Inmates see the light
April 1st 2004 One of the major design considerations in the new Lewisham police station was the area of the building where the cells are located and how to combine a light, airy environment with the need for high security. The answer was the Monodraught Sunpipe system from Monodraught
Monodraught Sunpipes made it possible to convey natural light from above the building to areas below by intensifying sunlight and normal daylight through the use of highly reflective, pure silver coated mirror-finish aluminium tubes. Entering through a clear UV stabilised polycarbonate top dome on the roof, which acts as a seal against water or dust ingress, the light is distributed softly, without glare, throughout the room or space below by means of a ceiling mounted prismatic diffuser. There is virtually no limit to the length of the Monodraught Sunpipe or the number of bends that can be used and the system is highly effective in sunny, overcast, or even rainy conditions.
Trapped within the Monodraught Sunpipe is a column of still air, which acts as an excellent insulator against heat transfer, virtually eliminating heat loss in the winter months and preventing heat gain in the summer months. The units are easy to install, in flat or pitched roofs of any construction and are equally easy to retrofit, generally requiring no structural alterations.
The detention area at Lewisham Police Station does of course require the highest level of security and it was necessary to design a number of protective measures into the Monodraught Sunpipe system without there being any reduction in natural daylight. The openings at roof level are of a small diameter to prevent access and in addition the Sunpipe top dome is both vandal proof and protected with security screws. Below this, 10mm diameter stainless steel bars are fixed at 100mm intervals for added security and in each cell the ceiling diffuser trims, which are in a stainless steel finish, are locked with security screws.
Paul Leung, procurement officer for the contractor comments: Until now, I had not personally had any experience of working with Monodraught, but they are extremely helpful and professional to deal with and the Monodraught Sunpipe is a clever and cost-effective product. There are a number of PFI police projects imminent in Ashton, Bolton, Rendelton, Swinton and Wigan and we shall be purchasing a further 261 Monodraught Sunpipe systems in total for these developments.
A major police station in any urban complex can be a stressful, even claustrophobic place, not just for the prisoners but for staff as well, especially if the environment is made particularly harsh by the use of fluorescent tubes and glaring light bulbs. The natural soft light distributed by the Sunpipe system makes a big contribution to creating a much more restful atmosphere, which can only have a beneficial effect on everyones well being.
Since Monodraught Sunpipes can be used to provide natural lighting during daylight hours, they significantly reduce the dependence on electric lighting and during the daytime can eliminate the need for it altogether. This can equate to daytime energy savings in the region of 75%. These are important considerations in the context of countering the effects of the Climate Change Levy and in meeting the next revision to Part L, now brought forward to 2005 and in which the Government has announced its aim to progressively tighten the energy requirements of the Building Regulations. More articles from Monodraught Limited: | 
