Understanding Number of

Light Fixture Calculations:

Uses and Practical
Importance
IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS IN ELECTRICAL
LIGHTING DESIGN:
 1) UTILIZATION FACTOR:
Utilization factor (UF) is a crucial parameter in lighting design that accounts for the
efficiency with which a lighting system delivers light to a target surface, such as a
working plane or a task area. It takes into consideration the geometry of the space, the
reflectance properties of surfaces, and the positioning of luminaires.
The utilization factor is expressed as a percentage and ranges from 0 to 1, where 1
indicates perfect efficiency (all emitted light reaches the target surface).
In more simpler words:
 Utilization Factor or Co-efficient of utilization. It may be defined as “the ratio of total
lumens received on the working plane to the total lumens emitted by the light
source”.i.e.
Utilization factor =Lumens received on the working plane/Lumens emitted by the lamp
 Factors affecting utilization factor
Room Shape and Ceiling Height: Reflectance of Surfaces: Fixture Spacing
Dimensions: and Layout:
The shape and Higher ceilings result in The reflectance The spacing and
dimensions of the room increased light travel properties of room arrangement of
play a significant role in distances, leading to surfaces, including walls, luminaires influence
determining the greater light loss. The ceiling, and floor, how light is distributed
utilization factor. utilization factor is impact the utilization in the space. Properly
factor. Light that strikes a spaced fixtures with
Irregularly shaped affected by the height
surface and is reflected suitable layouts
rooms may experience of the luminaires and
contributes to the enhance the utilization
greater light loss due to their distance from the overall illuminance on
increased surface working plane. factor by providing
the working plane.
areas and reflections. uniform and efficient
illumination.
 Luminaire Type and Design:
 The design and type of luminaires used affect the utilization factor. Efficient luminaires with
appropriate optics and control mechanisms can maximize the effectiveness of light delivery
to the working plane.
 Room Surface Color:
 The color of room surfaces influences the utilization factor. Light-colored surfaces reflect
more light, contributing to higher utilization factors, while dark-colored surfaces absorb more
light, reducing efficiency.
 Light Source Characteristics:
 The characteristics of the light source, such as its spectral distribution and color rendering
properties, can affect the utilization factor. Some light sources may be more effective in
terms of light distribution and utilization.
 Obstructions and Shadows:
 Obstructions in the room, such as furniture or equipment, and the casting of shadows by
objects can impact the utilization factor. Shadows reduce the effective light reaching the
working plane.
Depreciation or Maintenance factor

 It may be defined as “the ratio of illumination under normal working condition to

the illumination when everything is clean or new”

D.F = Illumination under normal working conditions / Illumination when everything is

clean.
 The maintenance factor is based on how often the lights are cleaned and
replaced. It takes into account such factors as decreased efficiency with age,
accumulation of dust within the fitting itself and the depreciation of reflectance
as walls and ceilings age. For convenience, it is usually given as three options:
 Good = 0.70
 Medium = 0.65
 Poor = 0.55
 WASTE LIGHT FACTOR:
 When a surface is illuminated by a number of lamps, there is certain amount of
wastage due to overlapping of light waves. Its value will be between 1.2 to 1.5
Are both Maintenance factor and light loss factor same?
 While both maintenance factor (MF) and light loss factor (LLF) are related concepts
in lighting design, they are not exactly the same. They are distinct parameters that
serve different purposes in calculating and adjusting illuminance levels over time.
Maintenance Factor (MF): Light Loss Factor (LLF):
Maintenance factor (MF) accounts for
the reduction in light output of lamps Light loss factor (LLF), on the other hand, is
and luminaires as they age and require a parameter used to adjust the initial
maintenance. It represents the ratio of illuminance values in a lighting design to
the illuminance maintained at a specific account for various factors that contribute
point in time (usually the end of the to light loss over time. LLF considers factors
maintenance period) to the initial such as lamp lumen depreciation, luminaire
illuminance when the lighting system dirt depreciation, room surface dirt
was installed. depreciation, and luminaire surface
depreciation.
MF= Illuminance at Maintenance
period/ Initial illuminance

