LIGHT AND ILLUMINATION
LIGHT AND ILLUMINATIONLIGHT PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN OUR
ABILITY TO PERCEIVE THE WORLD AROUND US; THE LIGHTING SYSTEM PLAYS
A CRITICAL ROLE IN HOW WE PERCEIVE A SPACE AND CAN EVEN INFLUENCE
HOW WE ACT IN THAT SPACE. LIGHTING CAN AFFECT PERFORMANCE, MOOD,
MORALE, SAFETY, SECURITY AND DECISIONS. THE FIRST STEP IN PRODUCING
THE RIGHT LIGHTING DESIGN IS TO ASK WHAT THE SPACE IS USED FOR. THE
INTERIOR DESIGNER CAN THEN DETERMINE QUANTITY OF LIGHT, COLOR
QUALITY, BRIGHTNESS AND DIRECTION. ILLUMINATIONIS THE DELIBERATE
APPLICATION OFLIGHTTO ACHIEVE SOME PRACTICAL OR AESTHETIC EFFECT.
ILLUMINATION INCLUDES THE USE OF BOTH ARTIFICIALLIGHT SOURCESSUCH
AS LAMPS AND LIGHT FIXTURES, AS WELL AS NATURAL ILLUMINATION BY
CAPTURINGDAYLIGHT .
LIGHT AND SHADOW AN EVENLY ILLUMINATED SPACE IS SIMILAR TO AN
OVERCAST DAY; DULL, MONOTONOUS, AND BORING. VARIATIONS IN
BRIGHTNESS AND THE INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW ADD VARIETY TO A
SPACE AND PROVIDE VISUAL RELIEF AND A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT. SCALLOPS
OF LIGHT ON A WALL FROM NEARBY DOWN LIGHTS AND THE SHADOWS PRODUCED
FROM AN UP LIGHT UNDER A PLANT OR A SMALL SCULPTURE CAN CREATE
AREAS OF VISUAL INTEREST THAT GIVE CHARACTER AND INDIVIDUALITY TO A
SPACE. HIGHLIGHTS PROVIDED BY ACCENT LIGHTING CREATE FOCAL POINTS
THAT CAN DIRECT ATTENTION OR COMMUNICATE AN IDEA
EFFECT ON ARCHITECTURELIGHT IS AS MUCH A BUILDING MATERIAL AS
STEEL OR CONCRETE. ALTHOUGH SUCH STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS ARE NEEDED
TO ENCLOSE A SPACE, IT HAS NO REAL EXISTENCE UNTIL IT IS SEEN AND
IT REGISTERS IN A PERSON'S CONSCIOUSNESS. LIGHT DEFINES SPACE;
REVEALS TEXTURE AND COLOR; SHOWS FORM; INDICATES SCALE; SEPARATES
FUNCTIONS. GOOD LIGHTING MAKES A BUILDING LOOK AND WORK THE WAY THE
ARCHITECT INTENDED AT ALL HOURS OF DAY AND NIGHT. IT CONTRIBUTES TO
THE CHARACTER, TO THE DESIRED ATTITUDE TOWARD FORM AND SPACE, AND
TO THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THAT SPACE. LIGHTING IS DYNAMIC.
CHANGE THE LIGHTING AND THE WORLD AROUND US CHANGES.
EFFECT ON INTERIOR DESIGNLIGHT IS INVISIBLE UNTIL IT STRIKES A
SURFACE AND MOLDS OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE ANGLE AND QUALITY OF LIGHT,
ALONG WITH INTENSITY, WILL DETERMINE HOW WE PERCEIVE THE SPACE, ITS
OCCUPANTS AND THE FURNISHINGS.KNOWING THE EFFECT OF LIGHT ON A
SURFACE, THE DESIGNER CAN CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTING SYSTEM
FOR THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS. THE LIGHTING PRACTITIONER NEEDS TO
REALIZE THAT LIGHT CAN MAKE OR BREAK A SPACE, BOTH FUNCTIONALLY AND
AESTHETICALLY
COLOR TEMPERATUREIMAGINE A PIECE OF METAL HEATED TO A HIGH
TEMPERATURE: IT GLOWS. AT A HIGH ENOUGH TEMPERATURE, IT WILL GIVE
OFF LIGHT (OR INCANDESCE) AS WHEN HEATING IRON AT A FORGE OR WHEN
STERILIZING A NEEDLE BY HOLDING IT OVER A FLAME. AS THE METAL IS
HEATED, THE HIGHER THE TEMPERATURE, THE WHITER THE LIGHT.WE CAN USE
THIS IDEA TO DESCRIBE THE COLOR OF A LIGHT SOURCE; IT IS CALLED ITS
COLOR TEMPERATURE.
WARM AND COOL LIGHTWE USE THE TERMS WARM AND COOL TO
CHARACTERIZE THE VARIOUS COLORS OF WHITE LIGHT. THESE ARE
SUBJECTIVE TERMS THAT PERHAPS CORRESPOND TO EXPERIENCES FORMED WELL
BEFORE THE INVENTION OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING. WARM REFERS TO LIGHT
SOURCES THAT ARE RICH IN REDS AND ORANGES, PERHAPS EVOKING
FIRELIGHT OR CANDLELIGHT. COOL REFERS TO LIGHT SOURCES RICH IN
BLUE; THINK OF A NORTH SKY. NOTE THAT WARM AND COOL DO NOT REFER TO
THE TEMPERATURE OF THE LIGHT
CREATING THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENTGENERAL AND AMBIENT LIGHTINGTHIS
IS LIGHT WITHIN A SPACE THAT REDUCES HARSH CONTRASTS BETWEEN POOLS
OF LOCALIZED TASK OR ACCENT LIGHTING. IT IS LIGHT THAT SUPPLIES A
SUBSTANTIALLY EVEN LEVEL OF ILLUMINATION THROUGHOUT AN AREA.
ACCENT LIGHTING IT IS THE ROLE OF ACCENT LIGHTING TO EMPHASIZE A
PARTICULAR OBJECT OR OBJECTS. IT HELPS TO PROVIDE THE DRAMA BY
CREATING VISUAL INTEREST ON THOSE ITEMS, WHICH ENHANCE THEINTERIOR
DCOR.WORKING TOGETHER THE AMBIENT, TASK, AND ACCENT LIGHTING
PRESENT THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT; BOTH THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE
INTERIOR DESIGN.
THE DESIGN PROCESSTHE PROCESS OF DESIGNING WITH LIGHT FOCUSES ON
THE FOLLOWING:A. WHAT TO LIGHT.B. HOW TO LIGHT IT.C. WHAT TO LIGHT
IT WITH.A- WHAT TO LIGHT THIS CAN OFTEN BEST BE APPROACHED AS A
LAYERED COMPOSITION.TASK LIGHTING, ACCENT LIGHTING, AND THE
AMBIENCE OR SPACE LIGHTING. IN OTHER WORDS, LIGHTING FOR THE TOTAL
ENVIRONMENT.
