by Shane Henson — January 20, 2014—Electri-Flex Company’s 53,000-square-foot manufacturing plant now boasts better lighting and energy efficiency through the recent installation of Acuity Brands’ Signature Series prismatic skylights from Sunoptics.
Acuity Brands was recently contracted to provide the electrical conduit design and manufacturing company with 56 Signature Series skylights that were used to retrofit its manufacturing plant, located in Roselle, Illinois. The skylights now cover approximately three percent of the roof area, and project quality daylighting from ceiling heights of approximately 40 feet.
According to Acuity Brands, the skylights significantly enhance the quality of light by increasing the light-levels from 30 to 40 footcandles to 55 to 62 footcandles. Additionally, the skylights help Electri-Flex save on energy attributed to heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) as well as electric lighting. With the reduction of electric lighting, Electri-Flex’s building achieved a 30-degree reduction in temperature.
“We were going for the ‘wow!’ factor with the skylights and resulting interior light,” said Ed Berbeka, project manager for Electri-Flex. “We were just amazed at how much light comes into the building, even after we turned all of the electric lights off.”
Signature Series prismatic skylights from Sunoptics are designed to provide the maximum amount of light transmission into a building while still maintaining 100 percent diffusion. The prismatic skylights feature an insulated thermal break, condensation gutter and exterior weeping gutter, foam curb seal, and integral-frame weather sweep. These features keep the weather out and let natural light in, explains Acuity Brands.
Signature Series skylights are available in single, double and triple glazed to meet thermal requirements, and are approved by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).
