Sunspace / Greenhouse Glazing for Sun Tanning
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Greenhouse Sunspace glazing to transmit tanning rays of the sun?
Acrylic sheet glazing designed for the suntanning industry
Sunspaces designed to permit suntanning
Solar Age Magazine Articles on Renewable Energy, Energy Savings, Construction Practices

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This article discusses glazing materials used to permit suntanning in greenhouses or sunspaces. The accompanying text is reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Our page top photo shows a small sunspace designed into a New York City apartment. You will notice that the walls to the left of the sunspace had been opened to expose the structural brick wall - a step necessary during removal of mold contamination caused by skylight and exterior wall leaks.

Readers should also see GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING and see INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM. Details about solar shades that may be useful in controlling solar glare are found at SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS and SOLAR SHADES, LOW-E EFFECTIVENESS. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

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Advice for Insulating a Greenhouse or Solarium Against Night Time Heat Loss

Q&A: Suntan in Sunspaces - original PDF version; use your browser's back button to return to this page

The question-and-answer article about greenhouses or solariums, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Question about greenhouse or sunspace glazing that will allow suntanning:

Does any greenhouse manufacturer make a unit with glazing that transmits the tanning rays of the sun?

If not, what materials would one substitute for standard glazing if we want to sunbathe and tan inside of a sunspace?

Answer: Suntanning glazing using acrylic sheet material

We know of no sunspace systems that are intentionally glazed with a material that passes ultraviolet rays that you would need to obtain a suntan while inside a greenhouse, sunspace, or solarium.

But Cryo Industries [Woodcliff Lake NJ] makes a special acrylic sheet designated as OP-4 for the suntanning industry.

This glazing material does just what you require - passing UV rays from sunlight.

Except for a possibly higher cost, there is no reason this material couldn't be used in sunspaces or greenhouses or a solarium intended for suntanning, according to Cryo technologist Peter Colburn.

The ultraviolet band of solar radiation tans your skin.

The range between .285 and .380 microns in light wavelength triggers the release of melanin, and the next sunlight wavelength band, .315 to .380 microns, continues the tanning process, Colburn says.

Glass and most common sunspace glazings transmit only from 5 to 10 percent of the sun-tanning range of light (but admit enough UV light to fade fabrics). Low-e coated glass such as we discuss at x blocks most of these rays. So you do not want to use Low-e Glass if your purpose of the sunspace or solarium is to obtain a suntan or to get your daily required Vitamin D from sunlight.

Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

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GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING
  Insulating a Greenhouse or Solarium
  Sunspace or Greenhouse Air Movement
  Greenhouse or Sunspace Ventilation
  Green House or Solarium Roof Leaks
  GLASS vs HEAT MIRROR SOLAR GAIN/Loss
  GREENHOUSE / SUNSPACE GLARE
  SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING
GREENHOUSE / SUNSPACE GLARE

HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  BLOCKBED RADIANT FLOORS - SOLAR DESIGN
  FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES
  FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB POURED FINISH
  GLASS vs HEAT MIRROR SOLAR GAIN/Loss
  GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING
  GREENHOUSE / SUNSPACE GLARE
  PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN KEY ELEMENTS
  PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD
  PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY MONITORING
  PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE
  PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE
  PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST
  PASSIVE SOLAR PERFORMANCE PROBE
  PASSIVE SOLAR Roof & Window Overhangs
  PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS
  POLYCARBONATE GLAZING
  REMOTE ELECTRIC POWER, PHOTOVOLTAIC
  ROCK-BED SOLAR HEAT STORAGE DESIGN
  SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR
  SLATE THERMAL MASS for SOLAR HEAT STORAGE
  SOLAR COLLECTOR AIR or GAS COLLECTION
  SOLAR COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY COMPARISONS
  SOLAR COLLECTOR FILMS
  SOLAR COLLECTOR OUTGASSING
  SOLAR COLLECTOR WOOD HOUSINGS
  SOLAR GAIN CALCULATION
  SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM DESIGNS
  SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
  SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION
  SOLAR MODULE MANUFACTURERS
  SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS
  SOLAR SHADES, LOW-E EFFECTIVENESS
  SOLAR WATER DISINFECTION
  SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
  SUNSPACE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING
  SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING
  STORM WINDOW INTERIOR
  STORM WINDOW PLASTIC CHOICES
  STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES
  SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS
  SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING
  SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, INDOOR
  SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, OUTDOOR DIAGNOSIS
  THERMAL MASS in buildings
SOUND CONTROL in buildings
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS

THERMAL MASS in buildings
THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS

VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
VENTILATION in buildings
VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings
VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO

