WE INFORM
Over the 20 years or so since NARM was formed, our Technical Committee has played a pivotal role in establishing the effects of rooflighting on building performance and in the development of rooflight standards which protect the UK industry from potentially poorly performing products.
Recognised as the UK’s leading independent and impartial authority on rooflighting, the Committee comprises a team of leading experts, each having been selected from within NARM’s member companies to represent the association on technical matters.
This group meets on a regular basis to share information and discuss matters relating to rooflight design, performance, safety, standards and legislation. They are responsible for producing NARM’s respected Technical Documents which are freely available via this website, in the interests of promoting best practice in all aspects of rooflighting.
Significantly, the Technical Committee has also been instrumental in collecting, analysing and interpreting rooflighting data upon which the regulations pertaining to rooflighting in The Building Regulations Approved Document L (Conservation of fuel & power), have been based.
WE ENABLE
NARM commissions independent research through academic bodies, to enable greater understanding of the role that daylight can play in improving building performance.
For example, research commissioned by NARM and carried out by the De Montfort University’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, showed that minimal losses in thermal insulation are greatly offset by energy savings resulting from reduced demand for electric lighting and that generally speaking, the greater the rooflight area the greater the potential savings.
Further studies commissioned by NARM have highlighted means by which solar overheating in buildings can be controlled, and the potential for greater energy savings through the integration of automatically controlled electric lighting, with natural daylighting.
WE SUPPORT
NARM provides support to member companies and other trade associations, in respect of technical, legislative and roof safety issues.
We have representation on both British and European Standards Committees and as such we play a leading role in the drafting and revision of product standards.
As a member organisation of CPA (Construction Products Association) and Eurolux, the European trade association for rooflight manufacturers, we are able to share our knowledge and resources across the wider construction industry.
Our members also play active roles in other trade associations, including NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors), SPRA (Single Ply Roofing Association) and MCRMA (Metal Cladding & Roofing Manufacturers Association).
Our collaboration with the ACR (Advisory Committee for Roofsafety) has played an important role in defining non-fragility of rooflights, making roofs a much safer place to work in recent years.
We are also proud to provide an independent platform for career development of member individuals through the activities and initiatives of our working groups and sub-committees.
WE CAMPAIGN
NARM is active in communicating the need for beneficial changes in construction industry practices – as well as the importance of appropriate and compliant product specification.
As an example, following our extensive research into the effect of rooflights on reducing energy consumption and resulting carbon emissions, we launched a marketing and editorial campaign to communicate the environmental and cost benefits of greater rooflight areas in many types of building.Today’s broader understanding of daylighting in energy reduction strategies can, to a large extent, be attributed to this work.
Our campaigning in respect of roof safety and non-fragility of rooflights, has made a significant contribution to improved product specification and safer on-site working practices.
Our work in highlighting the need for correct product specification also plays an important continuing role in reducing the specification of inferior or poorly performing products.