A recent published article “Sunpipes replace the need for Rooflights” raises some questions. NARM replies in the second of their series Dispelling the Myths Since its introduction from Australia during the late 1990s, the Sunpipe or Suntube proved a useful product for applications predominantly in the domestic market, in tiled or slated roof applications, ducting natural light through the roof void. NARM however questions the integrity of a recent article titled “Sunpipes Replace the Need for Rooflights”. As stated in Section 3 of the Rules of the Association NARM welcomes any promotion of the many important benefits of using natural light “The primary objective of the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers is to promote the benefits of natural daylighting of buildings through rooflights, and to provide factual information based on the relative merits and benefits of rooflighting materials, products and systems.” The benefits of bringing natural daylight into a building are well documented: in education, where research has shown that children are more attentive and progress more quickly in predominantly naturally lit classrooms; in wards with good natural light patients are likely to recover quicker with fewer drugs; while in industry, increased productivity in buildings with a carefully designed daylight scheme Once a designer has decided that the building will be lit wherever possible by natural light, the ways and means to deliver that light must: A) meet any design criteria B) meet with all UK and European Standards and Building Legislation Rooflights allow considerably more light into a building than the same area of vertical glazing and can provide a far more even distribution of light, so are by far the most efficient means of providing natural light into a structure. Rooflights are designed for the very wide range of roofing systems from which a designer can specify: flat or pitched, bituminous membrane, metal, single ply or liquid applied. There is a “rooflight” product suitable for virtually every application and member companies will be pleased to give advice on which to use. Helping designers shape our buildings NARM covers all rooflight products manufactured using thermoplastics or thermosetting light transmitting materials and glass. Each of these materials can be formed and shaped into a range of products that suit the wide and varied systems used by today’s designers to shape our buildings. Each new or refurbished building can set new challenges to the member companies of NARM. However, how will the designer be sure that the product meets with the appropriate standards, particularly where issues of fire performance, and non-fragility status are of paramount importance? It is of course included in NARMs Code of Practice that all products “meet with all UK and European Standards and Building Legislation”. Matching the product with the application The definition of a rooflight as outlined in LG10 is a “day-lit opening in the roof of a building”. At NARM our interpretation of that definition is all roofs – all buildings – and therefore encompasses the Sunpipe or Suntube. We believe as with all rooflights, the approach is to match the product with the application, and undoubtedly there are applications, which will suit this type of product that would not suit the “traditional” rooflight – just as not all applications suit the Sunpipe or Suntube. To say that the Sunpipe will replace the rooflights is like stating the small casement window will become the only form of vertical fenestration. Naturally we would welcome any qualifying company to become a member of National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers as either a full or associate member. Back to top