Sun tunnels, which are also referred to as sun pipes, sun tubes or light tubes, are increasingly being recognised for their sustainability benefits. This is primarily due to the way they enable plenty of natural light to be introduced into a building and reduce the need for artificial light generated by electricity.
But the structures transmitting and distributing this low carbon natural light must be safe too, particularly in respect of their fire resistance. And it is here where fire resistant glazing specialist Promat UK offers a solution.
One of the ways the company is helping architects and contractors to achieve their fire safety goals without compromising the effectiveness of sun pipes is by providing an additional element which combines high-clarity fire resistant glass and PROMATECT®-H. The Promat glass team in Czechia is leading on this project, but it has excellent potential to benefit installations of sun pipes in the UK too where a risk of fire spreading through the assembly may exist.
The key to this solution is the creation of a bespoke PROMATECT®-H cladding section to apply to the sun pipe’s steel frame, into which Promat PYROSEC® can be installed. This can then be incorporated into the construction of the sun tunnel to prevent the spread of fire, with the benefit of excellent glass clarity to maximise light flow.
Stephen Malkin, Sales Manager for Glass at Promat UK said: “Sun pipes provide a way to introduce free, natural light into buildings which would otherwise have to be lit almost exclusively by artificial light. That could represent a significant energy saving, but we must also ensure this sustainable lighting goal is not presenting a fire risk.
“The solution developed by our team in the Czech Republic ticks all the boxes, and it is compatible with all the major sun pipe systems. It offers the potential to add either EI30 or EI60 fire resistance to the sun pipe – that means 30 or 60 minutes integrity and insulation protection.”
As passive fire protection specialists, the Promat team has a wealth of experience and knowledge of how to deploy fire-resistant glass in all kinds of interior glazing. Their knowledge of the correct glass specification, framing materials and its design, plus the appropriate sealing and additional components, means they are ideally placed to help architects create buildings which benefit from high levels of natural daylight without compromising fire safety.
In addition to sun tunnels, Promat PYROSEC® can be also used to provide fire-resistant horizontal glazing in more traditional flat glass skylights in ceilings. Both walk-on and non-walkable glass floors can be created too, including through the use of Promat SYSTEMGLAS® Stratum, all with the aim of bringing natural light into buildings and creating pleasant environments for their users.
To discuss how this Promat solution could be incorporated into sun tunnel design and installation, contact the Promat UK Glass team promatglass@etexgroup.com or call +44 (0)800 588 4444.
