Tubular Skylights

Tubular skylights (sometimes called also solar tubes, solar tunnels, sun diffusers, etc...) are ideal for illuminating the inner spaces where the natural daylight has no reach (e.g. closets, inner staircases).

The tubular skylights consist of 3 basic parts:

- rectangular frame to be mounted on the roof (a skylight window equivalent, but without venting capability);
- flexible tubus with very reflective inner surface;
- the light diffuser to be mounted to the ceiling;

The soler tubes can be used with almost any sloped roofs (usually from 15 to 60 degrees pitch).

The roof orientation for the tubular skylights

The roof orientation affects the illumination level very much, ideally the tubular skylights top part (the plane skylight window equivalent) is placed onto the roof surface facing the south (this works for Europe and Northern America), south-east or south-west (depends when you use your wardrobe more, if in the morning or in the evening).

Tubular skylight dimensions

Second very important factor is the solar tube dimensions. Velux tubular skylights for example use the tubuses with 35 cm diameter (approximately 1.15 ft) and 2 m length.

The length of the soler tube can be increased with a tube extensions, but too long tube means less light.

One tubulra skylight with the usual dimension can illuminate the inner space of 10 square metres (round 105 sqare feet).