HIGH-PERFORMANCE
PRISMATIC DAYLIGHTING
A BRIGHT NEW OPTION FOR YOUR BUILDING
• Reduce energy consumption
• Enhance aesthetic value
• Boost productivity
• Increase sales
INNOVATION.
TECHNOLOGY.
SOLUTIONS.
Before with Electric Lights OFF
Metal Building
Roof with Cut Ins
Daylighting (with electric lights OFF)
Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural sunlight into a building via
diffused skylights. Done correctly, it can save energy and money by reducing
the need for electric lighting during daylight hours without causing heating or
cooling problems.
Daylighting Saves Money
Electric lighting accounts for 40-50 percent of the total
electrical energy consumption in commercial buildings.
For many institutional and commercial buildings, strategic
daylighting can reduce total energy costs by as much as
one-third.
Daylighting Helps People
Bringing natural light into workplaces, retail stores
and schools provides benefits beyond energy savings.
Compared to facilities relying solely on commercial lighting:
• Retailers report up to 40 percent better sales in
daylighted stores.
By generating waste heat, electric lighting adds to the loads
imposed on a building’s mechanical cooling equipment, all while
producing greenhouse gases. Sunlight, on the other hand:
• Costs $0 to produce
• Contributes no greenhouse gases to the environment
• Performs at 100 percent on the Color Rendering Index (CRI)
• Will be with us for at least another
5 billion years
• Daylighted schools see 20-26 percent improvement
in academic function.
• Offices report 10-25 percent better worker performance,
reduced absenteeism and significantly better morale.
2
WHAT’S THE B
Electric Lighting
Conventional Construction
Roof with Cut Ins
Daylighting (with electric lights OFF)
The Best in Daylighting
As the industry leader in engineered-building technology,
American Buildings Company offers high-performance
daylighting components for new construction and retrofits.
Designed to bring natural light into engineered steel buildings
and other structures, ABC daylighting systems enable
building owners to harness the sun so that electric lights
can be dimmed or turned off for a portion of the day while
making the interior more pleasant for occupants.
Adding natural daylight to your building projects is a bright
idea. To help you do it the right way, ABC offers highperformance prismatic skylights and daylight-responsive
lighting controls that enhance your project while brightening
your sales.
ABC is pleased to work closely with Acuity Brands as they are the
leaders in providing products to support daylighting systems
consisting of lighting, lighting controls and skylights. Acuity’s
Sunoptics brand is the leader in providing high-performance
prismatic skylights.
Daylighting Is More Than Just Skylights
Daylighting integrates energy-efficient lighting and a daylightresponsive lighting control system.
Daylighting Components:
• Skylights and windows
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Lighting controls
TIAX Controls and Diagnosis Report found that dimming
electric lights in daylit spaces could reduce annual lighting
energy consumption in existing commercial buildings by 40
to 60 percent (New Buildings, 2001, New Buildings, 2003).
According to Jon McHugh, PE, LC, and technical director
with the energy consulting and research firm, Heschong
Mahone Group, Inc., America could reduce its peak load
electrical demand by 24,000 megawatts just by daylighting
existing buildings. The savings is equal to 24 1,000-megawatt
nuclear power plants or 48 500-megawatt coal-fired power
plants, all at 1/20th the cost of solar photovoltaic panel
arrays.
BRIGHT IDEA?
3
Advanced Daylighting Solutions
Prismatic skylights can minimize the need
for electric lighting during daylight hours.
Problem: Hot Spots­
Clear skylights produce hot spots,
glare and UV damage to the
building.
Problem: Limited Light
Standard white bubble skylights
knock down light transmission in
order to achieve diffusion.
Solution: Prismatic Skylight
High-performance prismatic
skylights maximize light
transmission while still providing
100% diffusion.
Why Prismatic?
Traditional skylights do a poor job of dispersing the sun’s rays,
causing hot spots, glare, UV damage and uncontrolled heat.
By completely diffusing incoming sunlight, ABC’s prismatic
skylights refract the light into micro light beams, spreading
the sun’s bright, natural light throughout the space. This
reduces the sun’s intensity without compromising daylighting
effectiveness.
With at least 4,000 tiny prisms per square foot of glazing layer,
ABC’s offering of prismatic skylights provides 100 percent
diffusion and transmits 35 percent more light than conventional
skylights while producing:
• No hot spots
• No glare
• No UV damage to merchandise or furnishings.
The high-performance design has no moving parts, catches up
to 20 percent more light at low sun angles than standard shapes,
and is 50 percent stronger than required by any building code.
Prismatic skylights also maintain Visible Light Transmission (VLT)
for more years of light compared to other products.
