Daylight Systems

Daylight and Daylight Systems

Within the field of architecture, natural daylight is considered an important factor. This can be seen with architectural concepts that allow for the heightened use of daylight with fully fenestrated facades, glass-roofed atriums and the extensive implementation of rooflights. This approach is based upon knowledge about the human well-being in respect to daylight, and its health-related function as a timer for the body's biological rhythm.

Energy conservation also plays a role when daylight is considered. When the heightened use of daylight however becomes an essential part of the architectural concept, more stringent demands in respect to solar protection and glare protection in work spaces must also be considered. These aspects are addressed with daylight systems.

Daylight systems direct daylight into the depths of the building to assure a uniform spacial illumination. They protect from direct sunlight and also from excessive warmth, especially in the summer months. Daylight systems lastly avoid glare in work areas with reduced luminance and consequently allow for a superior illumination of VDU workstations.

Basic Principle

The light of the sun is a primary condition for life. It determines our daytime cycle and contributes to our well-being. Within the field of architecture, natural daylight is considered an important factor. Daylight supplies us with important information about the climate, space and time. Only with daylight do we see objects with their natural colour. Light and shadow create space, but also clarify the progression of time during the day and the year. Daylight is also warmth. In summer months this can lead to uncomfortable room temperatures.

Daylight is characterised by extreme brightness fluctuations that are difficult to equalise. The high levels of sky luminances cause glare that interferes with VDU (computer screen) work. Daylight systems use the advantages of daylight and compensate for its disadvantages. They make daylight controllable, without destroying its information character.

System advantages

Daylight systems create a comfortable spacial ambience

  • with a regulation of heat in summer
  • with a regulation of glare, without darkening the room
  • with improvement of light distribution

Daylight systems help to save energy:

  • with reduction of luminaire switch-on times
  • with reduced necessity for air-handling.

System Types

Siteco daylight systems can be divided into two separate systems, defined according to construction material of optical components:

Prismatic systems

Use of geometric-optical phenomena: transmission, refraction, reflection.

Reflector systems

Use of reflecting characteristics of curved surfaces. Each product family incorporates varying components that fulfill at least one of the following functions: sunlight protection, light control and glare reduction.