Every professional electrician knows what the correct lighting of any room is. It consists in combining natural light with various artificial sources. The calculation should be carried out for each individual room, for which different SNIP standards are taken into account. A formula that includes various indicators is used to calculate illumination . Without a proper definition of this value, using any room will not be too comfortable. Electricians should be engaged in this process at the stage of arrangement of the room.
Why is illumination calculated?
The level of illumination is considered an important indicator, both for living rooms and for various industrial, commercial or other public premises. Its calculation should be carried out with particular accuracy and thoroughness.
The correct definition of this parameter determines how comfortable it will be in the room, as well as whether the health of people who constantly use the room for work or leisure will be spoiled.
Incorrect lighting can cause the well-being and psychological state of any person. This negatively affects vision, so it is important to plan the general lighting in each room separately.
How to determine the optimal lighting for residential premises?
The calculation process involves the use of a special formula. Each person can use it to check the correctness of the creation of lighting by electricians. The formula is used to calculate illumination:
P = p * S / N, where:
p is the approximate estimated lighting power, which depends on the lamps used and the type of room, S is the area of the room, N is the number of lamps in the room.
Based on this formula, it becomes clear that the more fixtures there are in the room, the better the illumination will be, but their power is also taken into account. Each lighting device has its own luminous flux, so even with the same power it can be different.
This calculation method is considered the simplest, therefore, to calculate the illumination, the formula above is used quite often, but using this method you can only get approximate indicators. Therefore, other auxiliary methods are often used.
Auxiliary calculation methods
There are several simplified calculation methods that can be used by each owner of the premises. These methods include:
- By power density. For this, reference data are used, but the results are characterized by a large excess of power. To calculate, you need to multiply the number of bulbs by their power, after which this value is divided by the area of the room. Having received the required power, you can determine the optimal number of bulbs. In this case, the light and lighting in the room will be comfortable and safe.
- Using the prototype. For this, typical data specific to a particular room is used. The method is applied for residential premises where the accuracy of the results is not very important.
- Point calculation. It involves obtaining the desired results for each point in the room. To do this, you need an accurate real estate plan with marks of the location of the fixtures. This method is considered complex and is usually used by professionals.
It is allowed to use online calculators that are freely available on the Internet, which greatly simplifies the calculation process.
What are the lighting standards?
To get really high-quality lighting, it is recommended to take into account certain standards. They are used by professional electricians. Artificial lighting SNIP 23-05-95 is set according to the standards:
Type of premises | Optimum Illumination, W | Ripple coefficient |
Living quarters, which include a bedroom or a hall | 150 | 20 |
Kitchen | 150 | 25 |
Bathroom | 50 | - |
Hallway | 20 | - |
Stairs | 50 | - |
The above values were developed by professionals, so if you follow them exactly, you can get high-quality and safe lighting in any room.
What are the sources for creating quality lighting?
Lighting sources can be different, therefore, when choosing specific products, their power, heatability and other parameters are taken into account.
It is allowed to use various sources in different rooms for the formation of artificial light. It is taken into account that if products are built into a suspended ceiling, then they should not be heated, otherwise it will lead to the destruction of the integrity of the canvas.
Fluorescent lighting
They are simple in design and installation. When buying products, you must pay attention to the labeling. The luminescent lamp 2x36 consists of two lamps whose power is 36 watts. Each lamp has a length of 1.2 m. Such a 2x36 fluorescent lamp is considered to be in demand and has a rectangular or rounded shape. It has optimal power for installation in different rooms.
Fluorescent lamps are usually equipped with a special base, which is attached to the ceiling and is made of high-quality metal. Double-lamp fixtures will be connected to a network with a voltage of 220 V. Such designs are used usually in large offices or in factories, as well as in trade pavilions or in corridors with a considerable length.
Incandescent lamps
Considered traditional light sources. Llamas equipped with krypton filling have the highest efficiency.
The disadvantages of such products include low efficiency, they quickly burn out and have a short service life.
The advantage of incandescent lamps is considered to be soft and pleasant light, which guarantees the formation of a pleasant home environment. Their cost is considered low and affordable for each buyer.
Halogen lamps
Inside, such items are filled with bromine or iodine vapor. The flask is created using not ordinary, but quartz glass, which is characterized by excellent resistance to high temperatures or exposure to various chemical elements. This allows the production of small halogen lamps.
They work perfectly on alternating or direct current. The pluses include good color rendering and brightness. Due to the small size, you can use the product pointwise.
The disadvantage of halogen lamps is that the lamps can heat up to 500 degrees.
Energy-saving lamps
They consume a small amount of energy and have a long service life. Their disadvantages include the fact that they are created using mercury and phosphorus vapors, so it is important to carefully handle these products.
They are used both at home and in various public areas.
Lighting equipment
It is used to illuminate large rooms or individual areas. It is advisable to use it to form any lighting effects.
Such equipment consists of lamps, special fixtures and wiring accessories.
LED lights
They are considered the ideal solution for different rooms, made in a variety of styles. They are compact and have excellent lighting parameters.
They can be used not only indoors, but also on the street. Their advantages include high efficiency and low energy consumption. They are distinguished by good color rendering and are created from environmentally friendly materials. Strong and resistant to vibration, and also serve more than 36 months. The downside is the high cost.
Emergency lighting
To create it, special emergency lights are used. Power is supplied to them from a separate generator or from rechargeable batteries.
Battery-operated emergency lights are considered the most popular and often installed in various significant public institutions. All of them must meet certain requirements, which include safety, long life and work efficiency. They certainly contain special markings, with which you can determine the type of product and its parameters.
The main types of lighting created
In addition to the choice of fixtures, you should understand the types of formed lighting. The comfort of being in any room depends on this. The following types of lighting are available:
- Direct light. It is formed by directional devices, and table lamps can also be used to create it. The beam falls on the right place, and bright light is provided. This creates contrasting shadows. Often these types of devices are used for side light. Due to the bright highlights, the space is revitalized and the appearance of any room is improved.
- Indirect light. In another way it is called reflected. The light source is directed to a specific surface, which is usually white. It reflects light, which allows you to distribute it throughout the room. To create such lighting, halogen lamps are often used that are directed to the walls or ceiling of the room. Also ideal is the use of suspended ceilings with built-in lamps, tilted to the side. Often used products hidden in the ledge. Through the use of indirect light, the expansion of space is ensured.
- Scattered. A beam passing through a transparent structure represented by a lampshade or embossed glass is used to create it. Further, it is distributed throughout the room. The creation of warm light is guaranteed, so a peculiar radiance is formed.
- Mixed light. It combines the two above varieties. It is usually represented by spotlights, which are small in size. They give a narrow beam directed at one point, but they can rotate.
Thus, a formula is used to calculate the illumination, which involves taking into account the power and number of lamps, as well as the area of the room. It is allowed to use other calculation methods. The correct definition of this indicator will provide the opportunity to create high-quality and safe lighting in any room. In this case, the types of lighting devices and the type of lighting are taken into account . Only with a competent choice of all parameters can any room be made pleasant to use and safe for sight, so you can relax, work or engage in any kind of hobby.