4
Modern prismatic skylights transmit more light than
conventional skylights while diffusing 100 percent of the
incoming rays. This soft yet full-spectrum light creates a
pleasant environment while reducing lighting costs.
THE PRISMAT
Hail Damage
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or
irregular lumps of ice, each of which is called a hailstone.
Hailstones larger than 2 cm (0.80 in) are usually considered
large enough to cause damage.
Hail rarely is life threatening, but it can cause major damage.
Annually, hail causes more than $1 billion in damages to
crops and property in the United States, according to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).
Although hail damage is less expensive per claim than fire
losses, hail damage is more widespread. A large hailstone
falling from the sky can reach speeds of 100 mph before it
makes impact.
The best way to prevent hail damage is to make sure your
building’s roof and roof components are as impact resistant
as possible.
Today’s roofing materials are rated and divided into four classes.
Each class is defined by how well the products withstand
hailstones of various sizes in diameter:
• Class 1: 1.25 inches
• Class 2: 1.5 inches
• Class 3: 1.75 inches
• Class 4: 2 inches
ABC metal roof panels and the ABC Integrated Prismatic
Skylight all meet a Class 4 impact rating. ABC Curb Mounted
Prismatic Skylights meet a Class 3 impact rating as standard.
In a study by Daniel Munson and Gloria Molina of CDS
Business Mapping, LLC, hail events were tracked for
20 years from the period 1990-2010. The chart below
summarizes a distribution of hail sizes found.
Percentage Cumulative
of Total
Percent
<.75"
.75 < 1"
1" < 2"
2" < 3"
3" < 4"
4" - 8"
316
110,104
101,048
9,185
841
952
0.14%
49.50%
45.43%
4.13%
0.37%
0.43%
TOTAL
222,446
100.00%
0.14%
49.64%
95.06%
99.19%
99.57%
100.00%
TIC CONCEPT
5
Standing Seam 360 Integrated Prismatic Skylight
American Buildings Company worked closely with Sunoptics in co-developing this unique integrated skylight.
ABC’s Standing Seam Integrated Skylight is the ideal solution for daylighting in new construction when using the popular ABC
Standing Seam 360 (SS360) or Standing Seam II (SSII) roof panel. Factory manufactured and shipped as a complete unit, the
Standing Seam 360 Integrated Prismatic Skylight is mounted to a trapezoidal steel panel that is seamed with the rest of the roof.
PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES:
• Factory manufactured and
shipped as a complete unit
• Mounted to trapezoidal panel
• Seamed with the rest of the roof
• Double glazed
• Class 4 impact rating
• Polycarbonate over polycarbonate
6
Class 4 Impact Rating Standard
CC1 Fire Rating
Engineered to withstand severe weather conditions, ABC’s
Integrated Prismatic Skylight features a double-glazed
prismatic lens that achieves a Class 4 Impact Zone rating.
The Integrated Prismatic Skylight achieves a CC1 fire rating.
This refers to plastic materials that have a burning rate of 1"
(25 mm) or less when tested in nominal 0.060" (1.5mm)
thickness.
DAYLIGHTING
Optional Fall Protection
The unique, relatively compact design of the ABC Integrated Skylight,
utilizing two layers of tough Class 4 Impact Rating polycarbonate,
makes it one of the strongest skylights on the market. Under third-party
testing, it easily passed a 400-pound static test as well as drop testing
of 300 pounds at 3 feet and 200 pounds at 5 feet. OSHA states, in an
interpretation of the standard for safeguarding an opening, that “a plastic
skylight which can provide the necessary structural integrity to support the
200-pound load would not be required to be further safeguarded.”
Should you require additional fall protection for high-roof traffic areas, this
is easily achieved with externally mounted metal screens that simply clamp
to the standing seam ribs after the original installation is complete. These
products are readily available from several suppliers throughout North
America. Contact our customer service teams for additional information.
SPECIFICATION SUMMARY
Material
Top Lens
Bottom Lens
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
Ratings
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) 0.42
Variable Light Transmission (VLT)
0.64
U-Factor0.74
Impact Rating
Class 4
Rate of Burn
CC1
Warranty
5-year limited warranty due to manufacturer defect
G PRODUCTS
7
Curb Mounted Prismatic Skylight
The patented Signature Series Dome skylight by Sunoptics is designed to optimize lighting performance even at low angles –
with no moving parts – compared to competitive daylighting products. The resulting performance provides better quality light for
the maximum hours per day, thus maximizing energy savings by greatly reducing electric lighting use.
