Take a look outside your window. Is the sun shining through? If so, you’re much more likely to be working with a smile on your face.
How tensile fabric membrane is changing the daylighting game
There’s a good reason for that. Studies conducted by the Sustainable Investment Group (SIG) show that daylighting in buildings can positively impact the productivity and satisfaction of employees, students, clients and retail customers. And the advantages don’t stop there. For most buildings that use daylighting, overall energy savings can range from 15-40%.
Today, custom tensile structure contractors are prioritizing diffused glare-free daylighting in projects using translucent membranes like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and transparent membranes like ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). Buildings that employ these tensile fabric membranes experience high sun reflectivity and low absorption of sunlight, allowing natural daylight to enter and greatly reducing the solar heat gain that enters the structure. As a result, significant energy is saved while cooling costs are reduced, a true game-changer as buildings further commit to going green.
The Unique Properties of Tensile Fabric Membrane
A highly sustainable building material for tensile façade cladding applications, tensile fabric membrane maximizes daylight while minimizing solar heat gain and fabrication-related waste. Due to the lightweight, flexible nature of membrane, a tensile fabric façade or roof system can span long distances while reducing the need for a lot of structural steel support framing, making it an affordable and innovative solution.
One type of membrane, PTFE-coated fiberglass, not only offers premium daylighting benefits – it also is extremely durable and weather resistant. This membrane can be installed in any type of climate, from scorching desert heat to the frigid arctic. During scientific tests of its solar properties, it was discovered that PTFE fiberglass membrane reflects approximately 72 to 75% of the sun’s radiated solar energy while allowing approximately 8 to 20% of natural daylight to permeate the membrane, depending on the strength and thickness of the material.
Another durable membrane, TensoSky ETFE, is considered the material of choice for everything from traditional skylight applications to long span structures and building facades. ETFE is proven to be 90-95% transparent and allows for the passing of UVs, which are responsible for the promotion of photosynthesis and the facilitation of plant growth. ETFE membranes also are exceptionally long-lasting, cost-effective, and recyclable.
Daylighting Across Borders
Buildings around the world, including the U.S. Embassy in London, are enjoying the daylighting benefits of tensile façade systems. The 87,500-square-foot embassy is a transparent, crystalline cube designed to provide generous daylight and views while confronting the environmental challenges all nations face with leading-edge sustainable design.
The building’s new outer envelope features approximately 399 single-layer TensoSky ETFE façade sails that have been optimized to shade interiors at the embassy from east, west and south sun while admitting daylight and framing large open-view portals to the outside. Its pattern visually fragments the façade while intercepting unwanted solar gain.
Today, these single-layer ETFE façade sails at the embassy are leaving a legacy of innovation and sustainability by offering natural light and access to London’s beautiful views.
Pioneering a More Sustainable Tomorrow
With more than 65 years of experience, Birdair is the world’s leading specialty contractor for custom tensile membrane structures. Birdair works with owners, architects, engineers, and contractors to design and build custom tensile fabric structures used to create innovative roofing systems, canopies, and skylights.
Through the use of membranes such as PTFE, Tensotherm—an insulated translucent tensile membrane system—and transparent membranes like TensoSky ETFE, Birdair is helping buildings reduce energy costs while boosting productivity, learning and healing for the occupants inside.
Michele R. Taylor is the business development manager at Birdair Inc., Amherst, N.Y. To learn more, visit www.birdair.com.