Article Two

NOTE: Although this is an old article, it addresses some of the issues we students must evaluate and solve in our current assignment on warehouse design and portal frame construction.

Journal: Innovative Building Volume 7, No5 May 1992 p.5

Title: MAJOR NEW WAREHOUSE NEEDS NO LIGHTS

This article presents a case study in Sydney where one of the largest warehouses constructed using a portal frame was lit entirely by natural light. This was supposedly successfully achieved by placing Alsynite fiberglass sheeting, which are like ribbon skylight windows, along the span of the structure covering 7% of the total roof area. The light then enters the space and is reflected off the white internal finish of the Lysaght Trimdek roofing and Spankel walling. Thomas Roofing Manager Jim Thomas claims that “the fixing of the Lysaght roofing and walling was relatively straight forward, despite the size of the task…” he also promotes the aesthetic qualities of using this method of lighting large spaces stating that “the roofs were crimp curved to give a more attractive finish at the edges, and there are no gutters- rainwater falls straight into drains at ground level…” He then proposes that not only does this new method and materials produce a clean line finish that is environmentally friendly, but also significantly reduces maintenance requirements and as a consequence to the design and fabrication of the external walls, natural ventilation is also provided.
The article does not provide any information about costs, time needed for construction, disadvantaged to having no artificial lighting, ect… as a matter of fact in provides no information that criticize or condemn the product, thus making the article sound more like an advertisement rather then a logical and scientifically proven breakthrough of new technologies and materials. In my opinion I think that the author presents a biased view and that more research and experimentation is needed before a promotion of such construction.