The Signature Series skylight uses the highest UV-resistant materials available. This ensures high visible light transmission for
the life of the product. Based upon scientific data from ASTM testing, this skylight will not reach a Y-20 on the yellowing scale
during its life. Any yellowing below Y-20 is not visible to the naked eye.
The Curb Mounted Prismatic Skylight can be used in new construction and in retrofit applications.
The lens is double-glazed with acrylic over acrylic. The prismatic dome is sealed with a silicone and urethane seal between the
prismatic lenses before it is fully welded with encapsulating and insulated thermal break. No exposed metal, pre-installed foam
curb gasket and curb weather sweeps mitigate condensation concerns. This frame then sits on a curb and is screwed in with
stainless steel screws with rubber washers.
8
Class 3 Impact Rating Standard
CC2 Fire Rating
Engineered to withstand severe weather conditions, ABC’s
Curb Mounted Prismatic Skylight features a double-glazed
prismatic lens that achieves a Class 3 Impact Zone glazing
rating. FM-approved or High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)
skylights are available upon request.
ABC offers Curb Mounted Signature skylights with a CC2 fire
rating. This refers to plastic materials that have a burning rate
of 2.5" per minute (1.06 mm/s) or less when tested in nominal
0.060" (1.5mm) thickness.
DAYLIGHTING
WADE THROUGH THE HYPE - DEMAND THE BEST
2. INTEGRATED CURB WEATHER SWEEP
Designed to prevent wind-borne
debris and moisture infiltration.
1. PRISMATIC LENS DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE
100% diffusion (haze) allows for even
coverage with no hot spots or glare.
1
2
3
4
4. AAMA-CERTIFIED 800MD FRAME DESIGN
Fully welded with encapsulating and
insulated thermal break. No exposed
metal to avoid condensation from thermal
bridging through the frame.
3. PRE-INSTALLED FOAM CURB GASKET
Protects against moisture infiltration.
ALL CURB MOUNTED SKYLIGHTS FEATURE HIGH-PERFORMANCE DESIGN, INCLUDING:
• Fully welded, AAMA-certified 800MD frames with encapsulating and insulated thermal break.
There is no exposed metal so condensation from thermal bridging is minimized.
• Pre-installed foam curb gasket protects against air and moisture infiltration.
• Integrated curb weather sweep that prevents wind-borne debris and moisture from entering.
• Exterior weeping gutter.
• Prismatic lens design and performance.
• Meets and exceeds glazing load requirements worldwide.
Optional smoke vent available.
SPECIFICATION SUMMARY
Material
IM Acrylic
Top Lens
IM Acrylic
Bottom Lens
Ratings
0.42
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
0.68
Variable Light Transmission (VLT)
0.74
U-Factor
Class 3
Impact Rating
CC2
Rate of Burn
Warranty
5-year limited warranty due to manufacturer defect
STANDARD CURB MOUNTED PRISMATIC SKYLIGHTS
Size
4080
5060
20100
4040
ID Frame Call-Out
52 1/4" x 100 1/4"
63 5/8" x 75 5/8"
27 1/4" x 123 1/4"
51 1/4" x 51 1/4"
G PRODUCTS
9
Smoke and Heat Vent Skylight
Smoke and heat vent skylights are rooftop venting systems typically used in manufacturing and industrial buildings, warehouses
and retail stores. They automatically open, releasing heat, smoke and noxious fumes during a fire, as required
by building code section 910.
ABC Smoke Vents are UL and/or Factory Mutual Rated (curb mounted design) and are fully glazed ready for installation.
Smoke vent frames shall be fabricated from 6061-T6 aluminum with a natural mill finish. Frames have integral condensation
and weepage gutters, which drain interior moisture to the outside.
Smoke vents operate by a fusible link with a minimum temperature rating of 165 degrees. The fusible link mechanism with gas
shocks includes an exterior manual release cable for testing. Smoke vents open to a minimum angle greater than 90 degrees.
ABC Smoke Vent Skylights are double glazed using SR40 100% Impact Modified Clear Prismatic or Polycarbonate over SR25
White Prismatic lens, CC1 Rated, glazed in a Signature Series Dome configuration.
Class 4 Impact Rating Standard
Engineered to withstand severe weather conditions, ABC’s Smoke Vent Prismatic Skylight features a double-glazed prismatic
lens that achieves a Class 4 Hail Zone glazing rating.
CLASS 4 IMPACT RATING REQUIREMENTS
Ice Ball Size Diameter
Kinetic Energy Target ft.-lb. (j)
Kinetic Energy +10 ft.-lb. (j)
1 3/4" (44.5 mm)
14.95 (20.3 j)
16.5 (22.4 j)
CC1 Fire Rating
This smoke and heat vent skylight achieves a CC1 fire rating.
