SolaMaster 330 DS Daylighting System

Steam Plant Limited: Solatube SolaMaster 330 DS Daylighting Devices (TDD)

The Solatube SolaMaster 330 DS is a commercial tubular daylighting system designed to deliver high-output natural light to interior spaces in buildings below 9 metres in height making it the right specification for single- and two-storey offices, retail units, restaurants, corridors, schools and hospitality spaces across Kenya. The 53 cm (21-inch) tube captures sunlight through a rooftop dome assembly and transfers it through Spectralight® Infinity tubing – reflective at 99.7% – to a ceiling-level diffuser that distributes even, glare-free daylight across the room.
The system is engineered to maximise light output at every sun angle: effectively capturing low-angle rays in the morning and late afternoon while collecting high-angle midday sun for consistent performance throughout the day. Unlike conventional skylights, the SolaMaster 330 DS can deliver natural light to interior rooms and spaces with no direct roof access, through tube runs of up to 15 metres. Available with round or square ceiling fixtures in an ultra-low-profile design that sits virtually flush with the ceiling, the system integrates cleanly into both T-bar suspended ceilings and hard (closed) ceiling applications. Distributed and installed in Kenya by Steam Plant Limited.

Key Technical Information 

• Tube diameter: approximately 53 cm (21 inches)
• Maximum tube length: approximately 15 m (50 ft), suited to buildings below 9 metres in height
• Dome assembly: Raybender® 3000 optical technology for all-day light capture; available in single-glazed and dual-glazed configurations, with optional security guard
• Tubing reflectance: Spectralight® Infinity -99.7% reflective internal surface
• Ceiling fixture options: round fixture or square fixture, both in ultra-low-profile design with minimal ceiling intrusion (virtually flush-mounted)
• Ceiling compatibility: suitable for T-bar suspended ceilings and closed (hard) ceiling installations
• Light output: full-spectrum natural daylight with no colour shift; designed to maximise output at low, mid and high sun angles
• Applications: offices, corridors, restaurants, retail spaces, schools, hospitality, healthcare, small commercial and institutional buildings
• Installation: requires site survey; installed by trained commercial contractors; additional transfer tube sections available for extended runs
• Technical resources: CAD drawings, cut sheets, architectural specifications, installation instructions and BIM models available from Solatube

Efficiency Features

1. Energy Efficiency: electric lighting displacement replaces or supplements artificial lighting during daylight hours, reducing electricity consumption for interior lighting, a direct operational carbon and cost saving over the building’s lifespan
2. Zero operating energy: the system uses no electricity to capture or deliver daylight; it operates entirely on sunlight with no motors, wiring or ongoing energy consumption
3. LEED v4/v4.1 contribution: contributes to multiple LEED credit categories including Energy and Atmosphere: Energy Performance (up to 18 points for new construction), Indoor Environmental Quality: Daylighting (up to 3 points), Indoor Environmental Quality: Interior Lighting Control (1 point), Materials and Resources (1 point), and Innovation and Design Process (up to 5 points)
4. Occupant health and wellbeing: delivers full-spectrum natural daylight that supports circadian rhythm regulation, reduces eye strain and headaches associated with prolonged artificial lighting, and has been linked to improved productivity in offices and improved learning outcomes in schools
5. Reduced cooling load versus conventional skylights: the Raybender® 3000 lens technology manages solar heat gain by redirecting rather than admitting excess thermal energy, avoiding the overheating and glare problems associated with traditional glass skylights and roof lights
6. Compact footprint: the 21-inch diameter requires minimal roof penetration compared to traditional skylights, reducing waterproofing risk and structural modification
7. Long service life with minimal maintenance: no lamps to replace, no electrical components to service, and minimal cleaning required reducing lifecycle waste, maintenance costs and the embodied carbon of replacement lighting equipment
8. Retrofit capability: can be installed into existing buildings without major structural works, enabling sustainability upgrades to Kenya’s existing commercial building stock