Lamilux Rooflights Ltd

The new £65 million, Science, Engineering and Environmental Building (SEE Building) at the University of Salford was designed under the concept of incorporating high sustainability credentials. This supports the university’s pledge in reducing the environmental impact, as part of the wider Salford Crescent and University District masterplan. The SEE building promotes innovation, environmental protection and excellent educational opportunities and offers students state-of-the-art facilities with the aid of the LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60. A stunning skylight measuring an incredible 44 metres long and 9 metres wide, as well as three other Glass Roofs PR60, were installed onto the roof of the four-storey building, illuminating the lecture halls and common areas. This results in enhancing the natural daylight, whilst also allowing for natural ventilation, creating an inspiring environment for learning and development. To avoid overheating and glare inside the building, special 60/30 high performing solar glazing was used. This innovative technology ensures a comfortable indoor climate whilst providing an optimal learning environment.LAMILUX worked with the architect from the early planning stage of the project to design, supply, and install the four rooflights. “Just-on-time” deliveries were planned to enable offloading of the materials, with a crane, from the vehicle to the roof, to minimise loading out as space on site was very limited. Integrated ventilation panels were installed within the three smaller PR60 Glass Rooflights to provide the ideal solution to provide natural ventilation into the building alongside natural daylight.The largest rooflight was glazed with an impressive total of 120 fixed glass panels to make up the impressive 44 metre length and complete the installation. The glass panels were specified with Class 1 Fragility, suitable for walking on for cleaning and maintenance loads, according to CWCT TN 66 /TN 67 & TN92. Before the final handover of the project, extensive water tightness testing was carried out. On site CWCT hose tests were passed successfully, as testament to the quality and durability of the installation led by the LAMILUX installation team. The University of Salford is passionate about sustainability. LAMILUX are proud to be involved with a building project that not only contributes to the progressiveness and commitment to sustainable architecture, but is also considered a BREEAM Excellent-rated facility.

In densely populated urban areas of the cities, where the number of floors in housing is sometimes limited and private gardens are rare, a rooftop terrace or patio is becoming a popular design choice. However, many residential buildings with rooftop gardens don’t see much daylight and careful consideration is required to determine an access point to the roof terrace. For such rooftop projects, a new dimension of roof access is offered by the LAMILUX Flat Roof Access Hatch Comfort range, designed to give a generous daylight intake in attic apartments alongside convenient access to the roof terrace creating an air of grace and beauty both internally and externally. The LAMILUX Flat Roof Access Hatch Comfort range now introduces its fourth product into the family, giving more choice and flexibility when creating a luxurious living space with an exclusive ambience. Featuring unrestricted use as a natural ventilation device and convenient access to the roof terrace, the indoor climate also benefits from the high energy efficiency of the range thanks to the thermally broken frame and excellent air tightness values.The existing Solo and Duo Flat Roof Access Hatch products from LAMILUX open laterally by moving one or two panels horizontally to create direct access to step onto the roof terrace, whilst the space-saving hinged opening Swing variant swiftly opens its one meter by 3000 or 3500 mm long aperture to 84 degrees in just 25 seconds. The fourth, and newest addition to the Access Hatch Comfort repertoire the Square, makes it possible, for the first time, to also use spiral and platform staircases underneath. Until now, access to the roof was limited to straight stairways due to the elongated rectangular shape of the roof access hatch range. The Square only takes 45 seconds for the concealed hydraulic drives to silently open the 4m² glass element of the skylight by 70 degrees. As with the Swing, the new variant does not require any additional space on the roof terrace than its own size in closed form, even when open, thanks to its swing mechanism.   Visually, the aluminium border frame throughout the product family, attracts attention as an architectural highlight. The aluminum profiles and the reveal surface can be coated in all RAL colours offering further choice and exclusivity. Since the glass panes and frame feature a flush edge detail both internally and externally, and all variants are designed with an inclined surface, the range boasts not only a visually appealing seamless design, but also ensures that rainwater can run-off easily without leaving any dirty edges or water ponding. Safety is standard in the Flat Roof Access Hatch Comfort product family with fall-resistant glazing which can be walked on to a limited extent for cleaning purposes. As an additional safety feature, a light barrier is installed as standard which prevents the closing of the access hatch as soon as it detects something in the entrance area. In terms of energy, the new roof access hatch continues the tradition of all LAMILUX skylights: The overall system, which is free of thermal bridges and isothermally balanced and the option of special glazing meets modern demands for sustainability, energy efficiency and climate protection which ultimately save heating costs and minimizes condensation. All four products in this family have one further thing in common: They are delivered completely pre-assembled to the construction site, lifted onto the roof by a crane provided by the customer and then installed swiftly and easily. This minimizes the risk of errors and saves valuable time – both for the contractor and for the apartment user who ultimately gains access to the roof terrace. 

