Led by Professor Blair Kuys, the Centre for Design Innovation (CDI) teamed up with Atlite to create a revolutionary new skylight that was certified up to BAL40 Bush Fire Attack Level, the first of its kind designed and manufactured in Australia. 

The product has since won three consecutive Good Design Awards, which is the highest honour for design innovation in Australia.  

Final rendering of the Atlite openable skylight.

Elevating the standard for Australian skylights

Director of Atlite Skylights Suresh Sutrave set out to benchmark and upgrade his Australian-made range of skylights to world standard.

Sutrave’s prime goal was to develop a product to meet Australia’s bushfire standard—Bushfire Attack Level BAL-40, described in AS3959 (2009). At the time, only one imported product met this challenging standard. 

Working closely with Atlite engineers and fabricators, the CDI product development team explored markets, manufacturing options and materials over two separate project phases. 

Across the design phases, the CDI product development team and Atlite realised two exciting outcomes:  

  1. the new Atlite ‘Premium’ Skylight range that exceeded BAL-40 requirements, 
  2. a modular production process that achieved optimal window size/shape flexibility and a 70 per cent labour saving across most of the Atlite range. 

CDI and Atlite at the Good Design Awards.

  • “We really hit the jackpot with Swinburne. For us, it really was a ‘marriage made in heaven’—we now produce the only Australian-made BAL-40 compliant skylight.” 

    Suresh Sutrave , Atlite Skylights Director

The outcome: a revolutionary, award-winning skylight exceeding bushfire standard

The final bespoke skylight range meets the creative needs of architectural designs and can be installed at a zero-roof pitch.  

The skylights can be manufactured to different sizes and shapes, can be fixed or openable, provides sufficient insulation and can withstand standardised testing for rain and hail, cyclone and bushfires.  

The skylights have become a key driver for growth at Atlite and have won three consecutive Good Design Awards in the Product Design category (2018, 2019 and 2020).  

Project timeframe 

2018–2019 

Research team 

  • Sectional view of Atlite skylight
    Sectional view of Atlite skylight
  • Fire testing to simulate ember attack on the final Atlite skylight
    Fire testing to simulate ember attack on the final product
  • Fire testing the Atlite skylight to meet Australia's bushfire standard
    Fire testing to meet Australia's bushfire standard
  • Water testing to AS4285 water leak test
    Water testing to AS4285 water leak test

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Collaborate with the Centre for Design Innovation

We always welcome new partners. If you are interested in transforming ideas into commercially competitive outcomes, need the support of our research or have any other queries, contact us on +61 3 9214 6072 or email cdiadmin@swinburne.edu.au.

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