Fixture Count

Estimator
Estimate number of fixtures needed to light an indoor area to a specified light level (foot-candle level).
Click on the first green cell and tab to the other input cells. Note: Do not use this tool for a final layout, it is simply an
estimator. Contact a lighting professional or design firm for proper design.

Instructions [1] INPUT

Area to be lit (sq. ft.) 9000 Footcandles desired 25 Fixture Watts 75

No. of lamps Rated mean lumens
per fixture 4 per lamp 5000 Ballast Factor 0.88
Burning hrs Coefficient of Utilization
per year 3200 Energy Rate ($ per kWh) $0.15 [2] 0.60

OUTPUT
Estimated Estimated Estimated Fixture
no. of Fixtures 22 no. of lamps 88 Spacing (feet) 20.2

Total kW load 1.7 Energy cost per year $803 Watts per sq. ft. 0.18

Customer: 8/5/19
Prepared by: #REF!
[1] INSTRUCTIONS: This tool allows you to estimate the number of fixtures it would take to light up an
area to a desired footcandle level. It is a useful estimator, but, of course, the final layout should be done
with professional software.

A key number for this calculation is the Coefficient of Utilization (CU) which stand for the percentage of
lumens emitted by the lamp which finally find their way to the work plane (e.g. table surface). Typically, CU
ranges from 50% to 75% depending on the efficiency of the fixture, the reflectance of the walls, floor and
ceiling, etc.. For a first pass a value of 0.60 (60%) should be used. REFER TO THE "REPRESENTATIVE
CU" SHEET FROM THE HOME PAGE.

Note that this tool asks for the mean rated lumen of the lamp, not the initial lumens. Some professional
software use the initial lumens and the use a “Light Loss Factor” which includes lumen depreciation and
other factors like dirt depreciation, light reduction from voltage fluctuation and temperature effects, etc.. In
this tool the CU number is meant to include both CU and light loss factor, and so an appropriate
adjustment can be made if these light loss factors are considered to be significant.

[2] Look under "Instructions" for an explanation of Coefficient of Utilization