SlideShare a Scribd company logo
Luminaire light
distribution basics
Presented by Morgan Catha,
Grandlite Product Development Engineer
September 26, 2014
Photometry concepts
Lumen: A quantity of emitted light energy in the visible spectrum (“luminous
flux”). Defined in terms of the sensitivity of the human eye to light. One
lumen is 1/683 watts or more of visible light energy, depending on the
spectrum of the light source.
Candela: A measure of “luminous intensity”, defined as lumens per solid
angle (measured in steradians). Expresses how much light is being
emitted in a particular direction.
Photometry concepts
Footcandle: A measure of “illuminance”, the amount of visible light energy
falling on a surface. Defined as one lumen per square foot. Another
common unit is “lux”, equal to one lumen per square meter.
Photometry concepts
Luminance: An expression of the intensity of light leaving a surface in a
particular direction. Measured in candelas per square meter.
Photometry concepts
“Brightness”
“Brightness”
‘"Brightness" should be used only for
nonquantitative references to physiological
sensations and perceptions of light.’
-- Federal Standard 1037C, the Federal Glossary of Telecommunication
Terms (1996)
Photometric Testing
Rotating mirror Goniophotometer
-- measures light output
Grandlite
goniophotometry
laboratory
Photometric Testing
A type C rotating mirror goniophotometer is used to
record candela values for each angle
Photometric Testing
The candela values are stored in a .ies file
Photometric Testing
Photometric Reports
Polar candela plot
• Shows cross-sections of
light intensity
• Useful for seeing the
overall shape of a
luminaire’s light distribution
Photometric Reports
Isoilluminance plot
• Shows lines of equal
illuminance on target surface
• Useful for seeing how a
luminaire illuminates the
area around it
Photometric Reports
Luminaire Classification
System Graph
• Shows backlight, uplight and
glare by sector
• Useful for seeing how the
BUG rating is determined
B.U.G. Rating
B.U.G. Rating
B.U.G. Rating
B.U.G. Rating
B.U.G. Rating
IES Cutoff Classifications
IES Cutoff Classifications
IES Cutoff Classifications
IES Cutoff Classifications
IES Roadway Types
IES Roadway Types
• Type I - Half-maximum candela trace falls between 1 MH LRL on
the House side and 1 MH LRL on the Street side
• Type II - Half-maximum candela trace on the Street side is beyond
the 1 MH LRL but not beyond the 1.75 MH LRL
• Type III - Half-maximum candela trace on the Street side is beyond
the 1.75 MH LRL but not beyond the 2.75 MH LRL
• Type IV - Half-maximum candela trace on the Street side is beyond
the 2.75 MH LRL
• Type V - Has circular symmetry being essentially the same at all
lateral angles around the luminaire
• Type VS - Zonal lumens (below 90-degress vertical) for each of the
eight horizontal octants (0-45, 45-90, 90-135, 135,180, 180-225, 225-
270, 270-315, 315-360) are within +-10% of the average zonal lumens
of all octants
IES Roadway Types
• Very Short (VS): The maximum intensity points to a point in
the VS zone of the grid, 0-1.0 MH TRL
• Short (S): The maximum intensity points to a point in the S
zone of the grid, 1.0 - 2.25 MH TRL
• Medium (M): The maximum intensity points to a point in the
M zone of the grid, 2.25 - 3.75 MH TRL
• Long (L): The maximum intensity points to a point in the L
zone of the grid, 3.75 - 6.0 MH TRL
• Very Long (VL): The maximum intensity points to a point in
the VL zone of the grid, > 6.0 MH TRL
IES Roadway Types
IES Roadway Types
• Maximum candela point
furthest lateral point
between 2.25 and 3.75
mounting heights =
Medium
• Half maximum candela
trace furthest longitudinal
point between 1.75 and
2.75 mounting heights =
Type 3
IES Flood Types
IES Flood Types
BeamField
10% of
maximum
candela
50% of
maximum
candela
Maximum candela
IES Flood Types
Example: NEMA 7x7 means the field angle is 130 degrees or wider
in both the horizontal and vertical planes. For short, “NEMA 7”.

