GB2401881A - Roof lights - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic roof light structure comprising a weather sheet <B>10</B> and a lining panel <B>12</B> spaced apart by at least two fillers <B>14</B>, the space between the weather sheet <B>10</B> and lining panel <B>12</B> housing an intermediate panel <B>16</B> of multi-walled fluted construction, the flutes <B>18</B> extending between the two fillers <B>14</B>. The weather sheet <B>10</B> and lining panel <B>12</B> may both be of solid glass reinforced plastics or of polycarbonate, the intermediate panel <B>16</B> may be of polycarbonate. The fillers <B>14</B> may be of resilient foamed material. The fluted ends <B>18</B> of the intermediate panel may be closed by abutment with the fillers <B>14</B> or by adhesive backed tape. The weather sheet <B>10</B> and lining panel <B>12</B> may be similarly profiled and the intermediate panel <B>16</B> may rest on top of and be secured to internal undulations of the lining panel <B>12</B>. The intermediate panel <B>16</B> may be suspended between the weather sheet <B>10</B> and the lining panel <B>12</B> on a peripheral support secured to the lining panel <B>10</B>.

Description

ROOF LIGHTS

s This patent relates to a roof light. Roof lights are known structures which are for incorporation into a roof or a wall cladding to provide for the transference of natural daylight into a building to mitigate or obviate the requirement for artificial light during daylight hours.

The roof lights are rectangular and of plastics material, and can be made in situ or preferably can be factory made from an outer or weather sheet and an inner or lining panel spaced apart from each other by two or more fillers or, in the case of rooflights constructed in situ, metal spacers. Both weather sheet and lining panel in a structure are normally similarly profiled for added strength with each filler being correspondingly profiled in a complimentarily manner. The profiling of the respective weather sheet and lining panel is normally to match the profiling of the roof or wall cladding with which they are to be integrated. The weather sheet and lining panel in a structure are peripherally sealed to adjacent rooflights or roof or wall cladding with an appropriate sealer, for example butyl mastic. The U-Value (thermal transmittance) through the roof light is a measure of how much heat will pass through one square metre of a structure when air temperatures on either side of the structure differ by one degree Centigrade. Building regulations require certain U-values for roof lights. Recently, the building regulations have been updated to require lower U-values for roof lights to assist in the conservation of fuel and power in buildings and therefore a required increase in the insulation properties of roof lights. The requirement is that the standard U-value of a roof light should be no more than 2.3 Watts per square metre K. According to the present invention, a roof light structure of plastics material comprises 2s a weather sheet and a lining panel spaced apart by at least two fillers, the edges of the weather sheet and lining panel being made waterproof, the space between the weather sheet and lining panel housing an intermediate panel of multi-walled fluted construction of plastics material with the flutes extending between the two fillers.

Preferably, the weather sheet and lining panel are both of solid glass reinforced plastics (GRP) or of polycarbonate, and the intermediate panel is of polycarbonate.

Preferably also, the fillers are of resilient foamed material. The fluted ends of the intermediate panel are closed either by abutment with the fillers or by adhesive backed tape.

Preferably further, the weather sheet and lining panel are similarly profiled and the intermediate panel rests on and is beneficially secured to the top of the internal humps in the profile of the lining panel.

The thermal insulation of the rooflight is provided by the compartmentalisation of the air between the weather sheet and the lining panel. The introduction of the multi-walled fluted construction intermediate panel has the effect of increasing the compartmentalisation thus improving the insulation properties of the rooflight.

Further improvements to the insulation of the rooflight can be achieved by suspending IS the intermediate panel between the weather sheet and lining panel on a peripheral support secured to the lining panel. Also, further improvements to the insulation of the rooflight can be achieved by increasing the overall thickness and number of walls to the intermediate panel.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view from above of a weather sheet of a roof light structure according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view from above of the roof light structure with the weather sheet removed; 2s Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the structure; Fig. 4 shows a cross- sectional view of the line IV - IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows a detail at one end of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, a roof light structure is rectangular and formed of plastics material. The structure comprises a weather sheet 10 and a lining panel 12 spaced apart by two fillers 14, one provided at each of its sides. The two opposite lateral edges of the weather sheet 10 and lining panel 12 are made waterproof, and sealed using a silicone mastic 15 and at the two sides are sealed to the fillers 14. The space between the weather sheet 10 and lining panel 12 houses an intermediate panel 16 of multi-walled fluted construction of plastics material with the flutes 18 extending between the two fillers 14.

