The benefits of natural light in schools
Using and planning for natural light
A benchmark in architecture, light is a natural and free element that affects the appearance and perception of every aspect of a building: from the budget down to the details of its interior design. Changing with the hours and seasons, and having a very real impact on interior light, sunshine also has an impact on how constituent elements within a building such as decor and colours work.
In architecture, natural light is an integral part of building design, a source of creativity, and, above all, brings real added value, thanks to its effect on its users’ comfort, health and mood. These qualities are all the more popular in buildings for living and places devoted to human activity such as residential buildings, offices and educational buildings.
The benefits of natural light in schools
Why opt for natural light?
Natural light is a reference point for the human biological clock, it sets the rhythm of the circadian cycle and it is essential for capturing visual information. Given that 80% of learned information is acquired through sight, it would seem fundamental, both biologically and pedagogically, that teaching establishments choose plenty of natural lighting.
European survey conducted by UPMC (Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie at the Sorbonne) and INSERM (the French national institute for health and medical research) in 57 schools (148 classrooms) in Europe, reveals that the quality of natural lighting in classrooms has a significant impact on students’ academic performance. The scientists concluded that students working in classrooms with more glass scored 15% higher in maths and logic tests, due to the abundance of natural light and a reduced sense of restriction.
Clever Classrooms, conducted in 27 schools also highlights the influence that natural light, air quality and temperature in the classroom can have on learning. Of all the design parameters considered, lighting has the most individual impact. The study highlights the benefits of sunlight when it is controlled for glare, using blackout blinds or external shading
Comfort recognised by European standardisation organisations
Adopted in 2018, EN 17037 is the first European standard on natural light in buildings. It recommends minimum guidelines in terms of the amount of natural light to be achieved for building comfort. Beyond these quantitative recommendations, it also covers other aspects of natural light, such as exposure to direct sunlight, protection against glare and a view outside.
Controlling natural light: glare control solutions
Numerous studies corroborate that daylight, when properly used, is irreplaceable. Nothing compares to or gives such a feeling of well-being as daylight. Some products on the market aim to exploit the beneficial characteristics of daylight, while avoiding its negative aspects such as glare, reflection on screens and uncontrolled overheating of a room.
Easy to install, blackout blinds are practical when using video projectors or to avoid reflections on computer screens, but using them entails suspending natural light and means compensatory artificial lighting must be used, while external sunshades regulate excess light without depriving the room of natural light and its physiological benefits.
Made of profiled aluminium blades, Airfoil® sun protection’s advantage is that it is modular and fully customisable. Fixed sun protection can be assembled on a projection awning, installed on the building’s façade (horizontal or vertical sunshades, blades flat or standing) or even corner-mounted on a projection awning.
RAL powder coatings are QUALICOAT and QUALIMARINE certified. Aluminium blades can be ovoid, commonly called aeroplane wing blades, or rectangular. To provide even better building performance, they can integrate soundproofing solutions or LEDs.
In terms of energy, whether blackout blinds or architectural sunshades, both solutions limit excess heat from sunlight and help limit the need for air conditioning. But unlike sun protection, blackout blinds require repeated human intervention, meaning that they cannot be considered a reliable and sustainable device.
The final word on Airfoil® blades: the shape of our blades have been specially calculated and tested in a wind tunnel to limit the resonance and noise of even strong winds.
