Danelaw Pitched Roofing - Zenon GRP Rooflights
- Dryseal Flat Roofing
- General
Danelaw Pitched Roofing 
Zenon GRP Rooflights 
Dryseal Flat Roofing 
Zenon Evolution
Zenon Evolution is a brand of rooflight from Hambleside Danelaw that is both durable and strong, all while having a lower embodied carbon content than traditionally reinforced rooflights. Evolution’s use of advanced manufacturing reinforcement technology results in a product that exceeds the requirements for the industry standard non-fragility testing, withstanding impacts of more than twice the force needed to pass the test.
Manufactured using continuous strands of woven glass filaments provides the product with very high tensile strength and resistance to tearing acting like a safety net. The manufacturing process uses less resin than other market equivalents, offering the best solution for your environmentally conscious industrial, agricultural or commercial building.
Benefits of Zenon Evolution, a GRP rooflight with low embodied carbon
With all the benefits of Zenon Pro, Zenon Evolution is a high strength GRP rooflight with low embodied carbon. Due to the lower resin to glass ratio, the rooflight is thinner, allowing for better profile definition and more effective lap detail to suit the surrounding metal sheeting.
The reduction of resin also means Zenon Evolution is significantly lighter than other products with the same non-fragility performance, while still being as durable and impact resistant.
Embodied carbon in the finished Zenon Evolution rooflight range is up to significantly lower than conventionally reinforced alternatives of equivalent strength.
Increasing thermal efficiency
Rooflights need to allow the maximum amount of natural light through while preventing heat loss.
All of Zenon rooflight assemblies can have thermal layers added, with Hambleside Danelaw’s Insulator being the perfect choice for low U-Values. Made from cellulose acetate, a recycled wood pulp product and compostable at the end of its service, our Insulator provides U values that can far exceed the regulatory requirements.
All Zenon GRP rooflights are protected by Zenon Shield, a highly durable UV protective surface film, granting the rooflight an extended service life.
Take a look at Hambleside Danelaw’s performance calculator to see the differences between different GRP rooflight configurations.
We accept bookings to deliver CPD courses about our rooflights and GRP rooflights in general, email marketing@hambleside-danelaw.co.uk to find out more.
We can additionally send out a sample of the Zenon Evolution – contact us to have one delivered.
Product FAQs
As an insulant, yes it is, but for the marginal improvement in the heat that is retained by it, the extra layers that both absorb and reflect light mean that the light transmission losses are higher. For some designs, this would be a sound solution, but in many cases the light improvement and lower embodied carbon of the lighter product delivers a better result.
For the best of both worlds, consider the use of Zenon Insulator. This can deliver improved U-values with minimal impact on light transmission, so the best of both worlds.
Due to customer feedback, Zenon Archlight Barrel Vault Rooflight is now called Zenon Curve to avoid confusion with Zenon Arc Barrel Vault Rooflight.
Zenon Evolution might not always be the best choice for the project, however it brings many benefits. The glass reinforcement comprises continuous strands that run the length and width of the rooflight providing greater levels of tear resistance and greater safety without having to make the rooflight thicker. This means that it can be manufactured to a sharper profile shape to match the metal sheets better, under at the top and over at the bottom. This makes the sealing of the rooflight easier and more reliable.
Due to the increased glass content, the level of light transmission through the Evolution product is less, but the diffusion is greater. Lower levels of light transmission result in lower levels of solar heat gains, therefore greater areas of rooflighting can be used to improve the uniformity of light within the building and avoid areas of shadow.
The stronger thinner product uses less raw materials which reduces the amount of embodied carbon in the product and can also be more cost effective compared to thicker alternatives. Please see FAQs about design considerations, for more information on why specifying rooflights is an important component within building design.
Span capabilities vary by profile depth and weight of rooflight sheet. Maximum span recommendations can be found on our product data sheets, which can be emailed to you via our Zenon sales team.
Zenon Arc is a factory-built panel barrel vault rooflight system available in double skin configuration manufactured using either the Zenon Pro or Zenon Evolution type materials and with the choice of two additional ‘Insulator’ upgrade options. It is manufactured to accommodate spans or 1.0m or 1.2m and is extremely quick to install on site.
Some roof sheet profiles are more than 1 metre wide as standard and we have tooling to make many such products. Often the rooflight pattern of an installation can include two or more rooflights adjacent to one another, depending on the daylighting requirements within the building. For other roof types, Barrel Vault Rooflights, available for daylight opening widths of up to 4 metres, may be the best option. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
We can supply certain rooflight profiles to match these metal roof profiles, however there are usually strong technical reasons where this is not the best approach, and ‘out-of-plane’ barrel vault systems mounted on kerbs such as Zenon Arc would be a more appropriate solution. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Zenon rooflights have either a 25 year or 30 year Service Life Guarantee dependent upon choice of material. Project specific service life guarantees can be issued for inclusion in O&M manuals upon request. As manufacturers of components fitted into or onto roof assemblies by others, we cannot offer any guarantees on non-fragility as there are too many factors beyond our control.
Yes. Rooflights must be tested for light, heat and solar transmission properties, together with fire performance. They’re are also tested for non-fragility in a representative assembly of the different construction details required for that system.
In-plane GRP rooflights are not recommended for use in pitches below 4°, although some system manufacturers may allow this, subject to the limits of their system guarantee. They can also be used as ‘wall lights’ in vertical cladding applications where required. For roofs with a pitch below 4°, or for some specialised roof systems, kerb-mounted barrel vault rooflights are often the best option. We supply a GRP barrel vault rooflight system, Zenon Arc. Contact us for further information.
Zenon rooflights are manufactured from translucent, naturally-diffusing GRP. The light levels passing through Zenon rooflights can be comparable to transparent materials, subject to weight and specification. Unless direct vision is required through a rooflight, then diffused light is a more appropriate option. The light is scattered over a wider area reducing the uncomfortable effects of hot spots, glare and gloom within the building.
We have tooling to match the vast majority of fibre cement and metal roofing profiles. If we don’t have the profile you need, we can produce the necessary tooling at a cost depending on the quantity required. Sheet lengths are generally manufactured from 1.2m to 7.5m but can be made them shorter or longer to meet specific requirements. There would usually be additional cost associated with this. Please contact us for more information.