LIGHTING TERMINOLOGIES

Candlepower (cp): unit of luminous intensity candela [cd] (SI units) Candela and candlepower has the same magnitude

Lumen (lm) quantitative unit for measuring flow of light energy (luminous flux) emanating from 1 ft2 of a 1 ft2 surface of 1 candlepower [SI units] 1 lumen is the luminous flux from 1m2 of a 1 m2 surface of 1 candela Illumination density of the luminous flux (lumens per unit area)

Footcandle 1 lumen of luminous flux spread uniformly over an area of 1ft2 produces an illumination of 1 footcandle [SI units] 1 lumen spread over 1m2, the illumination is expressed in lux (lx) Footcandles = lumens ft2 lux = lumens m2

Absorptance
darker objects absorb more than lighter colored objects

Reflectance, Reflection Factor, Reflectance Coefficient

Specular Reflection regular reflection (observed in mirror) angle of reflection = angle of incident light Diffuse Reflection reflected light is scattered in all directions

Transmittance, Luminous Transmittance, Transmission Factor, Coefficient of Transmission

ratio of light *transmitted through a material transmission of light - direct, diffuse or combination Direct Transmission light passes through clear, transparent materials; angle at which the light leaves is the same as that at which it enters Diffuse Transmission transmitted light is scattered evenly Materials that transmit light in a diffuse pattern are known as translucent

Refraction
bending of a ray of light as it passes obliquely through a material Footlambert (fL) Quantitative unit for measuring brightness Value 1 lumen per square foot When the illumination is on a surface, the lumens per square foot are measured as footcandles When brightness is from a surface, the lumens per square foot are measured as footlamberts Brightness/Luminance index of intensity of light being emitted, transmitted or reflected from a surface Brightness perceived light Luminance measured quantity

Formulas Luminance = illumination x reflectance Luminance = illumination x transmittance

Footlamberts = footcandles x reflectance factor Footlamberts = footcandles x transmission factor (SI units) the unit of brightness is lambert (L): luminance of a surface reflecting, transmitting, or emitting 1 lumen per square centimeter 1 lambert = 1,076 footlamberts 1 millilambert = 1.076 footlamberts

Glare
effect of excessive brightness in the field of view, causing annoyance, discomfort and interfering with vision (direct from light/reflected from a shiny surface) Work Station immediate contiguous area in which a worker performs visual task (50 ft2/4.6 m2 allotted for work station) Work Plane Surface on which visual task is performed (assumed to be a horizontal plane 30 (0.76 m ) above floor

Primary Source
Luminous source where light energy is generated and transmitted directly to a task

Secondary Source
Surfaces that derive their brightness from reflected incident illumination

Lamp
Generic term for artificial light Incandescent filament lamps bulbs fluorescent lamps tubes HID light sources lamps

Reflector
device for redirecting radiant energy of a lamp by reflecting it in the desired direction

Refractor
device for redirecting radiant energy of a lamp in the desired direction by refraction through a lense

Luminaire
complete lighting unit/ fixture