LUMEN METHOD OF LIGHTING DESIGN:

Lumen method of design is the most widely used for the determination
of lighting layout for providing illumination on the working plane from
overhead lamps arranged in a regular pattern.

•This method is based on the concept of Utilisation factor.

Utilisation factor = ratio of the total flux received on the working plane
(Fr) to the total flux emitted by all the lamps (Fl).
For example , if all lamps together emit 10 000 lumen and a plane 0.8 m
high over the whole of the room receives 5000 lumen.

Utilisation factor = Fr = 5 000 = 0.5

Fl 10 000

UF
•For downward direct lighting 0.4 to 0.9
•For diffusing fittings 0.2 to 0.5
•For indirect lighting 0.05 to 0.2
LUMEN METHOD OF LIGHTING DESIGN:

Maintenance factor: a further allowance should be made for dirt on

the fitting or deterioration of lamp output. UF should be multiplied by
maintenance factor (MF) . It is usually taken as 0.8.

Illumination is the flux received divided by the area (A). If the room is
50 m², then illumination is :

E= 5000 = 100 lux (lumen/m²)

50

1. If we know the lamps’ output, we can calculate the illumination:

E = F X UF X MF where, F = lamps’ output

A E = illumination
MF = Maintenance factor
LUMEN METHOD OF LIGHTING DESIGN:

2. If we know what illumination we want to get, we can find the lamp

output necessary to achieve this:

F = AXE
UF X MF

So this method can be used either as a checking tool or directly as s

design tool.
LUMEN METHOD OF LIGHTING DESIGN:

Problem 1: An office 10m X 5m requires an illumination level of 300

lux on the working plane. It is proposed to use 40 watt fluorescent
fittings having a rated output of 2440 lumens each. Design the lighting
scheme.

E = Lux on working plane = 300 lux

A = Floor area = 10m X 5m
F = total lamps’ output = n X 2440
where, n = number of lamps
Now, using the formula,
F = AXE
UF X MF

n X 2440 = 10 X 5 X 300 = 15.39

0.5 X 0.8
So we may use 15 fittings of 40 watt fluorescent lamps.
LUMEN METHOD OF LIGHTING DESIGN:
Problem 2: Consider a private office of 150 sq. ft. area. We wish to
use a specific lamp (light bulb) that has 2440 lumens to achieve 40 fc.
E = on working plane = 40 foot candle
A = Floor area = 150 sq. ft.
F = total lamps’ output = n X 2440
where, n = number of lamps
Now, using the formula,
F = AXE
UF X MF
n X 2440 = 150 X 40 = 6.14
0.5 X 0.8

So we may use 6 fittings of 40 watt fluorescent lamps.

We need, 6 nos. Single lamp luminaire
3 nos. 2 lamp luminaire
2 nos 3 lamp luminaire
1 no. 6 lamp luminaire
WATTS-PER-SQUARE FOOT METHOD:
•Multiply room area in sq.ft. by watts/sq.ft. (refer table).
•How many watts of either fluorescent or halogen sources you need to
achieve.

Sl. Average light level desired Watt per square foot Watt per square foot of
No. & typical application fluorescent/ compact incandescent / halogen
fluorescent /HID lights lamps
1 2.5 – 5 fc (foot-candle) 0.1 – 0.2 0.3 – 0.7
Hotel corridors, stair
towers
2 5 – 10 fc 0.2 – 0.4 0.7 – 1.0
Office corridors, parking
garages, theatres(house
lights)
3 10 – 20 fc 0.4 – 0.8 1.0 – 2.0
Building lobbies, waiting
areas, elevator lobbies,
malls, hotel function
spaces, school corridors
WATTS-PER-SQUARE FOOT METHOD:
Sl. Average light level desired Watt per square foot Watt per square foot of
No. & typical application fluorescent, compact incandescent or halogen
fluorescent or HID lights lamps
4 20 – 50 fc 0.8 – 1.2 Not recommended*
Office areas, classrooms,
lecture halls, conference
rooms, ambient retail
lighting, industrial
workshops, gyms
5 50 – 100 fc 1.2 – 2.0 Not recommended*
Grocery stores,
laboratories, work areas,
sports courts

* These levels are for general lighting only. it is not good to produce high
light levels of general light using halogen sources. However we can use
halogen sources for accent lighting in these space types.
WATTS-PER-SQUARE FOOT METHOD:

PROBLEM 1:

•Average overall proper light level for a class room is about 50 foot-
candle.
•Using table – approximate amount of light needed = 1.2 watts/sq.ft. of
fluorescent lighting.
•Area of classroom = 800 sq.ft.
•Total lighting power needed for this room = (800 X 1.2) watt = 960 watt.
•If we plan on using luminaires with 2-40 watt lamps:
We will need = 960 = 12 luminaires
40 X 2
•If we plan on using luminaires with two 32-watt lamps each:
We will need = 960 = 15 luminaires
32 X 2
WATTS-PER-SQUARE FOOT METHOD:

PROBLEM 2:

•Consider the house lighting for a motion picture theater:

Recommended light level = 10 fc
•Lighting needs to dim over a full range – hence choose halogen lighting.
•Using table – approximate amount of light needed = 1.0 watts/sq.ft.
•Area of theater hall = 3000 sq.ft.
•Total lighting power needed for this room=(3000X1.0) watt = 3000 watt.
•If we plan on using luminaires with 60 watt downlights:
We will need = 3000 = 50 luminaires
60
•If we plan on using luminaires with 100 watt downlights:
We will need = 3000 = 30 luminaires
100