Daylight and glazing specification: The impact on non-visual processes

Paradise, Caroline 2015. Daylight and glazing specification: The impact on non-visual processes. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

Preview	PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version Download (13MB) | Preview
	PDF - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Download (3MB)

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to establish whether the choice of glazing system could be impacting on the well-being of building occupants beyond the response of the visual system, based on the daylight they receive within a building interior. Daylight utilization is inherent to the success of a building, and a number of parameters within the design of interior spaces have an impact on daylight distribution such as size of window and depth of room, as well as colour and reflectivity of surfaces. This thesis therefore also aimed to establish the relative importance of the choice of glazing in respect to these other parameters. Through an extensive literature review of biomedical, neuroscience and chrono-biological research, a set of lighting parameters for the stimulation of non-visual responses were defined based on two processes; circadian entrainment (or phase-resetting) and subjective alertness. Whilst this biomedical research is inconclusive at the time of completing this thesis, these parameters provided a basis from which to assess the potential effects of different lighting environments with respect to the well-being of building occupants. Physical measurements and a digital model of a Case Study room were used to establish the impact of a range of glazing systems on the light that reaches a person’s eye. These studies showed that it is insufficient to rely on traditional horizontal illuminance measurements alone to ascertain whether a given space will provide enough light to support the non-visual system. It also showed that the effect of the glazing is strongly interconnected with other design parameters of the room, such as the colour of the surfaces. Overall though, the glazing specification had the most significant impact on the light that reaches a person’s eye within the Case Study room. In conclusion this thesis shows that, based on current understanding of non-visual lighting requirements, the choice of glazing does have an important impact on the non-visual processes connected to the eye. Of the variables within the control of the designer the specification of glazing has been shown to have the most significant impact. Further design guidance is needed to avoid the potential health implications of poor glazing choice.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Uncontrolled Keywords:	daylight glazing
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	21 Dec 2023 14:20
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/75610

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item