This refers to plastic materials that have a burning rate of 1"
(25 mm) or less when tested in nominal 0.060" (1.5mm)
thickness.
STANDARD SIZES
SMOKE VENT CURB MOUNTED PRISMATIC SKYLIGHTS
Size
4080
5060
ID Frame Call-Out
52 1/4" x 100 1/4"
63 5/8" x 75 5/8"
SPECIFICATION SUMMARY
Material
Top Lens
Bottom Lens
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
Ratings
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Variable Light Transmission (VLT)
U-Factor
Impact Rating
Rate of Burn
0.42
0.64
0.74
Class 4
CC1
Warranty
5-year limited warranty due to manufacturer defect
10
DAYLIGHTING
How much daylighting is enough?
Most building codes will require between 2% and 5% of
roof area to be used for daylighting. Dark spots are often
created below 2%, and the cost benefit advantages decline
above 5% where electric light savings peak. Although
local codes or design requirements vary, the numbers to
the right are a rule of thumb for consideration.
DAYLIGHTING ROOF AREA % PER BUILDING USE
Building Type
Warehouse/Logistics
Manufacturing
Schools/Office
Retail
Overall
Optimum %
2 - 3%
3 - 4%
4 - 5%
4 - 5%
5%
SHGC, U-Factors and R-Values
Heat Gain and Loss
Windows, doors and skylights can gain and lose heat through:
• Direct conduction through the glazing, frame and/or doors
• The radiation of heat into a building (typically from the sun)
and out of a building from room-temperature objects, such
as people, furniture, machinery and interior walls
• Air leakage through and around them
to measure very specific properties, which is helpful when
examining the individual factors that can all be addressed to
improve the energy efficiency of a whole building.
When windows and skylights are rated for energy efficiency,
the rate of non-solar heat that passes through is quantified as
the U-factor, as opposed to SHGC, which quantifies the rate of
solar heat that passes through the window. SHGC and U-factor
ratings are specific to windows and skylights and measure
properties different from insulation R-values, which are used to
quantify the insulating capabilities of building materials used
elsewhere in a building, such as insulation behind walls, under
floors, in the roof, etc. These different values are each designed
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of solar
radiation admitted through a window, door or skylight –
either transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and
subsequently released as heat inside a building. The lower
the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the greater its
shading ability. A product with a high SHGC rating is more
effective at collecting solar heat during the winter. A product
with a low SHGC rating is more effective at reducing cooling
loads during the summer by blocking heat gain from the sun.
U-factor is the rate at which a window, door or skylight
conducts non-solar heat flow. The lower the U-factor, the
more energy-efficient the window, door or skylight.
G PRODUCTS
11
ABC Roof Curb
ABC’s new Roof Curb system enables lightweight roof
accessories such as skylights and smoke vents to be installed
with virtually any ABC roof panel, including standing seam,
through-fastened and insulated roof panels. This engineered
system can be installed in either new construction or in a
retrofit application. Steel lined with an insulated curb wall,
it requires no secondary framing, reducing total curb
installation weight.
Curb exteriors are either painted to match roof panel colors
or are primed with galvanized paint. Interior surface custom
color trim is available upon request.
In keeping with ABC and Nucor’s culture of Safety First,
all ABC Roof Curbs include OSHA compliant as standard.
Features:
• Does not require secondary framing members installed
between the purlin/joist members.
• Allows for expansion and contraction while resisting uplift.
• 14-gauge support channels are designed to resist live
loads and provide a rigid backer for curb attachment.
• Curb height is 7".
• Mitered and fully welded corners.
• Fully welded water cricket with a 1" splash lip.
• No special detailing required.
• All curbs are insulated as standard.
• OSHA compliant is standard.
• For new construction or retrofit applications.
• Interior side fasteners improve weatherability and
aesthetics.
12
Lightweight Framing System Saves Time and Money
STANDARD ROOF CURB SIZES
Size
4080
5060
20100
4040
ID Frame Call-Out
52 1/4" x 100 1/4"
63 5/8" x 75 5/8"
27 1/4" x 123 1/4"
51 1/4" x 51 1/4"
Interior side-fastening provides a clean appearance and improves
weatherability.
DAYLIGHTING
ABC Safety/Security Frame
One unique feature of ABC’s Roof Curb system is the
safety/security frame. Developed by ABC engineers, this
grid incorporates welded grating, which demonstrates our
commitment to innovative solutions.