THE PLANNING PROCESSWHAT WE SEE IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE REFLECTION
OF LIGHT FROM A SURFACE, NOT LIGHT ITSELF. THE LIGHTING
PRACTITIONER NEEDS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE OBJECT IS LIGHT OR DARK,
POLISHED OR MIRROR LIKE, TEXTURED OR SMOOTH. ADDITIONALLY, IF ITS
COLORED, ISIT A COLOR TO BE ENHANCED OR SUBDUED?THE PLANNING
PROCESS FOLLOWS ACCORDINGLY: - WHAT ACTIVITIES (FUNCTIONS) WILL THE
SPACE BE USED FOR?- WHAT TASKS ARE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE
SPACE?- WHAT ARE THE OBJECT(S) YOU MOST WANT TO SEE?- WHICH
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES ARE TO BE EMPHASIZED?- WHERE IS THE SEATING
AREA?- WHAT IS THE DESIRED MOOD (AMBIENCE). DOES IT NEED TO BE
VARIED?- WHAT STYLE MUST THE LIGHTING COORDINATE WITH?SETTING
PRIORITIES PRIORITIES NEED TO BE SET. TRY AND GIVE THE SPACE A
FOCUS, SOMETHING WHICH DRAWS THE EYEA TABLE SETTING, A PAINTING, A
FLOWER ARRANGEMENT, A FIREPLACE WALL. THEN TRY TO CONSIDER THE
SPACE AS A WHOLE, IN OTHER WORDS, THE TOTAL LIGHTED ENVIRONMENT.
LIGHTING THE WALLS CAN MAKE A ROOM APPEAR MORE SPACIOUS.
B. HOW TO LIGHT ITONCE THE SPACE HAS BEEN ANALYZED, YOU CAN
DECIDE HOW BEST TO LIGHT IT USING THREE BASIC TECHNIQUESAMBIENT
LIGHTING, ACCENT LIGHTING, TASK LIGHTING.AMBIENT LIGHTING PROVIDES
GENERAL, OVERALL ILLUMINATION THAT ENABLESPEOPLE TO MOVE ABOUT THE
SPACE EASILY AND SAFELY. IT DEFINES THESPACE, AND MAKES IT A
COMFORTABLE VISUAL ENVIRONMENT. TWO APPROACHES FOR AMBIENT.ALSO
CALLED GENERAL LIGHTING.ARE DIRECT LIGHTING AND INDIRECT
LIGHTING.
DIRECT LIGHTING BRIGHTENS OBJECTS AND SURFACES IN THE LOWER PART
OF THEROOM WHILE INDIRECT LIGHTING GIVES THE FEELING OF
SPACIOUSNESS. SOMETIMES THE TWO TECHNIQUES ARE COMBINED AND WORK IN
CONCERT TO GIVE A BRIGHT CHEERFUL SETTING.ACCENT LIGHTING FOCUSES
ON SELECTED OBJECTS AND SURFACES, PROVIDING DRAMA AND
EXCITEMENT.TASK LIGHTING ILLUMINATES AREAS WHERE WORK IS PERFORMED;
READING, WRITING, SEWING, FOOD PREPARATION, LAUNDRY, GAMES AND
HOBBIES. WRITING, READING AND SEWING REQUIRE SUFFICIENT,
WELL-DIFFUSED, QUANTITIES OF ILLUMINATION THAT COMES OVER THE
SHOULDER OR FROM THE SIDE. FOR KITCHEN AND HOBBY TASKS, A
CONCENTRATED LIGHT FROM ABOVE USUALLY WORKS BEST.
C. WHAT TO LIGHT WITHHAVING DECIDED WHAT TO LIGHT AND HOW TO
LIGHT IT, YOU'RE NOW READY TO DECIDE WHAT TO LIGHT IT WITH. THE
SELECTION OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS BEST ACCOMPLISHED IN THE
FOLLOWING ORDER; THE LAMP, THE LUMINAIRE, AND THE CONTROLS. THE
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION DEPENDS ON THE CHOICE OF BOTH THE LAMP AND
LUMINAIRE. THE LIGHTING FIXTURE SHOULD NOT ONLY SUPPORT THE LAMP,
BUT REDIRECT ITS OUTPUT INTO THE DESIRED ZONES AND SHIELD THE LAMP
SO THAT IT DOES NOT BECOME A SOURCE OFGLARE.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT SOURCESTHE THREE MOST IMPORTANT
FAMILIES OF LIGHT SOURCES ARE INCANDESCENT, FLUORESCENT, AND HIGH
INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMPS.EACH IS DIFFERENT AND BEST SUITED FOR
DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS.INCANDESCENT LAMPS CREATE LIGHT BY MEANS OF
A TUNGSTEN FILAMENT THAT OPERATES AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE AND EMITS
VISIBLE RADIATION BY GLOWING (OR INCANDESCING). HALOGEN LAMPS ARE
INCANDESCENT LAMPS IN WHICH THE TUNGSTEN FILAMENT OPERATES IN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF HALOGEN GAS. THEY ARE WHITER AND BRIGHTER THAN
STANDARD INCANDESCENT LAMPS.
FLUORESCENT LAMPS EXCITE GAS ATOMS WITH AN ELECTRIC ARC,
PRODUCING INVISIBLE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION, WHICH IN TURN EXCITES
PHOSPHORS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TUBE THAT CREATE VISIBLE RADIATION
OR LIGHT.HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LAMPS CREATE LIGHT BY
EXCITING GAS ATOMS WITH AN ELECTRIC ARC, EMITTING (DISCHARGING)
VISIBLE RADIATION. THE TERM HID INCLUDE METAL HALIDE, MERCURY, AND
HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM LAMPS, EACH OF WHICH FEATURES A DIFFERENT GAS
MIXTURE..
THE MORE NEARLY A LIGHT SOURCE APPROACHES A POINT, THAT IS, THE
SMALLER AND MORE COMPACT IT IS, THE BETTER IT CAN BE CONTROLLED
OPTICALLY. THE LARGER THE LIGHTING ELEMENT BECOMES, THE MORE
DIFFICULT IT IS TO CONTROL OR REDIRECT THE LIGHT WITH REFLECTORS OR
LENSES. THE MOST COMPACT SOURCES ARE, OF COURSE, INCANDESCENT
LAMPS. OF THESE, LOW VOLTAGE TUNGSTEN HALOGEN LAMPS HAVE THE
SMALLEST FILAMENT, HENCE ARE THE MOST SUITED TO PRECISE OPTICAL
CONTROL. FLUORESCENT LAMPS ARE LARGE, DIFFUSE SOURCES THAT PRODUCE
LIGHT THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THAN
INCANDESCENT SOURCES.SOME HID LAMPS FEATURE COMPACT ARC TUBES AND
CLEAR GLASS ENCLOSURES, WHICH PERMIT OPTICAL CONTROL APPROACHING
THAT OF MANY INCANDESCENT LAMPS. OTHER HID LAMPS HAVE LARGE,
PHOSPHOR-COATED BULBS WHICH ARE HARDER TO CONTROL.
OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICSTHE SMALLER A DIRECTIONAL SOURCE AND THE
TIGHTER THE BEAM, THE GREATER THE CONTRAST BETWEEN LIGHT SHADOW
WILL BE. THE LARGER THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE LESS DIRECTIONAL IT IS
AND THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF ANGLES AT WHICH LIGHT STRIKES
THEOBJECT, WHICH SOFTENS THE CONTRAST. THE DOME OF THE SKY ON AN
OVERCAST DAY IS THE LARGEST POSSIBLE LIGHT SOURCE WITH THE LIGHT OF
THE SUN BEING DIFFUSED TO A RELATIVELY EVEN BRIGHTNESS ALL AROUND,
OBLITERATING SHADOWS.
LUMINAIRELESSON NINE WILL FOCUS ON THE DEFINITION OF THE
LUMINAIRE, THEIR BASIC CLASSIFICATIONS, AND THE METHODS USED TO
DETERMINE AND MEASURE THEIR PERFORMANCE.A LUMINAIRE IS A COMPLETE
LIGHTING SYSTEM. IT CONSISTS OF A HOUSING, LAMPHOLDERS, LAMPS,
(POSSIBLY A BALLAST OR TRANSFORMER) AND THE OPTICAL SYSTEM; THE
REFLECTOR, AND EITHER A LENS, LOUVER OR DIFFUSER FOR CONTROLLING
BRIGHTNESS. AT TIMES IT MAY ALSO INCLUDE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL
CONTROL.DIMMERS, HILO SWITCHING, DAYLIGHT SENSORS, ETC.
LUMINAIRE CLASSIFICATIONSTHERE ARE SIX BASIC CLASSIFICATIONS OF
LUMINAIRES:THE DIRECT LUMINAIRE WHERE ALL THE LIGHT IS DIRECTED
DOWN. THE SEMI-DIRECT LUMINAIRE WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE LIGHT IS
DIRECTED DOWN.THE GENERAL DIFFUSE LUMINAIRE WHERE LIGHT IS
DISTRIBUTED IN ALL DIRECTIONS.THE DIRECT-INDIRECT LUMINAIRE WHERE
LIGHT IS DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY UP AND DOWNTHE SEMI-INDIRECT LUMINAIRE
WHERE THE MAJORITY OF LIGHT IS DIRECTED UP. THE INDIRECT LUMINAIRE
WHERE ALL THE LIGHT IS DIRECTED UP.
DIMMING AND SWITCHINGALL TYPES OF LIGHT SOURCES CAN BE DIMMED,
BUT SOME ARE SIMPLER AND LESS COSTLY TO DIM THAN
OTHERS.INCANDESCENT LAMPS CAN BE DIMMED EASILY WITH INEXPENSIVE
DIMMERS (LOW VOLTAGE LAMPS REQUIRE SPECIAL DIMMERS). DIMMING
GENERALLY EXTENDS LAMP LIFE. SWITCHING HAS NO IMPACT ON
INCANDESCENT LAMP LIFE.MOST FLUORESCENT LAMPS CAN ALSO BE DIMMED.
SPECIAL BALLASTS AND DIMMERS ARE REQUIRED. DIMMING OF FLUORESCENT
LAMPS IS INCREASINGLY POPULAR. DIMMING HAS NO IMPACT ON LAMP LIFE,
BUT FREQUENT SWITCHING WILL REDUCE AVERAGE RATED LIFE.SOME HID
LAMPS CAN BE DIMMED WITH EXPENSIVE, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. DIMMING
OF HID IS QUITE RARE. HID LAMPS REQUIRE TIME TO WARM UP AND COOL
DOWN WITH EACH SWITCHING, SO FREQUENT SWITCHING IS A PROBLEM.
WHY DIM?
ELECTRICAL LIGHTING IS STATIC.... UNTIL YOU ADD ARCHITECTURAL
LIGHTING CONTROLS. BY DIMMING VARIOUS SOURCES WITHIN A SPACE YOU
CREATE ELEGANCE, DRAMA, EFFECT AND A FEELING OF UNDENIABLE
COMFORT.YOU CAN: A. COMPOSE THE LIGHTING IN A SPACE TO CREATE
MOODB. TUNE THE LIGHTING LEVEL TO A SPECIFIC TASKC. EXTEND THE LIFE
OF INCANDESCENT LAMPS AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION COSTSLIGHTING
CONTROLS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE BASIC APPLICATIONS. 1. DIM ONE
LIGHT OR A GROUP OF LIGHTS TOGETHER2. DIM A ROOM OF LIGHTS TO
CREATE SCENES3. CONTROL A GROUP OF ROOMS
AN INCANDESCENT LAMP CONSISTS OF A FILAMENT (A WIRE THAT IS
HEATED AND GLOWS), A BULB (A GLASS ENVELOPE) AND A BASE.
INCANDESCENT LAMP
BULB FINISHESBULBS MAY BE CLEAR, INSIDE FROSTED, OR SOFT WHITE,
(TO MODIFY THE HIGH BRIGHTNESS OF THE FILAMENT), OR THEY MAY HAVE
AN INTERNAL REFLECTOR TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE LIGHT. COLOR
MAY BE ADDED BY THE USE OF TINTED GLASS, ENAMELCOATING OR FUSED
COLOR FILTERS. THERE ARE ALSO SPECIAL COATINGS TO PREVENT BULBS
FROM FRAGMENTING WHEN BROKEN
BASESTHE BASE PROVIDES A MEANS OF MOUNTING THE LAMP, POSITIONING
THE FILAMENT AND MAKING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THE MEDIUM SCREW
BASE IS THE MOST OFTEN USED WITH MID-RANGE WATTAGE LAMPS, WHILE THE
MOGUL BASE ACCOMMODATES LARGE LAMPS 300 WATTS AND ABOVE, AND
CANDELABRA BASE IS MOST OFTEN USED FOR SMALL LAMPS, 25 WATTS AND
LOWER.
INCANDESCENT LAMPS PRODUCE APPROXIMATELY 16-22 LUMENS PER WATT,
DEPENDING ON THE DESIGN OF THE LAMP. HIGHER WATTAGE LAMPS ARE MORE
EFFICIENT THAN LOWER WATTAGE ONES BECAUSE THE FILAMENT BURNS HOTTER
AND THEREFORE BRIGHTER . FOR EXAMPLE, ONE 100 A19 WATT LAMP
PRODUCES MORE LIGHT (1710 LUMENS) THAN FOUR 25 WATT LAMPS (840
LUMENS); ONE 150 A 21 LAMP GIVES MORE LIGHT (2780 LUMENS) THAN TWO
75 WATT LAMPS (2360 LUMENS).
REFLECTORIZED LAMPSREFLECTORIZED INCANDESCENT LAMPS HAVE AN
INTERNAL REFLECTOR COATING TO CONTROL THE LIGHT. BR, ER AND PAR
LAMPS HAVE AN AVERAGE RATED LIFE RANGING FROM 2000 TO 4000 HOURS.
