Solar Tubing meets flame spread requirements

Press Release Summary:

UL recognized Specular+ reflective material meets flame spread requirements under UL No. 1570, 1571, and 1572. Coil of Specular+ can be cut, formed, back-welded, and fitted with elbows of 15° radius, allowing up to 30° bend (max) in installation. Offered in 10, 14, and 16 in. dia models, lighting generates 3750, 6500, and 8200 lumens respectively. Maximum recommended tube lengths are available to 15 ft.

Original Press Release:

Solar Tubes Use New Material to Brighten Performance

One innovative system of natural illumination for household and commercial room space relies on the reflectance of its interior tube material. Recently, various manufacturers began incorporating high reflectance Specular+® material from MSC to enhance the performance of this "light catcher system". Tubular skylights function as shown in Figure. A roof-mounted dome collects natural light and directs it down a highly reflective cylinder to a light diffuser in the room ceiling. The diffuser has the appearance of a standard light fixture. The cylinder tubing can be angled around attic or other obstructions for easy installation. The highly reflective interior material lining of the tubing reflects light all the way down the tube to the diffuser. Owing to the total reflectance and specular reflectance properties of the material, the maximum amount of light reaches the room interior. In reviewing the available options for the interior material, design engineers considered a number of factors, especially specular reflectance, defined as the light emission reflection off the surface as a percentage of the incoming beam. A 30° specular reflectance test was performed by several engineers, as this angle represents the maximum bend allowable in the recommended installation of these devices. In addition to the total and specular reflectance tests, industry engineers also evaluated the materials under consideration for distinctness of image (DOI), 15° reflected haze (H15), color metrics (CIE "LAB", yellowness index ASTM D1925) and to ASTM standards E308 and E430. At present, only a few major manufacturers offer laminated lighting sheet material for this mirror-like finish application. After a careful examination of the available vendors, several solar tube manufacturers chose to partner with MSC, Material Sciences Corporation, and utilize its Specular+® material. Specular+® is manufactured in two distinct steps. First, a clear, super plastic polyester film undergoes a process known as Magnetron Sputtered Vacuum Deposition (MSVD), in which a layer of pure silver is deposited onto the film. MSVD is currently recognized as the most advanced thin-film metallizing process, offering excellent metal-to-film adhesion. Next, through a proprietary continuous coil coating process at MSC, the film is permanently bonded to coil steel or aluminum, in thicknesses from .015"-.035" and widths up to 48". The process utilizes a thermoset, cross-linked adhesive system which chemically bonds the film to the substrate, creating a film-tearing bond strength substantial enough to eliminate delimination, bend crazing or cracking, forming restrictions and even iridescence Specular+® is a component recognized by UL, under File No. E104090 and meets flame spread requirements under UL #1570, #1571 and #1572. MSC is a recognized EPA "Green Lights" Ally company, as their products demonstrate substantial energy saving characteristics On the solar tube application, the coil of Specular+® can be cut, formed, back-welded and fitted with elbows of a 15° radius, thereby allowing up to a 30° bend maximum in installation. Currently, such units are typically offered in 10", 14" and 16" diameter models with maximum recommended tube lengths to 15'. By comparison to a standard 100-watt incandescent bulb which generates 1200 lumens or a 40-watt, 48" fluorescent tube which produces 2300 lumens, these are the relative outputs of most solar tube models: 10" 3750 lumens
14" 6500 lumens
16" 8200 lumens A 10" solar tube compares to a 2'x2' skylight while a 14" or 16" model compares to a 2'x4' skylight. For more information on Specular+® and the entire family of high reflectance materials, please contact: MSC ENGINEERED MATERIALS AND SOLUTIONS GROUP, 2200 East Pratt Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-5995. Toll-Free: 1-800-877-9078. Phone: 847-718-8110. Fax: 847-718-8862. "Web. www.matsci.com. Email: bandc@interaccess.com. Attention: Jim Carlen