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System Performance | System Description | Case Study |
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System Performance
When sunlight hits Okalux’s translucent capillary slab it is evenly diffused in all directions, creating a uniform illumination of the room with daylight and avoiding harsh contrasts (shadows). The Okalux system is able to diffuse light from both high and low incoming angles. Because this system is integrated in an IGU, the inner cavity provides insulation thanks to the air trapped within the capillary tubes, which maintains stable thermal conditions. The slab also blocks some of the incoming light, which both reduces glare and blocks vision. A 100% UV protection can also be achieved. While this barrier creates privacy, it obstructs the user from looking beyond the unit, and its thick slab also provides good sound insulating properties, hence allowing areas to be effectively separated from one another. This effect makes Okalux a good system to implement in buildings where an outward view is not critical, such as gyms and museums, as well as for separating indoor areas like office cubicles. For a more advanced lighting analysis and project specific results, we recommend using the Lightsolve program (under development).
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Performance data for all systems in the same category. Comparison to systems in other categories, selected through the matrix filtering process.
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System Description
The bulk of the Okalux unit is made up of polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) capillary tubes, which are either translucent or white in color. Its section is between 8 mm and 24 mm wide. Both faces of this slab are covered with a glass fiber layer. The whole system is then sandwiched between two glass sheets. When light is dispersed throughout the inner system, a quasi-lambertian distribution is obtained even for grazing or near-normal incident angles. The thickness of the unit affects to what extent light is being diffused, and heat and sound are blocked. The installation of these units is similar to that of any other insulating glass, with a maximum size of 2 m by 4 m and aluminum profile joints to support larger uses. The only difference is the thickness of the system, which is greater than that of an average insulating glass unit. This has to be taken into account when Okalux is used as a replacement unit. Maintenance is the same as that of other insulating glasses. The energy savings obtained by using this system mostly come from the reduction of electric lighting needs resulting from a more even distribution of daylight, and from the reduction of heating and cooling loads because of its higher insulating capabilities compared to a conventional glazing. |
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