PAR OR PARABOLIC ALUMINIZED REFLECTOR LAMPS OFFER EXCELLENT
CONTROL. THEY COME IN A WIDE VARIETY OF SIZES, WATTAGES AND BEAM
PATTERNS. PAR LAMPS CAN BE USED OUTDOORS, UNPROTECTED, BECAUSE THEY
ARE MADE OF HARD GLASS THAT CAN WITHSTAND ADVERSE WEATHER
CONDITIONS
BR OR R SHAPED REFLECTOR LAMPSHAVE LESS ACCURATE BEAM CONTROL
AND ARE AVAILABLE IN FLOOD AND SPOT DISTRIBUTIONS. MADE OF SOFT
GLASS, THEY ARE INTENDED FOR FIXTURES THAT ARE UL LISTED FOR THAT
LAMP.
TYPES OF HALOGEN LAMPSTUNGSTEN HALOGEN LAMPS ARE AVAILABLE IN
VARIOUS SHAPES: A, T AND PAR. THE HALOGEN A-LAMP CAN REPLACE
CONVENTIONAL GENERAL SERVICE LAMPS IN MANY FIXTURES. THE T LAMP IS
USED FREQUENTLY IN TORCHIERES, SCONCES, AND FLOODLIGHTS. PAR LAMPS
ARE POPULAR FOR ACCENT APPLICATIONS. MOST LOW VOLTAGE LAMPS ALSO
USE TUNGSTEN HALOGEN TECHNOLOGY
MOST LOW VOLTAGE LAMPS FOR ARCHITECTURAL USE ARE DESIGNED TO
OPERATE AT 12 VOLTS, A MUCH LOWER VOLTAGE THAN THE 120 OR 277 VOLTS
NORMALLY USED FOR LIGHTING CIRCUITS. AS A RESULT, FOR A GIVEN
WATTAGE, THE LAMP FILAMENT CAN BE MUCH SMALLER FOR A GIVEN WATTAGE.
THE KEY TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING IS THE SMALL
SIZE OF THE FILAMENT IN THE LAMP; IT PERMITS BETTER LIGHT CONTROL
IN SMALLER FIXTURES. THE COMBINED EFFECT IS VERY DRAMATIC.
SHAPES, SIZES AND WATTAGESTODAY'S FLUORESCENT LAMPS ARE
AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES, SIZES, ANDWATTAGES. FLUORESCENT
LAMPS CAN BE LINEAR, U SHAPED, CIRCULAR, OR SQUARE, ANDRANGE IN
LENGTH FROM 6 TO 96. THE RANGE IN WATTAGE OF STANDARD FLUORESCENT
LAMPS CAN BE FROM 7 WATTS TO 215 WATTS.
COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS (CFL)COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS ARE
AVAILABLE IN A WIDE RANGE OF COLOR TEMPERATURES, FROM 2700 K TO
5000 K. THEY HAVE EXCELLENT COLOR RENDERING PROPERTIES AND ARE
AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF SIZES, SHAPES, AND WATTAGES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF LUMINAIRES DESIGNED
FOR COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS IN BOTH NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
RENOVATION MEANS THAT COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS CAN MEET MOST ANY
DESIGN APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.
COMPACT FLUORESCENT SYSTEMSINTEGRAL SYSTEMS ARE SELF-BALLASTED
PACKAGES AND ARE MADE UP OF A ONE-PIECE, DISPOSABLE SOCKET ADAPTER
BALLAST, AND LAMP COMBINATION.MODULAR SYSTEMS ARE ALSO
SELF-BALLASTED PACKAGES CONSISTING OF A SCREW-BASEDINCANDESCENT
SOCKET ADAPTER BALLAST, AND REPLACEABLE LAMP.DEDICATED SYSTEMS
EXIST WHEN THE BALLAST AND FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKET HAVE BEEN
DIRECTLY WIRED-IN AS PART OF THE LUMINAIRE.
LIGHT CONTROLLIGHT TRAVELS IN A STRAIGHT LINE UNTIL IT STRIKES A
SURFACE; IT IS THEN MODIFIED BY REFLECTION, TRANSMISSION,
REFRACTION, AND /OR ABSORPTION. OTHER POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS SUCH
AS POLARIZATION, DIFFRACTION OR INTERFERENCE, WHICH MAY OCCUR, ARE
OF MINOR CONCERN IN LUMINAIRE DESIGN. WHAT'S IMPORTANT, IS A
LUMINAIRE THAT DIRECTS LIGHT FROM THE LAMP INTO THE ZONE WHERE IT
IS WANTED AND KEEPS IT OUT OF THE ZONE WHERE IT IS NOT WANTED.
LIGHT MAY BE CONTROLLED OR REDIRECTED AS THE LUMINAIRE DESIGNER
WISHES BY USING ONE OR A COMBINATION OR THE FOLLOWING
PRINCIPLES.
SPECULAR REFLECTION RESULTS FROM A SHINY, HIGHLY POLISHED OR
MIRROR SURFACE. A BEAM OF LIGHT IS REFLECTED AT AN ANGLE EQUAL TO
THAT AT WHICH IT ARRIVED; THAT IS, THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE EQUALS
THE ANGLE OF REFLECTION.
SPREAD REFLECTIONSPREAD REFLECTION BREAKS UP A BEAM OF LIGHT IN
THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE ANGLE OF REFLECTION, SPREADING IT
SOMEWHAT BECAUSE OF MINUTE VARIATIONS ON THE EFLECTOR SURFACE.
SPECULAR REFLECTORS ARE SOMETIMES ROUGHED UP TO PROVIDE A SLIGHT
DEGREE OF DIFFUSION FOR A SOFTER, LUMINOUS EFFECT OR TO HIDE
FILAMENT STRIATIONS.
DIFFUSE REFLECTIONDIFFUSE REFLECTION IS CHARACTERIZED BY LIGHT
LEAVING A SURFACE IN ALL DIRECTIONS AS WITH WHITE PLASTER OR FLAT
WHITE PAINT.
CONTROL OF THE BEAMREFLECTORS OFTEN CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF
LIGHT FROM A LUMINAIRE; HOWEVER, IT IS THE SHAPE OF THE REFLECTOR
WHICH DETERMINES THE BEAM PATTERN. A VARIETY OF DISTRIBUTION
PATTERNS ARE SHOWN BELOW
LIGHT TRANSMISSIONTRANSPARENT MATERIALS SUCH AS CRYSTAL, GLASS,
OR PLASTIC PERMIT THE TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT WITH NO APPRECIABLE
CHANGE IN ITS DIRECTION. THIS DOES NOT, HOWEVER, MEAN THAT 100% OF
THE LIGHT IS TRANSMITTED. IN FACT, IF THE INCIDENT LIGHT IS NORMAL
TO A CLEAR GLASS SURFACE 80% - 90% WILL GO THROUGH. THE REMAINING
WILL BE REFLECTED.USUALLY 8% - 10%.AND THE REMAINDER ABSORBED.
