 ^°, for large domes with a height of more than 1 m - 15 ^°;
• for rooms below 7 m, point light domes are better suited, above 7 m - tape ones;
• the distance between domes with polymer filling cannot be less than 3 m, for large lamps - 4.5 m;
• there must be an access and service space around each skylight with a minimum width of 1 m;
• permissible deflection of the dome base - no more than 1/200 when filled with sheet glass and no more than 1/500 when installing double-glazed windows, permissible deflection of the reinforced concrete panel at the installation site - no more than 1/400;
• the thickness of the polymer sheet for a curved dome should be 4 mm for the outer layer and 2.5 mm for the inner one;
• the size of the support glass must be selected so that it rests on the load-bearing elements of the roof at least on two sides;
• in industrial buildings that emit more heat than 20 Kcal / m ³ * h and polluting aerosols (dust, soot) more than 5 mg / m ³, the installation of translucent skylights is not recommended.

The full range of requirements for this type of ventilation and lighting is set out in SNiP 2.04.05–91.

For more detailed design instructions for skylight domes, see the Design Roof Skylight Design Guide. There are tables showing the coefficients of stress of materials, light transmission, heat capacity and other indicators. Using the above formulas, you can calculate the number, type and size of light domes for your building.

But if you don't have experience, you most likely will not be able to take into account all the necessary parameters and coefficients in order to ultimately get a reliable and safe design. Better not to risk it - contact the manufacturer.

Installation of an anti-aircraft lantern

It is possible to install a skylight dome yourself, but without experience in such work, it is extremely difficult to do it correctly. Masters recommend in no case to experiment with ribbon lanterns and large-area domes, it is better to train on small point "anti-aircraft guns".

First you need to prepare the surface:

1. Remove debris and dust from the roof. Look at the plan of the house and find a place on the roof where you can make a hole for the dome and not touch the rafters.

2. Dismantle the decorative roof trim at the selected location and make a hole in the roof.

   

   To prepare a hole for installing a lantern, you need to dismantle part of the roof

3. Cover all the walls of the resulting hole with insulation. It will be easiest to work with roll materials (stone wool, foamed polymer heat insulator of the "Isofol" type), but you can also glue the foam, especially if the hole is not round. If the roof is already insulated, the thermal insulation of the lantern itself is installed after the installation of the installation sleeve along its entire perimeter.

   

   Stone wool in rolls is a great option for insulating a roof opening

4. Waterproof the insulation with a membrane, film or bitumen mastic. It is advisable to use the material with which the roof is already insulated.

   

   Reinforced foil is the most popular material for waterproofing pitched roofs in private houses.

5. Fit the installation sleeve that comes with the transparent structure. Its walls will hide unsightly layers of insulation from the eyes. Make sure that the glass is positioned at the angle planned in the project so that a sufficient amount of light penetrates into the finished dome.

   

   The installation sleeve is mounted on the embedded or support beams and mounted with self-tapping screws

6. Install the dome frame into the glass. Depending on the shape of the skylight, there may be a different number of fastening units on it, but in the end an integral structure must be formed. To prevent water from entering the room through small gaps, install a rubber sealing strip along the outer contour of the frame between the structural elements.

   

   Even the frame of a small skylight dome should be mounted together

7. Install external heat and waterproofing of the glass. It is recommended to glue the first layer of insulation on the slopes of the support glass, and two additional ones should be placed on the roof plane by 20–25 cm. The first layer should end 20 cm above the roof level, then it can be closed with an apron.

   

   For external thermal insulation of the glass, you need to choose a material that keeps its shape well

8. Glue the waterproofing film to the roof surface with a special mastic or thermally.

   

   The external waterproofing of the glass must be carried out especially carefully.

9. Inside the glass, fix the bracket for the open / close drive at a distance of 85 mm from the highest point of the glass (unless otherwise specified in the instructions). Be sure to check the correctness of the installation - the bar must lie strictly horizontally.

   

   The drive bracket must be installed before installing the glazing, but the drive itself will be able to be delivered later

10. In the blind part of the skylight, fix the translucent sheets in the frame and fix them with a glazing bead. In the opening part of the dome, fasten one part of the hinge to the frame, and the second on the fold. Reinstall the sash and adjust the fittings to ensure the closest fit along the entire contour.

    

    Transparent acrylic panels are lightweight so they can be mounted alone

11. Mount and connect the remote opening mechanism exactly following the instructions enclosed with the skylight. If you are not very good at electronics, it is best to buy a mechanically controlled model.

