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Lecture (3d) - Calculating Illuminance Levels

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
35 views

Lecture (3d) - Calculating Illuminance Levels

Uploaded by

Tesfaye Kebebaw
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IARC-35

FUNDAMENTALS OF LIGHTING

Calculating Lecture 3d
Illuminance Levels
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Basic Terminology

Lighting Calculations:

Before we begin…
A good way to remember the differences between terms is:

 Lumens are how much light is given off. (lm)


 Foot-Candles tell how bright the surface will be. (fc)
 Candelas measure the visible intensity from the light source. (cd)
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Six (6) Building Blocks of Light Metrics
1. Lumen = LM
• The lumen (lm) is a measurement of luminous flux.
The lumen rating is how much total visible light
is produced by a light source.

2. Luminous Flux = Phi (F)


• Describes the flow (raw amount) of light.
(or the Total Amount of visible light)
• Measured in Lumens
• Efficacy = Lumens per Watt
• Light OUTPUT (lumens) / Power INPUT (watts)
3. Illuminance = E
• Number of Lumens (light) striking a surface
• Measured in Foot-Candles “fc” (Imperial Units)
• Measured in Lux “lx” (Metric Units)
4. Luminous Intensity = I
• Measured in Candela
• Shown on candle power distribution curves/charts
• Inverse Square Law ~ E = I / D2
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Six (6) Building Blocks of Light Metrics

5. Luminance = L
• Lumens (light) leaving a surface in a specific direction and density
• Measured in Candelas per Square Meter or Square Foot

6. Exitance = M
• Lumens (light) leaving a reflective surface in all directions
• Measured in Lumens per Square Meter or Square Foot
LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY
Terms and Abbreviations

Basic Lighting Interaction Terminology:


EFFICACY [a ratio to evaluate energy conservation]
o Efficacy = Lumens per Watt
o Light OUTPUT (lumens) / Power INPUT (watts)

ILLUMINANCE (E)
o Measured in Foot-Candles (fc)
o Inverse Square Law ~ E = (cd) / D2
LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY
Brief Review of Illuminance (E)
Complete Building Categories

These are estimates for visualizing luminous intensity.


LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Lighting For Tasks – ILLUMINANCE (E)

Area Categories
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Lighting For Tasks - CHECKLIST

The IES: Illuminating Engineering Society


The governing body of lighting engineering.

Light Design Concerns Checklist:


Desired contrast / Distinct Accents  Glare Reflections / Specular Materials
 Desired Sparkle/Visible Sources  Sensitivity of Flicker / Strobing
 Accurate Color Rendering  Sensitivity to Glare
 Color Appearance of Environment  Energy Conservation / Efficiency
 Mood and Emotional Atmosphere  Maintenance Concerns
 Modeling of Objects and Faces  Heat Concerns
 Visual Task Performance  Noise Concerns
 System Control and Dimming  Light Level evenness (reducing shadows)
 Day lighting Integration / Control

Proper task illuminance does not automatically mean a successful or


bright environment.
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Why Calculate Lighting?

• Reason for using calculations:


• Predict what lighting equipment will be
needed.
• Predict how a lighting system will
perform.

• We get light output info from fixture cut


sheets & diagrams:
• Total lumen output
• Candela distribution ~ diagram

• A light source has one lumen output value,


but can emit different candela values in
every direction.

Two (2) Methods of Lighting Calculations: So, how many lights do I need?
 Lumen Method
 Point Calculation Method
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Lumen Method Calculation

1. The Lumen Method of calculating average illuminance levels:

• Average value of Lumens distributed evenly over surface.

• Used for surfaces in large, simple, open areas with simple layouts.

• Yields ILLUMINANCE (E)

• Really only intended to tell you about a specific surface


• That surface can however be the entire floor, or an imaginary task plane in
a room.

• Based on the unit definition of a Foot-Candle


• 1 (fc) = 1 lumen / 1 square foot
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Lumen Method Safety Factors

Two “safety factors” to make the Lumen Method procedure more accurate.

Direct Lighting Indirect Lighting

A) Coefficient of Utilization (CU)


• How well the surface you are considering is receiving light
• Fixture orientation (uplight, downlight, indirect, etc.)
(CU) factors to use in your equation:
• Spot / accent: 95% (0.95)
• Direct fixture: 85% (0.85)
• Wash / ambient: 75% (0.75)
• Indirect fixture: 50% (0.50)
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Lumen Method Safety Factors

B) Light Loss Factor (LLF)


• Accounts for depreciation of lighting system over time.
• We generally make a safe assumption of 85% (0.85).

Lumens needed = Illuminance at Target x Area / CU x LLF


Lumens (lms) = E (fc) x A (sf) / (CU x LLF)

Both factors have a huge impact on predicted effect of your light solution.
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Lumen Method Calculation

Lms = E (fc) x A (sf) / (CU x LLF)


In a 10’ x 15’ room, we’d like to light the floor to an illuminance level of 10 fc
How many lumens will we need?

Lms = 10 (fc) x 150 (sf) / 0.85 x 0.85


Lms = 1500 / 0.7225
2076 Lumens

If we were to use a luminaire that provides 730 Lumens, how many luminaires
would we need to evenly place in the space?

Luminaires needed = Lumens needed / Lumens per luminaire

Luminaires Needed = 2076 lms / 730 lms


Luminaires Needed = 2.85 or 3
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Point Calculation Method

2. The point calculation method (using candela values):


• We use this method when considering accent and task light levels from
fixtures that are directing their light immediately onto the surface.
• Light spreads out as it travels away from the source.
• As the distance from the source increases, the pool of light get larger and less
intense.

(The example is a 60W incandescent light bulb rated at 730 lumens.)

If a light source is in the middle of a sphere and generating light in all directions, you will find that
1 candela light source generates 12.57 lumens per m² or 1.17 lumens per ft².
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Point Calculation Method
Center Beam Candle Power (CBCP)

Defining Illuminance Levels:

Define the minimum ambient illuminance level for larger areas


and focused light for specific visual tasks or accents in small areas or surfaces.
1. Use the Illuminance level for tasks from the IES illuminance selection method based on use of the area.
2. For accents, define an illuminance level based on the surrounding minimum illuminance level. Defer to
“The 2-to-5 Times Rule” - “light the accent 2-5 times the surrounding ambience”. This will ensure contrast
and visual interest without unnecessary glare.

A candlepower is the Luminous Intensity leaving the lighting source and


reaching a surface at a determined Distance2, at a specified Illuminance.
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Point Calculation Method

Suppose we want to illuminate the tabletop to 30 foot-candle, what kind of Center


Beam Candle Power (CBCP) value would we need for the luminaire?

I (cd) = E (fc) x D2 (ft)


I (cd) = 30 x 49
Candela Value Needed = 1470 candelas

• If we are aiming the light at an object in any angle, other than perpendicular, we
know our light spreads out.
• As the aiming angle is increased, the circle becomes a long “scallop” of light.

10’ High Ceiling

3’ High Counter
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Typical Lumens and Wattage for Common Lamp Types - CFL
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Typical Lumens and Wattage for Common Lamp Types - LED
LIGHTING DESIGN LECTURE
Typical Lumens and Wattage for Common Lamp Types

= ( 775 lumens / Linear Foot )


= ( 763 lumens / Linear Foot )

For all our calculations use an average of


800 lumens for all Lamp Types as an
equivalent of a 60W Incandescent Light Bulb.

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