Lighting Installation of an Office with the

Utilization of Lumen Method and Point

by Point Method
In this project, we will design a lighting installation of an office by going through a chain
procedure of illuminance calculations and will offer an estimation of daily power consumption
for selected luminaires. The office around 1000m3 in a height of 5m and at a working level of
0.8m above ground will be examined. Surface reflectance data is given as 70% for ceiling, 50%
for wall and 20% for floor. All surface reflections are diffuse. With these known information, on
top of our research for the unknown parameters, such as a lamp type and the polar curves of a
luminaire, the calculation process of illuminance can be carried out.
There are two approaches for calculations of illuminance: Lumen Method and Point by
Point Method. Since the compulsory uniform illumination is given as 500 lux at the required
working plane, Lumen Method can guide us to a suitable arrangement of luminaires for a rough
office design. In addition, with point by point method, at least 10 points, including 4 points
selected 3m away from four sides of walls, are chosen for lux level calculations. All light sources
and reflective surfaces toward a selected point are considered as well. In comparison of the
results from both methods, comments on both are generated. The last goal is to estimate the
power consumption for a whole day operation of 10 hours.
Our first approach is to gather all the needed information for our rough design of lighting
installation with the use of Lumen method. Below information has shown the required
information for calculation.
Design Parameters
Office dimensions: 40m long x 25m wide x 5m high
Working plane level: 0.8m above floor
Reflection factors: Ceiling 70%; Walls 50%; Floor 20%
Luminaire Data (from Thorn Lightings website)
Descriptions: Quattro T5 Recessed, modular, luminaires for exposed grid and concealed fix
ceilings with Satinbrite Louvre
Supplier: Thorn Lighting
Model No.: 96239911
Dimensions: 1200mm (L) x300mm (W) x 60mm (T);
Lamps: 2x T16 /28W;

Average initial lumens per lamp (F): 2600 lm

Number of lamps per Luminaire (n): 2
Mounting Method: Ceiling mounted
Downward light output ratio (DLOR): 62%
Spacing to height ratio (SHR MAX) 1.60:1; SHR NOM 1.50:1.
Lumen Method
Lumen Method determines an average illuminance in a large open area. It can be numerically
expressed as below:
=

Where E is average illuminance over horizontal working plane (lux), N is number of luminaires,
n is number of lamps in each luminaire, F is average initial lumens per lamp (lm), UF is
utilization factor of horizontal working plane, LLF is light loss factor, A is area horizontal
working plane.
Utilization factor (UF)
Utilization factor is the ratio of flux received by reference plane to the total rated lamp flux in the
lighting installation. It depends on the geometry of a room which can be determined by the
Room Index, polar curve of the luminaires installed and the surface reflectances of a room.
Room Index (RI)
Room Index is the ratio of room plan area to a half of the wall area between the working and
luminaire planes. Room index can be defined mathematically as the following:
=

( + )

where L is the length of a room (m), W is the width of a room (m), and Hm is a mounting height
of lamps above working plane (m).
The room index for our design:
40 25
(5 0.8) (40 + 25)
RI= 3.66
Utilization factor is associated with room index. If we check on the manufacturers data, given
room reflectance (ceiling / walls/ floor) as 70/50/20 with a high room index 3.66, the utilization
factor for our office is about 0.66.
=

Light Loss Factor (LLF)

