Luminaires – Module 1 Classification

Luminaires – An Overview:
Facts, Basics and Considerations

Target Audience:
Facility managers, Procurement managers,
Technical managers, Maintenance managers
and General Lighting enthusiasts

Light-Ref.com The unbiased lighting reference source

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Luminaire Overview – Objectives

The purpose of this outline is to provide an overview
and to familiarize the decision maker with the key
considerations when evaluating a lighting solution

Luminaire Overview Topics:

a. Luminaire classification
b. Luminaire technical aspects
c. Luminaire functional aspects


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Module 1
Luminaire Classification



Luminaire – defined

• Luminaire also known as “Fixture” or “Light Fixture”. A
device that projects, defuses and alters the light direction
of a given light source.
• Luminaire can also be referred to as “System” as it
contains the light source, the housing, the electrical
system and mains connectors, reflectors and shielding
devices (louvres).



Luminaire – an Illustration
• Luminaires are purpose made according to a specific light source physical body to
achieve increased light quality and accommodate given application attributes.
• Illustrations of lighting applications could include Cold Storage lighting, Fashion
Stores, Medical and Dental, Street lighting etc. Each application comes with a
unique lighting technology, objectives and selection criteria.
• Selection criteria could be Public Safety, when addressing food stores, Resilience
when addressing Street light, Esthetics when addressing Fashion and Retail
applications et al.



Luminaires – a Classification
• Luminaires are often categorized by 2 major classifications of prime usage: indoor or
outdoor applications.
• There are also special purpose lighting solutions like Marin lighting, Auto lighting,
Anti Blast (Explosion Proof) , Under water or Special effects (theatrical) lighting;
these systems will not be discussed in this overview. Safety lighting solutions will not
be detailed either, while some lighting systems have a dual purpose abilities.

Luminaire

Indoor Outdoor

Architectural & Public & Roads &
Commercial Industrial Display & Flood
Decorative Amenity Tunnels

Hangers & Parking &
Office Retail Cold Storage Street light Roads Tunnels
Manufacturing Sports



Luminaires – Indoor applications
• In door luminaires some time overlap with outdoor solutions, in cases like
of lighting beneath the canopy in a gas station et al.
• Many lighting design considerations, system components and commercial
considerations bear similar arguments for all solutions.

Luminaire

Indoor Outdoor


Hangers & Parking &



Luminaire Indoor Commercial - Office

The majority of office illumination is mostly based on fluorescent
technology combined with some ascent lighting like CFL, LED and
halogen.
These are usually low power systems (less than 100w) with ceiling
at up to 4 meters height.



Luminaire Indoor Commercial – Retail
The majority of Indoor retail illumination is based on Fluorescent,
Halogen, Metal Halide, Induction and CFL technologies.
Prime considerations are quality light supporting the shopping
experience, CRI as high as possible, maintenance is an factor. Ceiling
can be at ~7 or even 10 meters height. In case of HID lamps hot
restrike time is an issue.



Luminaire Indoor Industrial –
Hangars & Manufacturing
The common lighting solutions are HID, Fluorescent and Induction.
Prime considerations are high intensity illumination, energy
costs, maintenance and relamping costs. Ceilings can be from ~7
meters (20 feet) to 10 meters (30 feet) or higher.
Special luminaires are required for each lamp type due to unique lamp
shape and dimensions. A typical luminaire type is Highbay.



Cold Storage (-16 C)
The popular solutions are Metal Halide, LPS and Induction. Prime considerations
are maintenance and relamping costs.
Ceiling can be from ~7 meters (20 feet) to 10 meters (30 feet) or higher.
In many cases the HID ballast has to be mounted remotely, outside the cold
storage hall. Depending on the organization of the hall various types of
luminaires can be considered: flood, wallpack, flood et al. Advised light color is
yellow for better visibility in frost mist.



Architectural & Decorative
A wide selection of technologies is available. Ranging from quality fluorescent (T4
& T3) to LED, Halogen, CMH, CFL et al.
Prime considerations are light quality, light angle, system initial costs and
maintenance. Luminaires are of various types, recessed, hidden, wall mount et al.
This domain is less relevant for our discussion.



Luminaires – Outdoor applications
Out door lighting solutions have to address various
considerations, including resilience to vandalism, maintenance
costs, public safety by providing continuous lighting of pedestrian side
walks and adherence to illumination standards of roads and motor ways.
Additionally outdoor systems have to be reliable with proper IP protection
from dust, rain and able to stand harsh weather conditions.
Luminaire

Indoor Outdoor


Hangers & Parking &



Luminaire Outdoor Public & Amenity:
Parking & Sports
• Parking Lots and Sports recreational areas warrant various types of luminaires
suitable for various pole heights, light spread and intensity levels.
• Key parameters would be illumination coverage, light beam orientation, resilience
against vandalism, light quality and maintenance costs.
• An example of an outdoor application is illumination of a shopping centre parking lot
which uses “white light” to extend the shopping experience. Typical luminaire is of
type “shoe box”.
• Sport areas come with high power systems and in the range of 200W to 600W and
higher.
• A special light modeling is advisable to ensure proper light coverage and angle
optimization while keeping to the minimum the number of poles and luminaires.



Luminaire Outdoor Public & Amenity:
Street light
• Street light and residential areas usually utilise a low cost lighting, an HPS lamps. HPS
lamps have a low quality “yellowish light”. A typical street light luminaire comes in a
“cobra head” type shape. Alternatively, key outdoor locations would have a quality
high cost white light system such as LED lamps, Induction or Philips SON lamps.
• Prime consideration is orientation and light coverage with low maintenance costs.
• Street luminaires are usually mounted on 4m to 7m height poles with various power
from 50W to 150W HPS lamps. Street junctions can go up to 200-250W lights.
• An issue for consideration is compliance with street lighting regulations in Europe
(S-,CE- and Me-class) and in the USA. The luminaire should have the ability to adjust
to various street configurations, street width, pole spacing/configuration and pole
heights.



Luminaire Outdoor Roads & Tunnels: Roads
• Road lighting is usually characterized by high wattage light source, depending on road
width and traffic volume. High poles dictate light sources of 250W to 400W. Extra
height poles of over 10 meters may need even 600W lamps.
• In regions with mist and fog a yellow lighting is advised for better visibility.
• An issue for consideration is compliance with street lighting regulations in Europe (S-
,CE- and ME-class) and in the USA.
• Luminaire should have ability to adjust to various street configurations, street width,
pole spacing/configuration and pole heights.
• Lighting street performance and optical measurement is required for various streets
and roads.
Road class ME5
Road Pavement class: R3

ME5 class: intended for
drivers of motorized
vehicles on traffic routes
of medium to high
driving speeds


Luminaire Outdoor Roads & Tunnels: Tunnels
• Key criteria for tunnel lighting is maintenance costs. It is not unusual to witness
closing costs for relamping in magnitude of $100,000 per hour for toll tunnels.
• The luminaire has to sustain toxic CO2 gas as well as hazardous environment without
failure.
• Luminaire types are usually flat or wall packs. Some may consider blast proof grade of
luminaires for longevity and reliability. Immediate hot restrike is an issue. Today
known systems with longest service life are Induction and LED light solutions.



Luminaire Outdoor Display & Flood
• Flood type luminaires are common for outdoor applications. Major
concern is luminaire grade for superb illumination quality, technical
specifications and overall system maintenance due to high ground
locations.
• Colored illumination might be a consideration as well.



The End

Luminaires by Light-Ref.com


Luminaires – Module 1 Classification

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