An analysis of daylighting performance of learning spaces in local government sector schools in Kandy

Abisheka Wijesundara,Wajishani Gamage

doi:10.4038/faruj.v8i1.105

Abstract

Natural lighting creates a pleasant environment, promotes healthier conditions and saves energy, and is an important factor in the design of education institutions. Many research indicates the positive impacts of better daylighting integration in educational spaces for student’s health and wellbeing. For this research, an in-depth lighting integration analysis was carried out in three typical classrooms in Berrewaerts college Kandy, Sri Lanka. A field study comprised of a questionnaire-based survey and measurement of illuminance was combined with daylight simulation using Autodesk Ecotect 2011 & Autodesk Revit. The study reveals that lack of awareness in integration of natural light with the design can either result in increasing the negative effects of excessive daylight exposure or lack of adequate daylighting. In upper levels and east facing classrooms the main problems were associated with high levels of daylight such as excessive shadow and light patches, uneven light distribution and color distribution and impede perception of objects and text. At ground floor level and south facing classrooms, when natural light is not properly integrated with the design resulted in uneven light distribution, non-uniformity of light resulted in difficulty in reading at work plane and impede the visual perception of objects and text.

Highlights

Oxford dictionary describes daylighting as “the illumination of buildings by natural light.” Daylight is known to have both visual and non-visual effects on building occupants
This study investigates daylighting performance of learning spaces in local government sector schools which are designed according to typical class room design requirements established by the ministry of education
Natural lighting is an important factor in the design of education buildings as it increases productivity, promotes a healthy and pleasant environment while it reduces energy consumption that results from the use of artificial lighting

Summary

Introduction

Oxford dictionary describes daylighting as “the illumination of buildings by natural light.” Daylight is known to have both visual and non-visual effects on building occupants. Narasimhan and others cited by The Asian Regional Institute for School Building Research (Research, 1972) in a study conducted on 2,200 school children in Uttar Pradesh, India identified considerable association of sub normal vision in students aged 5 to 13 which was linked to prolonged use of the eye under poor lighting conditions or use with strain They recommended higher levels of illumination in primary classes than in the secondary classes and values not less than 106 lux. Lack of adequate research and design guidelines on facade design for optimized daylighting in the tropical climates and lack of guidelines at master planning level for national schools in Sri Lanka, frequently result in class room blocks being located close to each other, further hindering the access to daylighting These can be identified as some major drawback influencing optimum daylighting design in learning spaces in the majority of public school in the country. The study further identifies planning related design considerations which impact the optimum daylighting performance of learning environments

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Conclusion