Light Loss Factor is contributed by the following factors

I.
LSF - Lamp survival factor considers the variation of the life of individual lamps from the
mean life of the lamps. The factor, depending on the service life of a lamp, is suggested
from manufacturers data, such as the number of lamp failure after specific numbers of hour
operation, switching cycles, supply voltage, and control gears.
II. LLMF - Lamp lumen maintenance factor considers reduction of luminous flux due to aging
of a lamp. It defines as the ratio of the lamp lumens at a specific numbers of hour operation
and the initial value.
III. LMF - Luminaire maintenance factor considers reduction of luminous flux due to the
soiling of fittings. It defines the ratio of a luminaires light output ratios before and after
cleaning.
IV. RSMF - Room surface maintenance factor considers reduction of luminous flux due to the
soiling of room surfaces. It defines the ratio of the room surface reflectance before and after
cleaning. The RSMF depends on the degree of soiling of the room or the ambient conditions of a
room and the specified cleaning frequency.
Three classifications of RSMF for room surface deterioration: C clean (clean room), N normal
(average conditions) and D dirty (dirty room). The mathematical expression as the following:
Light Loss Factor = LLMF x LMF x LSF x RSMF
Based on the conditions for our design, the values of these factors can be found. The type of the
selected luminaires is considered as Maintenance Category C (unventilated, closed top reflector). The
cleanliness of our office is normal. The luminaires and room surfaces will be cleaned once every year.
Therefore, LMF is 0.81 (See Figure 1). Also, since the luminaires are seen as triphosphate fluorescent
lamps (CRI =80 from manufactures data), under 10,000 operation hours, LLMF is 0.85 while LSF is 0.85
as well (See Figure 2). In addition, for one-year cleaning interval, room index (K) as 3.66 (medium size),
luminaire distribution as semi-direct (62% DLOR), RSMF is 0.88 (See Figure 3)

Hence, LLF for our deign = 0.85x0.81x0.85x0.88 = 0.51

Figure 1 (Table for LMF)

Source : Taken from table 3.5 and 3.6 of CIBSE Code of Interior lighting (2002)

Figure 2 (Table for LLMF &LSF)

Source : Taken from table 3.4 of CIBSE Code of interior lighting (2002)

Figure 3 (Table for RSMF)

Source: Taken from table 3.7 of CIBSE Code of interior lighting (2002)

In our design, number of luminaires for a room can be roughly determined with the use of the
Lumen Method. By rearranging the parameters of the formula in terms of N, it becomes:
=

With substitution of known values,

E= 500 lux (our required uniform illuminance)
Area of the room= 40x25= 1000m2
= 2 (Twin tubes are used per luminaire)
F= 2600 lm (for a 1200mm long, 28W lamp)
UF =0.66 (from the manufactures catalogue)
LLF=0.51 (from CIBSEs guide)
We get the minimum number of luminaires N= 286

Spacing to Height Ratio (SHR or S/Hm)

The Spacing to Height Ratio is defined as the ratio of the distance between adjacent luminaires
(from center to center), to their height above the working plane. For a rectangular arrangement of
luminaires, by approximation,
1

SHR (NOM) =

Where SHR(NOM) is the nominal spacing to height ratio, Hm is the mounting height above the
working plane (m), A is the room area (m 2) and N is the number of luminaires in the room.
Given from the manufactures data, SHR Nom = 1.5 & SHR Max = 1.72
Known parameters from our design:

Hm = 5-0.8 = 4.2m, A= 40x 25 = 1000m2 , N = 286

To find the value of SHR (NOM),
1

1000

SHR (NOM) = 4.2 286

0.45 < 1.72=SHR (MAX)

Nominal Spacing = SHR (NOM) x Mounting Height of luminaires above Working level
0.45x 4.2
1.87
40
25
In our proposed layout design, there should be 1.87 22 luminaires in a row, whereas 1.87 14
luminaires in a column.
Lets check if the proposed layout is permissible. First, we check if the 40m (L) x 25m (W) room
can contain these numbers of luminaires.
22 x 1.2 (Length of a luminaire) = 26.4 < 40m (Length of the room)
14 x 0.3 (Width of a luminaire=4.2 < 25m (Width of the room)
This concern is resolved.
Second, we check if the calculated SHR (NOM) is within the range of 1.50.5 as given in the
manufactures photometric data but does not exceed the maximum level (1.72).
For long axis, SHR(transverse) =

40
22

( )
4.2

25
( )
14

0.43: 1 ( < 1.72: 1)

For short axis, SHR (axial) = 4.2 0.43: 1 (< 1.72: 1)

Since SHR NOM 0.5 = 1.500.5= 1.0 to 2.0 ,
SHR NOM = () () = 0.43 0.43 = 0.43 1 < 1.72 1
In brief, a 22x14 array is feasible as a proposal of the lighting installation.
With this lighting arrangement, the average illuminance for the office:
=
=

