LIGHTING FIXTURES AND ITS DISTRIBUTION

LUMINAIRE EFFICIENCY: COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION

Lighting Fixture Distribution Characteristics, the two distribution curves shown in the figure below are
actual test results of two~ 2-lamp 1 ft. wide by 4 ft. long, semi-direct 'fluorescent fixtures with prismatic
enclosures. The flat bottom of curve (a) indicates even illumination over a wide area and therefore a
high spacing to mounting height ratio (1.5), whereas the rounded bottom of curve (b) indicates uneven
illumination and closer required spacing for uniformity (1. 2 ratio of spacing to mounting height above
working plane for a maximum of 20% illumination variation).

The straight sides of curve (a) show a fairly sharp cutoff. and the small amount of light above 45° means
high efficiency, sufficient wall lighting, adequate diffuseness and very little direct glare problem, but a
distinct possibility of veiling reflections. Conversely, curve (b) shows a large amount of horizontal
illumination (above 45°). with resultant direct glare, diffuseness, and relative inefficiency, since
horizontal light is attenuated by multiple reflections before reaching the horizontal working plane. Here,
however, low output below 45° minimizes reflected glare. The uptight component of fixture (a) is
directed outward to cover the ceiling and will not cause hot spots; the corresponding light from fixture
(b) is concentrated above the fixture and will give uneven illumination of the ceiling. Thus, we see that a
rapid inspection of a fixture curve performed by an in fanned person can yield a large amount of data or
the fixture's performance.

Luminaire Efficiency (r) A luminaire, variously called a fixture, lighting unit, or reflector, comprises a
device for physically supporting the light source and usually for directing or controlling the light output
of this source. Because of internal reflections, some of the generated lumen output of the lamp is lost
within the fixture. The ratio of output lumens to lamp (input) lumens, expressed as a percentage,
represents the luminous efficiency of the fixture. Although this information is normally available from
the manufacturer it is readily. calculated from the fixture distribution curve by application of the zonal
factors to the fixture curve. However, this characteristic has little meaning by itself, since the actual
overall· efficiency of a luminaire depends on the space in which it is used. To illustrate, let us consider
the case of a large high-ceiling room in which the ceiling is dark and is covered with dirty piping and
ductwork. If we were to use a high-efficiency (say 80%) indirect lighting unit in such a room, most of the
light directed upward would be lost (absorbed) and the actual lighting on the. working plane 30 in.
above the floor would be very low. If however, this room were illuminated with low-efficiency direct
lighting units (ex: 50%) utilizing the same wattage, the illumination on the working plane would be
considerably higher than in the first case. Similarly, if we consider a small room with dark walls and
ceiling, lighted alternatively by diffuse lighting and by direct lighting units of the same wattage and unit
LIGHTING FIXTURES AND ITS DISTRIBUTION
LUMINAIRE EFFICIENCY: COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION

efficiency, the horizontal - plane illumination will be higher in the case of the direct units because of the
large loss of the horizontal and upward components of the diffuse lighting on the walls and ceiling. It
should be obvious than that the fixture efficiency alone is not a meaningful factor but that the overall
luminous efficiency of a particular unit in a particular space is the figure that merits our attention. This
figure, since It describes the utilization of the fixture output in specific space, is known as the coefficient
of utilization (CUI) It is defined as the ratio between the lumens reaching the working horizontal plane to
the generated lumens.

Since each luminaire will have a different coefficient for every different space in which it is used, a
system of standardization has been evolved utilizing room cavities (explained below) of certain
proportions and various surface reflectance. The fixture coefficients are then computed and tabulated
as shown in the table. It should be emphasized that the figures given in this table are for the generic
fixture type only in an actual job, actual fixture data should be used. The CU then is a factor that
combines fixture efficiency and distribution with room proportions, mounting height, and surface
reflectance.