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