LIGHT LINES
SCIENCE LESSONS
Knowledge is key, says new president
TAKE CONTROLS
The latest guidance
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4 JULY/AUGUST 2023
The Society of Light and Lighting
SECRETARY
Brendan Keely FSLL bkeely@cibse.org
EDITOR
Jill Entwistle jillentwistle@yahoo.com
COMMUNICATIONS
COMMITTEE:
James Buck
Iain Carlile FSLL
Jill Entwistle
Chris Fordham MSLL
Rebecca Hodge
Stewart Langdown FSLL
Luke Locke-Wheaton
Rory Marples MSLL
Linda Salamoun MSLL
All contributions are the responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the society. All contributions are personal, except where attributed to an organisation represented by the author.
COPY DATE FOR LL5 2023
IS 18 JULY
PUBLISHED BY
The Society of Light and Lighting
222 Balham High Road London SW12 9BS
www.sll.org.uk
ISSN 2632-2838
© 2023 THE SOCIETY OF LIGHT AND LIGHTING
FROM
THE EDITOR
While embracing both aspects, it is the scientific and research side that new president Helen Loomes chose to emphasise in her address (see p5). With discoveries such as the relationship of light to the human circadian system, its environmental impact and the need to make manufacture more sustainable are all areas where science and technology will play key roles.
What is also crucial is that disciplinary distinctions and boundaries become less pronounced, as they were in Newton's time before complexity seemed to drive the development of bunker mentality. Collaboration and cross-pollination, also
advocated by Loomes, will be essential to progress and solutions. A scientist, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Glenn T Seaborg, put it poetically and rather well.
'There is a beauty in discovery,' he said. 'There is mathematics in music, a kinship of science and poetry in the description of nature, and exquisite form in a molecule. Attempts to place different disciplines in different camps are revealed as artificial in the face of the unity of knowledge. All literate men are sustained by the philosopher, the historian, the political analyst, the economist, the scientist, the poet, the artisan, and the musician.'
CURRENT SLL LIGHTING GUIDES
Lighting Guide 0: Introduction to Light and Lighting (2017)
SLL
Unit C, Northfield Point, Cunliffe Drive, Kettering, Northants NN16 9QJ Tel: 01536 527297 E: gary@matrixprint.com Printed in UK
SLL Lighting Guide 9: Lighting for Communal Residential Buildings (2022)
SLL Lighting Guide 10: Daylighting – a guide for designers (2014)
SLL Lighting Guide 11: Surface Reflectance and Colour (2001)
SLL Lighting Guide 12: Emergency Lighting (2022)
SLL Lighting Guide 13: Places of Worship (2018)
SLL Lighting Guide 14: Control of Electric Lighting (2016)
SLL Lighting Guide 15: Transport Buildings (2017)
SLL Lighting Guide 16: Lighting for Stairs (2017)
SLL Lighting Guide 17: Lighting for Retail Premises (2018)
SLL Lighting Guide 18: Lighting for Licensed Premises (2018)
SLL Lighting Guide 19: Lighting for Extreme Conditions (2019)
SLL Lighting Guide 20: Lighting and Facilities Management (2020)
SLL Lighting Guide 21: Protecting the Night-time Environment (2021)
SLL Lighting Guide 22: Lighting for Control Rooms (2022)
Guide to Limiting Obtrusive Light (2012)
Code for Lighting (2022)
Commissioning Code L (2018)
SLL Lighting Handbook (2018)
CIBSE TM66: Creating a Circular Economy in the Lighting Industry (2021)
July/August 2023 sll.org.uk 2
Editorial
The Society of Light and Lighting is part of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS. Charity registration no 278104 JILL ENTWISTLE JILLENTWISTLE @YAHOO.COM
It is hackneyed to talk of light as both art and science but for many that is central to its appeal. It attracts the engineer and the artist, the designer and the architect. It can be calculated to within an inch of its life but still throw up the unexpected effect, the delightful, serendipitous outcome.
Lighting Guide 1: The Industrial Environment (2018)
Lighting Guide 2: Lighting for Healthcare Premises (2019)
Lighting Guide 4: Sports (2006)
Lighting Guide 5: Lighting for Education (2011)
Lighting Guide 6: The Exterior Environment (2016)
Lighting Guide 7: Office Lighting (2023) SLL Lighting Guide 8: Lighting for
SLL
SLL
SLL
SLL
SLL
SLL
Museums and Galleries (2021)
FROM THE SECRETARY
It was great to see so many happy and familiar faces at the SLL AGM, Awards and Presidential Address in May at RIBA (right). It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We gave a big thank you to Andrew Bissell for steering the SLL during the previous year, and welcomed Helen Loomes as the new SLL president (see p5).
