NATURAL LIGHTING / DAYLIGHTING

Daylight refers to the level of diffuse natural ambient light coming from the surrounding sky
dome or reflected off adjacent surfaces. Sunlight refers to direct sunshine, much brighter than
ambient daylight. Daylighting is not only to provide luminance levels sufficient for good visual
performance, but also to maintain comfortable, stimulating, productive and pleasing atmosphere
for occupants.

THE SUNLIGHT
Variable factors:
 Direction of light: varies throughout the day and seasons
 Intensity: changes significantly at different times of the day and seasons
 Glare: Excessive brightness of direct sunlight
 Heat gain: luminous efficacy (lumen / watt) of direct sunlight brings significant heat
 Penetration: often obscured by clouds, trees or buildings
 Availability: only during day time, so integration with artificial lighting is necessary
Measurement:
 depending on the latitude, outside light levels on horizontal surface on
o clear summer day - 100,000-120,000 lux
o overcast winter day - 4,000-5,000 lux
 Required light levels inside a building
o Corridor - 100 lux
o Office table - 300 lux
o Drawing board - 800 lux
o Display window of a shop - 1200 lux

DAYLIGHT
 Daylighting is the art and science of controlling natural light into a space through
apertures / fenestration (windows)
 It is Sustainable source of energy
 Measured as Daylight Factor (DF)

DAYLIGHTING DESIGN
Main Design parameters:
A. Quantitative aspects:
 Distribution: uniform distribution
 Penetration: as deep as possible into the interior
 Measurement: required intensity measured in Daylight Factor
B. Qualitative aspects:
 Control and balancing of
o heat gain and loss
o glare
o intensity variations
o availability
C. Design aspects:
 Aperture and shading devices:
o Climatic factors: Geographical location, weather, terrain
o Functional aspects: function of the interior, orientation
D. Technical aspects:
 Materials:
o reflectance quality of interior finishes
o selection of proper glazing materials, glass
 Integration with electrical lighting:

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 o Electric Lighting Controls
o building management system

Design Recommendations:
A. Orientation of Building:
 Perimeter could be increased in daylight zones to maximize the usable daylighting area.
 Avoid direct beam of daylight on critical visual tasks to avoid glare and heat in tropical
country
B. Fenestration: 
 Orientation: matters the intensity, direct light
 Aperture Location: The windows at high level produce uniform light as well as
penetrates deep and reduce excessive brightness.
 Size: proportionate to the room size (1:5 to 1:7)) to be provided
 Penetration: Thumb rule of depth of daylight penetration is about 2½ times the height of
the window (between top and sill level) or maximum depth of 7.5m
C. Shading and Control Devices:
 In hot climates, exterior shading devices often reduce heat gain and diffuse natural light
before entering the work space, as light shelves, overhangs, horizontal and vertical fins,
pergolas, etc.
 The harshness of direct light can be filtered with vegetation
 Internal devices such as curtains, blinds, etc. also are controlling devices
 Computerized sensors are used in automatic control
D. Glazing Materials:
Three characteristics to be considered to optimize the use of energy:
 U-value: represents the rate of heat transfer due to temperature difference through a
particular glazing material.
 Shading Coefficient (SC): a ratio of solar heat gain
 Visible Transmittance (Tvis): a measure of amount of visible light transmitted through
glazing material.
E. Reflectance of Room Surfaces:
 Reflectance quality of internal surfaces enhances the intensity and uniformity of light.
 Ceiling reflectance has the maximum impact and floor reflectance has the least impact
on daylighting penetration. It is desirable to keep ceiling reflectances over 80%, walls
over 50%, and floors around 20%.
DAYLIGHT FACTOR (DF)
 Quantity of daylight in a particular location in an interior is measured by Daylight Factor.
 It is an unit-less magnitude expressed in percentage.
 There are different mathematical models available to calculate DF.
 DF depends on
o intensity of daylight varying in different sky conditions as clear, cloudy, overcast
o reflectance quality of external / surrounding built / natural surfaces
o reflectance quality of internal surfaces
 Different formulae for calculating DF
Method 1
DF = Ei / Eo X 100 %
Ei = illumination level of daylight at a given point and time in the indoor working plane
Eo = simultaneous outdoor illuminantion level on a horizontal plane from an unobstructed
hemisphere of overcast sky
Method 2:
DF = SC + ERC + IRC
SC = Sky Component: light from the sky visible at the point considered, depends on sky
conditions (Clear, Cloudy and Overcast)
ERC = Externally Reflected Component: light reflected from exterior surfaces before reaching
the point

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IRC = Internally Reflected Component: light reaching the point after reflection from internal
surfaces

Daylight factor contours indicating the distribution of daylight of interior through window, the
illumination decreases away from the window, higher window giving greater uniformity and
deep penetration

Recommended Daylight Factor for different activities:

Room Daylight Factor
(DF)
Kitchen 2%
Living 1%
Bed room 0.5%
Offices 1%
Drawing 5%
offices

Comparison between Daylight factor and Lux of artificial lights

Daylight factor Artificial light (lux)
0.5% 250
1.0% 500

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 1.5% 750
2.0% 1,000
Fenestration Design Criterion

PLANNING ASPECTS
Daylight penetration could be maximized as well as optimized by
providing courtyard

Daylight penetration could be maximized by modifying external

surfaces and proper orientation

APERTURE DESIGN ASPECTS

Side lighting
Adequate Daylight penetration in an interior through any side
opening is usually up to a maximum distance of 2.5h (h is the
height of opening from cill to top)

Opening without shading devices: except north side, brings

glare and heat to a maximum
Opening with shading canopy: reduces glare and heat. Indirect
daylight could be enhanced by proper design of shading devices
Clerestory:

Roof Monitor:

Light Well:

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Light shelves:

Reflectors: to direct daylight to the desired direction as well as

increasing the intensity