The weather sheet 10 and lining panel 12 are both of solid glass reinforced plastics (GRP) or of polycarbonate, and the intermediate panel 16 is of polycarbonate.

The fillers 14 are of resilient foamed material. The fluted ends of the intemmediate panel are closed either by abutment with the fillers or by adhesive backed tape. Linear expansion of the intermediate panel 16 due to thermal increase causes extension with open ends of the flutes 18 abutting tighter into the fillers 14 creating a tighter seal, thermal decrease contracting the intermediate panel 16 with the resilience of the fillers 14 resuming,l them to their initial shape.

The weather sheet 10 and lining panel 12 are similarly profiled with the profile of the i weather sheet 10 being the same as the profile of the roof or wall cladding with which it is to be integrated. The intermediate panel 16 rests on top of the internal humps 20 in the profile of the lining panel12. The resting portions are secured to the humps 20 by double-sided tape.

The thermal insulation of the rooflight is provided by the compartmentalisation of the air between the weather sheet and the lining panel. The introduction of the multi-walled 3 fluted construction intermediate panel has the effect of increasing the compartmentalisation thus improving the insulation properties of the rooflight.

In an example, for a 80mm thick factory made roof light, the average air gap between the weather sheet 10 and a 4mm thick intermediate panel 16 is 71.08mm and the average! air gap between the 4mm intermediate panel 16 and the lining panel 12 is 2.06mm. The overall U-value for the panel would equate to 1.98W/m2K. As the air gap is small and below s the 4mm intermediate panel 16, the insulation value of it is reduced. If the panel 16 were lifted from the lining panel 12 to at least 25mm above it, the U-value could theoretically be reduced to 1.57W/m2K.

In use, roof light structures are integrated into a roof or wall cladding singly or in rows.

In a modification, the intemmediate panel 16 is fitted above the lining panel 12.

10Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above. . . .

Claims (10)

À . . . .. .. À À À À À À À . ae. À À À s CLAIMS

1. A roof light structure of plastics material comprises a weather sheet and a lining panel spaced apart by at least two fillers, the edges of the weather sheet and lining panel being made waterproof, the space between the weather sheet and lining panel housing an intermediate panel of multiwalled fluted construction of plastics material with the flutes extending between the two fillers.

2. A roof light structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the weather sheet and lining panel 0 are both of solid glass reinforced plastics (GRP) or of polycarbonate, and the intermediate panel is of polycarbonate.

3. A roof light structure as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the fillers are of resilient foamed material.

4. A roof light structure as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fluted ends of the intermediate panel are closed either by abutment with the fillers or by adhesive backed tape.

5. A roof light structure as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the weather sheet and lining panel are similarly profiled and the intermediate panel rests on and is secured to the top of internal undulations in the profile of the lining panel.

À . À À ce À À t. À:.: :; se: . . À

6. A roof light structure as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the thermal insulation of the rooflight is provided by compartmentalisation of the air between the weather sheet and the lining panel.

s

7. A roof light structure as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the multiwalled fluted construction intermediate panel has the effect of increasing the compartmentalisation thus improving the insulation properties of the rooflight.

8. A roof light structure as claimed in any one of the Receding Claims, wherein the lo intermediate panel is suspended between the weather sheet and the lining panel on a peripheral support secured to the lining panel to improve the insulation of the rooflight.

9. A roof light structure as claimed in Claim 7, wherein further improvements to the insulation of the rooflight is achieved by increasing the overall thickness and number of walls to the intermediate panel.

10. A roof light structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.