SIGNIFICANCE OF LIGHTING IN BUILDING ARCHITECTURAL

Lighting is the foundation of architectural buildings. It can change the perception of space, the shape, textures of
materials and improve their aesthetic features. It also plays an important role in ensuring the comfortability of occupants.
When it comes to artificial or man-made lighting in architectural design, they are commonly planned at the later
stages when the design is completed. These are the three aspects to look out for when used in beginning stages of
illumination design:
 Aesthetics aspect- it focuses on the emotional effect it has on occupants or they want the occupants to
feel when they stay in the building. It is also used in retail stores in highlighting a product.
 Function aspect- for occupants needs such as being able to see clearly. Using lighting in pathways to
guide users in the dark.
 Efficiency aspect- ensuring the necessary lighting is sufficient so that it is energy efficient. For example:
installing more windows instead of light bulbs or installing LED bulbs instead of fluorescent lights.

NATURAL LIGHTING- otherwise known as “daylighting” is a technique used to bring natural light or daylight into
occupants’ shelter. It is a natural technique that efficiently brings natural light into the home using exterior glazing
therefore saving energy by reducing artificial lighting. Natural light is light generated naturally, for example: fireflies, the
sun. this lighting can be done by incorporating external glazing such as windows and skylights. Basically, replacing
transparent materials on walls to allow natural light or daylight to pass through. There are three types of approach to
natural lighting:
 Direct Sunlight- this is incorporated through windows to skylines and is directly from the sun.
 External Reflection- it means having a light reflecting off the floor or ground surfaces. Various examples
include wide window sills, light shelves, and adjacent buildings. However, it should be noted that this
method if excessive causes glare.
 Internal reflection- light reflecting off the internal walls, floor, ceiling of occupant’s stay. This can be done
by incorporating high reflective surfaces such as glossy or smooth surfaces. An example included mirrors.

ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING- Artificial light is visible light generated by artificial light sources and usually also contains some
IR and UV radiation, as opposed to natural daylight (most LEDs do not contain IR and UV). Artificial light sources are
categorized by the technology used to produce the light. There's dozens of sources, with a few common in household
applications and others more suitable for industrial uses. The five most common light sources are as follows:
Incandescent lamp.
Compact fluorescent lamp.
Fluorescent tube.
Discharge lamps.
Light Emitting Diode (LED).

Types of lamps:
1. Incandescent Lamps- produces light by the passage of an electric current through a filament, which heats it to
incandescence.
2. CFL-The compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) was designed as a more efficient replacement for incandescent lamp. It is
supplied with the same fixing system (screw or bayonet), and can be used in many light fittings designed for incandescent
lamps. Power ratings of CFLs that can provide approximately the equivalent light output to incandescent lamps are shown
in the table below, together with their efficacy ratings.
3. Fluorescent tubes are the main form of lighting for offices and commercial buildings.
They are a form of gas discharge lamp, and are formed in a long thin glass cylinder with contacts at either end that secure
them to the fitting (or luminaire) and provide the electrical connection.
The tube contains mercury vapor at low pressure, and the inner wall of the glass is coated with a phosphor that reacts to
ultra-violet radiation. When electricity is passed through the vapor it emits UV radiation that is converted by the phosphor
to visible light.
The most efficient fluorescent tubes are the T5. With a smaller diameter (16mm) than earlier tubes, these can achieve a
luminous efficacy of up to 104lm/W
4. GAS DISCHARGE LAMPS – Electric Discharge lamps- produce light by the passage of an electric current through a
vapor or gas, initiating the discharge to fluorescence High Intensity discharge lamp
emit light by sending an electrical discharge through an ionised gas, i.e. plasma. Typically, such lamps are filled with a
noble gas (argon, neon, krypton and xenon) or a mixture of these gases. Most lamps are filled with additional materials,
such as mercury, sodium, and metal halides. When the gas is ionised, free electrons are accelerated by the electrical field
in the tube and collide with gas and metal atoms. Some electrons in the atomic orbital of these atoms are excited by these
collisions to a higher energy state. When the excited atom falls back to a lower energy state, it emits a photon of a
characteristic energy, resulting in infrared, visible light, or ultraviolet radiation. Different metals and filler gasses can be
used to provide a range of colour and brightness.

