Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-09-02

Solar Shading Design: Malahide, Ireland

How to research solar shading design for a specific site in Malahide — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated September 2, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames IE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/IE.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2962725). Regulatory starting point: [Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local building-control authority](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/building-standards/). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: [NREL Solar Position Algorithm](https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/spa/).

Direct answer

For Malahide at 53.4508, -6.1544, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 60.0° at the June solstice, 36.5° at an equinox and 13.1° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 2962725 in administrative area L, at 53.4508, -6.1544; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 60.0° at the June solstice, 36.5° at an equinox and 13.1° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 7.2 hours in December to 16.8 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this solar shading design record.

Prepared by Harth · Topic-specific calculated asset and fresh SERP brief passed editorial screening; page remains noindex pending the independent content, evidence, similarity and link gates · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-02.

What must be verified for Malahide?

Malahide is represented here at approximately 53.4508, -6.1544 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

How should solar shading design be established?

  1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
  2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
  3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
  4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
  5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This shading-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Malahide site remain authoritative.

Malahide horizontal-overhang screening worksheet

Representative date09:00 altitude / P:HSolar noon altitude / P:H15:00 altitude / P:H
21 January6.82° / 8.36016.41° / 3.3956.82° / 8.360
21 February14.87° / 3.76625.32° / 2.11314.87° / 3.766
21 March24.55° / 2.19036.15° / 1.36924.55° / 2.190
21 April35.01° / 1.42748.13° / 0.89635.01° / 1.427
21 May42.22° / 1.10256.69° / 0.65742.22° / 1.102
21 June44.91° / 1.00360.00° / 0.57744.91° / 1.003
21 July42.47° / 1.09356.99° / 0.65042.47° / 1.093
21 August35.16° / 1.42048.30° / 0.89135.16° / 1.420
21 September24.72° / 2.17236.35° / 1.35924.72° / 2.172
21 October14.40° / 3.89624.80° / 2.16514.40° / 3.896
21 November6.55° / 8.71416.11° / 3.4636.55° / 8.714
21 December3.82° / 14.97613.10° / 4.2973.82° / 14.976

Malahide overhang sizing hand check

P:H is projection depth divided by the vertical facade distance to shade, calculated as 1 / tan(solar altitude). For a 1.20 m vertical target, multiply the table ratio by 1.20 m. The 09:00 and 15:00 columns use apparent solar time and show the solar-profile-plane ratio; they do not resolve facade azimuth, horizontal shadow displacement or a side-fin geometry.

The Malahide worksheet uses latitude 53.4508° and records longitude -6.1544°. A project study must replace the reference point, use the actual facade normal and obstruction mask, convert to civil time, test the full occupied period and account for diffuse sky, glazing and thermal performance. Refine solar positions with the NREL SPA.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames IE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2962725). Regulatory starting point: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local building-control authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained. Project-date refinement reference: NREL Solar Position Algorithm.

Frequently asked questions

What does the solar shading design record for Malahide establish?

The solar shading design record for Malahide establishes a reproducible discovery point at 53.4508, -6.1544 (GeoNames ID 2962725, administrative area L) and a Ireland source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this solar shading design workflow for a project in Malahide?

For the solar shading design record in Malahide, replace the 53.4508, -6.1544 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under Building Regulations and Technical Guidance Documents. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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