Hipped roof lantern on a commercial building: canteen, showroom or practice

Which rooms in a commercial building suit a hipped lantern?

A hipped roof lantern works as a central source of light in a room where people gather or clients are received: a canteen, showroom, waiting room, practice or meeting room. The light comes from four directions, so no wall stays dark. In a space that is often re-let or refitted, such a lantern remains a fixed landmark.

In a long hall or workshop you want to spread the light along the whole length instead. Then several lanterns in a row are often more logical. DagLichtDesign thinks along about the layout for commercial buildings. See also a roof lantern in a commercial building.

• Canteen, showroom, waiting room or practice room
• Central source of light in the middle of a flat roof
• Concealed drainage in mullions and hip profiles
• For a long hall, several lanterns are often better

How large can a hipped roof lantern on a commercial building be?

As standard a hipped lantern takes up to 9 m² of glass in one piece. If the room is larger, the lantern is segmented with concealed mullions so it remains one lantern. The standard pitch is 8°. On a commercial roof with a high parapet, the lantern is hardly visible from the street.

A commercial roof often carries plant, solar panels and walkways. Have a structural engineer assess the load-bearing capacity around the opening. A CAD file of the lantern is available on request, so the architect or engineer can add it straight into the drawing. See also roof lanterns for architects.

Safety on the roof and in the room

On a commercial roof, engineers walk around to maintain installations. A roof lantern is not a walking surface. So plan edge protection or a barrier around the glass in advance. Read fall protection and safety with a roof lantern.

Staff and clients walk in the room below. Safety glass to the NEN standard is then the logical choice. Laminated glass stays attached to the interlayer if it breaks. More in safety glass and laminated glass.

Ordering as a contractor or business

Contractors get trade prices from the very first project, with no threshold or minimum. With more than three projects per calendar year a partner discount applies, built straight into every quote. You have one fixed point of contact. Read more in roof lanterns for contractors. Lead time is from 2 weeks after approval, up to 8 weeks for complex bespoke work. For urgent schedules a rush option is sometimes possible.

• Drawing or sketch of the roof with the preferred position
• Use of the room and preferred type of glass
• Type of roof covering and height of the parapet
• Preferred delivery date and whether you collect or have it delivered

Frequently asked questions