DIRECT TRANSMISSION DIRECT TRANSMISSION OCCURS WITH TRANSPARENT
MATERIALS SUCH AS CLEAR GLASS, WHICH ABSORBS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
LIGHT.
SPREAD TRANSMISSION SPREAD TRANSMISSION OCCURS WITH TRANSLUCENT
MATERIALS WHERE LIGHT EMERGES AT AN ANGLE WIDER THAN THE ANGLE OF
INCIDENCE. THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE BEAM REMAINS THE SAME AND
THE LIGHT SOURCE IS PERCEPTIBLE
DIFFUSE TRANSMISSIONDIFFUSE TRANSMISSION THROUGH SUCH MATERIALS
AS OPAL GLASS OR PLASTIC, SCATTERS LIGHT PASSING THROUGH IN ALL
DIRECTIONS AND OBSCURES THE IMAGE OF THE LIGHT SOURCE. DIFFUSERS
USUALLY TRANSMIT 40% TO 60% OF THE INCIDENT LIGHT, BUT THEOPTICAL
SYSTEM IS USUALLY GREATER THAN THIS DUE TO INTERNAL
REFLECTIONS.
REFRACTIONWHEN A REED GROWING OUT OF A POND IS VIEWED AT AN
ANGLE, THE STEM APPEARS TO BEND AT THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. THIS
IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SPEED OF LIGHT IN WATER IS AT A
DIFFERENT RATE AS ITS SPEED IN AIR. THE PHENOMENON IS CALLED
REFRACTION.
TYPES OF REFRACTORS:(LENS)LENSES HAVE ONE OR MORE CURVED
SURFACES WHICH CAUSE PARALLEL RAYS TO CONVERGE OR DIVERGE, THUS,
FOCUSING OR SPREADING THE LIGHT. COMPLEX OPTICAL SYSTEMS MAY
CONSIST OF SEVERAL LENSES USED TOGETHER.
ABSORPTIONTHERE IS ALWAYS A SUBTRACTIVE INTERACTION WHEN LIGHT
HITS A SURFACE; SOME LIGHTIS LOST BY ABSORPTION. ON THE OTHER HAND,
ABSORPTION, AS WITH BAFFLES ORLOUVERS, IS NEVER COMPLETE EITHER.
MATTE BLACK PAINT OFFERS NEARLY COMPLETE ABSORPTION AND CREATE A
VERY LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS.
CONTROL OF LUMINAIRE BRIGHTNESSDIRECT VIEWING OF EITHER THE LAMP
OR THE INTERIOR OF A LUMINAIRE CAN BE A SOURCE OF GLARE. DEVICES
FOR REDUCING LUMINAIRE BRIGHTNESS TO A COMFORTABLE RANGE IN NORMAL
VIEWING ANGLES (45 DEGREES AND ABOVE) INCLUDE REFLECTORS, LENSES,
BAFFLES AND PARABOLIC LOUVERS.
LENSESA LENS MADE OF EITHER PLASTIC OR GLASS INTERCEPTS AS MUCH
LIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND REDIRECTS IT INTO THE MOST USEFUL ZONES.
LUMINAIRE BRIGHTNESS IS REDUCED BECAUSE ALL LIGHT RAYS PASS THROUGH
THE LENS, BLOCKING THE DIRECT VIEW OF THE LAMPS.
BAFFLESA BAFFLE IS AN OPAQUE ELEMENT OF WOOD, METAL OR PLASTIC
THAT PREVENTS DIRECT VIEWING OF A LAMP. IT ALSO REDUCES THE
BRIGHTNESS OF A LENS OR DIFFUSER. HORIZONTAL BAFFLES MOUNTED ONE
ABOVE THE OTHER REDUCE BRIGHTNESS EVEN MORE THAN VERTICAL BAFFLES
BECAUSE EACH ONE THROWS A SHADOW ON THE ONE BELOW.
LOUVERSA LOUVER IS AN ASSEMBLY OF VERTICAL BAFFLES ARRANGED
PARALLEL IN A GRID OR IN A CONCENTRIC PATTERN TO BLOCK THE VIEW OF
HIGH LUMINAIRE BRIGHTNESS ABOVE 45 DEGREES. SPECULAR PARABOLIC
LOUVERS COMBINE REFLECTIVE PRINCIPLES WITH A GRIDBAFFLE TO REDIRECT
LIGHT DOWNWARD, PRODUCING VERY LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS.
TYPES OF REFRACTORS(PRISMS)PRISMS ARE TRANSPARENT FORMS WITH
STRAIGHT NON-PARALLEL SIDES. THEY ARE USED TO LOWER LUMINAIRE
BRIGHTNESS OR REDIRECT LIGHT INTO USEFUL ZONES
DIMMINGDIMMING CAN ENHANCE THE EFFECT OF LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING,
ESPECIALLY WHERE A SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE OR MULTIPLE SETTINGS ARE
DESIRED. AS WITH OTHER INCANDESCENT LAMPS, DIMMING WARMS THE COLOR
OF THE LIGHT AND EXTENDS LAMP LIFE.THE DIMMING OF LOW VOLTAGE
FIXTURES IS BEST CARRIED OUT WITH MAGNETIC TRANSFORMERS AND DIMMERS
THAT ARE RATED FOR MAGNETIC LOW VOLTAGE OR INDUCTIVE LOADS.
High Intensity Discharge LampsHIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID)
LAMPS MERCURY, METAL HALIDE, AND HIGHPRESSURE SODIUM.CONSIST OF AN
INNER ARC TUBE THAT CONTAINS GAS VAPORS ANDELECTRODES, AND AN OUTER
JACKET OR BULB MADE OF HEAT RESISTANT GLASS.
TYPES OF HID LAMPSMERCURYTHESE LAMPS PRODUCE A BLUE-GREEN LIGHT.
WHEN PHOSPHOR COATING IS USED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE OUTER GLASS
JACKET, MERCURY LAMPS IMPROVE IN BOTH COLOR QUALITY AND
EFFICACY.
METAL HALIDETHESE LAMPS USE VARIOUS METALLIC SALTS, AS WELL AS
MERCURY IN THE ARC, PRODUCING MORE LIGHT PER WATT AND BETTER COLOR
THAN MERCURY. SINCE THE SOURCE OF LIGHT, THE ARC, IS RELATIVELY
SMALL, METAL HALIDE ALLOWS FOR GOOD OPTICAL CONTROL.
HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM (HPS)
HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM (HPS)OF ALL LAMPS IN THE HID FAMILY OF
LIGHT SOURCES, HPS LAMPS ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT. ADDITIONALLY, THEY
HAVE A THIN, CERAMIC ARC TUBE WHICH, BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, ALLOWS
FOR VERY GOOD OPTICAL CONTROL. SODIUM IS THE MAJOR CHEMICAL
COMPONENT AND THE REASON WHY THE LAMP PRODUCES A YELLOWISH COLOR OF
LIGHT.
FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRES AND SYSTEMSTHE FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRE IS A
COMPLETE UNIT CONSISTING OF A BODY, FLUORESCENT LAMP(S), SOCKETS,
BALLAST(S), OPTICAL DEVICES TO DISTRIBUTE THE LIGHT, AND THE
MECHANICAL COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO ATTACH OR SUPPORT THE LUMINAIRE.
AS USEDHERE, THE TERM REFERS ONLY TO THOSE LUMINAIRES USING LARGE
FLUORESCENT LAMPS, NOT COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS.
FLUORESCENT SYSTEMTHE FLUORESCENT SYSTEM IS A FAMILY OF MODULAR
TYPE LUMINARIES DESIGNED TO BE JOINED ELECTRICALLY AND MECHANICALLY
TO FORM ROWS, AND PATTERNS OF VARIOUS SHAPES, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
LIGHTING THROUGHOUT A SPACE. AS USED HERE, THE TERM REFERS
PRINCIPALLY TO SYSTEMS OF SUSPENDED LUMINARIES.
APPLICATIONSTODAY, FLUORESCENT LIGHTING IS THE PRINCIPAL LIGHT
SOURCE (HAVING THE GREATEST NUMBER OF LUMEN-HOURS) FOR INTERIOR
LIGHTING APPLICATIONS IN COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL
BUILDINGS. IN RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS, ITS USE IS LARGELY CONFINED
TO KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, AND HOME WORKSHOPS.
SURFACE MOUNTED LUMINAIRESANOTHER COMMON TYPE OF SURFACE MOUNTED
FLUORESCENT IS THE WRAP AROUND. IT CONSISTS OF A METAL CHASSIS
SUPPORTING TWO OR FOUR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND AN EXTRUDED ACRYLIC
DIFFUSER, WHICH WRAPS AROUND THE LAMPS. WRAP-AROUNDS ARE ECONOMICAL
AND ARE WIDELY USED IN LOWER-PRICED COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTIONS AND IN
HOMES.
Surface Modular Fluorescents THESE LUMINAIRES CONSIST OF A
BOX-SHAPED METAL HOUSING WHICH CONTAINS THE BALLAST AND SOCKETS.
ATTACHED, BY MEANS OF HINGES AND LATCHES, IS SOME FORM OF
LIGHTSHIELD (PRISMATIC LENS IN A FRAME OR A PARABOLIC LOUVER IN A
FRAME). THEY ARE OFTEN USED IN APPLICATIONS, WHICH DO NOT ALLOW FOR
A RECESSED FIXTURE.
Surface Decorative FluorescentsTHESE LUMINAIRE TYPES ARE OFFERED
IN A VARIETY OF STYLES RANGING FROM SIMPLE, CLEAN FORMS IN WHITE
ACRYLIC TO THE ORNATE TYPES EMPLOYING WOOD FRAMES WITH METAL TRIM.
THE CONSTRUCTION USUALLY CONSISTS OF A CHASSIS CARRYING THE
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND A LIGHTSHIELD; MOST OFTEN A FRAMELESS
THERMOFORMED ACRYLIC, OR A WOOD-FRAMED ACRYLIC PANEL.
WALL MOUNTED FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRESWALL MOUNTED FLUORESCENT
LUMINAIRES ARE GENERALLY DEDICATED TO SPECIAL APPLICATIONS, SUCH
AS:LIGHTING THE FACE AT THE MIRROR FROM ABOVE OR AT THE SIDES OF
THE MIRRORLIGHTING FOR READING IN BED, EITHER IN A HOSPITAL OR
NURSING HOME- LIGHTING FOR TASKS NEAR A WALL, A PARTITION, UNDER A
CABINET, OR SHELF - BOTH INDIRECT AND DIRECT LIGHTING IN A
RECEPTION AREA, LOUNGE, OR HALLWAY
FLUORESCENT LIGHTING SYSTEMSTHE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLUORESCENT
LUMINAIRES AND FLUORESCENT LIGHTING SYSTEMS IS LARGELY A MATTER OF
DEGREE. WHAT DISTINGUISHES FLUORESCENT SYSTEMS IS THAT THEY ARE
INSTALLED IN CONTINUOUS ROWS AND PATTERNS AND ARE SUSPENDED RATHER
THAN RECESSED OR SURFACE MOUNTED. FLUORESCENT SYSTEMS ARE A NEW
CONCEPT MORE INCLINED TO FEATURE INDIRECT LIGHTING AND ARE
PARTICULARLY SUITED TO T-5 LAMPS.
FLUORESCENT LIGHTING SYSTEMS CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO TWO
CATEGORIES:
1. FOR USE AT THE EDGE OF AN INTERIOR SPACE IN COVES AND
PERIMETER TROUGHS. TYPICALLY, THEY HAVE ASYMMETRIC DISTRIBUTIONS
AND ARE INTENDED TO ILLUMINATE CEILINGS OR WALLS SMOOTHLY AND
UNIFORMLY.2. FOR USE IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF AN INTERIOR SPACE.
THESE GENERALLY HAVE SYMMETRICAL INDIRECT WIDESPREAD
DISTRIBUTIONS
RECESSED DOWNLIGHTINGRECESSED DOWNLIGHTING IS LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
WHICH IS RECESSED INTO THE CEILING FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A
DOWNWARD DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT. DOWNLIGHTS ARE GENERALLY OF SMALL
SIZE, WITH AN APERTURE (OPENING AT THE CEILING) USUALLY 9OR LESS
INDIAMETER. THEY INCORPORATE REFLECTORS, OR REFLECTORIZED LAMPS, TO
DIRECT THE LIGHT. THEY USE LAMPS SMALL IN SIZE, RELATIVE TO THE
DIAMETER OF THE FIXTURE, IN ORDER TO MAXIMUM OPTICAL
EFFICIENCY.
APPLICATIONS - COMMERCIAL; DEPARTMENT STORES, RETAIL SHOPS,
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, OFFICES- INSTITUTIONAL; HEALTHCARE FACILITIES,
SCHOOLS, MUSEUMS- RESIDENTIAL; CONDOMINIUMS, APARTMENTS, PRIVATE
HOMES
REASONS FOR THE POPULARITY OF DOWNLIGHTS:
- THEY DIRECT THE EYE TO AN OBJECT OR A SURFACE INSTEAD OF TO
THE LUMINAIRE- THEY ARE INCONSPICUOUS AND UNOBTRUSIVE- THEY ARE
EASILY INTEGRATED WITH THE ARCHITECTURE- THEY ARE VERSATILE;
CAPABLE OF PERFORMING SEVERAL FUNCTIONS WITH A SINGLE LOOK
ACCENT LIGHTINGA RECESSED DOWNLIGHT USED FOR ACCENT LIGHTING HAS
ADJUSTABLE AIMING ANGLES AND ARE OFTEN CALLED RECESSED ADJUSTABLE.
