Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Laval, Canada

How to research sun path for a specific site in Laval — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames CA dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 6050610). Regulatory starting point: [Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications). 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.

Direct answer

For Laval at 45.5699, -73.6920, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 67.9° at the June solstice, 44.4° at an equinox and 21.0° 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 6050610 in administrative area 10, at 45.5699, -73.6920; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 67.9° at the June solstice, 44.4° at an equinox and 21.0° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 8.5 hours in December to 15.5 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 sun path record.

Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

What must be verified for Laval?

Laval is represented here at approximately 45.5699, -73.6920 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 sun path 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 sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Laval site remain authoritative.

Laval monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°24.29°9.071 h2.216
21 February-11.23°33.20°10.442 h1.528
21 March-0.40°44.03°11.945 h1.035
21 April+11.58°56.01°13.609 h0.674
21 May+20.14°64.57°14.929 h0.476
21 June+23.45°67.88°15.502 h0.406
21 July+20.44°64.87°14.980 h0.469
21 August+11.75°56.18°13.634 h0.670
21 September-0.20°44.23°11.973 h1.027
21 October-11.75°32.68°10.366 h1.559
21 November-20.44°23.99°9.020 h2.247
21 December-23.45°20.98°8.498 h2.608

Laval solar-geometry fingerprint at 45.5699, -73.6920

  • Laval, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 24.29°, zenith 65.71°, geometric daylight 9.071 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.216.
  • Laval, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 33.20°, zenith 56.80°, geometric daylight 10.442 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.528.
  • Laval, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 44.03°, zenith 45.97°, geometric daylight 11.945 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.035.
  • Laval, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 56.01°, zenith 33.99°, geometric daylight 13.609 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.674.
  • Laval, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 64.57°, zenith 25.43°, geometric daylight 14.929 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.476.
  • Laval, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 67.88°, zenith 22.12°, geometric daylight 15.502 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.406.
  • Laval, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 64.87°, zenith 25.13°, geometric daylight 14.980 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.469.
  • Laval, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 56.18°, zenith 33.82°, geometric daylight 13.634 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.670.
  • Laval, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 44.23°, zenith 45.77°, geometric daylight 11.973 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.027.
  • Laval, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 32.68°, zenith 57.32°, geometric daylight 10.366 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.559.
  • Laval, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 23.99°, zenith 66.01°, geometric daylight 9.020 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.247.
  • Laval, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 20.98°, zenith 69.02°, geometric daylight 8.498 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.608.

Harth computed the Laval fingerprint for latitude 45.5699° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -73.6920° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames CA dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 6050610). Regulatory starting point: Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sun path record for Laval establish?

The sun path record for Laval establishes a reproducible discovery point at 45.5699, -73.6920 (GeoNames ID 6050610, administrative area 10) and a Canada source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Laval?

For the sun path record in Laval, replace the 45.5699, -73.6920 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code of Canada plus provincial, territorial, and municipal adoption. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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