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Lumen Method Calculations

The lumen method is used to calculate average illuminance levels based on fundamental lighting factors such as the number and lumens of lamps, utilisation factor, and light loss factor. The light loss factor accounts for decreases in light output over time from factors like lamp lumen depreciation, dirt accumulation, and reducing surface reflectance. It is calculated as the product of the lamp lumen maintenance factor, luminaire maintenance factor, and room surface maintenance factor. The utilisation factor represents the proportion of luminous flux from lamps that reaches the work plane, and is impacted by the luminaire light output ratio, flux distribution, room proportions, reflectances, and spacing to mounting height ratio.

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95 views

Lumen Method Calculations

The lumen method is used to calculate average illuminance levels based on fundamental lighting factors such as the number and lumens of lamps, utilisation factor, and light loss factor. The light loss factor accounts for decreases in light output over time from factors like lamp lumen depreciation, dirt accumulation, and reducing surface reflectance. It is calculated as the product of the lamp lumen maintenance factor, luminaire maintenance factor, and room surface maintenance factor. The utilisation factor represents the proportion of luminous flux from lamps that reaches the work plane, and is impacted by the luminaire light output ratio, flux distribution, room proportions, reflectances, and spacing to mounting height ratio.

Uploaded by

Sajjad Ahmed
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© © All Rights Reserved
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2.

Lumen Method Calculations

The lumen method is based on fundamental lighting calculations. The


lumen method formula is easiest to appreciate in the following form.

(1)

where E = average illuminance over the horizontal working plane

n = number of lamps in each luminaire

N = number of luminaire

F = lighting design lumens per lamp, i.e. initial bare lamp luminous

flux

UF = utilisation factor for the horizontal working plane

LLF = light loss factor

A = area of the horizontal working plane

2.1 Light Loss Factor

Light loss factor (LLF) is the ratio of the illuminance produced by the
lighting installation at the some specified time to the illuminance
produced by the same installation when new. It allows for effects such
as decrease in light output caused by

(a) the fall in lamp luminous flux with hours of use,

(b) the deposition of dirt on luminaire, and

(c) reflectances of room surfaces over time.

In fact, light loss factor is the product of three other factors:

(2)

where LLMF = lamp lumen maintenance factor

LMF = luminaire maintenance factor


RSMF = room surface maintenance factor

2.1.1 Lamp Lumen Maintenance Factor

Lamp lumen maintenance factor (LLMF) is the proportion of the


initial light output of a lamp produced after a set time to those
produced when new. It allows for the decline in lumen output from a
lamp with age. Its value can be determined in two ways:

(a) by consulting a lamp manufacturer's catalog for a lumen


depreciation chart, and

(b) by dividing the maintained lumens by the initial lamps.

2.1.2 Luminaire Maintenance Factor

Luminaire maintenance factor (LMF) is the proportion of the initial


light output from a luminaire after a set time to the initial light output
from a lamp after a set time. It constitutes the greatest loss in light
output and is mainly due to the accumulation of atmospheric dirt on
luminaire. Three factors must be considered in its determination:

(a) the type of luminaire,

(b) atmospheric conditions, and

(c) maintenance interval

2.1.3 Room Surface Maintenance Factor

Room surface maintenance factor (RSMF) is the proportion of the


illuminance provided by a lighting installation in a room after a set
time compared with that occurred when the room was clean. It takes
into account that dirt accumulates on room surfaces and reduces
surface reflectance. Figure 4 shows the typical changes in the
illuminance from an installation that occur with time due to dirt
deposition on the room surfaces.

2.2 Utilisation Factor

Utilisation factor (UF) is the proportion of the luminous flux emitted


by the lamps which reaches the working plane. It is a measure of the
effectiveness of the lighting scheme. Factors that affect the value of UF
are as follows:

(a) light output ratio of luminaire


(b) flux distribution of luminaire

(c) room proportions

(d) room reflectances

(e) spacing/mounting height ratio

2.2.1 Light Output Ratio of Luminaire

Light output ratio of luminaire (LOR) takes into account for the loss
of light energy both inside and by transmission through light fittings. It
is given by the following expression.

(3)

Example 1

The total, upward and downward lamp output from a lamp are 1000
lm, 300 lm and 500 lm respectively. Calculate upward light output
ratio (ULOR), downward light output ratio (DLOR), light output
ratio (LOR) of luminaire and percentage of light energy absorbed in
luminaire.

Amount of light energy absorbed in luminaire = 100 - 80 = 20 %

A greater DLOR usually means a higher UF.


A simple classification of luminaires according to their distribution is
based on flux fractions, as shown in Figure 5. Upward flux
fraction (UFF) and downward flux fraction (DFF) are used as a basis
of comparison.

Example 2

For data given in Example 1 determine upward flux fraction (UFF),


downward flux fraction (DFF) and flux fraction ratio (FRR).

Figure 5 Flux Fraction of Various Luminaires

2.2.2 Flux Distribution of Luminaire

Direct ratio is the proportion of the total downward luminous flux from
a conventional installation of luminaires which his directly incident on
the working plane. It is used to assess the flux distribution of luminaire.
Since the intensity distribution pattern of the light radiated from a
luminaire in the lower hemisphere will affect:

(a) the quantity of the downward flux falls directly on the working
plane and

(b) the quantity of flux available for reflection from the walls in a given
room,

Direct ratio depends on both the room proportions and the


luminaires. Direct ratio has a low value with a narrow room (small
room index) and a luminaire which emits most of its light sideways (BZ
10), and on the contrary, a high value with a wide room (large room
index) and a luminaire which emits most of its light downwards (BZ 1).

2.2.3 Room Proportion

Room index (RI) is the ratio of room plan area to half the wall area
between the working and luminaire planes.

(4)

where L = length of room

W = width of room

Hm = mounting height, i.e. the vertical distance between the working


plane and the luminaire.

2.2.4 Room Reflectances

The room is considered to consist of three main surfaces:

(a) the ceiling cavity,

(b) the walls, and

(c) the floor cavity (or the horizontal working plane).

The effective reflectances of the above three surfaces affect the


quantity of reflected light received by the working plane.

2.2.5 Spacing to Height Ratio

Spacing to Height ratio (SHR or S/Hm) is defined as the ratio of the


distance between adjacent luminaires (centre to centre), to their
height above the working plane. For a rectangular arrangement of
luminaires and by approximation,

(5)

where A = total floor area

N = number of luminaires

Hm = mounting height

Under a regular array of luminaires the illuminance on the working


plane is not uniform. The closer spaced the luminaires for a given
mounting height, the higher the uniformity; or the greater the
mounting height for a given spacing, the greater the uniformity. If
uniformity of illuminance is to be acceptable for general lighting,

(a) SHR should not exceed maximum spacing to height ratio (SHR
MAX) of the given luminaire as quoted by the manufacturer, and

(b) geometric mean spacing to height ratio of the luminaire layout


should be within the range of nominal spacing to height ratio (SHR
NOM) of the given luminaire as quoted by the manufacturer, i.e.

(6
)

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