One of the oldest British curriculum schools in the Middle East, The British School at Al-Khubairat in Abu Dhabi, is currently completing a third phase of a major extension.

It has opted for the Monodraught SunPipe system, which pipes in sunlight deep into the building – but without the attendant problems of solar gain.
The British School was originally established in 1968 on land donated by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at Khubairat.
The focal point of the new school extension – due to open this September – is a spectacular 12.3-m-high atrium to the circular library, which will be naturally lit using a 1,000-mm diameter Monodraught SunPipe with eight, 530 mm diameter SunPipes set into a circular recess at ceiling level to provide a stunning and highly efficient natural lighting effect to the library.
In addition, the new extension will also include a theatre, a drama studio, and state-of-the-art music centre, an additional gymnasium, swimming pool, and 20 classrooms. Of the total of 71 SunPipes that are installed, a large proportion has been used instead of conventional skylights to the atrium area of the school.
“Project architect Gibb Limited (Abu Dhabi) chose SunPipes over skylights as they were not only economical and provided far more light than conventional skylights but did not result in solar gain,” says a spokesman for the UK-based Monodraught.
Al-Meraikhi General Contracting of Abu Dhabi was the main contractor.

SunPipes
SunPipes consist of a silver-plated, mirror-finish aluminium tube, which reflects sunlight down into the area below.
Elaborating on how the Sunpipes are installed, the spokesman says: “The diamond-shaped roof dome is sealed to the top of the SunPipe with a special gasket to prevent the ingress of sand and dust. There is virtually no limit to the length of SunPipe that can be used and adjustable elbows can be used to allow the SunPipe to twist and turn internally, so as to avoid internal obstructions, such as water pipes and services.
“At The British School, SunPipes of up to 2.8 m in length were used and the main feature, the 1,000 mm diameter SunPipe, had a length of approximately 3.2 m. All SunPipes are totally sealed internally and at the ceiling level, a twin skin ceiling diffuser is incorporated with a double-glazed 50 mm cavity. Monodraught systems are produced with either a white ceiling trim or can also be provided in stainless steel or other metal finishes.
“Highly cost-effective and produced in the UK, the system is designed to eliminate the transfer of solar gain, since the long, tall column of still air acts as an excellent insulator against heat transfer. Not only does the system bring in pure, natural daylight, without glare, but it also does away with the need to use electric lighting during the day and reduces the cooling load on buildings significantly. The savings are, therefore, considerable.”
According to the spokesman, these include savings:
• On energy that would otherwise be used for lighting;
• On the extra cooling load necessitated by the heat generated by lighting;
• On maintenance associated with replacement of light bulbs.
In addition to the energy savings, the benefits to both teachers and pupils is significant. Studies carried out in the US by Heschong Mahone’s Consulting Group found that in a 1999 study on three schools with a total of 21,000 students, pupils with the most daylighting in their classrooms progressed 20 per cent faster on mathematics tests and 26 per cent faster on reading tests over the course of the year. These results were confirmed in a further study carried out in 2000.
The headmaster at The British School, Jim Harvey says: “I am very impressed with the light output from the SunPipe. The quality of light is far better than any electric lighting as it is soft, pure and doesn't produce glare. Although the work is not complete yet, the SunPipes already convey a sense of peace and calm.”
Even the tradesmen currently finishing the project have benefited from this natural lighting. The initial lighting levels measured are around 400 lux at floor level.
SunPipes have been used fairly extensively in Dubai, particularly at Rashid School for Boys and Latifa School for Girls as well as for villas, palaces, and apartment blocks throughout the UAE - particularly for bathrooms and dressing rooms, where natural lighting is always the preferred option but security and privacy are paramount.
SunPipes are far more secure than any conventional skylight or rooflight and where so often, blinds are drawn or shutters used on bathrooms and dressing rooms, the SunPipe brings in natural light completely unhindered!
“In addition, maintenance of the SunPipes is relatively simple and it is normally recommended that the domes are washed off every three months but such is the nature of the diamond dome that even where they are not washed on a regular basis, there is very little reduction in performance,” the spokesman concludes.
The Monodraught’s agent for Abu Dhabi and Dubai is Edison Lighting (Middle East).