2 308 2600 0.66 0.51

1000
= 539 lux

Point by Point Method

The essence of Point by Point method is to evaluate the illuminance of the point of
interest with consideration of surface reflectances. The lux levels of 6 random points and 4
points each of which is measured 3m away from a wall within the room will be evaluated. The
derivation of Illuminance formula for our design and the associated lighting concepts will be
elaborated and addressed as the following. In addition, Excel spreadsheets are included as a
reference of comprehensive calculation steps.
According to CIBSEs Code for Interior lighting (2002), Section 5.13.1, if 5W
, 5 > , where W is the width of a luminaire, D is the length of a luminaire and D is the
distance measured from a light source to the point of interest, then use the line source formula.
In our layout, the 1200mm (L) x 300mm (W) Fluorescent Fittings are used. D is normally equal
or greater than 4.2m (mount height of luminaires above working plane). Then,
5 (0.3) = 1.5m 4.2m & 5(1.2)=6m > 4.2m,
So the line source formula can be applied. For the ease of calculation process, line source
formula will be adopted throughout the entire mathematical derivation, although the point source
formula should be accessed if 5W D, 5 > (from CIBSE, section 5.13.1).
Lets consider the following diagram as a linear fluorescent tube shining on a working plane, but
the tube has chopped at one end, so there is only the portion from x=0 to x = x shown.

Figure 4

As the lighting fittings point of views, there is a flat working surface down below it, and point P
as our point of interest.
The horizontal illuminance ( ) at point P on plane FPED due to a small point of light source of
dx :
=

cos

--------- (1)

()2

( the ratio

= to get )

Where is the axial luminous intensity aiming diagonally from point X toward point P, is the
length of luminaire and is the angle NPX.
The above derivation based on the Inverse square law,
,

Illuminance, E = ( ,

)2

Horizontal illuminance, EH = 2 cos ---------------- (A)

In the following steps, the variables PX, x, , and dx are expressed in terms of ,
, which are fixed parameters given by the configuration of the lighting installation.
Lets consider triangle PXR and make PX in terms of x.

= sin

as PR= x, hence

PX = -------------- (2)

Consider triangle PNX, cos =

Consider triangle APN, cos =

Consider triangle PXR, cos =

Hence, cos cos=

Then, cos cos= cos ------------------------ (3)

By substituting equation (2) & (3) into equation (1), we get:

cos cos
2
)

---------------- (4)

Consider triangle AFP, AP = cos

Consider triangle PXR, XR = tan

And AP = XR = tan

Therefore, tan = cos

Make the above equation in terms of x,
= an ------------ (5)
Take a derivative of that, then
= sec 2 ------------ (6)
To substitute equation (5) & (6) to equation (4), it becomes
=

sec 2
cos cos
2

(
)

sec 2
cos cos
sin2

( )2

By simplifying the above formula, we have

EH =
cos2 cos

Lets take it in terms of 0 , luminous intensity aiming diagonally from point A to Point P, point
of interest, on a transverse plane.

0
EH =
cos2 0

cos ------------ (7)

Where is an integrated angle measured from 0 to

The integration part in equation (7) is called the aspect factor (AF)

AF=0

cos

Then the final expression of the horizontal illuminance of a linear source on a flat working plane
is:

EH = 0 cos 2

The six variables 0 , , , , , can be found through the following assessments.

0 is luminous intensity on a transverse plane aiming from a light source to a point of

interest. The luminaire Quattro T5 assigned in this project has a batwing polar curve in
the transverse direction, and an elliptical polar curve in the axial direction. Based on the
photometric data from Thorn Lighting, 0 can be found on the polar curve table
(Appendix XX).
is an angle measured from a light source to point of interest.
Referring to Figure 4, consider triangle AFP,
tan =

then = arc tan

is luminous intensity on an axial plane from a light source to a point of interest.

Given the data of BZ Classification by Thorn Lighting, the polar curve formula for
can be obtained. The axial luminous intensity is classified as BZ 1. Hence, the
relationship between and 0 is
= 0 cos 4
Where is an angle away from 0 in an axial plane tilted by angle .

h is mounting height of luminaires above working plane. In this case,

h= Height of room- Height of Working Plane
h= 5m 0.8m
h= 4.2m

is length of a linear light source. Normally, matches the length of a luminaire ( =

1200) but there is some exception which will be explained later on.
is an angle measured from point of interest vertically upward to the end edge of a
luminaire.

