Chapter 1:Light Lecture: 1 Title : Sources of light

Subject: Building sciences 2 Prepared by: Sampurna Maharjan

A note on Lighting on Building 1.1 Introduction: Vision is the most important communication for man with the environment. Light provides the visual sensation. It is the energy radiated from the luminary or non-luminary body or object that gives the visual link between man and his environment. It is the electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength (380nm to 780nm; 1nm = 10 -9m). 1.2. Sources of Light: a. Incandescent: Light from the burning source such as candle, sun, from heated filament of the incandescent bulb etc. Color of incandescent sources is related to their temperature. With hotter sources color of light is more bluish and with less hotter sources color is reddish. A luminescent light source absorbs energy in some other form rather than heat energy such as chemical etc. hence, such source is cooler than that of incandescent source. Fluorescent lamp is luminescence light source as It uses phosphorous to re-emit the light (produced by excited mercury vapour molecules due to electric discharge) at visible wavelengths. Sun is the source of all energy. Directly we can get sunlight through radiation from the openings made in walls or roof. Indirectly we get it by reflection either externally or internally depends upon orientation of the rooms. Lastly, in the absence of sun or in the absence of reflecting body (for room facing north) skylights can be used to get diffused light. Necessacity of skylight also depends upon type of work to be carried out inside the workplace. For Example, garment factory where products are to be stored or processed for long time of day, skylight is preferred rather than direct light. Normally, electrical energy is converted into light for which incandescent, fluorescent and some special lamps like arc lamps, discharge lamps, halogen lamps are used. Arc lamps: arc is maintained by the electrodes through which electric discharge is made possible. Arc so produced will emit light. Discharge lamps: gas or vapour is made luminous by electric discharge through them. Argon, sodium or mercury are commonly used gases in discharge lamps. Halogen lamps: life and efficiency of an incandescent lam fall off due to evaporation of filament. Addition of small amount of halogen vapour restores pat of the evaporated tungsten vapour back to filament by means of chemical reaction. Hence, life of filament is increased.

b. Luminescence:

c. Daylight:

d. Artificial light:

Use of Daylighting: Louis I. Kahn, the pioneer of modern architecture; thinks the building as an important structure in the presence of light. Le-Corbusier, the master of international style, says Architecture is the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light.

Chapter 1:Light Lecture: 1 Title : Sources of light

Subject: Building sciences 2 Prepared by: Sampurna Maharjan

Day light can be used for: Aesthetics: Play of light from windows on surfaces and textures casting interesting shadows, the endless variety of mood and appearances due to the movement of sun. Physiological response: The sense of well being associated with daylight and the sense of orientation that comes with being connected with the exterior. Health: It provides resistance to infections and diseases.

Energy and cost: day light considering for lightning only may be the result in increase in capital cost of. But the controlled use of electricity in conjunction with the natural space heating and cooling may result in reduction of energy cost in long run.

Building design strategies for day lighting: Site and orientation: - Location of the building on the site to that daylight can reach the openings without significant interferences from nearby obstacles (tall-buildings, trees etc). - Highly reflective surfaces near the site such as glass covered buildings that could cause excessive glare. - Trees and shrubs on the site that might give shade and reduce sky glarer form the interior. -Bright ground surfaces that can be used to reflect daylight into the interior (40% of interior daylight can come reflected from ground surfaces. - Multistory building plan should be elongated with the maximum length face on north and south allowing maximum interior exposure to daylight. Form: - Curvature and zig- zag planning best serve for day lighting where surface area to be exposed to environment is less. - If the structure is tall and space between wings is narrow, each wing becomes a sky dome obstruction to those adjacent structures. This effect can be minimized by the use of light colored exterior surfaces. For multi-storey buildings, long and narrow configuration is good as it permits daylight to penetrate form both sides. - Naturally, bigger windows admit more daylight. But the height of the window is the more significant factor in getting the daylight deep intro the interior. - The height of the ceiling above the floor had little effect in the daylight of windows are not placed high in the exterior walls. - According to thumb rule, light will penetrate 2.5 times the lintel height of the opening and 25% of floor area required for optimum day lighting.

Building Configuration: Window size and height:

Chapter 1:Light Lecture: 1 Title : Sources of light

Subject: Building sciences 2 Prepared by: Sampurna Maharjan

Control of Daylight:

Light selves (ventilations for light above door) will allow light to fall on the ceiling and is responsible for diffused internally reflected light. Skylights responsible for uniform distribution of light on the horizontal working plane.