PRINCIPLES OF

ILLUMINATION
SAMPLE PROBLEM – Drawing a Lighting Lay-out
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 1: Calculate the total Wattage of fixtures
Total Wattage of fixtures = 2 lamps x 32 Watts = 64 Watts
Step 2: Calculate the lumens per fixtures
Lumens per fixtures = (85 lumens per watt)x(64 Watts) = 5,440 lumens
SAMPLE PROBLEM (continuation)
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 3 : Solve for the number of fixtures
No. of fixtures = illumination x area________
lamp per fixture x lumens x cu x mf
No. of fixtures = 250 lux x 20m x 10m________
5,440 x 0.69 x 0.63
No. of fixtures = 21.14 lets say 20 to make it symmetrical
SAMPLE PROBLEM (continuation)
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 4 : Solve for the maximum spacing
Ratio = _S_
mh
1.25 = _S_
2m
S = 1.25 x 2m
S = 2.50 m maximum side to side of the fixtures
SAMPLE PROBLEM (continuation)
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 5 : Solve for the No. of required rows of fixtures along WIDTH of room
No. of rows along WIDTH = Width of room________
Maximum Spacing
No. of rows along WIDTH = 10m________
2.5m
No. of rows along WIDTH = 4 rows
SAMPLE PROBLEM (continuation)
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 6 : Solve for the No. of fixtures required in each row
No. of fixtures required in each row = Total No. of Fixtures________
No. of rows
No. of fixtures required in each row = 20 fixtures________
4 rows

No. of fixtures required in each row = 5 fixtures in each row

SAMPLE PROBLEM (continuation)
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 7 : Solve for the Axial Spacing between each fixtures
Axial Spacing between each fixtures = Length of room________
No. of fixtures in each row
Axial Spacing between each fixtures = 20 m________
5 fixtures

Axial Spacing between each fixtures = 4 m

SAMPLE PROBLEM (continuation)
An office area has length of 20m and width of 10m. It has a mounting height
of 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using 2-
32 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp luminaires wherein each lamp has an
initial output of 85 lumens per watt with a mounting height ratio of 1.25.
Assume an economy grade fixture with a low cu of 0.69 and mf of 0.63
Step 8 : Solve for the Transverse Spacing between each fixtures
Transverse Spacing between each fixtures = Width of room________
No. of rows
Transverse Spacing between each fixtures = 10 m________
4 rows

Transverse Spacing between each fixtures = 2.5 m

 20m

Axial spacing
4m

Transverse
spacing
2.5m
10m