The design of the skylight can be equipped with a manual opening mechanism

Legend:

1. The base of the dome.
2. Translucent cover.
3. Manual opening / closing drive.
4. Carrying frame.
5. Vapor barrier.
6. Thermal insulation.
7. External waterproofing carpet.

Have an experienced person install the electrical opening / closing system.

Roof lamp with electric opening / closing mechanism can be controlled remotely

Legend:

1. The skeleton of the dome.
2. Translucent construction.
3. Open / close electric drive.
4. Support frame made of aluminum.
5. Vapor barrier layer.
6. Thermal insulation layer.
7. External waterproof carpet.

Fire extinguishing clerestory further need to connect the sensor, which includes a flap opening mechanism when the room temperature exceeds 68 ^on S.

When installing transparent panels, it is necessary to wipe them so that dust does not get between the layers of glazing and does not spoil the appearance of the lantern. After installing each layer, you also need to remove the protective installation film. Outside the glazing, this can be done after the restoration of the roof finish.

If the master ignores this procedure, the efficiency of the canopy will be less than the calculated one.

Video: instructions for insulating a light dome

If you have already installed double-glazed windows, installing a light dome will not seem like an overwhelming task to you. But an anti-aircraft lantern is much more expensive than a regular window, and most firms provide a guarantee only when the structure is installed by their own craftsmen. Therefore, before undertaking self-installation, carefully assess all the risks and your own capabilities.

Video: installation of an anti-aircraft lantern

Repair of an anti-aircraft lantern

Skylight domes as roof structures are subject to much greater risks than conventional windows of the same size. Therefore, problems with them arise much more often.

Table: identification of the causes of malfunctions and possible solutions

Problem	Cause	Remedy
The glass on the dome is sweating.	When installing the transparent panels, gaps are left or the sealing rubber is damaged.	Remove the glass units and reinstall them with a new seal, if the gaps are invisible, seal the joints with silicone structural glazing sealant.
The glass broke for no apparent reason.	When calculating the structure, the stress of the material was not taken into account, or during installation, too thin damper gaskets were installed or they were installed incorrectly.	Reinstall transparent panels using thicker sealing tape, if necessary, slightly reduce the size of the panels.
The glass shattered under the pressure of the snow	Too thin translucent material was used in the manufacture of the anti-aircraft lantern.	Replace transparent panels with thicker ones or with sheets of the same thickness, but made of more durable material (if the margin of safety of the frame allows). If the frame does not allow for strengthening the glazing, you will need to add a skylight heating system.
After the dome was installed, it became more difficult to heat the room.	In the manufacture of the dome, the heat-insulating ability of the selected materials was not taken into account or this indicator was neglected for the sake of economy. Incorrect installation of thermal insulation in the mounting sleeve is possible.	Replace transparent sheets with cellular polycarbonate or provide multi-layer glazing (you will need to replace the frame or cover the lantern with another dome). Check the heat leakage path of the sensor and if the cause is not glass, dismantle the dome and install the thermal insulation correctly.
Water seeps around the dome.	The installation sleeve is incorrect or insufficiently waterproofed.	Seal leaks with an additional layer of waterproofing material. If this does not help, dismantle and reinstall the dome in accordance with the technology. If a moisture sensitive heat insulator has been used, it will need to be replaced.
The transparency of the structure has significantly decreased.	Polycarbonate sheets without UV protection were used in the manufacture, or the surface of the dome is dirty due to poor maintenance.	Wash the transparent material and assess its condition. If scratches, cracks, dimness, discoloration are noticeable, it is worth replacing the translucent panels with new ones made of the same material or lighter ones.

It is best to repair skylight domes in warm, dry weather due to the properties of the heat insulators and sealants used. But if a double-glazed window or opening sash breaks, they can be replaced as an assembly even in winter. The main thing is to choose a calm day, since sheets of transparent materials have a high wind capacity and gusts of wind can be dangerous for the life of the repairman.

It is simply impossible to repair a flashlight taller than human height without special devices.

Please note that repairing a rooflight is a high-risk work at height. If you are afraid of heights or doubt your abilities, call a repair team.

Reviews of light domes

The popularity of rooflights is only gaining momentum and you can become one of the first to appreciate all the advantages of this technology. The main thing is to find professionals capable of fulfilling your wishes in a quality manner.