Lighting Technology

Choice of Lighting System The function of the room, the occupancy, and the visual tasks to be carried out there and the style of the decor will all influence the choice of the lighting system to be used. For the sake of convenience , the lighting systems employed in interiors can be divided into those having a mostly functional purpose- the primary systems and those that take over, as it were , where the functional lighting leaves off- the secondary systems. Primary Lighting Systems The most common primary lighting systems are those providing either: General Lighting Localised Lighting Local  lighting + general lighting General Lighting A general lighting system provides the required horizontal illuminance over the total area with a certain degree of uniformity. When used alone , the average illuminance should be equal to the required illuminance for the specific visual task. it is there fore widely employed in such places as large, open plan offices, work sho...

Lighting is an Art as well  as a Science. There is no ideal or optimum solution to a particular lighting problem. The design process should be seen as consisting of two quite distinct phases. Phase one begins with the client, and involves studying the various local factors that will influence the design. Phase two is the design process proper, and it is here that the first of many design decisions are made. Factors Influencing the Design It is very important that the lighting designer establishes a very good working relationship with the client and with all the others engaged in the project ( such as architects, interior designers, air conditioning engineers) at the earliest possible stage in its development. It will then often be possible to influence basic design conditions concerning the space to be lighted. Later on it might well be too late to make those changes that would have simplified or improved the final lighting design. The most important factors dictated by the...