Handouts EE Design

24/10/2023
Illumination is defined as the intensity of light per

unit area. When we talk of illumination, or simply
lighting, we are referring to man made lighting.
Daylight being excellent is not included, thus, we
assume a night time condition.
Electric Illumination is the production of light by

means of electricity and its applications to provide
efficient, comfortable and safe vision. Specifically,
when one speaks of lighting design, he refers to only
two things:
1. The quantity of light
2. The quality of light
Quantity of Light – refers to the amount of

illumination or luminous flux per unit area.
Quantity of light can be measured and easily
handled because it deals with the number of
light fixtures required for a certain area.
Quality of Light – refers to the distribution of

brightness in the lighting installation. It deals with
the essential nature or characteristics of light. In
short, quality of light is the mixture of all the items
related to illumination other than the quantity of
light which includes several elements such as:
Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

Asso.Prof. V 1
24/10/2023
1. Brightness
2. Brightness ratio or contrast
3. Glare
4. Diffuseness
5. Color
6. Aesthetics
7. Psychological reaction to color and fixtures
8. Economics
There are four factors that affect illumination, namely:

1. Brightness
2. Glare
3. Contrast
4. Diffuseness
Brightness is the light that seems to radiate from an

object being viewed. Brightness or luminance is the
luminous flux (light) emitted, transmitted or reflected from
a surface.
Contrast is the difference in brightness or the brightness

ratio between an object and its background. The
recommended brightness ratio between an object being
viewed and its background is normally 3:1.

Asso.Prof. V 2
24/10/2023
Glare is a strong, steady, dazzling light or reflection. There

are two types of glare:
1. Direct Glare is an annoying brightness of light in a
person’s normal
field of vision.
2. Indirect or Reflected Glare is much more serious and
difficult to control. Technically, reflected glare is a glossy
object.
Diffuseness refers to the control of shadows cast by light.

Diffuseness is the degree to which light is shadowless and is
therefore a function of the number of directions to which light
collides with a particular point and the comparative intensities.
Perfect Diffusion is an equal intensities of light

clashing from all directions producing no shadows.
A single lamp will cast sharp and deep shadows. A
luminous ceiling provides a satisfactory diffuse
illumination and less shadows.
The color of lighting and the corresponding color of

the object within a space is an important
consideration in producing a quality of light.
There are three characteristics that define a
particular coloration. They are:

Asso.Prof. V 3
24/10/2023
a. Hue – is the quality attribute by which we

recognize and describe colors as red, blue,
yellow, green, violet and so on.
b. Brilliance or Value – is the difference between the
resultant colors of the same hue, such as: white
is the most brilliant of the neutral colors while
black is the last.
c. Saturation or Chroma – is the difference from the
purity of the colors. Colors of high saturation must
be used in well lit spaces.
ESTIMATING ILLUMINATION AND BRIGHTNESS
Overview:
In many respect, it is more important to know luminance

measurements than illumination because the eye is more
sensitive to brightness than simple illumination. However, it
is more difficult to measure luminance than illumination.
There are three types of luminance meter, namely:

1. The Comparator type which requires the operator to make a brightness
equivalence judgment between the target and the background.
2. The Direct Reading type is basically an illumination meter equipped with
a hooded cell arranged to block oblique light.
3. The Accurate Laboratory Instrument which unsuitable for field work.

Asso.Prof. V 4
24/10/2023
Footcandle (fc) is the amount of light flux density. It is the unit

of measure used when describing the amount of light in a room
and is expressed in lumens per square foot.
Footlambert (fl) is defined as “the luminance of a surface

reflecting. Transmitting or emitting one lumen (lm) of illumination
per square foot of area in the direction being viewed or the
conventional unit of brightness or luminance. In the same
manner, the lumens (lm) is the light output generated
continuously by a standard wax candle
This quantity called Light Flux Density is the common term Foot-
candle (fc) represented by the formula:
Footcandle = Lumens/Area
Example:
40 – watt fluorescent lamp 120 centimeters long

produces 3,200 lumens of light in a room having a
general dimension of 10 x 20ft. Find the
illumination on the floor.
Solution:
Footcandle = Lumens/Area
Fc = 3,200 lm. = 16 footcandle
10 x 20 ft.
The footcandle is an important unit of measure in calculating the desired
illumination and layout of fixtures. In the absence of Tables of equivalent
footcandles for a particular fixture, a rule of thumb of 10-30-50 illumination
level is here presented.

Asso.Prof. V 5
24/10/2023
10 – footcandle is adequate for halls and corridors

30 – footcande is sufficient for areas between work stations such as
in offices other than desk areas.
50 – footcandle is satisfactory on spaces where office work is done.
However, providing an adequate quantity of light alone is

not a guarantee for an efficient and comfortable vision. In
fact, the quality of light is very important especially where
difficult visual needs are required. The luminance or
brightness of a diffusely reflecting surface is equal to the
product of the illumination and the reflectance. Thus;

Asso.Prof. V 6
24/10/2023

Asso.Prof. V 7
24/10/2023

Asso.Prof. V 8

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24/10/2023

Illumination is defined as the intensity of light per

Electric Illumination is the production of light by

Quantity of Light – refers to the amount of

Quality of Light – refers to the distribution of

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

There are four factors that affect illumination, namely:

Brightness is the light that seems to radiate from an

Contrast is the difference in brightness or the brightness

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

Glare is a strong, steady, dazzling light or reflection. There

Diffuseness refers to the control of shadows cast by light.

Perfect Diffusion is an equal intensities of light

The color of lighting and the corresponding color of

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

a. Hue – is the quality attribute by which we

ESTIMATING ILLUMINATION AND BRIGHTNESS

In many respect, it is more important to know luminance

There are three types of luminance meter, namely:

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

Footcandle (fc) is the amount of light flux density. It is the unit

Footlambert (fl) is defined as “the luminance of a surface

40 – watt fluorescent lamp 120 centimeters long

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

10 – footcandle is adequate for halls and corridors

However, providing an adequate quantity of light alone is

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

Prepared by: Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera,

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