THEY MAKE USE OF REFLECTORIZED LAMPS.ARS, MRS, AND PARS. SOME OF
THE LATEST DESIGNS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGH EFFICIENCY, LONG LIFE
AND GOOD COLOR OF THE NEW, CERAMIC METAL HALIDES.
DECORATIVE LIGHTINGDECORATIVE LIGHTING GIVES CHARACTER AND
INDIVIDUALITY TO A SPACE, SETS THE TONE OF AN INTERIOR, AND HELPS
TO ESTABLISH THE STYLE OF THE ARCHITECTURE.DECORATIVE LIGHTING
FIXTURES ARE GENERALLY SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING, MOUNTED ON THE
CEILING, OR ON THE WALL. THEIR LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CAN BE DIRECT
(DOWNLIGHTING), INDIRECT (UPLIGHTING), OR GENERAL DIFFUSE.
TYPICALLY THE LIGHT SOURCES USED IN THESE LUMINAIRES ARE
INCANDESCENT, HALOGEN, COMPACT FLUORESCENT, OR METAL HALIDE.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY CAN BE USED IN SPECIAL APPLICATIONS SUCH AS
BATHROOMS, CORRIDORS AND HALLWAYS, AND AS EMERGENCY LIGHTING.
ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIVE LIGHTING IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST
ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING BECAUSE IT GIVES MORE IMPORTANCE TO THE
APPEARANCE OF THE LIGHTING FIXTURE; ITS FORM, FINISH, AND
DETAILING. IT DIFFERS FROM RESIDENTIAL DECORATIVE.USUALLY SELECTED
BY THE HOMEOWNER. BECAUSE IT IS MORE CONCERNED WITH ISSUES OF
ENERGYCONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE. AN ARCHITECT, INTERIOR DESIGNER
OR LIGHTING CONSULTANT USUALLY SELECTS ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIVE
LIGHTING
SUSPENDED INDIRECT LUMINAIRESTHESE ARE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
TYPES OF ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIVE . THE SUSPENDED INDIRECT
LUMINARIES UTILIZE A DIFFUSER / REFLECTOR TO DIRECT LIGHT UP
TOWARDS THE CEILING. THE EFFECT PRODUCES A COMFORTABLE VISUAL
ENVIRONMENT, WHILE CREATING THE IMPRESSION OF EXPANSIVENESS.
SUSPENDED DOWNLIGHTSTHE BODY OF THE FIXTURE IS USUALLY SUSPENDED
BELOW THE CEILING AT A DISTANCE ROUGHLY EQUAL TO ITS DIAMETER. THE
DESIGN OF THE SUSPENSION AND THE METAL TRIM OF THE DIFFUSER/
REFLECTOR PROVIDE THE MAIN DECORATIVE ELEMENTS. THE DIFFUSER /
REFLECTOR IS GENERALLYMADE OF ACRYLIC, ALABASTER, GLASS OR
METAL.SUSPENDED DOWNLIGHTS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS PENDANTS. THEY
DIRECT ALL, OR MOST, OF THE LIGHT DOWNWARDS AND ARE USED FOR ACCENT
LIGHTING, GENERAL LIGHTING AND TASK LIGHTING. THE REFLECTOR MAY BE
OF METAL, ACRYLIC OR GLASS. THE DIAMETER OF THE REFLECTOR,
DEPENDING ON THE APPLICATION, RANGES FROM 4 TO 25. THE REFLECTOR
MAY BE ENCLOSED OR OPEN AT THE BOTTOM.
SURFACE MOUNTED LUMINAIRES USUALLY MOUNTED ON THE CEILING, BUT
SOMETIMES MOUNTED ON THE WALL, THE PRINCIPAL APPLICATIONS FOR
SURFACE MOUNTED LUMINAIRES ARE IN CIRCULATION AREAS.LOBBIES,
HALLWAYS AND CORRIDORS.BEDROOMS, DORMITORIES, HOTEL ROOMS AND
UTILITY AREAS.
APPLICATIONS INVOLVING CORRIDORS, WHICH OFTEN FORM THE PATH TO
THE EXIT (EMERGENCY EGRESS) OFTEN REQUIRE PROVISIONS FOR BATTERY
POWERED EMERGENCY LIGHTING INTEGRATED INTO AN OTHERWISE STANDARD
LUMINAIRE; A COST SAVING MEASURE WHICH ALSO LEAVES THE WALLS FREE
OF ADDITIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURES
FIBER OPTICS ILLUMINATION SYSTEMSA FIBER OPTIC ILLUMINATION
SYSTEM IS A LIGHTING SYSTEM IN WHICH A REMOTE SOURCE DISTRIBUTES
LIGHT TO AREAS AND OBJECTS BY MEANS OF ONE OR MORE BUNDLES OF
OPTICAL FIBERS; SIMILAR TO THE WAY WATER IS CONDUCTED FROM A FAUCET
TO A NOZZLETHROUGH A HOSE. LIGHT ENTERING ONE END OF THE FIBERS IS
TRANSMITTED TO THE OTHERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TOTAL INTERNAL
REFLECTION.
THE MAJOR BENEFIT OF FIBER OPTIC LIGHTING DERIVES FROM THE FACT
THAT THE LIGHT SOURCE AND LIGHT OUTPUT ARE SEPARATED. THIS HAS THE
FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:- REDUCED MAINTENANCE COSTS- NO HEAT, UV, OR
ELECTRICITY AT THE LIGHT FITTING- REDUCED FIXTURE SCALE AND WEIGHT-
ABILITY TO SUPPLY COLOR CHANGE AND/OR DYNAMIC LIGHTING EFFECTS-
DESIGN FLEXIBILITY- LOWER ENERGY CONSUMPTION RELATIVE TO
INCANDESCENT DECORATIVE LIGHTING
APPLICATIONS - ACCENT LIGHTING- DISPLAY LIGHTING- TASK LIGHTING-
DECORATIVE EFFECTS- DOWN LIGHTING- LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
RESIDENTIAL LIGHTINGWHEN LIGHTING RESIDENTIAL SPACES, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE LIFESTYLE OF ITS
OCCUPANTSTHEIR HOBBIES, HOW THEY ENTERTAIN, THEIR FORM OF
RECREATION, HOME STUDY OR BUSINESS STUDIO, GROOMING, UTILITY AREAS,
THEIR AGESBEFORE DECIDING ON THE PROPER QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF
ILLUMINATION. ONCE THE DECISION IS MADE THE LIGHT SHOULD FALL ON
BOTH THE TASK AND THE SURROUND. THIS WILL PROVIDE A BALANCE OF
BRIGHTNESS FOR VISUAL COMFORT.
