Diffusing Materials

Diffusing Materials

Traditionally, light-diffusing materials have been used in skylights and sloped glazing to daylight interiors. Diffusing or translucent glass or panels placed in the clerestory portion of the window wall can transmit daylight in a diffuse, non-directional pattern to supplement daylight from the lower view window. For some commercial systems, the conductance of the panel is decreased with the use of an insulating infill material such as aerogels or polymer strands. Field studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance of these systems under real sun and sky conditions.

translucent panel

Translucent clerestory panels have a highly-insulating core within an insulating glass unit to achieve superior thermal and daylighting performance , particularly in cold climates.  Kirkwood Community College Recreation Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Architect: Neumann Monson, Iowa City, Iowa. Photo: Farshid Assassi, Assassi Productions, Santa Barbara, California at www.advancedglazings.com.