All You Need to Know About Large Commercial Skylights

Understanding Commercial Skylights

Installing large commercial skylights is among the more simple yet important additions businesses can make to their building. Adding skylights will reduce energy costs, increase productivity, and elevate the lighting and curb appeal within the building. Design Components is here to share the essential info you need to know before investing in large commercial skylights.

Are large commercial skylights economical and environmentally beneficial?

It’s logical to assume when a building utilizes a large amount of natural light that there would be a decreased reliance on artificial lighting. In fact, there have been studies conducted to help determine just how much savings can be expected. Research shows that skylight technologies can provide total energy savings of up to about 14% and lighting savings of up to 26% for office buildings and 58% for retail buildings.

Commercial skylights are typically fixed in place on buildings with high ceilings and sufficient climate control, but there are options for louvered skylights that can increase ventilation, which may help cool down the workplace when air conditioning is not enough. However, these may be more prone to leaks if made at a low quality or installed improperly.

Do acrylic skylights provide enough light?

Providing optimal light is critical. When relying on skylights, the environment will need to be well-lit so employees can clearly see and perform their job functions as if all of the typical overhead electrical lights were on. In other words, there should be no compromise in the brightness of a room when using skylights.

With the right skylights installed correctly, a commercial building will be lit enough for efficient and safe operations. Large commercial skylights are ideal for letting in enough light for a business workforce.

Also, providing ample natural light inside of the workplace has been shown to increase productivity and morale.

“Office workers with more light exposure at the workplace tended to have longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, more physical activity, and better quality of life compared to office workers with less light exposure at the workplace.”
— U.S. National Library of Medicine

There are many different acrylics that can be used to create skylights. Standard colors include clear, white, bronze, and gray. Clear acrylic allows for the most visible light transmission at 92%. White acrylic offers more opaque options and allows for 56% visible light transmission. Bronze and gray acrylics will provide the least amount of visible light transmission at 27%. The amount of light is dependent on your lighting goals, employee needs, and installed locations.

How much is a dome skylight?

The cost of a dome skylight can vary depending on numerous factors, including the size of the skylight and whether it is single glazed or insulated, clear, or tinted. Of course, a large commercial skylight with more specialized materials will cost more than a small commercial skylight with minimal features. The dome shape allows for water and debris to slide off and keeps condensation from forming. It is important to understand that dome skylights do not open and will not provide any form of ventilation.

Working with a professional skylight provider can ensure that you receive a quality skylight for a great price. With Design Components, business owners can receive a free consultation for any metal building components, including skylights.

What is maximum skylight clearance?

Fixed curb-mounted (FCM) skylights continue to have a clearance width of 50 ¾. Additionally, the maximum FCM custom skylight clearance length has been recently increased to 76 ½.

Standard sizes offered by Design Components can be found here.

Do skylights need to be maintained?

While skylights are a great addition to any place of work, they will eventually get weathered just like any normal window or surface. Without regular maintenance, they can be difficult to clean, especially if they are installed on a high roof. However, it is advised for businesses to establish a cleaning and maintenance plan for their skylights to ensure that they stay in good condition.

Keeping skylights clean is crucial for providing the maximum amount of natural light to your employees and getting the most out of your investment.

Choose Design Components

Premium Large Commercial Skylights Provider

At Design Components, we provide our customers with unmatched customer satisfaction and top-tier quality services. DCI offers a wide variety of commercial skylights to ensure that we have an option that will meet your needs.