Solar and Daylight Access
Solar and daylight access are important for apartment buildings, reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and heating, improving energy efficiency and residential amenity through pleasant conditions to live and work.
Solar access is the ability of a building to receive direct sunlight without the obstruction from other buildings or impediments, not including trees. Sunlight is direct beam radiation from the sun. Daylight consists of sunlight and diffuse light from the sky. Daylight changes with the time of day, season and weather conditions.
Access to sunlight for habitable rooms and private open space is measured at mid winter (21 June) as this is when the sun is lowest in the sky, representing the 'worst case' scenario for solar access.
The hours of sunlight that can be expected in mid winter are directly related to the orientation of the facade.
This diagram shows the optimal orientation for habitable rooms and balconies
Note: An additional design and assessment tool is provided at Appendix 5 to assist in confirming the level of
sunlight access to apartments
To optimise the number of apartments receiving sunlight to habitable rooms, primary windows and private open space.
Shading devices on balconies should shade summer sun and allow winter sun access to living areas
Daylight access is maximised where sunlight is limited.
Design Criteria
1. Living rooms and private open spaces of at least 70% of apartments in a building receive a minimum of 2 hours direct sunlight between 9 am and 3 pm at mid winter in the Sydney Metropolitan Area and in the Newcastle and Wollongong local government areas.
2. In all other areas, living rooms and private open spaces of at least 70% of apartments in a building receive a minimum of 3 hours direct sunlight between 9 am and 3 pm at mid winter.
3. A maximum of 15% of apartments in a building receive no direct sunlight between 9 am and 3 pm at mid winter.
Design Guidance
The design maximises north aspect and the number of single aspect south facing apartments is minimised.
Single aspect, single storey apartments should have a northerly or easterly aspect.
Living areas are best located to the north and service areas to the south and west of apartments.
To optimise the direct sunlight to habitable rooms and balconies a number of the following design features are used:
• dual aspect apartments
• shallow apartment layouts
• two storey and mezzanine level apartments
• bay windows
To maximise the benefit to residents of direct sunlight within living rooms and private open spaces, a minimum of 1m2 of direct sunlight, measured at 1m above floor level, is achieved for at least 15 minutes.
Achieving the design criteria may not be possible on some sites. This includes:
• where greater residential amenity can be achieved along a busy road or rail line by orientating the living rooms away from the noise source
• on south facing sloping sites
• where significant views are oriented away from the desired aspect for direct sunlight
Design drawings need to demonstrate how site constraints and orientation preclude meeting the design criteria and how the development meets the objective.
Horizontal louvres are most effective on north facing elevations and achieve summer shade and winter sun access
Design incorporates shading and glare control, particularly for warmer months.
These operable screens can be adjusted by residents
according to the season, weather conditions and time of day
minimum of 2 hours direct sunlight in mid winter in the Sydney Metropolitan Area and in the Newcastle and Wollongong
local government areas, and at least 3 hours direct sunlight elsewhere in NSW
Double height apartments and skylights on roofs increase sunlight and daylight access
Note: angles will vary slightly for different locations in NSW
Vertical louvres are an effective sun management technique for east and west-facing windows and balconies
Design Guidance
Courtyards, skylights and high level windows (with sills of 1,500mm or greater) are used only as a secondary light source in habitable rooms.
Where courtyards are used :
• use is restricted to kitchens, bathrooms and service areas
• building services are concealed with appropriate detailing and materials to visible walls
• courtyards are fully open to the sky
• access is provided to the light well from a communal area for cleaning and maintenance
• acoustic privacy, fire safety and minimum privacy separation distances (see section 3F Visual privacy) are achieved
Opportunities for reflected light into apartments are optimised through:
• reflective exterior surfaces on buildings opposite south facing windows
• positioning windows to face other buildings or surfaces (on neighbouring sites or within the site) that will reflect light
• integrating light shelves into the design
• light coloured internal finishes
Trees help shade building facades. For east and west facing facades consider planting deciduous species
Courtyards can provide for daylight access to common areas.
For habitable rooms of apartments, they should only be used as a secondary light source
Design Guidance
A number of the following design features are used:
• balconies or sun shading that extend far enough to shade summer sun, but allow winter sun to penetrate living areas
• shading devices such as eaves, awnings, balconies, pergolas, external louvres and planting
• horizontal shading to north facing windows
• vertical shading to east and particularly west facing windows
• operable shading to allow adjustment and choice
• high performance glass that minimises external glare off windows, with consideration given to reduced tint glass or glass with a reflectance level below 20% (reflective films are avoided).
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