As recently as the turn of the millenium, there was still a prevailing perception amongst architectural specifiers and other interested parties, that rooflights had a negative effect on the energy efficiency of buildings. This view was borne out of the fact that even the best insulating rooflights of the time generally offered lower thermal performance than surrounding roof areas.
The introduction of new Part L Building Regulations in 2002, was a key catalyst in the then newly formed National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers’ (NARM) decision to commission a study to evaluate the contribution that rooflights made towards energy efficiency in buildings and thus compliance with the new regulations.
This and subsequent studies confirmed that when correctly applied, greater rooflight areas made a positive contribution to compliance and these studies have since played a role in informing subsequent amendments to the regulations.
NARM’s influential early work on daylighting and energy efficiency is now widely recognised and supported by many other professional bodies including CIBSE and RIBA, and reinforced by further independent research by manufacturers and other organisations worldwide.