 So, maintenance factor specifically addresses the reduction in illuminance due to aging
and maintenance of lamps and luminaires, while light loss factor is a broader concept that
considers various factors contributing to light loss over time, including those related to both
the light source and the environment
Some more related terms:
 REFLECTION FACTOR:
It may be defined as “the ratio of luminous flux leaving the surface to the luminous flux
incident on it”. It’s value will be always less than 1
ABSORPTION FACTOR:
When the atmosphere is full of snow or smoke fumes, it absorbs some light. Hence
absorption factor may be defined as “the ratio of net lumens available on the working
plane after absorption to the total lumens emitted by the lamp”. It’s value varies from 0.5
to 1
SPACING TO MOUNTING HEIGHT RATIO (SHR)
The Spacing to Mounting Height Ratio (SHR) is the spacing between luminaires divided
by their height above the horizontal reference plane.
Lets have a look at one example for SHR for better understanding:
 The Spacing to Mounting Height Ratio (SHR) is a parameter used in lighting design to
determine the appropriate spacing between luminaires (light fixtures) relative to the
mounting height. It helps achieve uniform and efficient lighting distribution in a space.
The SHR is particularly important in applications where a consistent illuminance level is
desired across a work plane or a target area.
The formula for calculating the Spacing to Mounting Height Ratio (SHR) is as follows:

SHR=Distance Between Luminaires

Mounting Height
 Here's an example to illustrate the concept:
Consider a room with a mounting height of 3 meters (10’) (MH = 3m) and a
desire to install luminaires for general lighting with an appropriate SHR.
Determine Desired SHR: Let's say you want to achieve an SHR of 1.5 for this application. This
means that the distance between luminaires should be 1.5 times the mounting height.
Calculate Distance Between Luminaires:
 Distance Between Luminaires= SHR × Mounting Height 1:2
 Distance Between Luminaires= 1.5 × 3 m = 4.5
The question here is how do we know the SHR is 1.5?
For that we need to consider many factors but from IES standards there is a rule of 1:2
to determine that if the space between the luminaire is 1m we consider its mounting
height 2m from working plan
 ROOM INDEX:
The room index is a ratio, describing how the room's height compares to its length and width. It is
given by:

Where L is the length of the room, W is its width, and Hm is the mounting height above the work
plane.

Lumen method to calculate the fixtures:

1. Find required lux level
2. Select luminaire
3. Determine room index
4. Determine Number of Fixtures

N = number of lamps required.

E = illuminance level required (lux)
A = area at working plane height (m2)
F = average luminous flux from each lamp (lm)
UF= utilization factor,
MF= maintenance factor,
• Determine Minimum spacing between luminaire
Minimum spacing = SHR * Hm
Hm= Mounting height
SHR= Space to height ratio.
  Determine Number of required rows of luminaire along width of the room
Number of required rows= width of the room/ Minimum spacing
 Determine Number of luminaire in each row
Number of luminaire in each row= Total luminaire / Number of row

Example: Lighting for an Office Space

Suppose you have an office space with the following characteristics:
• Desired illuminance (E): 500 lux
• Area of the working plane (A): 50 square meters
• Lumen output per fixture (F): 8,000 lumens
• Utilization factor (UF): 0.6 (60%)
• Maintenance factor (MF): 0.8 (80%)
• Using the formula, you can calculate the number of luminaires (N) needed for this office space:

N= 500(lux)x 50m²
8000(lumens)x0.6x0.8

N= 25,000
3,840

N=6.51

Therefore, you would need approximately 7 luminaires to achieve the desired illuminance on the working plane in this
office space.
Assignment
 Objective: Apply the lumen method formula to calculate the number of luminaires needed for effective
lighting in a classroom setting.
 Given Information:
 Desired illuminance (E): 500 lux
 Area of the working plane (A): 60 square meters
 Lumen output per luminaire (F): 10,000 lumens
 Utilization factor (UF): 0.7 (70%)
 Maintenance factor (MF): 0.85 (85%)
 Task:
 Calculate the Number of Luminaires
 Consideration of Classroom Characteristics:
 Discuss any assumptions made in the calculation related to the classroom's shape, reflectance properties, and
luminaire layout.

 Recommendation for Luminaire Placement:

 Based on the calculated N, provide recommendations for the placement and layout of luminaires within the
classroom to achieve uniform illuminance.

 Discussion on Maintenance:
 Explain the importance of the maintenance factor (MF) and discuss how it affects the lighting design over time.
Include considerations for future maintenance planning.
 Visual Representation:
 Create a visual representation (e.g., a simple lighting layout diagram) showing the placement of luminaires in the
classroom based on your recommendations.