CIBSE LG10 (1999) tabular method for IRC

This latest CIBSE Daylighting and Window Design Guide LG10 gives the following
formula for calculating the internally reflected component of the daylight factor for
particular point in a room
Aw
IRC   a  1 SC  ERC   v  e  ,%
Af
  10
where e 
80
θ being the angle of the visible sky measured from the center of the window
Aw
and is the ratio of the window area to floor area.
Af
a and v are given by table 3.2 and 3.3 of the Guide respectively.

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K.F. Chan (Mr.) Page 2 of 11 Jan., 2010
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CORRECTION FACTORS

1) Correction for transmittance and glazing material

The sky component values given in CIBSE LG10 (table 3.1) are based on unglazed
windows having light transmittance of 1.0. For glazing material having other
transmittances, correction factors have to be applied.

Tables A1.1, A1.2, A1.3 and A1.5 in CIBSE LG10 for mean light transmittances and
correction factors of glazing materials:-

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2) Correction factor for glazing bars
CIBSE LG10 : 0.85 for metal frame
0.75 for timber frame windows

3) Correction for dirt on glazing

Section A1.2 of CIBSE LG10 (1999) gives a very comprehensive set of correction
factors for glazing maintenance factors per table A1.9 to A1.11
The maintenance factor allows for the reduction of daylight transmittance due to dirt
on glazing. First, find the basic loss of light in the particular building type, then
multiply it by the special factors if necessary.

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For example, using the tables, consider leaded glazing in a rural house. The loss of
light will be 4% x 3 x 1 = 12%.
The maintenance factor Cd will be 100% - 12% = 88%

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4) Correction for dirt on room surfaces
Table 3.7 of CIBSE Code for lighting (2002) gives the following data for room
surface maintenance factors.

Time Between
Cleaning
(Years) 0.5 1.0 1.5
Room Size (K) Luminaire C N D C N D C N D
Distribution
Small K=0.7 Direct 0.97 0.96 0.95 0.97 0.94 0.93 0.96 0.94 0.92

Direct / 0.94 0.88 0.84 0.90 0.86 0.82 0.89 0.83 0.80
Indirect
Indirect 0.90 0.84 0.80 0.85 0.78 0.73 0.83 0.75 0.69

Medium - Large Direct 0.98 0.97 0.96 0.98 0.96 0.95 0.97 0.96 0.95
K=2.5 - 5.0
Direct / 0.95 0.90 0.86 0.92 0.88 0.85 0.90 0.86 0.83
Indirect
Indirect 0.92 0.87 0.83 0.88 0.82 0.77 0.86 0.79 0.74

Time Between
Cleaning
(Years) 2.0 2.5 3.0
Room Size (K) Luminaire C N D C N D C N D
Distribution
Small K=0.7 Direct 0.95 0.93 0.90 0.94 0.92 0.89 0.94 0.92 0.88

Direct / 0.87 0.82 0.78 0.85 0.80 0.75 0.84 0.79 0.74
Indirect
Indirect 0.81 0.73 0.66 0.77 0.70 0.62 0.75 0.68 0.59

Medium - Large Direct 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.96 0.95 0.94
K=2.5 - 5.0
Direct / 0.89 0.85 0.81 0.87 0.84 0.79 0.86 0.82 0.78
Indirect
Indirect 0.84 0.77 0.70 0.81 0.74 0.67 0.78 0.72 0.64

[c.f. table 6.8 of Lighting 6th Edition by D.C. PRITCHARD (1999)]

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 Table A1.12 of CIBSE LG10 gives the following reflectances of common materials including glass :-

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*Note: Roof lights and sloping glazing will not be discussed in this course.
Students may refer to BRE digest 309/310 for further details.

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 UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
M.Sc.(Eng) in Building Services Engineering
MEBS6002 LIGHTING ENGINEERING

It is interesting to note that, well into the 20 th century, daylighting was designed by
considering the Sky Component only. This was partly due to the fact that interior
surfaces tended to be very dark, often as a result of soot emissions from oil and gas
lighting, or to mask their effect.

Modern daylighting design, however, is concerned much more with maximising the
use of internally reflected light, often in conjunction with special devices, which re-
direct the light onto the ceiling and upper walls.
[Daylight Design of Buildings by Nick Baker & Koen Steemers, James & James (Science Publishers)
Ltd. London (2002)]

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With a lightshelf the function of the window is split into
 the lower part protected by an overhang providing light to the front of the
room, and view,
 the upper part provides light to the back of the room, partly by reflection
from the upper surface of the lightshelf.

In the above diagram,

(1) daylight is reflected from a light shelf to the back of the room
(2) direct daylight from the diffuse sky to the back of the room
(3) daylight reflected from external ground to the front of the room
(4) direct daylight from the diffuse sky to the front of the room
[Adopted from Daylight Design of Buildings by Nick Baker & Koen Steemers, James & James (Science
Publishers) Ltd. London (2002)]

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 UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
M.Sc.(Eng) in Building Services Engineering
MEBS6002 LIGHTING ENGINEERING
NOTATIONS

A = area of all interior surfaces

Acw = area of ceiling and portion of wall above centre line of window, excluding
the window wall
Afw = area of floor and portion of wall below centre line of window, excluding
the window wall
Aw = area of window
Awall = area of walls
D = daylight factor, averaged for the horizontal working plane
df = daylight factor, averaged for all room surfaces
Eh = illuminance on the horizontal plane outdoors by an unobstructed overcast
sky
Ein = illuminance in a room averaged for all surfaces
Ew = illuminance on window from the sky
Ew direct = direct illuminance on window from an unobstructed portion of the sky
Ewp = illuminance on the working plane
R = average reflectance of all interior surfaces, including ceiling, floor, walls,
and windows
RB = reflectance of external obstructing building
RBACK = average reflectance of half of the interior room surfaces remote from the
window
Rcw = average reflectance of ceiling and portion of wall above centre line of
window, excluding the window wall
Rfw = average reflectance of floor and portion of wall below centre line of
window, excluding the window wall
Ro = effective reflectance of the cavity formed by obstructing building and the
external ground

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