Professor Alan Hedge, Cornell University

Basics of Indoor Lighting Calculations

DEA 3500 Human Factors: Ambient Environment

Determining Light Levels

light levels can be too low or too high for a task
appropriate light levels depend on the visual task to be performed
the IESNA has 9 categories (A thru I) of illumination values (A thru C dont involve direct
visual performance), each divided into 3 values (low, middle, high)
For A thru C a speed and accuracy correction is not needed (visual task performance isnt
relevant)
For A thru C the average reflectance of the room (ceiling, walls, floor) is used rather than
the reflectance of the task background

Task and Worker Characteristics

Selection of a value in each illuminance range depends on various weighting factors (WFs)
for the visual task(s) and worker characteristics
age <40 (-1), 40-55 (0), >55 (+1)
speed or accuracy not important (-1), important (0), critical (+1)
task background reflectance >70% (-1), 30-70% (0), <30% (+1)
the weighting factors are added algebraically to obtain a Total Weighting Factor (TWF)
(e.g. -1, 0 +1 = 0)
The TWF is used to determine the appropriate low, middle or high illuminance value in a
category

Lumen Method
By definition:
Illuminance (fc) = Luminous flux (lumens)/Workplane area (ft2)

1/23

e.g. 6000 lumens source for a 100 ft2 area

Illuminance = 6000/100 = 60 fc
e.g. assume office space 40 x 50, illuminance 100fc, 2 lamps/fixture, 12000 lumens/fixture.
How many fixtures?
Illuminance (fc) = total lumens/((# lamps/luminaire) (area/fixture))
100 = 12000/(2 x area/fixture)
area/fixture = 12000/(2 x 100)= 60 ft2
# fixtures = total area/area per fixture = 40 x 50/60 = 33.3
# fixtures = 34
5

Luminaire Design
Usually not all lumens from a lamp in a luminaire reach the work plane, and the % of light
that does is termed the coefficient of utilization (CU) of the luminaire.

Polar curves (graphs)

 Professor Alan Hedge, Cornell University

1/23

polar curves plot the light output from a luminaire as a function of the angle of incidence
from the lamp
6

Light Loss Factors (LLF)

Initial lumens from all lamps decrease with age and with the effects of several factors.
Recoverable light loss factors:
Area atmosphere (how dirty the space is)
Room surface dirt depreciation (RSDD) - affected by area atmosphere, cleaning
frequency, room cavity ratio
Lamp burnout factor (# on/total lamps)
Lamp lumen depreciation (LLD) - (maintained lumens/initial lumens)
Luminaire dirt depreciation (LDD) - extent to which dirt accumulation on luminaire
decreases its performance.
Total light loss factor (recoverable)
LLF = (RSDD)(LBO)(LLD)(LDD)

Light Loss Factors (LLF)

Unrecoverable light loss factors:
Luminaire ambient temperature (~1% light output change with every 1F change)
Voltage to luminaire (~3% light output change with every 1% voltage change)
Ballast factor (commercial ballasts are less efficient than reference test ballast)
Luminaire surface depreciation - luminaire surface aging degrades reflective performance

IESNA Zonal Cavity Method

IESNA Zonal Cavity Method

Determine cavity ratios:
Ceiling (CCR) = ((5hCC)(L+W))/(L)(W)
Room (RCR) = ((5hRC)(L+W))/(L)(W)
Floor (FCR) = ((5hFC)(L+W))/(L)(W)
Determine cavity reflectances for ceiling and floor cavities.
Select coefficient of utilization (CU - usually given by manufacturer)
Determine light loss factors (LLF).
Compute average illuminance:
fc = (# luminaires)(# lamps/luminaire)(initial lumens/lamp)(CU)(LLF)
total room area (ft2)
# luminaires =
(fc)(total room area)
(# lamps/luminaire)(initial lumens/lamp)(CU)(LLF)

10

Lighting Survey
Determine # survey points by calculating the room index (RI):
L = length (meters); W = width (meters);Hm = height of light fitting above workplane
e.g. for a room 6 m long, 3 m wide, fixtures 1.5 m above workplane
RI = (L x W)/ (Hm x (L+W)) = (6x3)/(1.5x(6+3)) = 18/13.5 = 1.33
Minimum # survey points:
<1

RI

#points
4

 Professor Alan Hedge, Cornell University

1 - <2
2 - <3
>3
Organize survey points on even grid
but not directly under fixtures

1/23

9
16
25

11

Standard Classification of Office Serviceability

ASTM E1662-95a (2005) presents a standard classification of the serviceability of an office
facility in terms of Sound and Visual Environment
Serviceability is rated in terms of:
Privacy and Speech Intelligibility
Distraction and Disturbance
Lighting and Glare
Adjustment of Lighting by Occupants
Distant and Outside Views

12

Standard Classification of Office Serviceability

ASTM E1662-95a (2005) Lighting and glare