BUILDING UTILITIES 3
MODULE 8
LIGHTING
TERMS AND FIXTURES
HISTORY OF LIGHTING
-In 1802, Humphry Davy invented the first
electric light known as the Electric Arc
lamp which produced light that didn’t
really last for long and was much too
bright for practical use
-In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison could be
said to have created the first
commercially practical incandescent
light, an effective incandescent material,
a higher vacuum than others were able
to achieve and a high resistance that
made power distribution from a
centralized source economically viable.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS
Wattage
The amount of electricity used by a light bulb
to produce light.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS
Lumens (LM)
The actual quantity of light produced by a lamp or other source. From the Latin word
'lumen' which means 'light'. Correctly known as luminous flux.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Candela or Candlepower
The unit of measurement of luminous intensity in any given direction from a source of
light.
Foot-Candle
This is the common measurement of luminance (level of light) used in the United States.
One foot-candle is one lumen on one square-foot of a surface. (See also Lumen and Lux).
Lux
The international standard unit for measuring light levels (as oppose to Foot-Candle in
the U.S.A). It is one lumen per square meter.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
This is very important as it tells you how your light will render, or portray, the accurate
color of everything it illuminates. The CRI runs from 1 (for Low Pressure Sodium lamps) to
100 (for the Sun). A CRI somewhere in the 80's will give you good and true color
portrayal.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Accent Lighting
A type of lighting used to accentuate a given locality or object in the home or office, for
example; a doorway or a painting.
Ambient Lighting
Also can be referred to as general lighting. This is the all around, uniform illumination that
lights up every home.
ANSI
The American National Standards Institute. This is a consumer organization that develops
many voluntary guidelines and standards for the electrical and other industry.
Average Rated Life
The time expressed in hours that half of a given number of test lamps burnt out in. The
lifespan of individual bulbs purchased will almost always be slightly above or below this
time. (Also expressed as Lamp Life).
Ballast
A electrical apparatus used to provide current for the start up of HID and fluorescent
lamps, and then control the current to regulate their operation.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Beam Spread
A measure of the angle of the light beam from a lamp with a reflector. This might be
narrow spot, narrow flood, or wide flood.
Chromatics
The branch of optical science that deals with color and the perception of color.
CCT (Correlated Color Temperature)
This specifies the color that a given bulb itself appears when it is in use. (Whether it looks
'hot' 'warm' or 'cold'). It is compared in degrees Kelvin (K), to a source of reference at a
given temperature. (Not the color of the glass).
Dichroic Coating
A film that is used on reflector lamps to prevent as much heat being reflected as light.
The thermal energy is instead transmitted through to behind allowing the light beam not
to be so hot.
Fill Gas
The gas inside the light bulb. For incandescent lamps this is usually argon or krypton with
sometimes added nitrogen. Halogen is used in addition to this in halogen bulbs.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Halogen Lamp
A type of bulb which contains halogen
gases, usually iodine, or chlorine, bromine,
or fluorine, to extend the life of the
tungsten filament through a recycling
system know as the halogen cycle. They are
also made of quartz glass, or 'hard glass'
because they have to be hotter to work
properly. Halogen bulbs are brighter and
produce more lumens per watt (LPW).
HID (High Intensity Discharge) Lamps
A group of type of lamps that include
mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, low
pressure sodium and metal halide. They are
long lasting and energy efficient.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
High-Bay Lighting
Lighting systems designed for ceiling heights of 25’ (7.60 meters) or more, commonly
found in sports complexes, warehouses or industrial locations.
High-Efficiency Plasma (HEP)
An emerging lighting technology that uses radiofrequency to stimulate a contained gas
and create a small but very bright ball of plasma. HEP lighting offers a very high efficacy
(over 90 lumens per watt) and perfect color rendition (CRI = 100).
The technology became commercial very recently, however, and has not achieved a
market share comparable to that of LED.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
High-Output (HO) Lamp
Fluorescent tubes with a higher lumen output and rated power than conventional
fluorescent tubes. For example, a normal 48” T5 tube may consume 28 watts and provide
2400 lumens, while an HO version may consume 54 watts and provide 5000 lumens.