TABLE LUMINAIRES
BOTH THE HEIGHT OF THE TABLE ALONG WITH THAT OF THE LUMINAIRES
BASE WILL PROVIDE THE PROPER DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE
BOTTOM OF THE SHADE. AS A GENERAL RULE-OF-THUMB THE HIGHER THE
TABLE, THE SHORTER THE LUMINAIRE. THE BOTTOM OF THE SHADE SHOULD BE
AT EYE HEIGHT.
THE SHADE
TO ASSURE VISUAL COMFORT, WHILE ALLOWING AS MUCH LIGHT OUT OF
THE LUMINAIRE AS POSSIBLE, SHADES NEED TO BE OPEN AT THE TOP AND OF
WHITE OR LIGHT NEUTRAL COLOR. ALSO, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL
SHADES USED IN THE SAME ROOM BE OF EQUAL BRIGHTNESS
BATH & POWDER ROOMS
THIS IS USUALLY THE PLACE IN THE HOME WHERE THE DAY BEGINS;
THUS, PROPER PLACEMENT OF LIGHT BOTH ABOVE THE SINK AND ALONGSIDE
THE MIRROR IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PROPER GROOMING. THE TASK IN THIS
AREA IS THE PERSON STANDING IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR; THEREFORE,
LIGHT NEEDS TO BE DIFFUSED AND DIRECTED BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND
VERTICALLY
WALL MOUNTED LUMINAIRES OR PENDANTS SHOULD BE LOCATED ON THE
SIDE OF THE MIRROR TO PROVIDE LIGHT FOR FACIAL GROOMING. THESE
LUMINAIRES NEED TO BE SPACED A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 30
INCHESMEASURED FROM THE CENTER OF EACH LUMINARIESAPART. THEY SHOULD
ALSO BE A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 60 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR; ALSO
MEASURED FROM THE CENTER OF EACH LUMINARIES.
BEDROOMS
LUMINAIRES PLACED ON DRESSING TABLES NEED TO BE SPACED 36 INCHES
APART, WITH THE LAMP IN THE LUMINAIRE BEING A DISTANCE OF 25 INCHES
(IF STANDING) FROM THE TOP OF THE DRESSER TO THE LUMINAIRES
BASE.
FLOOR LUMINAIRES
FLOOR LUMINAIRES PROVIDE A GENEROUS SPREAD OF LIGHT TO A ROOM.
IF THE FLOOR LUMINAIRE IS WITHOUT A TABLE, THEN THE DISTANCE FROM
THE BOTTOM OF THE SHADE TO THE FLOOR IS 43 TO 49 INCHES.
GENERAL LIGHTINGGENERAL LIGHTING WILL ENHANCE THE SPACE MAKING
SMALL SPACES APPEAR LARGER, WHILE EMPHASIZING THE SPACIOUSNESS OF
LARGE ROOMS. THE LIGHTING SHOULD BE IN BALANCED BRIGHTNESS WITH
TASK LIGHTING FOR VISUAL COMFORT AND MAY BE SUPPLIED BY A VARIETY
OF INCANDESCENT AND/OR FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRES
DECORATIVE LIGHTING DECORATIVE LIGHTING WORKS IN CONCERT WITH
BOTH THE GENERAL AND TASK LIGHTING TO HELP CREATE THE TOTAL LIGHTED
ENVIRONMENT. THE LIGHTING SHOULD BE CONTROLLED, USING DEVICES THAT
PERMIT MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY FROM ANYPLACE IN THE RESIDENCE.
DECORATIVE UNITS CAN BE AS FOLLOWS:WALL SCONCE CHANDELIERS
DOWNLIGHTS
LIGHTING FOYERS, HALLS & STAIRS FOYERS, HALLWAYS AND STAIRS
CAN BE ILLUMINATED USING CEILING MOUNTED LUMINAIRES, WALLSCONCES
AND RECESSED DOWNLIGHTS. WHEN LIGHTING HALLWAYS, IT IS BEST TO
LOCATE LUMINAIRES TEN FEET APART. FOR STAIRS, WELL-SHIELDED
LIGHTING FIXTURES SHOULD BE PLACED BOTH AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF
THE STAIRS.
LIGHTING FOR DINING ROOMWHETHER USED FOR FORMAL OR FAMILY
DINING, LIGHTING IN THE DINING ROOM SHOULD COMPLIMENT THE TABLE
SETTING, PROVIDE THE CORRECT AMBIENCE FOR THE DINING OCCASION AND
ENHANCE THE MEAL BEING SERVED. CHINA, SILVERWARE, AND CRYSTAL WILL
LOOK ITS BEST UNDER INCANDESCENT LIGHTING. THE COMPLEXION TONES OF
THOSE SEATED AROUND THE TABLE ARE FLATTERED BEST WHEN USING LAMPS
OF 3000K OR LOWER. A CHANDELIER PLACED OVER THE TABLE WILL ADD A
TOUCH OF ELEGANCE TO THE SPACE.
LIGHTING THE KITCHENTHE KITCHEN IS ANOTHER MULTIFUNCTIONAL AREA.
FOOD PREPARATION, ENTERTAINING, FAMILY GATHERINGS, HOMEWORK AND
PREPARING THE FAMILY BUDGET ARE SOME OF THE MANY TASKS TAKING PLACE
WITHIN THIS SPACE. FOR THESE REASONS THE LIGHTING NEEDS TO BE
FLEXIBLE.
LIGHTING THE KITCHENLIGHTING FROM A RECESSED OR SURFACE MOUNTED
FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRE WILL PROVIDE ENERGY EFFICIENT GENERAL
ILLUMINATION. BY USING A LENS OR DIFFUSER, THE LIGHT FROM THE
LUMINAIRE WILL BE DISPERSED OVER BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL
SURFACES. IF THE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON THE HORIZONTAL, THEN
A LOUVER WORKS BEST.
WHERE FOOD IS BEING PREPAREDSUCH AS KITCHEN COUNTER
TOPSUNDER-CABINET LIGHTING PROVIDES SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION ON
THESE HORIZONTAL SURFACES.
LIGHTING THE KITCHENLASTLY, INFORMAL DINING AREAS, SUCH AS THE
KITCHEN TABLE OR SNACK BAR, ARE USED FOR DOING HOMEWORK, READING
THE MAIL, BALANCING THE CHECKBOOK OR WORKING ON THE FAMILY BUDGET,
IN A ADDITION TO EATING. RECESSED DOWNLIGHTS OR PENDANTS, PAIRED
WITH LIGHTING CONTROLS, WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION WITH THE
NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY FOR THESE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACES.
SUBMITTED BY ,ANKUR BAGHELKARAN PASHINESARANSH SHRIVASTAVAVIPLAV
GOVERDHAN