Introductory Lecturer, B.Arch.

, Sem-V
By Pankaj N. Bahadure
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Architecture & Planning
VNIT Nagpur
Course Building Services II Code: ARL351

Course Content

4. Principles of light and Illumination –Definitions and design concerns-

Electromagnetic radiation, waves, nature of vision, Units of light, flux, solid
angle, luminous intensity –utilization factor – depreciation factor,
brightness, glare, Visual tasks, Factors affecting visual tasks.

5. Electric light sources: brief description, characteristics and application of

different types of lamps, methods of mounting and lighting control.
Classification of luminaries. Market survey for different types of
Luminaires- manufacturers' data on luminaries

6. Lighting design: Lumen method and point by point method for lighting
design. Study of spectral energy distribution, Luminous efficiency- color
temperature – color rendering, Additive, subtractive color, lighting tasks
and their application areas.

7. Lighting concepts and tasks for different building typologies / spaces in

small and medium scale.
Principles of Light and Illumination
• Light: Its theory
– Energy, radiated as electromagnetic waves
– Speed: 3,00,000 km /sec
– Newton’s Corpuscular theory (1704)
• “Light consists of minute particles emitted from luminous bodies, they travel
through space ar great speed and obey the laws of mechanics”
– J.C. Maxwell (1873): Electromagnetic Wave theory (1873)
• “Light is electromagnetic radiation covering an appropriate wave length region”
– Einstein: theory of relativity, he presupposed
• “Light to be absorbed as discrete amount of energy called - quanta”
– Modern quantum theory states-
• “Light is composed of photons, whose motions are guided by wavelike properties
associated with them”
Principles of Light and Illumination
• Light: Its theory
– Electromagnetic Theory states
• “The luminous bodies emit light in the form of radiant energy. This energy is
transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves”
– [None of the above theories have been conclusively proven by
science]

– The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), USA ina simple and logical
form defines light as-
– a) Visually evaluated radiant energy
– b) A form of energy which permits us to see
– c) Radiant energy evaluated according to its capacity to produce visual
sensation
• Light: History
40,000 B.C.- to 18th Century- animal oil, vegetable oil, candles, etc.
1802-23 gas lighting
1801- electric arc lamp
1867- fluorescent lamp
1879- carbon arc lamp
1879- incandescent lamp (Edison)
1903- mercury vapour electric lamp
1911- neon lamp
1938- hot cathode, low voltage fluorescent lamp
1957- tungsten-halogen lamp (quartz lamp)
1962- LED (red)
2010- White LED
Light: Wavelength

Invisible light: Infrared, radio or hertizian waves (105- 10-4m), short wave
Visible light: 770 millimicorns – 330 millimicrons)- millimicrons- 10-10m
Invisible light: Ultra violet, X-rays, Gamma rays, Cosmic rays
Luminous Flux (measured in Lumen(s): Power of source- rate of flow of energy

Luminous Intensity (measured in Candela(s) or Candle Power:

Luminous Flux radiated out of a point source per unit solid angle in a
particular direction

Solid Angle (measured in Steradian) :

Luminous Flux radiated out of a point source per unit solid angle in a
particular direction

Illuminance or Illumination (measured in Foot candles or Lux) :

Luminous Flux falling on a surface or work plane per unit area