Zonal Cavity Method for Indoor Calculations

Methods of calculating illuminance

In order to design a luminaire layout that best meets the illuminance and uniformity
requirements of the job, two types of information are generally needed: average
illuminance level and illuminance level at a given point. Calculation of illuminance at
specific points is often done to help the designer evaluate the lighting uniformity,
especially when using luminaires where maximum spacing recommendations are not
supplied, or where task lighting levels must be checked against ambient.
If average levels are to be calculated, two methods can be applied:
1. For indoor lighting situations, the Zonal Cavity Method is used with data from a
coefficient of utilization table.
2. For outdoor lighting applications, a coefficient of utilization curve is provided, the
CU is read directly from the curve and the standard lumen formula is used.
The following two methods can be used if calculations are to be done to
determine illuminance at one point.
1. If an isofootcandle chart is provided, illuminance levels may be read directly from
this curve.
2. If sufficient candlepower data are available, illuminance levels may be calculated
from these data using the point-to-point method.

The following sections describe these methods of calculation.

Zonal Cavity Method
The Zonal Cavity Method (sometimes called the Lumen Method) is the currently accepted
method for calculating average illuminance levels for indoor areas, unless the light distribu-
tion is radically asymmetric. It is an accurate hand method for indoor applications because it
takes into consideration the effect that inter-reflectance has on the level of illuminance.
Although it takes into account several variables, the basic premise that footcandles are equal
to luminous flux over an area is not violated.
The basis of the Zonal Cavity Method is that a room is made up of three spaces or
cavities. The space between the ceiling and the fixtures, if they are suspended, is
defined as the “ceiling cavity”; the space between the work plane and the floor, the
“floor cavity”; and the space between the fixtures and the work plane, the “room
cavity.”
Once the concept of these cavities is understood, it is possible to calculate numerical
relationships called “cavity ratios,” which can be used to determine the effective
reflectance of the ceiling and floor cavities and then to find the coefficient of utilization.
There are four basic steps in any calculation of illuminance level:
1. Determine cavity ratios
2. Determine effective cavity reflectances
3. Select coefficient of utilization
4. Compute average illuminance level

Step 1: Cavity ratios for a rectangular space may be calculated by using the
following formulas:
5 hcc (L+W)
Ceiling Cavity Ratio (CCR) =
LxW
5 hrc (L+W)
Room Cavity Ratio (RCR) =
LxW
hcc Ceiling Ceiling Cavity
5 hfc (L+W)
Floor Cavity Ratio (FCR) =
Luminaires LxW
Where:
hrc Room Cavity hcc = distance in feet from luminaire to ceiling
hrc = distance in feet from luminaire to work plane
hfc = distance in feet from work plane to floor
Workplane
L = length of room, in feet
W = width of room, in feet
hfc Floor Floor Cavity
An alternate formula for calculating any cavity ratio is:

