Architects and designers of atria or roof glazing systems - ‘Climate Control For Conservatories"
** An article all about making
your conservatory more comfortable and useable all
year round – sponsored
by: Insupolycarbonate™ Roofing **
 Attention
Architects and designers of conservatories, atria
or roof glazing
systems: Are you looking for information on products
that can improve the environment and make the areas
below the glazing us-able in comfort?
Question One: I am considering
the use of Polycarbonate roofing for a project because
of its lower cost,
ease of use and the need for a less robust structure
to support the glazing in comparison with a glass
alternative. I am concerned about controlling high
levels of solar heat gain, and glare over a glazed
area of 200 Sq Metres. Is there a polycarbonate roofing
available in a solar control grade, if so would you
recommend any particular type, and what is it’s
level of solar performance.
Answer:
Solar control grades of polycarbonate,
incorporating high performance solar heat reflectors
similar to those
employed in glass are readily available. The highest
performance is achieved by a patented design sold under
the registered trademark ‘Insupolycarbonate®’ were
the heat reflectors exclude the sun’s heat before
it enters the polycarbonate roofing.
This material excludes 80% of the solar heat, cuts
glare,and has a shading co-efficient of 0.22.
Question
Two: Recently we have been approached by a
client who has major solar heat gain, Glare, and
winter insulation problems in a building with a pitched
Polycarbonate atria. We have been asked for recommendations
on upgrading the roof to solve these problems. Is
there any way that the roof can be upgraded in situ
or will it be necessary to totally replace the roof
glazing with the attendant cost implications?
Answer:
The roof can be upgraded in situ. This is simply done
by incorporating transparent heat reflectors into the
flutes of the polycarbonate. The work is undertaken
as follows. The roof pitch is scaffolded to enable
channel shaped, self-supporting heat reflectors, to
be inserted down the panels from the roof pitch. This
method is simple and straightforward and avoids the
need for expensive scaffolding on the lower part of
the roof.
Question
Three: We are currently planning the refurbishment
of a large swimming pool that has severe problems
in summer of solar heat gain, and glare. The roof
is glazed in clear glass. We have been considering
replacing the glazing with modern solar control glass
but the cost implications are horrendous. There is
nothing fundamentally wrong with the existing glazing,
can it be upgraded in some way?
Answer:
External solar control laminates can be incorporated
into the glazing in-situ to upgrade this glass to the
same specification as Solar Glazing at considerably
lower cost.
External grades are recommended as they: can be applied
more conveniently, after scaffolding of the outside
of the glazing, have higher performance than internally
applied materials, and are not subject to the chlorine
environment inside the swimming pool. The weatherable
outer surface, which comprises Polyvinylfluoride, has
excellent durability for long life.
Question Four: We are currently designing a large
heavily glazed restaurant conservatory and would like
advise on suitable glazing, and the need for, and size
of, air-conditioning equipment for reducing summer
temperatures. What are the important considerations
and how do we go about obtaining the necessary technical
information and advice.
Answer:
The first consideration is the aspect and shading
of the area, and the design of the roof. From this
information the magnitude of the solar problem can
be assessed.
Once this fundamental data is available it will be
possible to determine the methods that can be employed
to reducing the solar heat gain through the installation
of the correct solar control glass, and ventilation.
It is only after these fundamentals have been determined
that the need for, and size of any air-conditioning
should be investigated.
There are a number of companies who have the computer
simulation programmes for modelling your design. You
can obtain names and addresses on these companies by
contacting the Chartered Institute of Building Services
Engineers.
Question
Five: We are currently working for a company
who have asked us to design a glazed roof to cover
a small courtyard to enable them to expand their
floor space by creating open plan offices below.
Can you offer us any advice on the most suitable
glazing, and controlling the environment within this
area.
Answer:
The weight of the glazing, and its cost will be important
considerations.
Polycarbonate roofing is much lighter than glass and
is certainly worth considering. There are solar control
grades of this material that will exclude 80% of the
solar heat gain, and cut glare in an area that may
well have many computer screens that will require shading
to eliminate bright reflections. Modern polycarbonate
roofing has winter insulation performance at least
as good as the best glass solutions and its lightweight,
and therefore the need for a less costly roof support
structure, will have considerable cost benefits over
glass.
Everyone (trade and general
public) is welcome to request the very informative “Guide
to Controlling the Conservatory Environment”
This
Editorial provided by and sponsored by: Insupolycarbonate™ Roofing
Visit
the INSU websites at: http://www.insu.co.uk and http://www.insupolycarbonate.com
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