Arch 262: Environment & Building systems II-

II- building Physics

Lighting: Performance of visual task

• Many factors affect the performance of a visual task such as-
character of the task, lighting condition and reflect condition of the
observer.

• Performance of visual task can be categorized as:

A. The task
i. Size/proximity
ii. Exposure time
iii Brightness
iv. Contrast
v. Familiarity
B. The lighting condition
i. Illumination Level
ii. Brightness ratios
C. The observer
i. Condition of eyes
ii. Adaptation
iii. Fatigue level
Characteristics of the The Visual task:
i. size/proximity
•Size & exposure together determine the exposure angle.

• Exposure angle would increase if an object is enlarged or brought closer

to the eye.
• A designer is recommended to increase size of task.
• A small increase in size of the task is equivalent to a very large increase
in illumination level
 ii. Exposure time:
• Short time exposure to task may cut off visual performance.

iii. Brightness

• Increase in brightness significantly increases visual perception.

•Additional increase yield smaller and smaller benefits.

•Law of diminishing return comes in effect as brightness and visual

performance has a nonlinear relationship.

•For example raising brightness from 0-50 foot candles increases visual
perception by 85% but increase by another 50 foot candle increases
visual performance by 5%only.
• As brightness is a relative term; visual performance can be
changed or improved by changing background.

•Reduction of back ground brightness increases sensitivity of the

eye to light.

•The concept is successfully used in museums only exhibits are

highlighted not the back ground keeping indoor lighting level as
low as possible.

•Ultra violet light causes most damage to delicate objects.

•Natural light causes fading.

•Short wave length radiation (such as ultra violet) is more harmful

than long wave length radiation (such as red).
iv. Contrast:

• The difference in brightness between a detail and its immediate

surrounding is termed as contrast.

•Maximum contrast between task and its immediate surrounding

gives better visual performance for critical visual task.

•Reduced contrast level compels adjustments of other factors of

visual perception.

•Contrast refers to detailed visual task such as the ink on paper;

not the brightness relationship of the paper to the desk
B. The lighting condition

i. Illumination Level

• Brightness is directly proportional to illumination level.

•At higher illumination level the pupil gets smaller and the amount of light
reaching the retina is very small.

• For general area the illumination level should be kept at 30 foot candles.

•Higher levels should be recommended for specific tasks only, i.e. task
lighting can be recommended.

•Illumination levels for different tasks are recommended by different

professional body, but actual recommendation depend on a number of
factors, such as – age, activity, finishing of background.

• for rough calculation a gross value should be used.

 Guidelines for Illumination:
Activity Required Illumination
Level in foot candles
[Link] lighting
a. Public space with dark surrounding 3
b. Simple orientation for short temporary visit 8
c. Working spaces where visual tasks are occasionally 15
performed.
2. Illumination on task
a. Performance of Visual task of high contrast or large 30
size
b. Performance of Visual task of medium contrast or 75
small size
c. Performance of Visual task of low contrast or vey 150
small size

Recommended by The illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA)

ASHRAE recommends:

• Task lighting should be consistent with IESNA recommendation.

•General area lighting should be 1/3 rd of task lighting.

•Non critical circulation area lighting should be 1/3 rd of general area

lighting

- these standards are not absolute- the quality of light should be of

importance than quantity in lighting design.
ii. Brightness ratios
• our eyes can adapt to a large variations in brightness, but it can’t adapt
to two very different brightness level sat the same time.

• the eye minimizes this by concentrating at one brightness level at a

time.

• too high brightness difference results in visual stress.

• the eye is most sensitive to brightness near the centre of vision and the
least at the edge of peripheral vision.

• acceptable brightness ratio depend on the sensitive part of the field of

view that is affected by the vision.

• the effect can be minimized by careful selection of reflectance of

materials.
Recommended brightness ratio for indoor lighting:

Ratio Activity Areas Example

3:1 Task to immediate surrounding Book to desk top
5:1 Task to general surrounding Book to nearby
partitions
10:1 Task to remote surrounding Book to remote wall
20:1 Light source to large adjacent area Window to adjacent wall
• The first step to design brightness ratio is to select the
reflectance of the large surfaces.

• For an office the recommended reflectances for differen

surfaces are:
- the ceiling 70%

-the Vertical surfaces such as walls 40%.

- the floors 20%

- dark surfaces should be avoided in all areas- a small

dark panel may look very attractive.
Glare:
• Glare is a visual noise that interferes with visual perception.
•Two kinds of glare exist

• Direct Glare

•Indirect Glare
Direct glare:
• it is caused by a source sufficiently bright to cause annoyance,
discomfort or loss in visual perception.

