Skylights
- Hero Software
Skylights need to be modelled within a Project for their solar gains, heat-loss & ventilation effects to be modelled.
Skylight Type
The term “Skylight” is used both as a generic term for all Skylight / Roof Window objects, however there are actually three distinct Types of Skylights available for use in Hero. This property is shown in the Skylight Data-Grid Type column.
Type | Description |
|---|---|
Skylight (Standard) | A standard Skylight with a Shaft penetrating a Roofspace Zone. Only available for use on Ceilings with an Attic Type Assembly. |
Tubular | A Circular Metal Skylight with a Shaft penetrating a Roofspace Zone. Only available for use on Ceilings with an Attic Type Assembly & as a Circular Shape. |
Roof Window | A Roof Window is a Skylight with No Shaft that penetrates a Flat Roof. Only available for use on Ceilings with a Skillion/Flat Type Assembly |
The Skylight Type will change automatically if the Ceiling’s Assembly is changed from a Attic (i.e. Roofspace) Type to a Skillion/Flat Roof Type & Vice-Versa.
E.g: A Roof Window on a Skillion/Flat Ceiling Assembly will get changed to a Skylight Type if the Ceiling’s Assembly is changed to an Attic Roof Assembly
Shaft
All Skylight Types except for Roof Windows are modelled with a Shaft. This Shaft has attributes mostly changed within the Skylight Data-Grid, including Shaft Length, Reflectivity, Insulation & a Bottom Diffuser.
Each of these Shaft attributes are modelled within the Chenath Simulation.
Skylight Shape
Skylights uniquely have two possible Shapes: Polygon & Circular. The shape is determined by the initial Skylight Drawing Sub-Mode and can be changed after Skylight creation by changing the value in the Shape Column of the Skylight Data-Grid.
SKYLIGHTS IN THE VISUAL VIEW
Creating
Skylights are created using the Skylight & Hole Drawing Mode
Selecting
Skylights are shown on the Visual View & Skylight Data-Grid and can be selected as per normal objects.
You can also use the Visual View’s Select Parent context-menu action for a Skylight (or it’s Double Left-Click mouse shortcut). In this case, the action selects the parent Ceiling of the Skylight.
Deleting
Skylights can be Deleted as per normal model objects using the Delete keyboard shortcut, or Right-Click Context-menu action Delete or via the Data-Grid’s Delete button.
Points can be deleted off a Polygon Skylight’s shape by Right-Clicking the Point and selecting Delete Point.
Moving Skylights
Skylights can be moved in the Visual View by selecting them and then Dragging them into their position.
For Polygon Skylights: You can Drag the Points of a Polygon Skylight to move that Point and extend or shrink the length.
For Circular Skylights: You can Drag the Radius Point of the Skylight to increase the Radius of the circular Skylight.
Skylights cannot be moved outside the bounds of the Zone
You can move a Skylight or a Skylight Point in a straight or direction by holding ⌨ Shift.
Adding Points
Points can be added to a Polygon Skylight by Right-clicking the Skylight near it’s edge and selecting the Add Point Context Menu action.
SKYLIGHTS IN THE DATA-GRID
Property | Description | Edited Within |
|---|---|---|
Name | The Name of the Skylight | Name Column |
Type | The Type of Skylight (Skylight, Roof Window or Tubular). Available options depend on Ceiling Assembly Type (see Type section above for more details) | Type Column |
Shape | Change the Shape of the Skylight between Polygon or Circular | Shape Column |
Specification | The Specification of the Skylight as per the Selected Skylight List from the Skylight Library and filtered for Type within the Data-Grid. Various Specifications are available that changed the Glass & Frame of the Skylight. | Specification Column |
Pitch | The Pitch or Incline of the Skylight on the Roof (in degrees) with 0 being Horizontal / Flat and 90 degrees being Vertical | Pitch Column |
Orientation | The Direction the Face of the Skylight is facing (it’s normal face direction). Ignored if Pitch is 0 degrees. | Orientation Column |
Area | The Pitched Area of the Skylight (in m2) | Not editable |
Openable Percentage | Roof Windows only The Percentage of the Roof Window’s Area that is Openable for Ventilation | Openable % Column |
Internal Shade Device | Roof Windows only The Internal Shade device for the Skylight as specified & noted on the Plans, and it’s effective R-Value, Solar Transmittance (ST) & Solar Absorptance (SA) | Internal Shading Column |
External Shade Device | The External Shade device for the Skylight as specified & noted on the Plans, and it’s effective Shading Coefficient (SC) | External Shading Column |
Shaft Sub-Properties | ||
Shaft Length | Skylight & Tubular Types only The Length of the Skylight Shaft through the Roofspace (in mm), from Centre of External Face of Skylight to Internal Face of Skylight | Shaft Length Column |
Shaft Reflectivity | Skylight & Tubular Types only The Reflectivity (%) of the Internal Surface of the Skylight Shaft | Shaft Refl % Column |
Shaft Insulated | Skylight & Tubular Types only Whether the Walls of the Skylight Shaft are insulated or not (simulated default is R2.0) | Shaft Insulated Column |
Shaft Diffuser | Skylight & Tubular Types only Whether the Bottom of the Skylight Shaft is fitted with a Diffuser Cover or not, or is open directly into the Zone. | Shaft Diffuser Column |
Skylight Library
The Skylight Library holds the complete library of all Skylight & Roof Window Specifications available for NatHERS Simulation. The Selected Skylight list within the Library is what is presented to Users within the Skylight Data-Grid’s Specification column (as well as filtering by Skylight Type).
Further Information: Skylight Library