More Related Content

PPT
Lighting terminlologyand their units
PPTX
Types of lighting and their uses
PPTX
Smoke detector
PPT
Lighting ppt 1
PDF
CCTV Camera Presentation
PPTX
Lighting
PPTX
Automotive lighting - Led road lighting
Lighting terminlologyand their units
Types of lighting and their uses
Smoke detector
Lighting ppt 1
CCTV Camera Presentation
Lighting
Automotive lighting - Led road lighting

What's hot (20)

PDF
Akash gidwani BSc-Interior Design (Lighting Project )
PPTX
Definitions related to illumination
PPTX
Smoke detector
PDF
Lighting Design Project
PPTX
Basics of Indoor Lighting
PPTX
Energy lighting 01
PDF
Electrical lighting design
PPTX
Introduction to lighting design for architect and interior designers
PPTX
Road Lighting
PPTX
Illumination.
PPTX
electrical lighting calculation
PDF
Building Services Report
PPT
Photoelectric Smoke Detectors
PPTX
Illumination basic and schemes
PDF
FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS.pdf
PPSX
Laws of illuminations
PPTX
Introduction to Lighting
PDF
Lighting Design Principles in Interior Architecture.
PPTX
Luminance and Illuminance
Akash gidwani BSc-Interior Design (Lighting Project )
Definitions related to illumination
Smoke detector
Lighting Design Project
Basics of Indoor Lighting
Energy lighting 01
Electrical lighting design
Introduction to lighting design for architect and interior designers
Road Lighting
Illumination.
electrical lighting calculation
Building Services Report
Photoelectric Smoke Detectors
Illumination basic and schemes
FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS.pdf
Laws of illuminations
Introduction to Lighting
Lighting Design Principles in Interior Architecture.
Luminance and Illuminance
Ad

Viewers also liked (20)

PPT
Luminarias
PPTX
Types of Lighting and Luminaire
PPTX
Luminaires – Module 3 Functional Aspects
PPTX
Different type of lamps
PPT
ELECTRICAL LAMPS AND THEIR TYPES
PPTX
Types of lamp
PPTX
Different types of lamps
PPTX
Types of lamps
PPTX
LIGHT AND LIGHTING FIXTURES
PPTX
Light and vision
PDF
Photometry of the UWISH2 extended H2 source catalogue
PDF
معلومات خاصة بالمبات الليد
PPT
PLS 2014: Is measuring LED illuminance with a lux meter accurate?
PDF
Photometry and radiometry
PDF
Radiometry and Photometry: LED Fundamentals
PPTX
Photometry
PPTX
LIGHTING
PPTX
Photometry and interactions
PPTX
Introduction For Lighting Luminaries
Luminarias
Types of Lighting and Luminaire
Luminaires – Module 3 Functional Aspects
Different type of lamps
ELECTRICAL LAMPS AND THEIR TYPES
Types of lamp
Different types of lamps
Types of lamps
LIGHT AND LIGHTING FIXTURES
Light and vision
Photometry of the UWISH2 extended H2 source catalogue
معلومات خاصة بالمبات الليد
PLS 2014: Is measuring LED illuminance with a lux meter accurate?
Photometry and radiometry
Radiometry and Photometry: LED Fundamentals
Photometry
LIGHTING
Photometry and interactions
Introduction For Lighting Luminaries
Ad

Similar to Luminaire Light Distribution Classifications (20)

