SunCatcher

Natural ventilation and natural light in a single installation

The Monodraught SunCatcher is a revolutionary method of effectively conveying natural daylight and natural ventilation from roof level down into the building below by combining the principles of the Windcatcher system with Monodraught’s natural daylight system – the SunPipe.

This SunPipe system maximises the concept of renewable energy by reflecting and intensifying sunlight and even normal daylight, down through a highly reflective silverized mirror-finish aluminium tube.

A clear polycarbonate top dome seals the light pipe against the ingress of dust and a prismatic polycarbonate ceiling fitting evenly diffuses light into the room or space below. The SunPipe system is highly effective in both sunny and overcast conditions and even when it is raining.

The heart of the SunPipe system consists of a mirror finished, highly reflective aluminium tube which is electrolytically enhanced anodised aluminium with a 25-year guarantee against discolouration. This specular aluminium surface is coated with PVD and the presence of a UV inhibitor provides outstanding QUV durability with no decrease in total reflectance. The special surface treatment provides excellent colour rendition of natural light.

The SunCatcher is the ideal alternative to rooflights and skylights. It is also an ideal method for providing additional natural daylight and ventilation to internal rooms or spaces, poorly served by other external glazing.

Monodraught SunPipes are currently produced in 10 sizes ranging from 200 to 1500mm diameter. SunCatchers are manufactured from 400mm to 1500mm, both circular and square.

Volume control dampers at the base of the system with a combined ceiling diffuser can exactly control the volume of airflow through the system and eliminate any excessive heat loss during winter months.

Undoubtedly the advantage of the SunCatcher is to provide energy free natural light and natural ventilation in summer months, which seem to get longer and hotter every year.
We hear almost every week of the impending threat of global warming and we are also constantly to be reminded of the dangers of HFC and similar man made gases being used for air conditioning systems. The two problems of our planet getting constantly warmer and at the same time more polluted have got to be addressed and Monodraught believe they have the answer with this totally sustainable energy free system to provide light and ventilation to virtually any building.

Two sizes are currently available, 350mm diameter, which incorporates a 200mm diameter SunPipe for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, and 550mm diameter, which incorporates a 330mm diameter SunPipe for living rooms and small offices. The systems are produced in grey, terracotta and black, as standard but other colours are available to order.

A new mid range compact system will also be available shortly.

The importance of providing natural daylight and ventilation topping up the virtual 'oxygen' supply that comes with natural ventilation cannot be overstated. For Schools, Doctors Surgeries, Nursing Homes and similar the Monodraught SunCatcher system provides the ability of reducing SAD and SBS and therefore makes a major contribution to improving the internal indoor environment at a low capital cost and with no running costs whatsoever.