TERMINOLOGIES USED IN ILLUMINATION

What is illumination?
• Illumination is not same as light. If light is the cause, then illumination is the effect of that
light falling on the surface.
• When light falls on a surface, it is the illumination that makes it look more or less bright
(with color). And it is this brightness and color which the eye sees and perceives as useful.
Light (Q):
• It is defined as the radiant energy from a hot body, which produces visual sensation upon
eyes. It is usually denoted by Q and expressed in Lumen- hour and is analogous to Watt-hour.
Luminous Flux (F or Ф):
• It is the total amount of light energy emitted per second from a luminous body. It is
represented by F (or Ф) and is measured in Lumens.
• The concept of Luminous Flux helps us to specify the output and efficiency of a given light
source.
Luminous Intensity (I):
• Luminous intensity in any given direction is luminous flux emitted by the source per unit
solid angle, measured in the direction in which the intensity is required. It is denoted by I and
measured in Candela (Cd) or Lumens per steradian.
I = F/ω Lumens per steradian.
Or, I = φ/ ω , where ω = solid angle (measured in steradian).
Solid Angle (ω):
• It is the angle generated by the line passing through the point in space and the periphery of
the area.
• It is measured in Steradian and denoted by ω.
ω = Area/ (radius)2 steradian
= 4πr2/r2
= 4 π steradian.
• One steradian is the angle subtended at the center of a sphere by an area on the surface of
the sphere which is numerically equal to the square of the radius.
Lumen:
• It is the amount of luminous flux given out in space. In other words, it is the amount of
luminous flux given out by a source having an intensity of one candle power in a space
represented by one solid angle in all direction.
Lumen = Candle power Х solid angle = C.P. Х ω lumens
• Therefore, total lumens given out by the source of one candle is 4 π lumens.
Candle Power:
• It is the light rendering capacity of a source in a given direction and is defined as the
number of lumens given out by a source in a unit solid angle in a given direction.
C.P. = Lumens/ ω
Illumination (E):
• It is the effect that light has on any surface. It is defined as the number of lumens falling on
surface per unit area. It is denoted by E and measured in Lumens per square meter or Lux or
meter candle.
• If a flux of Ф lumens fall on a surface area of A, then:
E = Ф/ A lumens per m2 (lux or meter-candle)
i) Meter-candle/lux:
• Luminous flux falling per square meter, lumen/m2.
ii) Centimeter-candle:
• Luminous flux falling per square centimeter, lumen/cm2.
iii) Foot-candle:
• Luminous flux falling per square foot, lumen/foot2.
Reflection Factor:
• It is the ratio of reflected light to incident light. It is always less than unity.
Reflected light
R.F. =
Incident light
• Since all the incident light is not reflected back, it is always less than one.
Example:
Source R.F.
Mirror 0.8 to 0.85
Stainless Steel 0.6 to 0.65
Chromium Plate 0.55 to 0.6
Space- height ratio:

• It is defined as the ratio of horizontal distance between two adjacent lamps and the height of the
lamp from the working plane.

SHR = Horizontal distance between two adjacent lamp = D

Height of lamp above working plane H

• The value of SHR is normally 0.8 to 1.2.

Space height ratio
Stroboscopic Effect:
• It is the phenomenon which makes moving objects like fan blades to appear to be stand-still or a
wave of hand to appear as if it occurred in a series of jumps.
• This effect is seen when moving objects are lit by a gaseous discharge lamps.
• The reason for this effect to occur is that the light from these sources (gaseous discharge lamps) is
not continuous but with short intervals of no-light condition, which is 100 times a second in a 50
Hz system. This causes the unusual effect and can be very annoying.
• But in a filament lamp, the thermal energy of the lamp even out the variation of light output and so
no stroboscopic effect is seen.
 Lamp efficiency
Lamp Efficiency:
• It is defined as the ratio of luminous flux to the power input.
Lamp efficiency = Luminous Flux (lumens/watt)
Input power
Mean Spherical Candle Power:
• It is defined as the average candle power in all direction and in all plane from the source of light.
• MSCP = Total flux in lumens
4π
Depreciation Factor:
• Due to accumulation of dirt, dust, smoke, etc. on the lamp, they emit less light as compared to
when it is new. Similarly, the ceiling and walls after being covered by dust reflect less light.
• So, the ratio of illumination when everything is perfectly clean to illumination under normal
condition is known as depreciation factor.

D.F. = Illumination when everything is new

Illumination under normal condition
• D.F. is always more than unity.
Maintenance Factor:
It is just the reverse of depreciation factor. So, it is always less than unity.

𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛
Absorption Factor:
• In case of factories or places where atmosphere is full of smoke fumes, there is
possibility of absorption of light energy.

𝑁𝑒𝑡 𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

A.F=
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒
Coefficient of Utilization:
• All the light emitted by the source does not reach the surface to be illuminated. Some light falls
directly upon the surface while some fall upon the surface after being reflected from walls and
ceiling. So, some light energy is lost in the process.
• Hence, coefficient of utilization is the ratio of lumens reaching the working plane to the total
lumens given out by the lamp.

C of U= Lumens reaching working plane

Total lumens emitted by source of light