PPTX
LIGHTING.pptxyesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
PPTX
Photometry and Radiometry in optics and optometry
PDF
Area lighting
PPTX
Lighting definitions
PDF
Design Of Illumination Systems, Laws and Methods
PPS
Radiometry and Photometry by Sumayya Naseem
PDF
Lighting basics book
PDF
Broadcast Camera Technology, Part 1
PDF
Uee unit 4
PDF
Illumination Tech_Aseem K_Module 3 APJAKTU
PPTX
SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING DESIGN for architectural lighting
PDF
Lighting system
PPTX
Electrical and electronics Unit 1_gk.pptx
PDF
Lighting architecture lecture 3
PDF
Light tools sld_whitepaper
PPTX
13. measure light p5
PPT
(Eee)140210107052
PDF
Fundamental optics for microLED
PPT
One day short course on Green Building Assessment Methods - Daylight Simulation
LIGHTING.pptxyesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Photometry and Radiometry in optics and optometry
Area lighting
Lighting definitions
Design Of Illumination Systems, Laws and Methods
Radiometry and Photometry by Sumayya Naseem
Lighting basics book
Broadcast Camera Technology, Part 1
Uee unit 4
Illumination Tech_Aseem K_Module 3 APJAKTU
SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING DESIGN for architectural lighting
Lighting system
Electrical and electronics Unit 1_gk.pptx
Lighting architecture lecture 3
Light tools sld_whitepaper
13. measure light p5
(Eee)140210107052
Fundamental optics for microLED
One day short course on Green Building Assessment Methods - Daylight Simulation

Recently uploaded (20)

PPT
CRASH COURSE IN ALTERNATIVE PLUMBING CLASS
PDF
Mitigating Risks through Effective Management for Enhancing Organizational Pe...
PDF
SM_6th-Sem__Cse_Internet-of-Things.pdf IOT
PPTX
M Tech Sem 1 Civil Engineering Environmental Sciences.pptx
PPTX
bas. eng. economics group 4 presentation 1.pptx
PPTX
UNIT-1 - COAL BASED THERMAL POWER PLANTS
PPTX
CH1 Production IntroductoryConcepts.pptx
PDF
Enhancing Cyber Defense Against Zero-Day Attacks using Ensemble Neural Networks
PPTX
MET 305 2019 SCHEME MODULE 2 COMPLETE.pptx
PDF
Automation-in-Manufacturing-Chapter-Introduction.pdf
PDF
BMEC211 - INTRODUCTION TO MECHATRONICS-1.pdf
PPTX
Welding lecture in detail for understanding
PPTX
Lecture Notes Electrical Wiring System Components
DOCX
ASol_English-Language-Literature-Set-1-27-02-2023-converted.docx
PPTX
KTU 2019 -S7-MCN 401 MODULE 2-VINAY.pptx
PDF
Embodied AI: Ushering in the Next Era of Intelligent Systems
PPTX
IOT PPTs Week 10 Lecture Material.pptx of NPTEL Smart Cities contd
PDF
keyrequirementskkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
PDF
July 2025 - Top 10 Read Articles in International Journal of Software Enginee...
PPTX
OOP with Java - Java Introduction (Basics)
CRASH COURSE IN ALTERNATIVE PLUMBING CLASS
Mitigating Risks through Effective Management for Enhancing Organizational Pe...
SM_6th-Sem__Cse_Internet-of-Things.pdf IOT
M Tech Sem 1 Civil Engineering Environmental Sciences.pptx
bas. eng. economics group 4 presentation 1.pptx
UNIT-1 - COAL BASED THERMAL POWER PLANTS
CH1 Production IntroductoryConcepts.pptx
Enhancing Cyber Defense Against Zero-Day Attacks using Ensemble Neural Networks
MET 305 2019 SCHEME MODULE 2 COMPLETE.pptx
Automation-in-Manufacturing-Chapter-Introduction.pdf
BMEC211 - INTRODUCTION TO MECHATRONICS-1.pdf
Welding lecture in detail for understanding
Lecture Notes Electrical Wiring System Components
ASol_English-Language-Literature-Set-1-27-02-2023-converted.docx
KTU 2019 -S7-MCN 401 MODULE 2-VINAY.pptx
Embodied AI: Ushering in the Next Era of Intelligent Systems
IOT PPTs Week 10 Lecture Material.pptx of NPTEL Smart Cities contd
keyrequirementskkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
July 2025 - Top 10 Read Articles in International Journal of Software Enginee...
OOP with Java - Java Introduction (Basics)