WALL FINISHES INTERIOR
WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in buildings
WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING
WIND WASHING INSULATION At EAVES
WINDOWS & DOORS
  ALUMINUM WINDOWS
  Best Practices Guide for Windows & Doors:
  CLIMATE, WINDOW CHOICES FOR
  CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS
  Doors, Exterior, Energy Efficiency Guide
  Doors, Exterior Flashing Details
  Doors, Exterior, Frames
  DOORS, EXTERIOR, Selecting & Installing
  DOORS, INTERIOR
  FIBERGLASS WINDOWS
  GLASS vs HEAT MIRROR SOLAR GAIN/Loss
  HURRICANE, WIND, & STORM-Resistant WINDOWS
  LOW-E WINDOW GLAZING
  LOW-E VS QUAD-GLAZING
  LOW-E RETROFIT ADD-ON FILMS
  POLYCARBONATE GLAZING
  SITE BUILT DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS
  SKYLIGHTS, Guide to Choosing & Installing
  Skylight Condensation Problems
  Skylight Design Issues
  Skylight Energy Efficiency
  Skylight Installation Procedures
  SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
  SKYLIGHT VENTILATION DETAILS
  SLIDING GLIDING WINDOW DEFECTS
  SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS
  SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS
  STORM WINDOW INTERIOR
  STORM WINDOW PLASTIC CHOICES
  STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES
  SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS
  SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING
  VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS
  VINYL WINDOWS
  VINYL / PVC WINDOW WARPING
  WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE
  WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO
  Window Certification
  WINDOW EFFICIENCY Features & Ratings
  WINDOW FLASHING & SEALING Guide
  WINDOW GLAZING Based on Climate
  WINDOW HARDWARE PHOTOS
  Window Installation, Flange-Type
  Window Installation, w/ Integral Brickmold
  WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT
  Window Materials & Construction
  Window Types, Guide
  WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide
  Window & Door Sources

Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in buildings, and other topics.
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume I, the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v1.pdf
Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume II, the Passive Solar Handbook Comprehensive Planning Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v2.pdf [This is a large PDF file that can take a while to load]
Passive Solar Handbook Volume III, the Passive Solar Handbook Programming Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v3.pdf
The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the InspectAPedia Bookstore
"Passive Solar Home Design", U.S. Department of Energy, describes using a home's windows, walls, and floors to collect and store solar energy for winter heating and also rejecting solar heat in warm weather.
"Solar Water Heaters", U.S. Department of Energy article on solar domestic water heaters to generate domestic hot water in buildings, explains how solar water heaters work. Solar heat for swimming pools is also discussed.
"Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE describes the types of solar water heater heat exchange methods between the sun and the building's hot water supply
"Heat-Transfer Fluids for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE, describes the types of fluids selected to transfer heat between the solar collector and the hot water in storage tanks in a building. These include air, water, water with glycol antifreeze mixtures (needed when using solar hot water systems in freezing climates), hydrocarbon oils, and refrigerants or silicones for heat transfer.
"Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair", U.S. DOE
"Solar Water Heating System Freeze Protection", U.S. DOE,using antifreeze mixture in solar water heaters (or other freeze-resistant heat transfer fluids), as well as piping to permit draining the solar collector and piping system.
"Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE
www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 is the base U.S. DOE website for these articles
"Active Solar Heating Systems", U.S. Department of Energy, including
"Radiant Heating Systems" U.S. DOE
"Absorption Heat Pumps & Coolers", U.S. DOE
"Solar Air Heating" U.S. DOE also referred to as "Ventilation Preheating" in which solar systems use air for absorbing and transferring solar energy or heat to a building
"Solar Liquid Heating" U.S. DOE, systems using liquid (typically water) in flat plate solar collectors to collect solar energy in the form of heat for transfer into a building for space heating or hot water heating. The term "solar liquid" is used for accuracy, rather than "solar water" because the water may contain an antifreeze or other chemicals.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
"Energy Savers: Whole-House Supply Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Supply_Vent.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11880?print
"Energy Savers: Whole-House Exhaust Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Exhaust.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11870
"Energy Savers: Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Natural Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Natural_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Energy_Recovery_Venting.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11900
"Energy Savers: Detecting Air Leaks [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Detect_Air_Leaks.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
"Energy Savers: Air Sealing [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Air_Sealing_1.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
Appliances and Home Electronics, - energy savings, U.S. Department of Energy
Basement Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724 ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039
Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008) ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724 ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Crawl Space Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Recover Ventilation Systems for buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Savings Methods: Whole House Systems Approach, U.S. Department of Energy
Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008) ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
Log Homes: Minimizing Air Leakage in Log Homes, U.S. Department of Energy
Log Homes: Controlling Moisture in Log Homes, U.S. Department of Energy
Moisture Control in buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
Moisture Control in Walls, U.S. Department of Energy
Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeling Industry, National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council, NAHB Research Foundation, 1987.
Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeler, N.U. Ahmed, # Home Builder Pr (February 1991), ISBN-10: 0867183594, ISBN-13: 978-0867183597
Natural Ventilation for buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
R-Value of Wood, U.S. Department of Energy
Spot Ventilation for houses, U.S. Department of Energy
Slab on Grade Foundation Moisture and Air Leakage, U.S. Department of Energy
Straw Bale Home Design, U.S. Department of Energy
"Vapor Barriers or Vapor Diffusion Retarders", U.S. DOE: how vapor barriers work, types of vapor diffusion barriers, installing vapor barrier
Ventilation for energy efficient buildings, Purpose, Strategies, etc.,
Weather-Resistive Barriers, how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
Whole House Ventilation Systems, U.S. Department of Energy
Whole-House Balanced Ventilation Systems, U.S. Department of Energy
Whole-House Exhaust Ventilation Systems, U.S. Department of Energy
Whole-House Supply Ventilation Systems, U.S. Department of Energy

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Advice for Insulating a Greenhouse or Solarium Against Night Time Heat Loss

Question about greenhouse or sunspace glazing that will allow suntanning:

Answer: Suntanning glazing using acrylic sheet material

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair