Lighting Design: 1

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BEFORE THE ARCHITECT – BACKGROUND – ARTICLES

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RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR LIGHTING DESIGN STANDARDS a/k/a NIGHTLIGHTING DESIGN STANDARDS:

PART 1 - THE BASICS

Copyright 2007 Before The Architect

YOU MAY FREELY QUOTE THE AG WITH PROPER ATTRIBUTION

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Part 1: The Basics

This is about a lighting design guidance system to light residential interiors for  aging eyes, the aim of which is to tailor lighting design practically, not only sensitive to its occupants, but also easily specified and readily recognized in retail settings and by lighting professionals.

 

Before The Architect takes increasing interest in interior lighting design. 

bulletMost clients of Before The Architect are mature [that’s PC for older], and mature eyes, as compared to eyes in youth and early-middle years, need more light and need light presented differently.
bulletThere is there is little guidance that bridges research and hands-on application.

 

Rules to Design Residential Interior Lighting for Aging Eyes

bulletLayer lighting
bulletin utility spaces, such as laundry, crafts, etc., not more than two layers, preferably one
bulletexcept in potentially hazardous spaces such as stairs, workshop, etc., not more than one layer, excluding accent lighting
bulletApply dimmer switches wherever possible (Lutron makes applying dimmer switches a whole lot easier than it used to be, including 4-way dimming involving every device in the gang)
bulletApply incandescent illumination as a last resort
bulletDefine illuminance on three levels (approximately, not obsessively, so long as variance is to the high side) – 40, 70, 100 foot candles, or lumens/foot2  [or  fc,  lm/ft2, equal and used synonymously]

 

Sidebar:  Aspects of lighting metrics settled without wiggle-room:

bulletAgain, 1 fc = 1 lm/ft2, where foot candle = fc or ftc and lumen = l or lm   
bulletwhich metrics measure illuminance, or the perceived intensity of light or light level
bulletall light bulbs or lamps – incandescent or fluorescent – have illuminance ratings  in lumens/Watt (LPW or lm/W or lpW),  a measure of illuminance efficiency  related to the Watts you pay for in bulb and electricity
bulletThe author derates published lpW by a 0.8 multiplier, or 20% discount, XE "maintenance lumens"  for merchandising hype, resistance wear, dirt accumulation

 

bulletArrange illuminance so that – 
bulletin-between abutting spaces, the fc change
bulletshall be no greater than 30 fc
bulletmay grade in levels less than 30 fc in the interims

 

Comment: Passage from one light level to another with these rules should offer in almost all cases illuminance level change as a transition and not as a suddenly parted curtain

 

bulletbare bulbs shall not be casually observable (saying brightness and glare are not the same) 
bulletfor specific areas
bullethallways, small closets, and most common and private spaces get 40 fc, ambient or task, depending on viewing intensity – e.g., hall, common and private spaces are usually ambient, closet is usually task
bulletmoving-around areas of bathrooms, kitchens and other utility spaces, walk-in closets, most stairways get 70 fc, not more than 40 fc of which may be ambient and not less than 40 fc of which may be task
bulletserious viewing areas at bathroom and kitchen counters, laundry, workshop, etc. get 100 fc, not more than 40 fc of which is ambient
bulletgiven 2 special considerations

Special Consideration 1:

bulletmeasuring 100 fc work areas, as in a kitchen, island, pantry, bathroom, laundry, sewing, game, workshop and the like, includes not less than the work surface area plus 1 linear foot back from it
bulletstrictly utility areas, e.g., laundry, pantry, etc., and, particularly, utility areas with hazard potential, e.g., workshop, such an area’s illumination shall be on a single branch, and without a dimmer switch

Special Consideration 2:

bulleta task area shall be illuminated on a standalone basis at not less than 40 fc of task lighting at the task area (the practical implication of which is that maximum illumination in some task areas may be not less than 40 fc + 70 fc = 110 fc)
bulletallowance shall not be reckoned for cabinets and the like that  cover relatively high-illuminance surface area, i.e., surface area counts and gets illuminated no matter what
bulletin functionality
bulletambient for most spaces
bullettask for work areas
bulletleave most or all dramatic lighting to clients and lighting pros
bulletin specific formulations of lighting quality
bulletambient means accepting as minimums

--  Color Rendering Index (CRI) over 80, preferably over 90 [available in compact at 80-95,  and tube fluorescent at 65-95, and incandescent at 85-99+]

-- Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) not greater than 3000K (a/k/a Kelvin) [available in compact at 2700-4100 and tube fluorescent at 2700-6500,  and tougher for incandescent at 2700-2800]

bullettask means accepting as maximums

-- Color Rendering Index (CRI) to 90, preferably not more than 80 [available in compact and tube fluorescent, tougher for incandescent]

-- Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) not less than 3000K (a/k/a Kelvin) [available in compact and tube fluorescent, but not incandescent as so far researched]

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