Indoor Environmental 

Control

Lecture 01
Dr. Ali Sedki
Course outline
WEEK STAGE LABEL & DESCRIPTION
1 introduction
2 Introduction to lighting ‐ Daylighting and daylighting factor
3 Light properties ‐ Electrical light
4 Building Illumination ‐ Lumen method in lighting design 
5 5th Week Exam 
Sound measuring and sound propagation (reflection, absorption, and 
6
transmission)
7 Architectural acoustics and sound physical properties
8 Noise and sound insulation
9 Room acoustics and reverberation time – Assignment 
10 10th Week Exam

11 Introduction to Thermal Comfort ‐ Thermal Comfort parameters

12 Thermal comfort scales and measures
13 Calculation of U‐Value – Assignment 2
14 Using U‐Value in thermal calculations
15 Final Exam
Introduction to lighting ‐ daylighting
Properties of light
Definition

Light is defined as the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that a human

is able to perceive. This visible radiation generally comes from the sun and is
actually quite a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The human
visible spectrum falls in the wavelength range of 370 nanometers to 800
nanometres.
Electromagnetic waves that have a shorter wavelength than light are
ultraviolet while those that have a longer wavelength are infrared. While
our eyes are not able to see these kinds of waves, we are able to see or feel
their effects. Ultraviolet radiation will tan our skin while infrared light can be felt
as heat.
Properties of light
Properties of light
Light color

White light is effectively an even

distribution of the different wavelengths
of visible light. In architecture, the standard
is considered daylight at noon during the
month of June. Northern light, while generally
the most consistent, has more light at blue
end of the spectrum. Late afternoon light has
more radiation in the red wavelength.

A colored surface reflects light in the

wavelength that matches its color and
absorbs the other wavelengths of color.
For instance, a red surface reflects mostly red
light and absorbs most of the other color
light. This is also true of transparent or
translucent materials ‐ red glass transmits red
light and absorbs the other colors of light.
 Properties of light
Bouncing of light

Incidence is the light hitting a surface. The angle, from 
normal, of the light is referred to as the Angle of Incidence.

Reflection is the return of light after hitting a surface. The 
angle, from normal, of the light on its return path is 
the Angle of Reflection. The Law of Reflection dictates that
when light hits a smooth surface the angle of incidence is 
equal to the angle of reflection.

Refraction of light: Refraction is the change in direction of wave propagation due to a 

change in its transmission medium.
Properties of light

Diffusion occurs when a surface is irregular, which creates a scattered reflection of light.
It also occurs when a translucent object scatters light as it passed through. When this
happens, the reflected or dispersed light is considered diffuse.

Absorption happens when a

material only reflects or
returns a portion of the light
that hits it. Even a mirror is not
perfectly reflective, so some of
the light radiation is absorbed
by the material. The measure is
the absorptance.
Daylighting Control

Common attributes of lights
• Position and orientation Brightness or 
Intensity

Hue or 
Color

Attenuation, 
Cone or 
decay or fall‐
beam 
off
angle
Measuring of light – important terminologies
Luminous Flux
is the rate at which a 
light source emits 
light. 

In other words, 
luminous flux 
is the amount 
of light 
emitted by a 
source. 

Measurement 
units 
in lumens.
Measuring of light – important terminologies
Luminous Intensity
It takes into account the
luminous flux (amount of
light) and the angle of
distribution (direction of
light). For instance, a spot
light and a flood light may
both emit 1000 lumens, but
the spot light has a much
higher intensity because the
light is focused into a smaller
cone.
Luminous intensity is
measured
in candelas or candlepower.

So luminous intensity is:

Quantity of light (luminous flux) emitted per
second in a specified direction within a given
angle.
Measuring of light – important terminologies

Illuminance is a measure of the amount of light

that falls on a specific surface area and is
measured in lux (metric) or foot candles (imperial).
A 1000 lumen spot light will illuminate a small area
much more than a 1000 lumen flood light because
more of the spot light's lumens are hitting the small
surface. As a rough guide, 1 foot candle (FC) = 10
lux.

Luminance is the measure of an object's

brightness or the amount of light that is coming off
an illuminated surface. The unit of measurement is
the foot‐lambert. The brightness of an object has to
do with the amount of light that hits it and the
amount of light that is reflected back.
Measuring of light – important terminologies