5060 Curb with SS360/SSII Roof
5060 Curb with Loc Seam Architectural Roof
G PRODUCTS
13
Energy-Efficient LED Lighting
The lighting industry is experiencing change at an unprecedented rate. Digital technology is producing significant
reductions in energy usage and providing a better quality of light for users. LED is the most efficient lighting technology
available today. It is estimated by the U.S. Department of Energy that switching to LED lighting over the next two decades
could save the country $250 billion in energy costs over that period, reduce the electricity consumption for lighting by
nearly one half, and avoid 1,800 million metric tons of carbon emission. Because of the compelling benefits of LED lighting,
it is here to stay and will be an important part of the lighting industry for years to come.
Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world’s leading providers of LED lighting solutions
for both indoor and outdoor applications. The LED lighting products below are manufactured and distributed by Lithonia
Lighting, a division of Acuity Brands.
LED Lighting Products
JHBL LED High Bay
For unforgiving climates and demanding areas, the JHBL LED high bay
is the high-performance, heavy industrial LED solution. This completely
die-cast luminaire, with patterned borosilicate glass lens, is built to
withstand dust, moisture and airborne contaminants to maintain
greater lighting levels. The engineering behind the JHBL’s construction,
optics, electrical and thermal management systems allows it to thrive
in challenging environments, including high-ambient conditions up to
149°F (65°C).
Manufacturing and Warehouse
I-BEAM® LED High Bay
Ideal one-for-one replacement of conventional high bay systems such as
HID and fluorescent. Applications include manufacturing, warehousing
and other large indoor spaces with mounting heights up to 60'. These
fixtures are suitable for ambient temperatures from -40°F (-40°C) to
131°F (55°C).
Retail and Commercial
PROTEON™ SL Linear LED Luminaire
The PROTEON SL professional-grade LED solution was built from the
ground up, utilizing the most current LED electronics, precision optics
and unique accessories to solve vertical and horizontal illumination and
application challenges that have existed for decades. This is an ideal
LED lighting solution for suspended applications where quality lighting
and architectural form is valued. These fixtures can be used alone or in
a continuous-row application.
14
LIGHTING &
Lighting Controls
Lighting systems in nonresidential buildings operate at full output regardless of outdoor conditions. On most days, however,
daylight (sunlight through skylights and windows) can provide sufficient light levels for many activities. The results of not
dimming electric lights include occupant eye strain due to excessive light levels and unnecessarily high electricity use for
lighting and air-conditioning. Experience has shown that in commercial buildings, the manual operation of lights is unreliable
and thus an automatic system is required.
Lighting systems, skylights, windows and HVAC systems need to be designed to take maximum advantage of daylighting. When
solar gains are at their highest, the building cooling system can be reduced in size because lights are dimmed to the minimum.
Daylighting works best with indirect lighting because occupants are less likely to notice changes in electric light output.
Conversely, daylighting control does not work well with spot lighting. Maximum energy savings (up to 75%) are achieved when
the lighting system is controlled by both daylighting and occupancy sensors.
Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world’s leading providers of lighting control solutions.
Acuity Brands recommends XPoint™ Wireless for lighting controls in a building.
Fixture-Integrated Wireless Controls for High-Performance, Facility-Wide Lighting
Management
Powered by Adura®, a robust and patented wireless technology, XPoint
technology is integrated into the luminaire, enabling superior lighting
management.
XPoint Wireless allows users to group and easily configure individual lights
or groups to respond to any sensors, wall stations or neighboring luminaires.
Fixtures store individual time schedules and provide optional electrical current
measurement and lamp/driver outage reporting to simplify and reduce lighting
maintenance. Given this unique approach of distributed intelligence and control,
XPoint Wireless is able to operate without an active gateway or repeater, ensuring
no single point of failure.
& CONTROLS
15
LEED®
The use of ABC’s Prismatic Skylights in building design provides opportunities for a project to earn credit toward Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED®) points. LEED green building certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design,
construction and operation of green buildings.
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific
standards, LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection
and indoor environmental quality.
It is advantageous to design the building envelope, HVAC, lighting and other systems to maximize energy performance. Installing ABC Prismatic
Skylights along with lighting controls to maximize energy efficiency through reduced electric lighting use can easily help designers in achieving
and exceeding minimum energy-efficiency standards.
For more information on how your building may qualify for LEED points as a result of daylighting, please contact your ABC representative.
Source: U.S. Green Building Council (2009), LEED 2009 New Construction and Major Renovations. LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council
American Buildings Company
Marketing Information Line
888.307.4338
www.americanbuildings.com
INNOVATION.
TECHNOLOGY.
SOLUTIONS.
© AMERICAN BUILDINGS COMPANY
Form #00348-1015
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La Crosse, VA 23950
Tel: 706.562.8020
Fax: 706.562.8017
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Fax: 309.527.1522
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