Discharge lamps provide high luminous efficacy combined with long life, resulting in the most economical light source
available

A. High Pressure Discharge lamps- they have a discharge that takes place in gas under slightly less to greater than
atmospheric pressure. For example, a high-pressure sodium lamp has an arc tube under 100 to 200 torr pressure, about
14% to 28% of atmospheric pressure; some automotive HID headlamps have up to 50 bar or fifty times atmospheric
pressure.
 Metal halide lamps- lamps are almost white light, attains 100 lumen per watt light output. Applications include
indoor lighting of high buildings.
 High Pressure Sodium lamps- producing up to 150 lumens per watt. These lamps produce a broader light
spectrum than the low-pressure sodium lamps. Also used for street lighting, and for artificial photoassimilation for
growing plants
 High pressure Mercury vapor lamps- This lamp type is the oldest high pressure lamp type, being replaced in most
applications by the metal halide lamp and the high pressure sodium lamp.

B. Low Pressure Discharge Lamps – warm light usually used in street lights. Low-pressure lamps have working pressure
much less than atmospheric pressure. For example, common fluorescent lamps operate at a pressure of about 0.3% of
atmospheric pressure. LPDL include: CFL, Fluorescent lamps, and low pressure sodium lamps - :the most efficient gas-
discharge lamp type, producing up to 200 lumens per watt, but at the expense of very poor color rendering. The almost
monochromatic yellow light is only acceptable for street lighting and similar applications.

C. High intensity discharge lamps- A high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp is a type of electrical lamp which produces light
by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused
alumina arc tube. Compared to other lamp types, relatively high arc power exists for the arc length. Examples of HID
lamps include:

 Mercury-vapor lamps.
 Metal halide lamps.
 Ceramic discharge metal halide lamps.
 Sodium vapor lamps.
 Xenon arc lamps.
 Ultra-High Performance (UHP).
HID lamps are typically used when high levels of light and energy efficiency are desired.

3. Light Emitting Diode- LED light bulbs or lamps utilize light-emitting diodes in order to produce light. LED is a “solid-
state” technology, which means that the materials used to generate the light are encased within a solid material.
Practically, this translates into a lamp with a rated life much longer than those using non-solid-state technology (such as
incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent). Solid-state lighting is also much less susceptible to failure due to shock or
vibration.
The useful life of LED lighting products is defined differently than that of other light sources, such as incandescent or
compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). LEDs typically do not “burn out” or fail. Instead, they experience ‘lumen depreciation’,
wherein the brightness of the LED dims slowly over time. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LED “lifetime” is established on a
prediction of when the light output decreases by 30 percent.
LEDs are incorporated into bulbs and fixtures for general lighting applications. Small in size, LEDs provide unique design
opportunities. Some LED bulb solutions may physically resemble familiar light bulbs and better match the appearance of
traditional light bulbs. Some LED light fixtures may have LEDs built in as a permanent light source. There are also hybrid
approaches where a non-traditional “bulb” or replaceable light source format is used and specially designed for a unique
fixture. LEDs offer a tremendous opportunity for innovation in lighting form factors and fit a wider breadth of applications
than traditional lighting technologies. Compared with conventional light sources that first convert electrical energy into
heat, and then into light, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) convert electrical energy directly into light, delivering efficient light
generation with little-wasted electricity.

There are two forms for Artificial lighting as follows: Indoor lighting and Outdoor lighting
1- Indoor lighting: Indoor lighting is usually accomplished using light fixtures, and is a key part of interior design, these
light fixtures or light luminaires can be defined as follows:

Luminaire is a device that distributes filters or transforms the light emitted from one or more lamps. The luminaire includes
all the parts necessary for fixing and protecting the lamps, except the lamps themselves. In some cases, luminaires also
include the necessary circuit auxiliaries, together with the means for connecting them to the electric supply. The basic
physical principles used in optical luminaire are reflection, absorption, transmission and refraction.

Types of Indoor Light fixtures/luminaires:

1- Types of Light fixtures according to light function:

 Ambient (general lighting). - Ambient lighting provides an area with overall illumination. Also known as general
lighting, it radiates a comfortable level of brightness without glare and allows you to see and walk about safely.
 Task- Task lighting, or directional lighting, is aimed at a specific task; It is a way to provide more light on a specific
area to perform a task that requires lighter than the ambient fixtures can give.
 Accent- Accent lighting is also a sort of a directional lighting that adds drama to a place by creating visual interest.
 Informational lighting/Guidance Lighting. - It is designed to help us see our way safely.
 Decorative lighting - ight strips, pendants, chandeliers, and sconces are all examples of light fixtures that draw
attention to themselves and add character to the place being lighted. Many are also used for general lighting.