• if the annoyance causes discomfort it is called discomfort glare

• if the annoyance reduces visual perception and visibility it is called

disability glare

• Both absolute brightness and relative brightness can cause glare.

• example car head lights or a bare lamp by a black ceiling compared to

a bare lamp against a white ceiling .
Indirect Glare & Veiling Reflections:
• reflections of light on glossy surface produces effects similar to direct glare.

• Usually product of primary & secondary reflections.

•Can be avoided by matte surface finish.

Activity Needs:
[Link] & Writing:
•veiling reflections should be
avoided.
•Light hence should always
come from side or behind never
from front

2 Drafting
• veiling reflections are major
problem due to glossy finish of
the drafting surface
• shadows of drafting
equipments also obscure the
surface.
• Very diffused light mostly from
sides should be recommended.
3. Observing sculpture
• Shades & shadows are necessary to understand three dimensional
form of an object.
• recommended lights should have a directional component.
• there should be certain amount of diffused light as well otherwise too
strong directional light may obscure details of the object.
•Diffused alone again makes the object flat.
•Directional light is recommended from above and slightly to one side
4. Seeing Texture
The appearance of texture depend on the pattern created by shades &
shadows.
The light should then create maximum contrast.
5. Looking at paintings
• for seeing paintings the most difficult
challenge is to avoid specular
reflections of the light sources into the
viewer’s eye.
• paintings protected with glass often
become invisible because of veiling
reflections.
• Accent light should be used in front of
the offending zone so that viewers
having eye levels at different height can
see the painting properly.
• placing the light too close to the
painting would result in shadows of the
picture frame .
• generally a 60 degree casting angle of
light is considered satisfactory.
6. Looking at computer monitors:

• Veiling reflections are major problems to seeing due to the glossy surface
and vertical format.
• Bright light and bright surfaces behind the operator is not recommended.
• Indirect light from large surfaces prove very efficient.
• Almost vertical light from the ceiling can also be used.
Biological Needs:
1. The need for Spatial Orientation

2. The Need for Time Orientation

3. The need to Understand structural form

4. The need to focus on activities

5. The need for personal space

6. The need for Cheerful Spaces

7. The need for interesting Visual input

8. The need for order in the visual environment

9. the need for Security

1. The need for Spatial Orientation

• lighting design must define slopes and

changes in levels

• must guide people- where they are

and where to go

• for example- a lobby or reception area

might be brighter that the corridor leading to
it

• windows are very useful in relating one’s

position inside a building to the outside
world.
The Need for Time Orientation

• Human body has its internal clock to synchronize different everyday

activities

• The internal clock may need darkness while the eyes may
experience brightness

• The least stress occurs when the eyes experience what the internal
clock expects.

• Example- views of the exterior through clear glazing give people the
feedback on the progress of time that their internal clocks seem to
need
The need to Understand structural form
• Excessive darkness or diffused lighting
contradicts our understanding of physical
reality

• Directional light gives forms to objects.

• Diffused light flattens the edges.

 Need to focus on activities

• To prevent information
overload the brain focuses its
attention on the most
important aspect and
ignore the rest of the
environment.

• lighting can help create

order by highlighting the areas
and activities most relevant.

• low illumination for less

important areas are equally
important as highlighting
Need for personal space

• uniform lighting tends to reduce

individuality

• local or furniture integrated

lighting emphasizes personal
territory

• people appreciate their to control

their environment

• personal lighting fixture is an easy

way of doing this

The light & dark areas in a large room

can help define personal space
The need for Cheerful Spaces

• Dark walls and ceiling give a cave

like feeling

• Dark surfaces, low illumination level

or excessive vertical light creates
gloomy space

• A dark restaurant with candle light

do not seem gloomy, rather romantic
as we expect it to be like that

• Gloomy space is not only created by

dark surfaces- a overcast sky can
create a gloomy day

• A space is gloomy when it’s not

illuminated enough compared to our
expectations
The need for interesting Visual input
• Increasing lighting levels do not always create an interesting space.

• A barren space is interesting only for the first time and exposed for a
short period.

• Interesting objects such as windows, a painting, sculpture, plants or

even viewing a distant object act as visual rest centre and allows the
eyes to relax
The need to understand order in visual environment

When the lighting fixture pattern is not in harmony with the structure, the need for order is frustrated
The Need for Security
Rules for lighting Design

• Establish the lighting program

• Illuminate things that we want to see

• ensure quality lighting- reduce direct glare and veiling reflections

• In most cases best lighting is a combination of direct and diffused light

• Darkness is as important as light

• Highlight objects

•Create that special mood with light as no lighting design is complete

without color

• Use daylight wherever possible