SunPipes, a remarkable mirror-finished aluminium product from UK-based Monodraught, is set to make one of the greatest impacts on energy saving of any product being used in building services at the present time, claims chairman and managing director of Monodraught UK, Terry Payne.

SunPipes, which brings in natural light, into buildings gives users the benefits of cost and energy savings and creates pleasant indoor conditions providing diffused natural light. The company claims that SunPipes, which is good for health and adds a new dimension to building design, is ideal for use in schools, offices and hospitals.

While many buildings in the UAE are keen to shut out the fierce sunlight, SunPipes, actually captures sunlight and by using mirror-finish aluminium tubes, reflect and carry it into the building below to provide quality light, devoid of heat, a company spokesman says.

He adds: Although Monodraught manufactures a total of 10 different sizes of SunPipes to light up an area of any size, the 300 mm dia SunPipe is the most popular size in the UAE. Sunpipes are popularly used in schools, and more than 300 SunPipes have been installed at Latifa School for girls in Dubai. Prior to this, 60 SunPipes were installed at Rashid School for boys, also in Dubai.

SunPipes have also been used extensively on private villas and prestigious contracts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where architects and designers have been quick to recognise the advantage of using SunPipes for internal dressing rooms, internal bathrooms, internal corridors, staircases and indeed, virtually any area of the property that does not have the benefit of windows.

A major contract recently completed in Riyadh, was on a large villa, where SunPipes were used throughout in the games room, internal hallways, living areas, and dressing rooms.
Dubai CID headquarters has made a novel use of SunPipes. The project shows how a high degree of security can be enjoyed with SunPipes, by using stainless steel security bars at the underside of the pipe at roof level.

There has been an incredible growth in the popularity of SunPipes, following its launch six years ago. Now the sale of SunPipes has increased fourfold, he claims.
The company has been constantly enhancing the product. It has changed the earlier hemispherical domes of SunPipes to diamond-shaped domes with special facets and laser cut prisms that capture and reflect more sunlight. Accessories include motorised light shut-off dampers, which help users to vary the intensity of light in the working environment, be it lecture rooms, day-care centres or hospitals. Fireproof collars and security bars, gold effect and chrome ceiling diffusers can also be used to enhance the installation, he says.

The Windcatcher, natural ventilation systems from Monodraught, built for mountainous areas has been based on the concept of Wind Towers used in the old town of Dubai and other medieval cities of the Middle East. It is quite ironic that the system has been providing high tech, zero energy, air-conditioning for temperate climates although the concept originated in the Middle East.

Edison Lighting (Middle East) Ltd, is the UAE agent for Monodraught SunPipes. Justin Carter of Edison Lighting says: We are amazed at the amount of interest shown in SunPipes since they were first launched in the UAE four years ago. I am rushed off my feet meeting potential clients from as far as Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, all of whom are keen to consider our energy-saving concepts and are all attracted by the simplicity of the system.

Edison Lighting carries a 10-year guarantee and UV (ultra-violet) resistant acrylic is used in the diamond domes. The domes are impact resistant and ideally suited to the UAE climate because of their relatively smaller diameter when compared to the light intensity produced.

One of the most important aspects of the SunPipe, apart from the energy saving and high security status, is the ability to bring in natural light without the attendant heat gain normally associated with windows, skylights and rooflights. By eliminating the need for electric lighting during daytime use and, therefore, reducing the heat produced by electrical fittings, the overall impact of the application of SunPipes is to considerably reduce the cooling load that would otherwise be necessary for such buildings.

SunPipes has been installed in the UAE at Rashid School for Boys IT extension, a villa at Emirates Hills; additional barracks of the Dubai Police; British School Abu Dhabi; Dubai English Speaking School (DESS); Palm Island; Jumeirah Islands; Dubai Festival City; Offices of Convrgnt; Aston Martin workshop/garage at Jafz; Souk Al-Nakheel and EPPCO filling stations.
In Qatar, they have been used at the Doha Bank headquarters and West Bay, Doha.