MODULE 12: BASICS OF LIGHTING (Terms and Concepts)

1. Color and EM Spectrum

Ultraviolet - of or pertaining to electromagnetic radiation having

wavelengths from about 370 nanometer (one billionth of a
meter), immediately beyond the violet in the visible
spectrum, to 10 nm, on the border of the x-ray region

Visible light - electromagnetic radiation that the unaided human eye can
perceive, having a wavelength in the range from about 370 to
800 nm and propagating at a speed of 186,281 mi/sec
(299.972 km/sec)
- violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red

Infrared - of or pertaining to electromagnetic radiation having

wavelengths from about 800 nm, contiguous to the red end of
the visible spectrum, to 1 mm, on the border of the
microwave region

2. Nature of Light
Reflection - when light or sound is reflected from a smooth surface, the
angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection

Diffusion - a scattered reflection of light from an irregular surface or

an erratic dispersion through a translucent material
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 Absorption - the radiation absorbed by a surface
Refraction - the change of direction of a ray of light as it passes
obliquely from one medium into another in which its velocity
is different
Transmittance - the radiation transmitted and emerging from a body

Diffraction - the modulation of light or sound waves as they bend around

the edges of an obstacle in their path

3. Color Temperature and Color Rendering Index

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 Color Temperature - the temperature at which a blackbody emits light of
a specified spectral distribution, used to specify the
color of a light source

Color Rendering Index - a measure of the ability of an electric lamp

to render color accurately when compared with a
reference light source of similar color temperature.
(e.g. a tungsten lamp operating at a color
temperature of 3200°K, noon sunlight having a color
temperature of 4800°K, and average daylight having a
color temperature of 7000°K all have an index of 100
and are considered to render color perfectly)
MODULE 13: BASICS OF LIGHTING (Units of Measure)

1. Solid Angle/Steradian
Solid Angle - an angle formed by 3 or more planes intersecting at a
common point
Steradian - a solid angle at the center of a sphere subtending an area
on the surface equal to the square of the radius of the sphere

2. Luminous Energy - unit: lumen-second

- constant flow
3. Luminous Flux - SI unit: lumen (lm)
- the rate of flow of visible light per unit time, expressed in
lumens
4. Luminous Intensity - SI unit: candela (Cd)
- the luminous flux emitted per unit solid angle by a light
source, expressed in candelas
5. Illuminance - SI unit: lux (lx) equal to one lumen per square
meter;
- unit: footcandle (FC) equal to one lumen per square foot

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 - the intensity of light falling at any given place on a lighted
surface, equal to the luminous flux incident per unit area and
expressed in lumens per unit of area
6. Exitance and Luminance - unit: lambert (L); footlambert (fL)
- light energy leaving a surface
- the quantitative measure of brightness of a light
source or an illuminated surface, equal to the
luminous intensity per unit projected area of the
source or surface viewed from a given direction

7. Brightness - the sensation by which an observer is able to distinguish

between differences in luminance
8. Contrast - relative difference of adjacent luminances
9. Inverse Square Law - the farther away it is, the less energy arrives

MODULE 14: DAYLIGHTING (Sun and Sky)

1. Definition
Daylighting - the science, theory, or method of providing illumination
through the use of light of day
Daylight - to provide an interior space with daylight from both direct
and indirect sources

2. Sky Luminance Distribution

Sunlight - the direct light of the sun
Skylight - the light from the sky, reflected and diffused by air
molecules

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 Clear Sky - a sky having less than 30% cloud cover with the solar disk
unobstructed

Cloudy Sky - a sky having between 30% and 70% cloud cover, with the
solar disk obstructed

Overcast Sky - a sky having 100% cloud cover

CIE - Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage

- an international commission developing definitions,
standards, and procedure for the art, science, and
technology of lighting

3. Daylighting Techniques
Sidelighting - e.g. windows and clerestrories
Toplighting - e.g. skylights
Shades and Reflectors
Building Shapes

MODULE 16: ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING

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1. Types of Artificial Lighting
Task or Functional Lighting - lighting designed to provide strong
illumination for a visually demanding activity,
as reading or drafting
General or Ambient Lighting - lighting designed to provide a uniform level
of illumination throughout an area
Accent or Decorative Lighting - lighting that calls attention to a
particular object or feature in the visual field,
or that forms a decorative pattern on a surface
Path or Information Lighting - lighting designed for wayfinding

2. Types of Lamps
a. Incandescent and Halogen Lamps
- generally light when electric current heats the lamp’s filament
- start and warm up almost instantly and can be extinguished and
restarted at will
- preferred for their color and versatility
- drawbacks of this type of lamp is inefficiency and short life
b. Fluorescent Lamps
- electric energy excites the gas inside the lamp, which generates
ultraviolet light that excites the phosphors painted onto the
inside of the bulb
- requires a ballast in order to work properly
- T-8 (4’ long with 1” dia.) is the most commonly used general
purpose lamp
- compact fluorescent lamps come with either a screw base (to
replace incandescent lamps) or a plug-in base
c. High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps
- designed to emit a great deal of light from a compact, long-life
light source
- most often used for street and parking lot lighting
- requires time to warm up; true light output and color is often
not reached for 2-5 minutes
- requires a cool-off period (restrike time) before it can be
restarted once turned off
- types of HID lamps: Metal Halide Lamps, Sodium Lamps, and
Mercury Vapor Lamps
d. Neon and Cold Cathode Lamps

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 - closely related to fluorescent lamps in operating principles
- primary applications are signs and specialty lighting
- tubular lighting that can be formed into any shape and be made
to create any color of light
- cold cathode lamps are generally larger in diameter than neon
lamps and comes with a plug-in base while neon tubing usually
terminates is base wire connections
e. Fiber-Optics
- generally uses a thin flexible, transparent fiber as a “light pipe”
to transmit light between the 2 ends of the fiber
f. Light- Emitting Diodes (LED)
- since the light output produced by an individual diode is small
compared to incandescent and CFL, LEDs are often used together

3. Types of Luminaires
a. Direct Luminaires - emits light downwards; includes most types of
recessed lighting, including downlights and
troffers
b. Indirect Luminaires - emits light upwards, bouncing light from the
ceiling into a space; includes many styles of
suspended luminaires, scones and some
portable lamps
c. Diffuse Luminaires - emits light in all directions uniformly;
includes most types of bare lamps, globes,
chandeliers, and some table and floor lamps
d. Direct/Indirect Luminaires - emits light upward and downward but
not to the side; includes many types of
suspended luminaires as well as some table
and floor lamps; can be semi-direct or semi-
indirect according to the proportions of up and
down light
e. Asymmetric Luminaires - usually designed for special applications; may
be direct/indirect luminaires with a stronger
distribution in one direction
f. Adjustable Luminaires - generally direct luminaires that can be
adjusted to throw light in directions other than
down; includes track lights, floodlights, and

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