Lighting Study 1

[JimmyJunior]

Some technical folks where I work say that a lighting study is not necessary for new lighting system installations because human perception is subjective. Other say that the study gives you basic information about the lighting levels.

I personally use AGI32 for every lighting study I do. It gives me information about the vertical and horizontal illumination that I consider necessary to know for a good design.

So is a lighting study necessary for new lighting installations?

 

[waross]

In some jurisdictions it is required by law. I haven't done lighting for decades but in my area Lighting levels were subject to the factories act.
I was involved in the re-install of a project where the original designer did not allow enough of a factor to allow for dirt buildup on the fixtures. The factories act inspector measured lighting levels several months later and with dirty fixtures, the installation was rejected. Start over and do it right.
Where I come from, we generally did lighting studies.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[BJC]

Your going to do a "study " no matter what you do. The quality of the study may be such that you wind with a porcelain keyless socket and a 100 watt bulb evey 250 square foot but it's a study.
BTY way if your an engineer arn't you one of the "technical folks"?
Don't know where your working but around these parts you have to do a study and have it reviewed by State and Local authorities.

 

[PHovnanian]

It is if:

1) The customer requests it.

2) There are measurable lighting performance requirements imposed on you by the customer or permitting authorities. Its possible that failure to meet these requirements can result in significant financial penalties or remediation at your expense. Then its up to you whether you trust a design based on an educated guess or you'd rather CYA by doing the analysis.

Producing a "good design" is a nice idea. But you really have to quantify "goodness" before diving into an analysis.

 

[EEJaime]

I don't know of any engineer that would undertake lighting design without proper study and preparation. I enjoy lighting design, it is one of the areas where we as engineers can demonstrate a slightly more artistic side and lighting is the one area that the public actually sees and experiences what we do as engineers.

It is a critical aspect of most types of building design. We spend a lot of time to insure that the lighting is of sufficient intensity, color rendition, efficacy and overall appearance and functionality for the specific tasks at hand.

Many engineers do not consider lighting design true engineering, but it in fact has facets of both engineering and architecture that make it an enjoyable part of the overall building package.

And technically speaking in critical task areas such as clean rooms, surgical rooms, laboratories, etc..., it is a critical part of the engineering.

Regards

 

[alehman]

What Jamie said. If it is an outdoor installation, most places in the U.S. have laws dictating how it is designed. Criteria may include max and min levels, max/min ratio, spill, sky light, fixture types, lamp types, efficiency, etc. You have to balance all that with cost and appearance. That's where it turns from a science to art.

I haven't done much lighting design for a long time, but I wouldn't undertake a significant project without using one of the software packages that are available.

Alan
----
"It’s always fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

 

[JimmyJunior]

Thank you folks.

I have been doing lighting studies for a long time and I am of the opinion that a study should always be done for a large project interior (data center, air traffic control room, clean room, etc) and exterior project (parking lots, wall washing, etc).

As expressed by some of you, laws and codes exist for exterior projects and for some interior projects. Liability is always an issue especially in today's litigious society.

After reading what happened to many P.E.s associated with the collapsed bridge in Minnesota and the "Big Dig" tunnel in Boston after the a piece of the tunnel fell on a lady and her daughter not long ago, I went out and obtained professional liability insurance. Even though I work for the Federal Government I cannot assume that the Federal Government will defend me if I am sued.

JimmyJunior