EP-21012

Illumination Engineering
for Architecture

Considerations for Good

Lighting
Lectured by
Daw Su Myat Htet
Lecturer
Outlines

Light Level

Control of Glare and Brightness Contrast

Sharpness and Diffusion

Economic Issues

Subjective Impression
Considerations for Good lighting
A lighting system is made up of three elements – the Light Bulb (also known as the
Lamp), the Light Fitting (also known as the Luminaire) and the Lighting Control. The
goals of lighting design are to promote good visibility and to generate qualities of
atmosphere that are appropriate to the space under consideration. For every task and
every situation, the following issues must be faced:
 Light level
 Control of glare and brightness contrast
 Sharpness and diffusion
 Economic issues
 Subjective impression

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Light Level

• Light level is the one on main task for lighting system and need to identify the
light level requirement at the first step when do lighting design.
• So we need to know that what people will use in the space, how is use for the
space or room. ( eg. working space, hospitality, commercial, residential or a living
space )
• If the light level is less than necessary for the office that will affect to worker
performance and if too much light than necessary that can create glare and the
cost will be higher.

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Lux Level for Residential and Office

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

 Control of glare and brightness contrast

Glare
• Glare is the result of excessive contrast luminaire in the field of view.
• If too much use light than necessary, the light will be higher than the
task require that can create glare.
• Glare is cause lose of concentration, more frequent mistakes and
uncomfortable. (need to glare control in office, stadium and etc)
• So, luminaires quantity should be limit with light level and coordinate
with workstation,
• The using of indirect light can also control the glare because the
configuration of indirect light fixture totally cover the lamps from
viewer.
• Glare is occurred in two way that are Direct glare and Reflected glare.
Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)
 Control of glare and brightness contrast
Direct glare is caused by a view of the
light source (luminaire without glare
control) and very bright surfaces, Glare is
associated not just with lamp but also
come from daylight (direct sunlight).
Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)
The result is from light reflecting off the
task surface resulting from specular
reflections of high luminance in
polished or glossy surfaces in the field
of view.
 Beam angle

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Beam angle of light

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Brightness
Brightness refers to how much light is reflected by a surface. The degree of brightness of
an object depends upon the color value and texture of its surface. Brightness can be relative
or measured. See the following photos, you will see the setting chair with white
background is brighter than back background. However, that is only effect of brightness of
background, actual brightness of the setting chair is the same.

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Subjective Impression

Contrast- This is the relation of object, texture and the background. Less contrast between
object and background, you will see more detail generally and if increase you will see
more detail on background and object. As show in below images

light background was less contrast background was black the contrast was very high
Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)
 high contrast, can see less contrast, can see detail both of silhouette object
more detail on object background and object A silhouette is a solid, dark image of a
subject against a brighter background
Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)
 Sharpness and diffusion

The directed strong light, such as a spotlight can create sharpness and contrast. The
narrow beam direct spotlight can use for museum lighting which is shown the sculpture
because the contrast, between light and shadow can create the attention to visitor
however that need to manage for maximum impact. The combination of direct accent
lighting and indirect or diffused light will serve best solution.

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Sharpness and diffusion

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

 Subjective impression- This is all of lighting senses that how you want to live in the
space or room. Rendering the following picture, it is a conference room by using of
direct, indirect, accent light and wall washer. You can create that which mode is you
prefer.

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Economic Issue

Economic issues- The client have to purchase lighting fixture for their building. A lighting
designer may either provide a design to meet an established budget, or may help to establish
the budget early in the design state.

Current and long-term considerations- This is very important for lighting system, the cost is
not only lighting fixture but also installation cost, wiring, maintenance, electricity bill of
energy consumption. The heat emitting by the light source may cause increase the room
temperature, that will affect to cooling system and mechanical engineer. So that all lighting
sources shall enable lowered energy consumption and heat emission, reduced maintenance and
longer lifespan.

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Adaptation level
It was hypothesized that the adaptation level would be a significant influence on peoples'
perceptions of their visual environment. The eye so readily adapts to different light levels, it
generally is not a good judge of absolute illumination levels, as would be measured by a light
meter.
Adaptation is very important when moving from indoors to outdoor. Good lighting design
takes the adaptation level of the viewer into account and may provide a transition area to
provide time for the viewer to adjust to new light levels. One of the good example is basement
carpark lighting. During the day time, the outside lighting will too bright and basement carpark
light levels may seem very dark to people who have adapted to daylight. Most of basement, the
rank is leading from the basement carpark to the outside, are usually lit at a level that is brighter
than the indoor basement, but lower than outside daylight levels. When the driver drive to the
outside from basement, the eye are able to cope with bright levels of light, without stressful,
strain and discomfort.

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

Adaptation level

Very bright outside lighting

Rank-brighter than indoor,

lower than outdoor

Less light level

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)

 LIGHTING SYSTEM

• Classified according to proportion of light directed upward or downward from

the fittings
• – Direct
• – Indirect
• – Semi direct
• – Semi indirect
• – General diffusing
DIRECT LIGHTING
• Commonly used type of lighting scheme
• More than 90 percent of total light falls
directly on the working plane with the help
of deep reflectors
• Though it is most efficient it causes hard
shadows and glare
• It is mainly used for industrial and general
out-door lighting
SEMI DIRECT LIGHTING

• 60 to 90 percent of the total light flux is made

to fall downwards directly, remaining light is
used to illuminate the ceiling and walls
• Best suited to rooms with high ceilings where
a high level of uniformly distributed
illumination is desirable
• Good for stairways, corridors, and storage
areas
INDIRECT LIGHTING

• More than 90 percent of total light flux is

thrown upwards to the ceiling
• Resulting illumination is softer and more
diffused, the shadows are less prominent and
the appearance of the room is much improved
• Used for decoration purposes in cinemas
theatres and hotels
SEMI INDIRECT LIGHTING

• 60 – 90 % of the light produced by the

fittings is directed upwards and 10-40 % of
light is directed downwards
• Soft shadows and glare free
• Used for indoor light decoration purposes
GENERAL DIFFUSING

• Light produced is equally distributed

upwards and downwards  10 – 40 %
upwards and 10-40% downwards
LIGHTING DISTRIBUTION
 THANK YOU
See You Next Lecture

Daw Su Myat Htet (Lecturer)