Fast installation at UK Hydrographic Office

Modularised and prefabricated, the modular skylights simplified a complex specification for natural daylight, first-class ventilation, and modern aesthetics in a central atrium area at the heart of the new development.

VELUX Modular Skylights were installed by Daylight Solutions, a specialist installer of roof lighting systems and a proud installation partner of VELUX Commercial.

As with all building projects, timing and scheduling were key.

Having worked with VELUX Commercial since 2014, the organisation came equipped with a clear understanding of VELUX Commercial’s product range and how to install them efficiently. Indeed, thanks to both the expertise of Daylight Solutions and the simplicity of the VELUX Modular Skylight system, the project was able to progress quickly and efficiently without any real complications or costly delays. Delivered on time and to specification, the units were then lifted onto the roof and installed within a mere five days.

"From an installer’s point of view, I’ve installed pretty much every rooflight system on the British market. The VELUX Modular Skylight system has such a smooth installation process where you’ve not got this complicated box of bits and pieces that need to go together. It’s a very simple modular system that goes together, piece-by-piece, in a self-explanatory and efficient way, which really helps when it comes to installing them" -  said Scott Russell, Director of Daylight Solutions Limited.

The prefabricated and modularised nature of the VELUX Modular Skylight system allowed for the units to be installed without the use of scaffolding and thus circumvented a large amount of the preparatory works in addition to minimising many of the associated safety risks when working at height. Instead, Daylight Solutions were able to complete the installation of the products with a simple safety net setup which saved a considerable amount of time and effort without questioning the important aspect of safety. Further to this, the modularised nature of the system also optimised the impact of weather conditions and allowed for the building to be made watertight much more quickly and mitigate safety risks presented by weather conditions.

Atrium skylights seen from inside the UK Hydrographic Office

Adam Spall, Regional Director of AHR Architects explained: “One of the challenges on this building was that it had a very tight programme with a high specification. Ultimately we had to construct this 800-square metre atrium roof, 3 storeys up, without sterilising the space below it which is a huge challenge in and of itself. Prefabrication and modularisation were really essential to that. The concrete beams that the roof lights sit on were all fabricated off-site, along with the timber baffles, steelwork, and timber cladding that hooked onto it. The roof lights themselves were then installed from above with safety nets, meaning we didn’t need to scaffold the atrium and avoided many of the complications we might otherwise have experienced on site.”