High Voltage Lamps
Lamps that function at a high voltage and offer naturally diffused or scattered light.
HPS
Acronym for high-pressure sodium, a subtype of HID lighting where excited sodium vapor
is the source of light. The lighting output of HPS lamps is characterized by its warm
yellow hue, and they are commonly used in cobra-head street lights.
IR Lamp
Infrared Reflecting Halogen Lamp. A special type of halogen lamp which directs excess IR
energy on the filament, so as to heat it further without extra use of power. (See also
Infrared and filament).
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Instant Start Ballast
A type of fluorescent lighting ballast that applies a high-voltage pulse to the lamp,
making it start instantly without preheating the electrodes. The drawback of instant-start
ballasts is that they reduce the service life of lamps: electrode material is expelled each
time the lamp is started, blackening its edges and causing eventual failure.
Insulated Ceiling (IC) Fixture
These lighting fixtures are installed into the ceiling and are in direct contact with
insulation. They have a lower wattage and emit less heat.
Integrated Lighting Fixture
A type of lighting fixture that offers superior energy efficiency, by using a specially-
designed LED array and internal geometry. Integrated lighting fixtures are generally
more efficient than lamp-based LED fixtures, but they make retrofits more expensive
because the entire fixture must be replaced, not only the lamps and ballasts.
Interior Soffit Lighting / Soffit Light Fixtures
Lights for portions of the ceiling that are lower than the primary surface; for example,
the fixtures installed above the kitchen sink or on a beam or the underside of a balcony.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
IESNA
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, a technical authority in the lighting
industry, with dozens of publications to its credit. IESNA has members and recognition
throughout the world.
LED
Acronym for light-emitting diode, a solid-state component that emits light when exposed
to electric current. LED lighting represents the state-of-the-art in the industry, outclassing
most other types of lighting in terms of energy efficiency, design flexibility and colors of
light available.
LED Array
A group of LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board, capable of producing a lighting
output.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
LPS
Acronym for low-pressure sodium, a subtype of HID lighting where excited sodium vapor
is the source of light. LPS lights have a very high efficacy, but their color rendering
performance is very poor. This limits their use to some outdoor applications where the
CRI is not important.
Lumen
Measurement unit for the lighting output of lamps or fixtures. The total lumens emitted
and their spatial distribution are of paramount importance when creating appealing and
luxurious indoor spaces. In lighting, lumens can be compared to miles traveled and watts
can be compared to fuel consumption.
Mercury Lamp
A subtype of HID lamp that produces its lighting output by stimulating mercury vapor,
hence its name. Mercury lamps may use a phosphor coating to enhance lighting
performance, and are commonly used in outdoor and industrial lighting applications.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Metal Halide (MH)
A subtype of HID lamp that produces its lighting output by stimulating vaporized metal-
halide compounds, hence its name. Like mercury lamps, MH lamps are commonly used in
outdoor and industrial setting.
Ceramic metal halide is a subtype of MH lamp, where the arc tube is made from a
ceramic material instead of quartz glass. This improves the color rendering index of the
lamp.
NEMA
National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a US-based electrical industry association
that develops technical standards to ensure product quality and uniformity.
Occupancy Sensor
A device that uses infrared or ultrasonic radiation, or sound, to detect the presence of
humans and switch the lights accordingly. Occupancy sensors are an effective energy-
saving measure.
OLED
Acronym for organic light-emitting diodes, flexible polymers based on organic carbon
molecules, where the light source is spread across a surface as opposed to a point
source.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Metal Halide (MH)
A subtype of HID lamp that produces its lighting output by stimulating vaporized metal-
halide compounds, hence its name. Like mercury lamps, MH lamps are commonly used in
outdoor and industrial setting.
Ceramic metal halide is a subtype of MH lamp, where the arc tube is made from a
ceramic material instead of quartz glass. This improves the color rendering index of the
lamp.
