Advertorial achieve this level of performance? They’re using better quality materials like acrylic and polycarbonate that have improved UV stabilization. It is the sun’s UV that does most of the damage, making the plastic discolour and become brittle – it is the brittleness that is a safety risk. The skylights we see today are being more rigorously designed, tested and certified. The challenge is that testing is completed on new skylights, not ones that have been on a roof for years. Older skylights should be viewed as a safety concern. Even these new and improved skylights shouldn’t be left on the roof for 20 years without regular inspection and possible maintenance, much like the roof itself. Factors to Consider There are a few factors you should consider when choosing a new or replacement skylight. For new construction or renovations with a building permit, the skylights should be tested to the requirements of your local building code and any roof standard you’re working with where applicable. This means having appropriate structural testing, flame spread ratings and energy performance testing completed. It is important to note that most dome style skylights are not tested and are therefore not building code compliant. This is one of the reasons there are less dome skylights on new projects – there are few options. For replacement roof projects or just replacing a questionable skylight, a tested skylight may not be required, but quality and performance should still be considered to ensure the owner will have the best performance. Warrantees typically range from 5-15 years unless the dome skylight is covered by a larger whole roof warranty. Warranty and support can go a long way if there is an issue, so it should be a factor. Finally, get a few quotes – the delivered price difference between your low-end and high-end dome skylights may be smaller than you think. In conclusion, inspection of skylights on the roof should be part of the regular roof maintenance program. If during the roof inspection, a plastic dome skylight is visibly discoloured, cracked or showing crazing (small cracks), it should be replaced. This style of skylight is not that expensive and often the replacement can be done without touching the roof membrane. In most cases, it’ll be cheaper to replace a skylight than fix the potential damage from a leak. At the very least, the skylights should be replaced when you’re replacing the roof. The risk of an old skylight leaking increases when it has been reinstalled during a reroofing project or even banged up against while working around it as the more brittle seals or dome itself may crack. A new skylight will not only protect the building and its contents from potential water infiltration, it will increase the safety of the building for maintenance workers, roofers on the building and its occupants. For more information visit: velux.ca/commercial or email: commercial-cdn@velux.com