Lighting
lighting designs.
Using efficient lighting and layouts to improve productivity and wellbeing.
Our commercial design and installation of electrical circuitry and track lighting (per photometric analysis)
Lighting Installations
General Guidelines and Considerations below, ensure to:
Follow Ontario (local) Electrical Safety Code requirements for electrical installations
Work with a Licensed Electrician for safe and quality outcomes
Nash (Master Electrician) installing security flood lights
Lighting Systems
Lamps- the light source
Luminaires or Fixtures- the lamp casing or housing
Controller
Ballasts- provide an initial spike of high voltage and then regulates the current in fluorescent lighting
Drivers- rectify the incoming alternating current (AC) by converting into lower voltage direct current (DC) and protects against fluctuations in LED lighting
Lamp Characteristics
Lumens (Light Output)
Measure of brightness
Luminous Efficacy (Lumens / Watts)
Light output / electrical power input
Colour Temperature (Kelvins)
Shown in the CIE chromaticity diagram
Colour Rendering Index (CRI)
Relative indicator of colours distinguished under the colour temperature, index from 0 to 1
Cost ($)
Rated Life (operating hours)
Time it takes for 50% of a large group to burn out. LEDs are predicted when light output decreases 30%
Fluorescent are rated at 3 hours per start, HID at 5 hours per start. Operating at shorter periods decreases life
Labour required for re-lamping (time and cost)
Reduced maintenance cost rather than extended lifetime is a primary factor in the payback
Our installation for a showroom to demonstrate the elegance of pot lights, chandeliers, pendant lights, and strip lighting
Lamp Types
Incadescent bulbs:
The glass bulb is filled with an inert gas (ex. argon). An electric current is passed through a thin metal filament (tungsten) which acts as a resistor and is heated to produce a glow of visible light
Pros: renders colours well, easily dimmed and controlled, inexpensive
Cons: low efficacy (90% heat), short lifespan, susceptible to vibration
2. Fluorescent bulbs:
The tubes are filled with mercury vapour gas that is excited once a current is passed through it, this produces short wave ultraviolet light that stimulates the phosphor coating on the inner wall to release visible light
Pros: high efficacy, longer life, low surface luminance
Cons: trace of mercury, higher initial cost with electronic ballast
3. Light Emitting Diodes- LEDs:
The epoxy case contains the semiconductor (diodes), which are polarized to allow the flow of current from an anode (+) lead to a cathode (-) lead where electrons cross the p-n junction and emit light energy.
Pros: most efficient, longest lifespan, versatile and durable
Cons: dimmer compatibility, emit in a specific direction
CIE Chromaticity Diagram
All colours visible to the average human eye are mapped
The center is the least saturated colours and emitting from white
Appearance of perceived light in the colour space of a blackbody radiator at that absolute temperature scale
The edges are the spectral locus with the most saturated colours in pure monochromatic light
Measured by wavelengths, in nanometers (nm)
Any colour can be made by 2 others
It is the center of a drawn line, with the end point colours mixed
HSV Cylinder
Based on Colour Appearance Parameters: Hue, Saturation, and Value
Lighting Survey
Consider what are your:
Lighting needs
for operating/dormant lighting to provide illumination, safety, or decoration
Time and length of day that lighting is required
in combination with natural light, and electricity use
Lighting levels for productivity and safety
task dedicated lighting based on the visual task, and room surface characteristics
Switch control measures:
dimming, time, motion, infrared radiation, light-sensitive photocell
Type and condition of lamps, fixtures, ballasts and the lighting installation
aging, depreciation, and heat production in the space
ambient environment; movement, moisture exposure, and temperature ranges
Re-lamping practice
spot replacement- replacing the light once it burns out
group replacement- reduced cost and labour with a shorter interruption, to maintain uniform lighting and lamp use