2.5 x height of cavity x cavity perimeter

Cavity Ratio =
area of cavity base

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Step 2: Effective cavity reflectances must be determined for the ceiling cavity Step 4: Computation of the illuminance level is performed using the
and for the floor cavity. These are located in Table A (see below) under the standard Lumen Method formula.
applicable combination of cavity ratio and actual reflectance of ceiling, walls # of fixtures x lamps per fixture
and floor. The effective reflectance values found will then be ρcc (effective ceil- Footcandles = x lumens per lamp x CU x LLF
ing cavity reflectance) and ρfc (effective floor cavity reflectance) . Note that if (maintained) area in square feet
the luminaire is recessed or surface mounted, or if the floor is the work plane,
When the initial illuminance level required is known and the number of fixtures need-
the CCR or FCR will be 0 and then the actual reflectance of the ceiling or floor ed to obtain that level is desired, a variation of the standard lumen formula is used.
will also be the effective reflectance.
maintained
footcandles desired
x area in sq. ft.
# of luminaires =
Step 3: With these values of ρcc, ρfc, and ρw (wall reflectance), and knowing lamp/fixture x
the room cavity ratio (RCR) previously calculated, find the coefficient of utiliza- lumen/lamp x CU x LLF
tion in the luminaire coefficient of utilization (CU) table. Note that since the
The total light loss factor (LLF) consists of three basic factors: lamp lumen
table is linear, linear interpolations can be made for exact cavity ratios and depreciation (LLD), luminaire dirt depreciation (LDD) and ballast factor (BF). If
reflectance combinations. initial levels are to be found, a multiplier of 1 is used. Light loss factors, along
The coefficient of utilization found will be for a 20% effective floor cavity with the total lamp lumen output, vary with manufacturer and type of lamp or
reflectance. Thus, it will be necessary to correct for the previously determined luminaire and are determined by consulting the manufacturer’s published data.
ρfc. This is done by multiplying the previously determined CU by the factor Ballast factor (BF) is defined as the ratio between the published lamp lumens and
from Table B (pg.12). the lumens delivered by the lamp on the ballast used. Typical HID ballast factors
CU final = CU (20% floor) x Multiplier for actual ρfc. If it is other than 10% or vary between .9 and .95. Holophane ballasts are designed to have a BF=1.0.
30%, interpolate or extrapolate and multiply by this factor. Occasionally, other light loss factors may need to be applied when they are
applicable. Some of these are luminaire ambient temperature, voltage factor
and room surface dirt depreciation.

Table A
Percent effective ceiling or floor cavity reflectance for various reflectance combinations.
% Ceiling
or floor 90 80 70 50 30 10
reflectance
% Wall
90 70 50 30 80 70 50 30 70 50 30 70 50 30 70 50 30 10 50 30 10
reflectance
Cavity ratio
0.2 89 88 86 85 78 78 77 76 68 67 66 49 48 47 30 29 29 28 10 10 09
0.4 88 86 84 81 77 76 74 72 67 65 63 48 47 45 30 29 28 26 11 10 09
0.6 87 84 80 77 76 75 71 68 65 63 59 47 45 43 30 28 26 25 11 10 08
0.8 87 82 77 73 75 73 69 65 64 60 56 47 44 40 30 28 25 23 11 10 08
1.0 86 80 75 69 74 72 67 62 62 58 53 46 43 38 30 27 24 22 12 10 08

1.2 85 78 72 66 73 70 64 58 61 57 50 45 41 36 30 27 23 21 12 10 07
1.4 85 77 69 62 72 68 62 55 60 55 47 45 40 35 30 26 22 19 12 10 07
1.6 84 75 67 59 71 67 60 53 59 53 45 44 39 33 29 25 22 18 12 09 07
1.8 83 73 64 56 70 66 58 50 58 51 42 43 38 31 29 25 21 17 13 09 06
2.0 83 72 62 53 69 64 56 48 56 49 40 43 37 30 29 24 20 16 13 09 06

2.2 82 70 59 50 68 63 54 45 55 48 38 42 36 29 29 24 19 15 13 09 06
2.4 82 69 58 48 67 61 52 43 54 46 37 42 35 27 29 24 19 14 13 09 06
2.6 81 67 56 46 66 60 50 41 54 45 35 41 34 26 29 23 18 14 13 09 06
2.8 81 66 54 44 65 59 48 39 53 43 33 41 33 25 29 23 17 13 13 09 05
3.0 80 64 52 42 65 58 47 37 52 42 32 40 32 24 29 22 17 12 13 09 05

3.2 79 63 50 40 65 57 45 35 51 40 31 39 31 23 29 22 16 12 13 09 05
3.4 79 62 48 38 64 56 44 34 50 39 29 39 30 22 29 22 16 11 13 09 05
3.6 78 61 47 36 63 54 43 32 49 38 28 39 29 21 29 21 15 10 13 09 04
3.8 78 60 45 35 62 53 41 31 49 37 27 38 29 21 28 21 15 10 14 09 04
4.0 77 58 44 33 61 53 40 30 48 36 26 38 28 20 28 21 14 09 14 09 04

