Illumination (Lighting)

Candlepower (cp):
unit of luminous intensity
candela [cd] (SI units)
Candela and candlepower has the same magnitude
 Lumen (lm)
quantitative unit for measuring flow of light energy (luminous
flux) emanating from 1 ft2 of a 1 ft2 surface of 1
candlepower/light output
[SI units] – 1 lumen is the luminous flux from 1sqm surface of
1 candela
Illumination – density of the luminous flux (lumens per unit
area)
 Footcandle
1 lumen of luminous flux spread uniformly over an area of
1sq.ft produces an illumination of 1 footcandle
[SI units] – 1 lumen spread over 1m2, the illumination is
expressed in lux (lx)
 Absorptance
darker objects absorb more than lighter colored objects
Reflection
Specular Reflection – “regular reflection” (observed in mirror)
angle of reflection = angle of incident light
Diffuse Reflection – reflected light is scattered in all directions
Transmittance, Luminous Transmittance, Transmission
Factor, or Coefficient of Transmission
Transmittance, Luminous Transmittance, Transmission
Factor, or Coefficient of Transmission
 Transmittance, Luminous Transmittance, Transmission
Factor, Coefficient of Transmission
ratio of light *transmitted through a material
transmission of light - direct, diffuse or combination
Direct Transmission – light passes through clear, transparent materials;
angle at which the light leaves is the same as that at which it enters
Diffuse Transmission – transmitted light is scattered evenly
Materials that transmit light in a diffuse pattern are known as “translucent”
 Footlambert (fL)
Quantitative unit for measuring brightness
Value – 1 lumen per square foot
• When the illumination is on a surface, the lumens per square foot
are measured as footcandles
• When brightness is from a surface, the lumens per square foot are
measured as footlamberts
Brightness/Luminance – index of intensity of light being emitted,
transmitted or reflected from a surface
Brightness – perceived light
Luminance – measured quantity
 Refraction
bending of a ray of light as it passes obliquely through a material
 Glare
effect of excessive brightness in the field of view, causing
annoyance, discomfort and interfering with vision (direct from
light/reflected from a shiny surface)
Work Station: immediate contiguous area where a worker
performs visual task (50 sq.ft/4.6 sqm – allotted for work station)
Work Plane: Surface on which visual task is performed
(assumed to be a horizontal plane 30” (0.76 m) above floor
Reflector
device for redirecting radiant energy of a lamp by reflecting it in the
desired direction
Refractor
device for redirecting radiant energy of a lamp in the desired direction by
refraction through a lense
Luminaire
complete lighting unit/ “fixture”
METAL-HALIDE LAMP
 HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM (HPS) LAMP
• light is yellow-tinted color due to the sodium contained within them
under high pressure. The yellow color becomes less noticeable as
the eye color adapts, but complementary white sources used in
conjunction can make the color of this light even more acceptable
 LOW-PRESSURE SODIUM LAMP
• advantageous wherever color is not an important criterion; widely
used for highway lighting, where the discernment of objects is the
primary objective. Their use for buildings is confined, such as
exterior applications, inside such spaces as warehouses, or as
after-hours security lighting
 System Types
(1) Indirect (2) Semi Indirect (3) General-Diffuse and Direct-Indirect
(4) Semi-Direct (5) Direct. They differ principally in the proportion of light directed
upward or downward.
 Direct
In direct lighting, the reflector allows practically all light (90 to 100
percent) to be directed toward the work area. This type of reflector
creates shadows, direct glare, and reflected glare.
 Indirect
Most of the light (90 to 100 percent) is reflected onto the ceiling and
the entire ceiling becomes a light source, thus eliminating shadows
and glares; good for office, a schoolroom, or in areas used for close
work where eye strain may occur
 Semi-Direct
A glass reflector directs 60 to 90 percent of the light toward the work
area, and 10 to 40 percent toward the sides and top of the globe;
good for stairways, corridors, and storage areas.
 Semi-Indirect
In semi-indirect lighting, some of the lighting (10 to 40 percent) is
directed to the work area, but most of the light (60 to 90 percent)
goes to the upper walls and ceilings. This fixture gives a good overall
lighting with low surface brightness and low glare
 Diffuse Lighting
Light is equally supplied in all directions. This type of globe can be bad because of
excessive brightness and glare; desirable in offices, classrooms, drafting rooms, and
machine shops, where shadows could be annoying, disruptive, or, in the case of at
machine shop, even dangerous. Some directional lighting is desirable, however, if
textures must be examined or if surface imperfections must be detected by shadows
and reflections.
What are basic types of artificial lighting?
general, localized-general, and local (or task).