Visual Comfort and Reflection Studies

External glare and high reflectivity of building materials are rooted in fundamental causes of adverse visual discomfort from high-rise buildings. Direct and reflected sunlight rays can have effects on occupants, pedestrians, operation of traffic, rail and aviation, and facades of neighbouring buildings, through issues relating to reflection and Solar Glint and Glare. The interrogation of microclimate (in addition to wind turbulence, overshadowing and reflected glare) impacts is requested for all tall buildings within London under Policy D9 of the London Plan.

SRE's inhouse team of building physics experts undertake Visual Comfort and Reflection Studies to assess the impact of proposed designs on occupants and their surroundings, whilst also considering the aesthetics of the building. This includes the common risks of glare caused from facade reflection onto train drivers screens and reflections from PV panels onto airplanes. Using Radiance software and parametric analysis tools to model each building in its environment, our specialists work with designers informing decisions at the earliest stages of design.

Visual comfort directly links to other services SRE provides, including daylight modelling and has indirect links to Thermal Comfort.