INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTING (ILLUMINATION)

TERMINOLOGIES
Lighting (Illumination):
deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic
effects
Lighting includes
1. Light sources (lamps, light fixtures)
2. Natural illumination – daylight (windows, skylights,
light shelves)
Daylighting - main source of light during daytime
Proper lighting
1. Enhance task performance
2. Improve the appearance of an area
3. Positive psychological effects on occupants
 LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY
CANDLEPOWER (CP): unit of luminous intensity of a
light source
Candela [cd] (SI units) - index of the ability of a light
source to produce illumination
•Candela and candlepower has the same magnitude
(GOOGLE IMAGE)
LUMEN (lm) (GOOGLE IMAGE)
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 1m2 of a 1 m2
surface of 1 candela
Illumination – density of the luminous flux (lumens per unit
area)
FOOTCANDLE (FC) (GOOGLE IMAGE)
1 lumen of luminous flux spread uniformly over an area of
1ft2 produces an illumination of 1 footcandle
[SI units] – 1 lumen spread over 1m2, the illumination is
expressed in lux (lx)
Footcandle = lumen
ft2
Lux = lumens
m2
LIGHTS (GOOGLE IMAGE)
rays that travel in a straight line until they encounter some object
Rays are absorbed, reflected, or transmitted
The proportion of light absorbed, transmitted, or reflected
depends upon the type of material and the angle of incidence of
the light rays as measured from the perpendicular to the surface
ABSORPTANCE (GOOGLE IMAGE)
The ratio of light absorbed by a material to the incident light falling on it.
All materials absorb some light; darker objects absorb more than lighter
colored objects.
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REFLECTANCE, REFLECTION FACTOR, REFLECTANCE
COEFFICIENT (GOOGLE IMAGE)
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, COEFFICIENT OF
TRANSMISSION
(GOOGLE IMAGE)
ratio of light transmitted through a material
Light transmission - direct, diffuse or combination
Direct Transmission – light passes through clear, transparent materials
Diffuse Transmission – transmitted light is scattered evenly
Materials that transmit light in a diffuse pattern are known as “translucent”
REFRACTION (GOOGLE IMAGE)
bending of a ray of light as it passes obliquely through a material
 FOOTLAMBERT (FL) (GOOGLE IMAGE)
A quantitative unit for measuring brightness
Brightness (luminance): index of the intensity of light being
emitted, transmitted or reflected from a surface
Brightness – perceived light
Luminance – measured quantity
FOOTCANDLE: the illumination is on a surface
FOOTLAMBERT: the brightness is from a surface
GLARE (GOOGLE IMAGE)
effect of excessive brightness in the field of view, causing
annoyance, discomfort and interfering with vision (direct from
light/reflected from a shiny surface)
(GOOGLE IMAGE)

WORK STATION: immediate contiguous area in which a worker

performs visual tasks
WORK PLANE: Surface on which visual task is performed
and at which the illumination is specified and measured.
Primary Source: A luminous source where light energy is
generated and transmitted directly to a task.
Secondary Source: Surfaces that derive their brightness from
reflected incident illumination.
(GOOGLE IMAGE)

Sun - ultimate primary source; Moon secondary source of light

(GOOGLE IMAGE)

LAMP: A generic term for artificial light source.

Bulbs: Incandescent filament lamps
Tubes: fluorescent lamps
Lamps: H.I.D. light sources
(GOOGLE IMAGE)

LUMINAIRE: A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or

lamps, together with parts designed to distribute the light, to
position and protect the lamp(s), and to connect the lamp(s) to a
power supply; referred to as a “fixture.”
(GOOGLE IMAGE)

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 lens
(GOOGLE IMAGE)

Efficiency: the ratio of light output (luminous flux) to the

light produced by the lamp.
Efficacy: the ratio of output of luminous flux, expressed
in lumens, to the power input in watts, expressed in
“lumens per watt.”