Commercial Roof Lights
We install and replace roof lights for warehouses, factories, schools and offices, increasing natural daylight, reducing lighting costs and improving working conditions for staff and visitors, with honest practical advice.
Wellington Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Daylight and Smoke Ventilation for Commercial Roofs Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents in Wellington
Warehouses, factories, workshops, retail sheds and school buildings rely on roof lights to bring daylight onto the floor and reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day, and commercial roof lights and smoke vents in Wellington have to be looked after to keep doing that safely. On most commercial and industrial roofs these are translucent sheets laid in line with the metal roofing, or framed roof lights on raised kerbs. Over time they discolour, crack and leak at the laps, and they become one of the most hazardous parts of the roof.
We replace and install commercial roof lights around Wellington, from Seaview and Gracefield to Porirua and the Hutt Valley, and we build the roof side of smoke vent installations to the fire engineer's design. Our focus is the roofing: openings, kerbs, flashings, weatherproofing and protection against falls through fragile sheets. We work with building owners, project managers and consultants so the roof is right and the programme keeps moving.
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Commercial Roof Light and Smoke Vent Services in Wellington
Smoke Vents and Fire Safety
Automatic smoke vents help clear smoke during a fire, supporting safe evacuation and firefighting. We install and service vents that meet relevant New Zealand compliance requirements, using quality proven materials.
Maintenance and Compliance Servicing
Roof lights and smoke vents need regular testing and cleaning. We offer scheduled inspections and repairs, keeping your commercial property safe, compliant and well lit, for Wellington homeowners and businesses.
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Roof Lights in Industrial Sheeting
In-line roof lights are usually polycarbonate or fibreglass sheets made in the same profile as the surrounding steel. Replacing them looks simple, but the detail at the laps and fixings decides whether they stay dry.
Matching the profile
The translucent sheet must match the roofing profile and lap correctly with the steel on both sides. Mismatched or flattened laps let wind-driven rain in, which shows up as drips onto racking, machinery and stock.
Fixing and sealing
Translucent sheets move more than steel as temperatures change. We use oversized pre-drilled holes, suitable fixings and sealing washers, and seal end laps to suit the pitch, following the NZ Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Code of Practice.
Replacing aged sheets
Older fibreglass roof lights go yellow and brittle, letting in less light and becoming more fragile. Replacing them restores daylight and removes a hidden hazard. Where the steel around them has corroded, see our industrial roofing page.
Choosing the sheet
Polycarbonate and fibreglass roof lights both come in common industrial profiles. Polycarbonate handles impact better, while fibreglass gives a softer, diffused light. We match the choice to the building's use, exposure and the roof profile.
Single or double skin
In a heated or insulated building, a single translucent sheet is a cold spot that can drip onto stock on winter mornings. Double-skin roof lights with an air gap reduce condensation and heat loss.
Framed roof lights on kerbs
On low-pitch and membrane roofs, kerb-mounted roof lights lift the glazing clear of the roof surface. The kerb is flashed into the roofing so it copes with ponding water and driving rain.
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Fragile Roof Lights and Fall-Through Risk
Roof lights are fragile. They can look solid, they are hard to see when dirty or painted over, and they lose strength as they age. Falls through roof lights and other fragile roofing are a recognised cause of serious injury, and WorkSafe guidance on working at height expects building owners and contractors to manage that risk rather than leave workers to watch their step.
We plan protection for our own work and recommend permanent measures where they suit the building. That can include safety mesh under roof lights, guards or covers fixed over them, walkways that keep foot traffic clear of them, and temporary edge protection to AS/NZS 4994 during the job. Where people need regular roof access, anchors and fall-arrest systems to AS/NZS 1891 may also be needed; see our roof safety systems page.
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Smoke Vents: Our Part in the Fire Design
Smoke and heat vents are roof-mounted units that open in a fire to let smoke and hot gases escape, helping keep the space below clearer. Whether a building needs them, and how many, how large and where, is decided by the fire engineer as part of the building's fire design. They are typically linked to the fire alarm or a dedicated control panel.
Our job is the roof. We work to the fire engineer's and the vent supplier's details to form openings, frame and flash the kerbs, and keep every unit weathertight in Wellington conditions. We do not design, certify or sign off fire systems. Commissioning, testing and compliance sit with the fire engineer, the supplier and the building's compliance contractors, and we coordinate with them on access and timing.
Openings and kerbs
We cut and trim roof openings to the size on the drawings, build upstands to the supplier's detail, and flash them into the surrounding roofing so each vent sits level and sheds water.
Coordinating with other trades
Electricians, fire alarm technicians and the vent supplier all have a part to play. We sequence the roof work so actuators and wiring can be installed and tested without reopening finished flashings.
Existing vents that leak
Older vents can leak at the kerb or around the lid. We repair the roofing and flashings around them, and refer anything involving the opening mechanism or controls back to the building's fire contractors.
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Why Choose Our Commercial Roof Light and Smoke Vent Specialists in Wellington
Commercial roof lights and smoke vents serve both comfort and safety, and failures can affect staff wellbeing, energy costs and fire compliance. Our specialists install, replace and service roof lights for warehouses, factories, schools and offices, improving daylight and reducing electricity use. Automatic smoke vents are fitted and tested to support safe evacuation and firefighting, meeting relevant New Zealand requirements. We plan work around your operations, use proper roof access and safety systems, and document everything for your records. Scheduled maintenance keeps vents operating reliably and roof lights clean, watertight and effective. For Wellington property owners and facility managers, we provide dependable, compliant, well-documented service. Contact our local team today.
- Roof lights for warehouses, schools and offices
- Smoke vents installed, tested and serviced
- Work planned around your operations
- Safe roof access and clear documentation
- Scheduled maintenance for lasting compliance
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents
Related Services
Commercial roof lights draw on the same principles as residential skylights, which are covered on our main skylight page. These services often form part of a commercial project.
Helpful answers
Commercial Roof Lights and Smoke Vents FAQs
Call our team if you need advice for your property or roofing project.
04 888 0115Are polycarbonate roof lights non-fragile?
Do not assume so. Some products are tested to resist a fall when new and correctly fixed, but strength drops as sheets age and are exposed to UV, and the fixing details matter. The safe approach on an existing roof is to treat every roof light as fragile unless it is clearly protected by mesh underneath or a guard over the top.
Can safety mesh be added under existing roof lights?
Often, yes. Mesh is simplest to install when the roof lights are being replaced, and on some buildings it can be retrofitted from below. Where neither suits, guards or covers fixed over the roof lights are an alternative. We look at the roof structure and the access available before recommending an option.
Who decides whether a building needs smoke vents?
The fire engineer, as part of the building's fire design and the consent process. They set the number, size, location and control method. Roofing contractors like us build the roof side of the installation to those details. If you are unsure whether existing vents are part of your building's fire systems, check with your fire engineer or compliance contractor.
Can you work on our roof while the building stays open?
Usually. We plan the work around your operations, protect the areas below roof lights being replaced, and schedule noisy or disruptive tasks with you. Openings are made weathertight at the end of each day. On larger roofs we work in sections, so only part of the building is affected at any one time.
How do I know if our roof lights need replacing?
Signs include yellowing or a dull, opaque look, cracks around fixings, moss or dirt lodged in the surface fibres, and drips at the laps during heavy rain. A drop in daylight reaching the floor is another clue. A roof inspection will confirm their condition and whether the surrounding sheets need attention at the same time.
Wellington Roofing
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