Luminaire Light Distribution Classifications

  • 1. Luminaire light distribution basics Presented by Morgan Catha, Grandlite Product Development Engineer September 26, 2014
  • 2. Photometry concepts Lumen: A quantity of emitted light energy in the visible spectrum (“luminous flux”). Defined in terms of the sensitivity of the human eye to light. One lumen is 1/683 watts or more of visible light energy, depending on the spectrum of the light source.
  • 3. Candela: A measure of “luminous intensity”, defined as lumens per solid angle (measured in steradians). Expresses how much light is being emitted in a particular direction. Photometry concepts
  • 4. Footcandle: A measure of “illuminance”, the amount of visible light energy falling on a surface. Defined as one lumen per square foot. Another common unit is “lux”, equal to one lumen per square meter. Photometry concepts
  • 5. Luminance: An expression of the intensity of light leaving a surface in a particular direction. Measured in candelas per square meter. Photometry concepts
  • 7. “Brightness” ‘"Brightness" should be used only for nonquantitative references to physiological sensations and perceptions of light.’ -- Federal Standard 1037C, the Federal Glossary of Telecommunication Terms (1996)
  • 8. Photometric Testing Rotating mirror Goniophotometer -- measures light output
  • 10. A type C rotating mirror goniophotometer is used to record candela values for each angle Photometric Testing
  • 11. The candela values are stored in a .ies file Photometric Testing
  • 12. Photometric Reports Polar candela plot • Shows cross-sections of light intensity • Useful for seeing the overall shape of a luminaire’s light distribution
  • 13. Photometric Reports Isoilluminance plot • Shows lines of equal illuminance on target surface • Useful for seeing how a luminaire illuminates the area around it
  • 14. Photometric Reports Luminaire Classification System Graph • Shows backlight, uplight and glare by sector • Useful for seeing how the BUG rating is determined
  • 25. IES Roadway Types • Type I - Half-maximum candela trace falls between 1 MH LRL on the House side and 1 MH LRL on the Street side • Type II - Half-maximum candela trace on the Street side is beyond the 1 MH LRL but not beyond the 1.75 MH LRL • Type III - Half-maximum candela trace on the Street side is beyond the 1.75 MH LRL but not beyond the 2.75 MH LRL • Type IV - Half-maximum candela trace on the Street side is beyond the 2.75 MH LRL • Type V - Has circular symmetry being essentially the same at all lateral angles around the luminaire • Type VS - Zonal lumens (below 90-degress vertical) for each of the eight horizontal octants (0-45, 45-90, 90-135, 135,180, 180-225, 225- 270, 270-315, 315-360) are within +-10% of the average zonal lumens of all octants
  • 26. IES Roadway Types • Very Short (VS): The maximum intensity points to a point in the VS zone of the grid, 0-1.0 MH TRL • Short (S): The maximum intensity points to a point in the S zone of the grid, 1.0 - 2.25 MH TRL • Medium (M): The maximum intensity points to a point in the M zone of the grid, 2.25 - 3.75 MH TRL • Long (L): The maximum intensity points to a point in the L zone of the grid, 3.75 - 6.0 MH TRL • Very Long (VL): The maximum intensity points to a point in the VL zone of the grid, > 6.0 MH TRL
  • 28. IES Roadway Types • Maximum candela point furthest lateral point between 2.25 and 3.75 mounting heights = Medium • Half maximum candela trace furthest longitudinal point between 1.75 and 2.75 mounting heights = Type 3
  • 30. IES Flood Types BeamField 10% of maximum candela 50% of maximum candela Maximum candela
  • 31. IES Flood Types Example: NEMA 7x7 means the field angle is 130 degrees or wider in both the horizontal and vertical planes. For short, “NEMA 7”.