Lighting systems

Sodium Lamps Low-Pressure Sodium Lamps: The discharge tube is similar in size to the fluorescent tube but consists of a special laminated glass coated inside a sodium-resistant layer. The long U-shaped discharge tube is encased in an outer vacuum envelope to provide thermal stability. During priming, the lamps emit an intense red glow due to the neon gas they contain. The characteristic radiation of low-pressure sodium vapor is a monochromatic yellow, a color close to the maximum sensitivity of the human eye. With nearly 200 lumens/watt, low-pressure sodium lamps are currently the lamps that have the highest luminous efficacy. However, they remain limited to applications where color discrimination is not important, such as national roads and subways, as well as residential streets. In many cases, these lamps are replaced by high-pressure sodium lamps which, because they are small in size, make it possible to better control the distribution of light, especially for urb...

THE CONDITIONS OF GENERAL LIGHTING Interior lighting is intended to meet the following requirements:          Help to ensure a safe working environment.           Assist with the performance of visual tasks.           Ensure an appropriate visual environment. Workplace safety must be the first priority and, as a general rule, it is all the better if the dangers are clearly visible. The order of priority of the other two requirements depends to a great extent on the destination of the premises. Performance can be improved if the detail of the task is easier to see while developing well-adapted visual environments by varying the highlighting of objects and surfaces in a room through lighting. Our overall sense of well-being, including morale and fatigue, is influenced by light and color. In the presence of low levels of lighting, the objects will have little color or relief, even if th...

The combination and choice of colors The choice of colors should be carefully considered in the case of functions where the identification of the objects to be handled is important. The same goes for the delimitation of the communication channels and for the tasks requiring a strong contrast. The choice of shade is not as important as the reflective properties of a surface. There are several recommendations that deal with this aspect of work surfaces. Ceilings: The ceiling surface should be as white as possible (with a 75% reflection factor), as the light will then be reflected diffusely, dissipating darkness and reducing the glare other surfaces. It also means an economy of artificial lighting. Walls and floors: Wall surfaces in the eyes can cause glare. Light colors with reflection factors between 50 and 75% are well suited for walls. Although glossy paints tend to last longer than matte paints, they are more reflective. Therefore, the walls should preferably have...

Color: the basic concepts Color is an important part of the workplace and its choice is critical to the efficiency, safety and overall well-being of staff. In the same way, the finishing of surfaces and equipment in the working environment contributes to creating visual conditions and a pleasant environment. Ordinary light consists of electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths corresponding to each band of the visible spectrum. By combining the red, yellow and blue lights, it is possible to get the most visible colors, including white. Our perception of the color of an object depends on the light that illuminates it and the way the object itself reflects light. Lamps can be classified into three categories, depending on the appearance of the color of the light they emit: ·          Warm hue: white, reddish light, recommended for dwellings; ·          Intermediate color: white ...

The interest in natural lighting has increased recently, due less to the quality of illumination obtained than to the well-being it provides. But since the level of illumination of natural sources is not uniform, an artificial lighting system is necessary. The most common lighting systems are: Uniform general lighting In this system, the light sources are evenly distributed, regardless of the location of the workstations. The average IL luminance level must be equal to the level of illumination required for the task to be performed. These systems are mainly used in workplaces where workstations are not fixed. They must comply with three basic characteristics: the first is to be equipped with anti-glare devices (scrolling grids, diffusers, reflectors, etc.), the second requires to distribute a fraction of the light towards the ceiling and the upper part of the light. Walls; the third involves installing the light sources as high as possible to minimize glare and e...