4.2 77 57 43 32 60 52 39 29 47 35 25 37 28 20 28 20 14 09 14 09 04
4.4 76 56 42 31 60 51 38 28 46 34 24 37 27 19 28 20 14 09 14 08 04
4.6 76 55 40 30 59 50 37 27 45 33 24 36 26 18 28 20 13 08 14 08 04
4.8 75 54 39 28 58 49 36 26 45 32 23 36 26 18 28 20 13 08 14 08 04
5.0 75 53 38 28 58 48 35 25 44 31 22 35 25 17 28 19 13 08 14 08 04

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 Zonal Cavity Method of Calculating Illuminance Levels

Table B
Multiplying factors for other than 20 percent effective floor cavity reflectance

% Effective
ceiling cavity 80 70 50 30 10
reflectance, ρcc

% Wall
reflectance, ρw 70 50 30 10 70 50 30 10 50 30 10 50 30 10 50 30 10

For 30 per cent effective floor cavity reflectance (20 per cent = 1.00)
Room cavity
ratio
1 1.092 1.082 1.075 1.068 1.077 1.070 1.064 1.059 1.049 1.044 1.040 1.028 1.026 1.023 1.012 1.010 1.008
2 1.079 1.066 1.055 1.047 1.068 1.057 1.048 1.039 1.041 1.033 1.027 1.026 1.021 1.017 1.013 1.010 1.006
3 1.070 1.054 1 042 1.033 1.061 1.048 1.037 1.028 1.034 1.027 1.020 1.024 1.017 1.012 1.014 1.009 1.005
4 1.062 1.045 1.033 1.024 1.055 1.040 1.029 1.021 1.030 1.022 1.015 1.022 1.015 1.010 1.014 1.009 1.004
5 1.056 1 038 1.026 1.018 1.050 1.034 1.024 1.015 1.027 1.018 1.012 1.020 1.013 1.008 1.014 1.009 1.004
6 1.052 1.033 1.021 1.014 1.047 1.030 1.020 1.012 1.024 1.015 l.009 1.019 1.012 1.006 1.014 1.008 1.003
7 1.047 1.029 1.018 1.011 1.043 1.026 1.017 l.009 1.022 1.013 1.007 1.018 1.010 1.005 1.014 1.008 1.003
8 1.044 1.026 1.015 1.009 1.040 1.024 1.015 1.007 1.020 1.012 1.006 1.017 1.009 1.004 1.013 1.007 1.003
9 1.040 1.024 1.014 1.007 1.037 1.022 1.014 1.006 1.019 1.011 1.005 1.016 1.009 1.004 1.013 1.007 1.002
10 1.037 1.022 1.012 1.006 1.034 1.020 1.012 1.005 1.017 1.010 1.004 1.015 1.009 1.003 1.013 1.007 1.002
For 10 per cent effective floor cavity reflectance (20 per cent=1.00)
Room cavity
ratio
1 .923 .929 .935 .940 .933 .939 .943 .948 .956 .960 .963 .973 .976 .979 .989 .991 .993
2 .931 .942 .950 .958 .940 .949 .957 .963 .962 .968 .974 .976 .980 .985 .988 .991 .995
3 .939 .951 .961 .969 .945 .957 .966 .973 .967 .975 .981 .978 .983 .988 .988 .992 .996
4 .944 .958 .969 .978 .950 .963 .973 .980 .972 .980 .986 .980 .986 .991 .987 .992 .996
5 .949 .964 .976 .983 .954 .968 .978 .985 .975 .983 .989 .981 .988 .993 .987 .992 .997
6 .953 .969 .980 .986 .958 .972 .982 .989 .977 .985 .992 .982 .989 .995 .987 .993 .997
7 .957 .973 .983 .991 .961 .975 .985 .991 .979 .987 .994 .983 .990 .996 .987 .993 .998
8 .960 .976 .986 .993 .963 .977 .987 .993 .981 .988 .995 .984 .991 .997 .987 .994 .998
9 .963 .978 .987 .994 .965 .979 .989 .994 .983 .990 .996 .985 .992 .998 .988 .994 .999
10 .965 .980 .965 .980 .967 .981 .990 .995 .984 .991 .997 .986 .993 .998 .988 .994 .999

