Barrel vault roofs to improve lighting and appearance of your interiors.
Barrel vault is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of materials along a single curve that are used in interior designing. Barrel vault roofs were known to be used in the Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamian civilizations. The necessity of this construction came at places where there was scarcity of wood since these structures could be built using stones or bricks. Barrel vault roofing was not widely used in the Ancient Egypt due to the requirement of complex formwork and measurements. It was widely used by Ancient Romans while building their cathedrals, monasteries and so on. Arches shaped like horseshoes were also part of Indian architecture and are found in Ajantha-Ellora caves and old places of worship in India. Barrel vault roofs were also used in old cities like New York but with the incoming of RC pipes, barrel vault roofs has become less desirable. This is because maintenance is tough and also RC pipes can be installed and replaced easily. Also in a barrel vault, pressure is outwards and to withstand this pressure, either the thickness of the wall must be increased, which is not desirable, or two barrel vaults must be constructed parallel to one another so that the pressures cancel out.
In olden times, barrel vaults were constructed using stones or bricks but now, with the advancement of technology, barrel vaults can be constructed using almost any material. Its a common misunderstanding that barrel vault roof construction is very costly and has low life. Though construction of barrel vault roofs are costlier than that of normal roofs, it doesn’t add much to the cost and once constructed, they last over 50 years without any significant maintenance. Since it uses metal roofing, it is a green-technique and can be reused. Thus barrel vaults are more affordable than what most of us think.
Barrel vault roofs, apart from giving an attractive appearance to the building has other advantages as well. One of the prominent advantages of a barrel vaulted ceiling is its ability to light up the building properly. Barrel vault roofs can help bring natural light indoors and evenly distribute it in the interiors and thus light the room appropriately.
Below are a few advantages of barrel vault roofs when used for lighting purposes.
1. Provides more light than a vertical roof with same surface.
2. Ensures that the light is evenly spread.
3. Natural light is allowed inside to light up the room for enhanced appearance and mood, which in turn increases productivity.
Barrel vault rooflights are modular rooflighting systems that can provide long continuous runs of lighting systems. Here are some characteristics of barrel vault rooflighting.
1. Simple installation.
2. Ideal for walkway and canopy applications.
3. Wide span of light can be provided.
4. Continuous runs of unlimited lighting systems.
5. Suitable for commercials and industrial applications.
6. Cost effective systems available.
7. Light is evenly distributed.
8. Designed for use on low pitch, flat and the crown of curved roofs.
Barrel vault roofs, on top of being affordable, can add to the appearance of the room. Unlike old times, barrel vault roof constructions are not complex and tedious and thus is more consumer and construction friendly when it comes to architectural and interior designing.