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed both the supporting steelwork and atrium glazing to illuminate the central zone of the venue with natural daylight. Structural calculations were generated to ensure that the steelwork, which was assembled from five sections, could withhold the weight of the high spec glazing used. 76 fixed panes, walkable for maintenance and weighing 65kg per m², create the 20m x 9m wide unusual curved glass roof with wall abutment detail. 3 anchor points, which forms part of the rooflight system, were installed so that maintenance personnel are able to fix their safety harnesses onto the anchor points.

The LAMILUX U.K Ltd installation team recently completed a school refurb project in York, where they installed an incredible 65 meter long X 2.4 meter wide LAMILUX Continuous Barrel Vault Rooflight. Designed with 16 integrated single ventilation flaps, evenly spaced along the rooflight for natural ventilation, the Barrel Vault rooflight, was positioned above classrooms and communal areas to not only enhance natural daylight in the rooms below, but also provide natural aeriation. Results from studies have proven that ventilation coupled with natural daylight will not only enhance the learning of the pupils in the classrooms, but also enhance the pupils health benefits with good indoor air quality. 

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed eight LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60 mono-pitch rooflights at Oundle School Sports Centre. Seven of the rooflights, were positioned over the 50 metre swimming pool, adding an abundance of natural light, with special sun protective glazing to eliminate overheating. A special coating was applied to the aluminium profiles to protect them from corrosion within the chlorine environment. The eighth rooflight, an 18m x 6m trapeze shape, illuminates the atrium at the flagship of the school’s sports masterplan.

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed the 3.5 metre wide by 14 metre long PR60 mono-pitch rooflight at Kimpton Fitzroy to complement the hotels Winter Garden providing the ideal relaxing area for guests to take in the beautiful surroundings. LAMILUX used their knowledge and expertise to complete the installation at this very tricky central London project. An incredibly tight site with no tower crane, meant that we offered just-in-time delivery and installation of materials and worked very closely with the Contractor from an early stage to carefully plan and execute the install on time and within budget.

LAMILUX were chosen by the façade contractor, to undertake this specialist element within their glazing package. By using 220mm deep mullion profiles, LAMILUX were able to design a system structurally capable of completely self-supporting. The 25m X 6m self-spanning rooflight removed the requirement for additional internal structural support such as steel beams - saving time and reducing the costs. High performance glazing was essential to reduce solar heat gain and heat losses. 40 fixed glass panels, each measuring 1.2 x 2.9m and weighing 150kg were used to reduce the buildings energy consumption, without compromising daylight intake.

The LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60 was designed and installed as a continuous atrium using 60 panes of glass covering an area of 14m X 15m. The framing detail ensured a seamless transition to the wall abut at the head, whilst sitting on perimeter supports at the verge and cill. High performing glazing with double silver coating prevents overheating in addition to the glazing designed to be walked on for cleaning and maintenance purposes. LAMILUX were able to provide a better solution than the original concept by using larger panes arranged in four flush tiers installed with a 3° surface inclination.

