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The quantity of light reaching a certain surface is usually the main consideration in
2360 designing a lighting system.
‘C’
This quantity of light is specified by illuminance measured in lux, and as this level varies
across the working plane, an average figure is used.
CIBSE Lighting Guides give values of illuminance that are suitable for various areas.
The section - Lighting Levels in these notes also gives illuminance values.
The lumen method is used to determine the number of lamps that should be installed for a
given area or room.
The method is a commonly used technique of lighting design, which is valid, if the light
fittings (luminaires) are to be mounted overhead in a regular pattern.
The luminous flux output (lumens) of each lamp needs to be known as well as details of
the luminaires and the room surfaces.
Usually the illuminance is already specified e.g. office 500 lux, kitchen 300 lux, the
designer chooses suitable luminaires and then wishes to know how many are required.
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where,
N = number of lamps required.
E = illuminance level required (lux)
A = area at working plane height (m2)
F = average luminous flux from each lamp (lm)
UF= utilisation factor, an allowance for the light distribution of the luminaire
and the room surfaces.
MF= maintenance factor, an allowance for reduced light output because of deterioration and
dirt.
Example 1
Find the number of lamps required if each lamp has a Lighting Design Lumen (LDL) output
of 18,000 lumens.
N = 53.33
N = 54 lamps.
Spacing
The aim of a good lighting design is to approach uniformity in illumination over the
working plane.
Complete uniformity is impossible in practice, but an acceptable standard is for the
minimum to be at least 70% of the maximum illumination level.
This means, for example, that for a room with an illumination level of 500 lux, if this is
taken as the minimum level, then the maximum level in another part of the room will be no
higher than 714 lux as shown below.
Data in manufacturer's catalogues gives the maximum ratio between the spacing (centre to
centre) of the fittings and their height ( to lamp centre) above the working plane (0.85
metres above f.f.l.)
Example 2
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Using data in the previous example show the lighting design layout below.
3/2 = Spacing / 4
The number of rows of lamps is calculated by dividing the width of the building (24 m) by
the spacing:
24 / 6 = 4 rows of lamps
This can be shown below. Half the spacing is used for the ends of rows.
The number of lamps in each row can be calculated by dividing the total number of lamps
found in example 1 by the number of rows.
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The longitudinal spacing between lamps can be calculated by dividing the length of the
building by the number of lamps per row.
Length of building 60 m / 14 = 4.28 metres.
= 2.14 metres
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The spacing previously was 6 m between rows and 4.28 m between lamps.
Installed Flux
Sometimes it is useful to know the total amount of light or flux, which has to be put into a
space.
Installed flux (lm) = Number of fittings (N) x Number of lamps per fitting x L.D.L.
output of each lamp (F)
Example 3
A factory measuring 50m x 10m has a lighting scheme consisting of 4 rows of 25 lighting
fittings each housing 2No. 65-Watt fluorescent lamps.
The output of the lamps in the above example may be found from catalogues. For a 65-
Watt fluorescent lamp the Lighting Design Lumens (LDL) is 4400 lm.
(a)
Installed flux (lm) = N x no. lamps/fitting x F
= 4 x 25 x 2 x 4400
= 880,000 lumens
(b)
= 1760 lm/m2.
Example 4
A room measures 15m x 7m x 3.6m high and the design illumination is 200 lux on the
working plane (0.85 metres above the floor).
(c) If the spacing/mounting height ratio is 1 : 1 determine whether the current design is
acceptable.
N = 20 lamps
For shallow fittings, the mounting height (Hm) may be taken as the distance form the ceiling
to the working plane.
Hm = 2.75 metres
Spacing / Hm ratio:
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Example 5
A room, as shown below, has a design illumination is 500 lux on the working plane (0.85
metres above the floor).
The Utilisation factor is 0.5 and the Maintenance factor is 0.8.
If the LDL output of each fitting is 2720 lumens, calculate;
(a) the number of fittings required.
(b) the fittings layout.
(c) If the spacing/mounting height ratio is 1 : 1 determine whether the current design is
acceptable.
(a)
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(a)
N = ( 500 x 10 x 12 ) / ( 2720 x 0.5 x 0.8 )
N = 55.15
N = 56 lamps.
(b)
Spacing, say 8 lamps x 7 rows.
Spacing along 12 m wall = 12 / 8 = 1.50 m
(c)
Mounting height = 3.0 - 0.85 = 2.15 m
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