NEMA
National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a US-based electrical industry association
that develops technical standards to ensure product quality and uniformity.
Occupancy Sensor
A device that uses infrared or ultrasonic radiation, or sound, to detect the presence of
humans and switch the lights accordingly. Occupancy sensors are an effective energy-
saving measure.
OLED
Acronym for organic light-emitting diodes, flexible polymers based on organic carbon
molecules, where the light source is spread across a surface as opposed to a point
source.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
PAR Lamp
PAR is an acronym for parabolic aluminized reflector, and it is used to shape the output
of a light bulb into a directional beam. PAR lamps typically use incandescent, halogen or
HID bulbs, and there are also LED replacements available. PAR lamps are available with
both screw bases and pin bases.
Pendant Light / Pendant Fixture / Pendant Lamp
A lighting fixture that is designed to hang from the ceiling, and which often uses a shade
to prevent glare. Pendant lights can be used for both general and task lighting.
Pulse Start Ballast
A type of ballast used with HID lighting, which uses a series of controlled voltage pulses
to ignite the lamp, minimizing damage to the electrodes each time the lamp is turned on.
Rapid Start Ballast
A type of ballast for fluorescent lamps, which preheats the electrodes and applies
voltage simultaneously. This type of ballast is faster than an programmed start ballast,
but slower than an instant start ballast. The resulting electrode damage when the lamp is
started is intermediate between that of instant start ballast (high damage) and
programmed start ballast (low damage), and the resulting service life is also intermediate
as a result.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Self-Ballasted Lamp
A lamp that has an integrated ballast, allowing direction connection to the supply
voltage. CFL bulbs with a screw base are one of the best-known types.
SSL
Acronym for solid state lighting, any type of lighting that uses LEDs to produce light,
instead of incandescent filaments, ignited gas or plasma. SSL includes OLEDs.
Step Dimming
Dimming method that uses incremental and fixed lighting levels, as opposed to gradual
dimming from to OFF to 100% output.
Task Lighting
Lighting fixtures with the goal to improve visibility in an area where specific tasks will be
carried out, hence their name. The use of under cabinet lights for food preparation areas
in kitchens is an example of task lighting.
Torchiere
A floor lamp that uses a reflector on top a pole to direct its entire output upward, which
is then reflected from the ceiling and walls.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Track Lighting
Lighting configuration where several fixtures are mounted on a common track, which
provides them with power and allows each of them to be oriented in a different
direction.
Troffer
A recessed lighting fixture, designed to be installed in an opening in the ceiling. Troffers
typically have predetermined dimensions, such as 2’x2’ or 2’x4’. (ex. Classroom lighting)
Ultrasonic Sensor
An acoustic sensor that measures distances by sending and receiving ultrasonic signals.
Ultraviolet Light
A type of electromagnetic radiation, invisible to the human eye (i.e., beyond the visible
spectrum) with a wavelength of 10 to 380 nanometers.
Uplighting
Lighting method where an object or surface is lit from below, with a luminaire that
directs its output upward. The applications of uplighting are generally decorative.
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS / FIXTURES
Warm White
White light that is characterized by a yellow tinge. The term is generally used for lighting
with a correlated color temperature (CCT) of around 3000K. Opposite of Daylight
BASIC LIGHTING TERMS
Light Distribution
The pattern of light in a room / space
FIXTURES / BULBS
General Service Bulbs
The standard incandescent bulb for most common uses.
FIXTURES / BULBS
Baffle
A part of a fixture used to prevent glare by absorbing or blocking any excess light.
FIXTURES / BULBS
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)
These are small long living fluorescent lights that can be used as an alternative to
incandescent bulbs.
FIXTURES / BULBS
Dimmer
A control switch that reduces the illumination of a lamp by lessening the electricity
available to it. These may be incremental, or full range with rotary or slide controls. Will
not work on light fixtures without ballast
FIXTURES / BULBS
Downlights
Small recessed lights in a ceiling.
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