It has been proven that many problems such as eyestrain or fatigue are directly related to poor lighting. In this sense, taking into account both lighting technology and a lighting study is of vital importance to avoid these effects and to have adequate lighting for each space.
And so you can get the right lighting in each area, from Faro Barcelona we explain everything you need to know about lighting technology and all the concepts involved in it.
What is lighting technology?
Lighting engineering is the study of the different ways of producing artificial light, controlling it and applying it to specific purposes. It is about determining the correct lighting levels for a given space, and for this it is necessary to take into account both the light source and the objects to be illuminated.
To understand lighting technology and its role in lighting studies, it is first necessary to understand light. Although there are other electromagnetic radiations in the universe such as ultraviolet or X-rays that we cannot perceive with our senses, light is precisely the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can perceive and that is visible to the human eye.
The electromagnetic radiations of which light is composed can be produced in different ways and are mainly three:
Thermoradiation: these are heat and light emitted by a hot body. In thermoradiation, light is always accompanied by thermal radiation, and an example of thermoradiation sources are incandescent lamps.
Luminescence: this is the luminous phenomenon that occurs when the electrons of a material are incited to produce electromagnetic radiation. Bioluminescent emissions and LED emissions correspond to this phenomenon.
Electrical radiation: it is produced by the electrical discharge within a gas. While lightning is the natural form of electrical radiation, discharge lamps of two types, low and high pressure, are also produced.
How to quantify light engineering quantities
In order to quantify the magnitudes of lighting technology, the following concepts must be taken into account:
- Luminous flux: refers to the performance of a lamp, its unit of measurement is the Lumen (Lm) and is always indicated by the manufacturer.
Luminous intensity: this is a concept measured in candelas (cd) and is the luminous flux radiated at a specific angle. This concept, however, is always relative, since factors such as reflectors or diffusers influence the luminous intensity.
Luminance: refers to the brightness with which we perceive an illuminated surface from a specific direction. This concept is measured in foot-candles per square meter.
Illuminance: refers to the density of light emitted by a given source in a given place. In order to measure this density it is necessary to take into account all types of existing surfaces and it is quantified by means of a unit of measurement called lux.
Lumen: lumens are the measure that quantifies the total amount of light emitted by a source, i.e. it measures the intensity of the luminous flux. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the luminaire.
Lux: Lux is defined as a lumen per square meter, and is therefore a measure that quantifies the amount of light received by a given surface. In a sense, it is the feeling of brightness, as it varies according to the size of the space and not just the lumens of a luminaire.
- IP and IK: the IK code indicates the degree of protection of the luminaire against impact from solid bodies. It is indicated by a number between 0 and 10,
IP indicates the degree of protection of a luminaire against penetration by both solid bodies and liquids.
Color temperature: color temperature refers to the hue that the light emitted by a luminaire can have. A white light can have redder or bluer tones depending on the temperature of the light, which is measured in degrees Kelvin and can be classified into three groups:
Cool light: this is the type of light that has more bluish tones, and ranges from 6500 K to 5300 K. It is usually used in environments where concentration and visibility are important.
Neutral light: this is the type of light that most closely resembles natural light, and ranges from 5200 K to 3200 K.
Warm light: this light is similar to the light that a candle can emit, it is the type of light used to create a cozy and relaxed atmosphere and ranges from 3200 K to 2500 K.
Lighting technology takes all these factors into account as variables that must be modified to adapt the lighting to each specific space. If you still have doubts about lighting technology and its role in the lighting study of your projects, in Faro Barcelona we will be happy to help you, contact us!
