Measurement and Application of BUG

(Backlight, Uplight and Glare) Ratings for

Outdoor Lighting

Graeme G Lister and David M Keith

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The Earth at Night

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 Outdoor Lighting

Light for night time visual activities

Safety/Security
Improve lighting visibility on roadways
Enhance beauty of architecture, monuments etc.
Enhance social experience
Positive influence on municipal economy

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Potential Negative Aspects of Outdoor Lighting

Nuisance for local residence

Light Pollution Dark Sky, Astronomy
Glare
Disturbance of Natural Habitat
Contribution to Carbon Footprint

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 Outdoor Lighting Design

Luminaire Optics
Luminaire Location
Light where it is needed
Lighting Quality
Visual Tasks
Aesthetics
Safety
Security
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 Outdoor Lighting Guidance

IES Luminaire Classification System (LCS)

for Outdoor Luminaires
IES TM-15-11

JOINT IDA IES MODEL LIGHTING

ORDINANCE (MLO)

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 Luminaire Classification System (LCS)
LCS: Defines standard solid angles for evaluation
and comparison of outdoor luminaires
Uses existing photometric test data, easily
incorporated into software tools
Enables designers to evaluate and compare
lumen distribution for various types of
luminaire optics

LCS provides guidance in designing outdoor lighting projects,

but cannot account for variations in eye response and
perception
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Luminaire System Classification
Three Primary Solid Angles

Source: IES TM-15-11

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 Forward Light
Secondary Solid Angle

Pole mounting height H

FL: d< 0.6H
FM: 0.6H<d<1.7H
FH: 1.7H<d<5.7H
FVH: d>5.7H

Source: IES TM-15-11

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 Backward Light
Secondary Solid Angle

Pole mounting height H

BL: d< 0.6H
BM: 0.6H<d<1.7H
BH: 1.7H<d<5.7H
BVH: d>5.7H

Source: IES TM-15-11

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 Upward Light
Secondary Solid Angle

Source: IES TM-15-11

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Backlight Ratings (Zonal Lumens)

Uplight Ratings (Zonal Lumens)

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 Glare

Luminance too high

Luminance ratio too high
- discomfort glare
- reduction in visual performance

Glare is in the eye of the beholder

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 Discomfort Glare

1. Luminance of the glare source

2. Size of the glare source
3. Position of the source in the field of view
4. Luminance of the background

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Glare Ratings (Zonal Lumens)

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250 W HID Luminaire Shoebox

B2 U0 G2

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 Photometry
BUG ratings based on photometric data ,
measured in IES-approved manner (e.g. LM-35-
02, HID and Incandescent)
Luminaire lumens calculated based on
measured intensities in specific solid angles
(separation 2.5 deg.) about the luminaire.

Rated power, <3% harmonics in wave form

Avoid stray light

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How Do We Measure Light?
Quantity
Direction
Colour
Time

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 The Trouble with the Lumen
- Measures quantity only
- Colour Blind (no spectral component)

Forward Light: Need to know useful light

Upward Light Need watts, not lumens
Spectra important:
- Atmospheric reactions
- Wildlife
- Astronomy
Glare Need spectral information
Age of population

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 Conclusions

BUG ratings are a guide - quantitative, not qualitative

Need for something to augment the lumen
Multi-disciplinary approach (Industry, Municipalities,
Researchers
CORM can play a role in identifying new definitions

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Thanks to:

CORM

David Keith

Ceravision
Ref:
Luminaire Classification System
For Outdoor Luminaires
IES TM-15-11

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