Toplighting techniques for buildings in Thailand

Abstract

This work investigated how toplighting techniques perform in buildings in Thailand. Four toplighting techniques are included in the study, which comprises: (1) base-case skylight; (2) skylight; (3) monitor; and (4) sawtooth. A single story building with 8 m. height ceiling was taken as a studied building. Firstly, room sections showing each toplighting techniques were analyzed to illustrate sunlight directions and sky dome areas seen by the openings. Then a simulation program, DIALux 4.13 was used to compute illuminance for each technique. The computed illuminance values were obtained on the floor and on the 3 m. plane below the ceiling. The simulation times were 9:00, 12:00 and 15:00 hrs. under partly cloudy sky on the 21st of March, June, September and December. The second part of this work investigated toplighting guidelines for calculating daylight factor by comparing computed daylight factor values with calculated daylight factor. The results suggest that the calculated daylight factors are comparable in particular values calculated by monitor and sawtooth techniques. Daylight distributions from all toplighting included in this study show that highest daylight levels are approximately below the ceiling openings. Daylight distribution patterns could be assessed by section analysis.