The association of & can be illustrated as the following under two possible conditions with
poin by point calculation.

Condition 1 (a and b vary by the location of a luminaire)

Luminaire
Figure 7. Top view of a part plan
There are four luminaires shown on a top view. Letter b as the transverse spacing indicates
between point of interest (Point P) and the midpoint line of the top row of luminaires. Letter a
as the axial spacing indicates between point of interest (Point P) and one end of a luminaire. Note:
The existence of a & b is due to calculation convenience on excel spreadsheets.

Figure 7 -Elevation of a point of interest versus a luminaire

When a point of interest (Point P) is located at a horizontal distance away from one end of a
1.2m-long luminaire, then the horizontal illuminance of Point P will depend on the subtraction of
the lux level of the light source plus the imagined extension part (Section 1) from the lux level of
the imagined extension part (Section 2). For instance, the lux calculation of points 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,
and 9 will meet this condition.

Consider Section 1,
= + 1.2
1 = tan(

+ 1.2
2 + 2

) = 4.2

Consider Section 2,
=
1 = tan(

2 + 2

) = 4.2

Hence, taking a reference of equation (7), horizontal illuminance of point P can be derived as:
=

0
cos 2 (1 2 )

Where 1 = 0 1 (cos 4 ) cos , and 2 = 0 2 (cos4 ) cos

=

0
1
4
8
cos 2 ( cos4 1 sin 1 + cos2 1 1 + 1

5
15
15
1
4
8
cos4 2 sin 2 cos 2 2 2 2 )
5
15
15

0 ( )
8
15

1 (= 4.2)
1
4

cos2 (arc tan )(5 cos 4 1 sin 1 + 15 cos 2 1 1 +

4

5 cos 2 sin 2 15 cos 2 2 2 15 2 ) ----------- (8)

1

Condition 2 (a = 0, b varies by the location of a luminaire):

Figure 5-Top view of a part plan

There are four luminaires shown on a top view. Letter b as the transverse spacing indicates
between point of interest (Point P) and the midpoint line of the top row of luminaires. There is no
a axial spacing under this condition. Note: The existence of a & b is due to calculation
convenience on excel spreadsheets.

Figure 6-Elevation of a point of interest versus a luminaire

When a point of interest (point P) is situated opposite to a luminaire, then will become the
length measured from a point where point P is vertically upward to one end of a luminaire, = 1
but no longer 1.2m. For instance, illuminance calculation of point 1 and point 10 will come
across this condition. In this condition, we first calculation horizontal illuminance of Point P to
the right side of a luminaire and consider = 1 & = 1
Referring to equation (7),

EH = 0

( )
1 (= 4.2)

cos 2 (arc tan )------------(9)

Where AF=0 1 (cos 4 ) cos

AF=0 1 cos 5
1

AF= 5 cos 4 1 sin 1 + 15 cos 2 1 1 + 15 1

We can go through the similar calculation procedure for the horizontal lux level of Point P to the
left side of the luminaire but consider = 2 & = 2
For equations (8) and (9), each of the mathematical expression considers only one light
source. In our office design, there are 308 numbers of luminaires, so each of a light source will
contribute some degree of illuminance to a point of interest. The superposition of all lux levels
caused by 308 lumainires is applied as a result of the total horizontal illuminance of a point of
interest.
By the principle of superposition,
Total = 1 + 2 + . +308
Since the integration of all light sources leads to the total horizontal illuminance of a point of
interest, this complicated math work is presented in our excel spreadsheets. The lengthy math
calculations can be found in our appendix.
Power Consumption of Luminaires
Numbers of luminaires: 308 nos.
Total power for each luminaire: 60W
Therefore, the total power consumed = 308x60
= 18.48kW
The power consumption for a whole day operation of 10 hours:
18.48 x 10
= 184.8kWh

Works Citation
CIBSE. (2002). Code for Interior lighting.
Thorn Lighting.
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