All LAMILUX rooflights are available in circular shape, too, with diameter sizes ranging from 60 mm to up to 180 cm. In the beautiful new University Hospital building in Milton Keynes, our Glass Skylight FE Circular rooflights create an eye-catching design element, while providing natural daylight and ventilation.

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed seven uniquely shaped glass rooflights to create an aesthetic pleasing solution for the overlooked roof. The high quality requirements of the STEM building at the university meant that high performance solar control glass was used. Why LAMILUX were chosen ? Low Ug-value of 0.29 W/m²k was specified ? Each glass field within each rooflight was required to be a slightly different size and shape to create the unusual design

The University of Leicester’s Centre for Medicine is officially the largest non-residential Passivhaus building in the UK and has gone on to win many awards for the buildings outstanding performance. LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed two Passivhaus certified glass roofs, each measuring 6.5m x 15.6m. Why LAMILUX were chosen ? Passivhaus approved was required for the project ? LAMILUX could install with a surface inclination of just 3° ? Opening vents were required to be integrated within the glass roofs.

LAMILUX designed and installed a shallow pitched glass roof for the central courtyard atrium of the student accommodation halls. The 60 equal glass panels formed the 7m X 29m rooflight featuring a sound reduction index of 38dB with double layered heat protection glass. Why LAMILUX were chosen ? LAMILUX could install with a surface inclination of just 3° ? The architect wanted to achieve a class 2 roof for safety of maintenance personnel whilst maintaining a low pitch

LAMILUX designed, manufactured and installed this glazed 'Geo Grid' infill roof / rooflight to the courtyard of the Sir David Bell Building at Roehampton University. With the main atria designed with a 3° pitch leading to an integrated 30° angle, this unusual shaped glass roof consists of an array of 59 triangular and square shaped glass panels.

Mulberry Academy London Dock is a brand-new secondary school that opened in September 2024 in the borough of Tower Hamlets, London. Built in a dense urban redevelopment of former docks, the building has been built using Passivhaus technologies, to make it one of the first Passivhaus certified Schools in London. LAMILUX worked with the roofing contractor to supply four Flat Roof Access Hatch Comfort Swings and four Glass Skylight FE Passivhaus rooflights. Both products bring daylight into the school building, whilst the Roof Access Swing also allows access to the rooftop via staircases. Two Smoke Lift Glass Skylight FE rooflights were also installed to enhance safety during a fire and to provide comfort for daily use. Due to the vigorous criteria that Passivhaus certified buildings require, LAMILUX was able to furnish the contractor with the required airtight, thermally broken products to bring in daylight and enable access to the roof. Whilst the Glass Skylight FE Passivhaus rooflights are a certified Passivhaus component, with its technical data pre-loaded into PHPP energy modelling software, the Access Swings and Smoke Vent rooflights, although not Passivhaus certified products, also met the stringent requirements with their triple glazing Ug value of 0.6W/(m²k) and airtight and water testing both certified to Class 4*. *EN 12207 – Air tightness and BS EN 12208 – Water tightness.  LAMILUX provided two Access Swings with left-hand openings and two with right hand openings to guarantee accessibility to the roof space. All access hatches were constructed with dimensions of 1000 mm by 3500 mm to provide sufficient headroom for entry, while the smoke vents were designed with measurements of 1200 mm by 1200 mm to achieve a certified aerodynamic free area of 1.02 m².Since the installation of this project, LAMILUX have now launched the world’s first Passivhaus certified Smoke Vent Rooflight, which is founded on the design of the Smoke Lift Glass Skylight FE and is now available with PHPP energy modelling data pre-loaded. This simplifies the data analysis required for Passivhaus projects with similar strict air tightness requirements. Mulberry Academy London Dock was established by Housing Developers to address the disparity in pupil-to-place ratios within the London Boroughs and to meet the urgent demand for new educational institutions. The design of the building adheres to Passivhaus standards, which ensures the provision of clean, fresh air, thereby safeguarding both students and educators from pollution in central London.