New police station utilises daylight and ventilation systems from Monodraught

Monodraught has supplied its Sunpipe natural daylight system and Windcatcher ventilation system to a new state-of-the-art police station in Barrow-in-Furness. The station opened in October 2015 and has been shortlisted in the Commercial Build category of the Northern Design Awards for 2015.

The Windcatcher Classic system was installed at roof level to ensure air flow and temperature is controlled throughout the year. The system comprises an external louvre bank, protected internally by an anti-bird mesh and internally divided.

Monodraught’s Sunpipe daylight system was also specified to direct sunlight into a room from roof level. The Sunpipe uses a patented Diamond dome to collect daylight, using a silverised PVD coated mirror-finished aluminium tube to transfer light to a room, with a ceiling diffuser evenly distributing the light around the room. 

As the need for electric lighting during daytime hours is minimised, Sunpipes can provide energy savings as much as 75%. Studies also show that people work better under natural daylight and it is known to counteract the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).