Example:
A typical lecture hall is 60' long and 30' wide with a (3) Knowing the room cavity ratio (RCR), it is now (4) Illuminance level can now be calculated if we know
14’ ceiling height. Reflectances are: ceiling 80%, walls possible to find the coefficient of utilization for the the number of units to be used and the lamp lumen
30%, floor 10%. Four-lamp Prismawrap (coefficients Prismawrap luminaire in a room having an RCR of 2.0 rating.
of utilization shown below) is to be used on 4' stems, and effective reflectances as follows:
and the work plane is 2' above the floor. Find the # of fixtures x lamps/fixture
ρcc = 62%; ρw = 30%; ρfc = 20%. By interpolation x lumens/lamp x CU
illuminance level if there are 18 luminaires in the room. FC initial =
between boxed numbers in the table this CU is .55. area
Solutions: Note that this CU is for an effective reflectance of 20%
while the actual effective reflectance of the floor ρfc is FC initial = 18 x 4 x 3150 x .53
(1) Calculate cavity ratios as follows: 60 x 30
10%. To correct for this, locate the appropriate multipli-
CCR = 5(4)(30+60) = 1.0 er in Table B for the RCR already calculated (2.0). It is FC initial = 67
30 x 60
.962 and is found by interpolating between the boxed
RCR = 5(8)(30+60) = 2.0 number in Table B for 70% ρcc, 30% ρw, and 50% ρcc, Check spacing of luminaires.
30 x 60 30% ρw at an RCR of 2.0.
A possible arrangement for these fixtures is three
FCR = 5(2) (30+60) = 0.5 Then: columns of six fixtures spaced ten feet on center in
30 x 60 CU final = .55 x .962 = .53 each direction. The Spacing Criterion is 1.4, making the
(2) In Table A, look up effective cavity reflectances for Note that all interpolations only need to be of the maximum allowable spacing 11.2 feet. The actual
these ceiling and floor cavities. ρcc for the ceiling cavity approximate, “eyeball” type, giving a credible degree spacing is less than the maximum allowable spacing.
is determined to be 62%, while ρfc for the floor cavity of accuracy to the calculation. Therefore, the illumination on the work plane should be
is 10%. uniform.

Table C: Four-lamp Prismawrap luminaire coefficients of utilization

Spacing Criterion 1.4
ρcc 80% 70% 50% 30% 10%
ρw 70% 50% 30% 10% 70% 50% 30% 10% 50% 30% 10% 50% 30% 10% 50% 30% 10%
0 .78 .78 .78 .78 .75 .75 .75 .75 .70 .70 .70 .66 .66 .66 .62 .62 .62
1 .72 .69 .67 .64 .69 .67 .65 .63 .63 .61 .59 .59 .58 .56 .56 .55 .53
2 .66 .62 .58 .55 .64 .60 .56 .53 .56 .54 .51 .53 .51 .49 .50 .48 .47
3 .61 .55 .51 .47 .59 .54 .50 .46 .51 .47 .44 .48 .45 .43 .46 .43 .41
RCR

4 .57 .50 .45 .41 .55 .48 .44 .40 .46 .42 .39 .44 .40 .38 .41 .39 .36
5 .52 .45 .39 .35 .50 .43 .38 .35 .41 .37 .34 .39 .36 .33 .37 .34 .32
6 .48 .40 .35 .31 .47 .39 .34 .31 .37 .33 .30 .36 .32 .29 .34 .31 .28
7 .45 .36 .31 .27 .43 .35 .30 .27 .34 .29 .26 .32 .28 .25 .31 .27 .25
8 .41 .33 .27 .23 .40 .32 .27 .23 .30 .26 .23 .29 .25 .22 .28 .24 .22
9 .38 .29 .24 .20 .36 .28 .23 .20 .27 .23 .20 .26 .22 .19 .25 .21 .19
10 .35 .26 .21 .18 .34 .26 .21 .18 .25 .20 .17 .24 .20 .17 .23 .19 .16

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