A continuous rooflight is a continuous, elongated roof element that transmits light, installed on the flat roofs of large-area facilities. Unlike a single roof skylight, it takes the form of a long band running along the roof slope, thus illuminating a large usable area with uniform, natural light—serving as a supplement to or replacement for window lighting. Continuous rooflights are available in curved or triangular shapes and can be equipped with an integrated ventilation or smoke vent (smoke exhaust).
What is the difference between a continuous rooflight and a roof skylight?
A continuous rooflight and a roof skylight serve a similar function, but they differ in form and scale of application. A roof skylight is a single, point element installed at regular intervals on the roof surface, whereas a continuous rooflight is a continuous, elongated structure usually running along the ridge or between roof trusses, covering a much larger and more uniform lighting area.
For this reason, continuous rooflights are particularly effective in facilities with large spans and high requirements for the uniformity of natural lighting, such as production halls or high-bay warehouses.
Continuous rooflights are installed on flat roofs or roofs with a slight pitch in large-area facilities: production halls, logistics centers, warehouses, sports facilities, high-rise buildings, and shopping centers.
Types of continuous rooflights
Continuous rooflights are primarily divided based on their cross-sectional shape:
- curved – with a rounded profile;
- triangular – with a ridge, gable profile.
The choice of shape depends mainly on the roof structure and architectural preferences. Many continuous rooflights can be additionally equipped with an integrated ventilation vent (for daily, natural ventilation of the facility) or a smoke vent, used to exhaust smoke and heat in the event of a fire.
Such a solution combines the daylighting function with the smoke exhaust or ventilation function in a single roof structure.
What is a continuous rooflight made of?
Regardless of the manufacturer, a continuous rooflight essentially consists of two elements: the load-bearing structure—most often a frame made of aluminum profiles, providing a rigid and lightweight skeleton—and the cover, i.e., the light-transmitting shield mounted in this frame, usually made of polycarbonate. The base of the rooflight (the element connecting the structure to the roof) is most often made of galvanized steel sheet and requires appropriate thermal insulation of the substrate.
What is a continuous rooflight made of?
Continuous rooflights are described by a classification similar to that of point skylights, taking into account, among others:
- DL - resistance to downward load (e.g., snow);
- UL - resistance to upward load (e.g., wind suction);
- SB - resistance to soft body impact;
- the thermal transmittance coefficient of the entire structure, which is important when assessing energy losses through the roof partition.
If a continuous rooflight is equipped with an integrated smoke vent, this element is subject to separate certification in accordance with the EN 12101-2 standard, just like an independent smoke vent.
Continuous rooflights in the AWAK offer
We design and manufacture continuous rooflights at our own plant located in Buk. We are part of the Finnish KERA Group, which operates dynamically in 8 European countries.
In our offer, you will find solutions tailored to the requirements of your project, including:
- curved continuous rooflights (with a width from 0.8 to 6 m) and triangular ones (from 0.8 to 4.5 m),
- options for integration with single- or double-leaf ventilation and smoke vents,
- reinforced variants with increased resistance to snow load.
The covers we offer are available, among others, in the Broof(t1)/NRO fire resistance class. We provide up to a 10-year warranty on the polycarbonate cover and tightness, while we offer 2 to 3 years of protection for the actuators.
Our solutions are successful not only in Poland. Continuous rooflights of our production also illuminate production and warehouse halls in Sweden, Romania, Hungary Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia. Giants such as IKEA, Leroy Merlin, Lexus, and NEMAK have trusted us.
Frequently Asked Questions about continuous rooflights
What is the difference between a continuous rooflight and a roof skylight?
A roof skylight is a single, point daylighting element, whereas a continuous rooflight is a continuous, elongated structure running along the roof slope, covering a much larger daylighting area.
Which shape of continuous rooflight to choose - curved or triangular?
The choice depends mainly on the roof structure and the architectural requirements of the facility - we describe a detailed comparison in the article Curved vs. triangular continuous rooflight.
Can a continuous rooflight serve a smoke exhaust function?
Yes, many continuous rooflights can be equipped with an integrated smoke vent, certified according to the EN 12101-2 standard, which exhausts smoke and heat from the hall in the event of a fire.
How wide can continuous rooflights be?
This depends on the manufacturer and geometry; in the AWAK offer, curved continuous rooflights are available in widths from 0.8 to 6 m, and triangular ones from 0.8 to 4.5 m.
How long is the warranty for AWAK continuous rooflights?
AWAK provides up to a 10-year warranty on the polycarbonate cover and tightness, as well as a 2–3 year warranty on the actuators.