We also announced the new SLL elected council members, Michael Grubb and James Poore, and thanked Emma Beadle and Karoliina Helin for their contribution to SLL council as they stepped down from their roles after serving their three-year term. Carolina Florian was confirmed as SLL vice president and Les Thomas as SLL honorary treasurer. We're very pleased to welcome all four of them.
As well as the AGM, the evening as usual included the SLL awards, including the President's Medal, Lighting Award and honorary fellowship (see p7). Thank you to all the individuals who provided such brilliant citations, and to the SLL awards winners themselves, all of whom were there in person. We must give a special acknowledgement to Yukio Akashi from the University of Fukui, Japan, who received his Leon Gaster Award and watched the event live streamed in Japan at three o’clock in the morning his time.
We are very pleased with the response to the SLL Young Lighter 2023 competition and would like to thank all those who have entered. At the time of drafting this column, the competition judges were making their final comments and tallying up their scores. I hope soon to confirm the names of the entrants who will move on to the second round of the competition. The competition final will take place on 21 or 22 November at LiGHT 23 (Building Design Centre) and the winner will be announced and will present their winning paper at Light2Perform on 5 or 6 December (Light2Perform will take place alongside CIBSE’s Build2Perform at ExCeL, see p4)
On a sad note, we were recently informed that David Holmes, CEng HonFSLL, passed away late last year. David was a brilliant contributor to the SLL technical and publications committee for many years and will be sorely missed. I gave
David’s citation for his honorary fellowship in 2020 and it was a privilege to do so.
When informed of David’s passing, Sophie Parry, SLL technical and publications committee chair, said that 'David was a conscientious and active author, and often the voice of clarity and common sense at T&P meetings. He leaves the following legacy – SLL LG1: The Industrial Environment, LG13: Lighting for Places of Worship and LG19: Lighting for Extreme Conditions.'
The previous chair of the technical and publications committee, Simon Robinson, worked with David Holmes for more than 10 years on SLL publications. 'Of his numerous contributions, the creation of a guide to the lighting of places of worship is a standout example,' he said. 'David spent over two years meeting with different faiths, researching their history, to ensure his guide would give lighters the best advice on the subject. His devotion to helping the SLL publish the best lighting guidance possible will really be missed, and I’ll miss him as a friend.'
Another former chair, Paul Ruffles, said 'he was a good man to know and to have on the committee – he was both dedicated and very productive. His work and knowledge will be missed.'
'David will be greatly missed by us all,' said John Fitzpatrick, SLL technical and publications committee technical coordinator. 'He made a great contribution to the SLL output and discussions, always with clarity and wit.'
3 4 5 7 11 14
9 15 16
SECRETARY'S COLUMN
SCIENCE IS GOLDEN
Scientific research and exchange of ideas will be crucial for solving current concerns, says incoming president Helen Loomes
STAR LIGHTERS
Leading figures in the lighting profession were honoured at this year's AGM Awards
THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT
Lighting control systems are no longer an optional extra. Sophie Parry outlines the newly updated SLL guidance
NIGHT AND DAY CARE
Summarising a recent SLL-supported online event, Dr Shelley James looks at the mounting evidence for the beneficial use of 'circadian' lighting in care homes
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Lighting at night for cyclists and pedestrians are two of the themes selected by Iain Carlile in his summary of the most recently published Lighting Research and Technology papers
BEWITCHING HOUR
Carolina Florian is inspired by a particular light. She shares her Top 5 golden hour moments from around the world
EVENTS
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 3
Secretary’s column/Contents Contents 2
COVER: Dark Spectrum installation in the abandoned railway tunnels below the city's Wynyard Station, part of last month's Vivid Sydney 2023 festival
KEELY BKEELY @CIBSE.ORG
BRENDAN
NSW
EDITORIAL
NEWS
CIBSE is to launch a dedicated lighting platform as part of this year’s CIBSE Build2Perform Live, its flagship event. Light2Perform 'will showcase the lighting professionals and technology at the heart of the net zero agenda'.
The SLL will partner with the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) to curate a programme of expert speakers covering the latest in lighting research, design and technology. Themes will centre on research into the impact of artificial lighting on health and wellbeing, the circular economy for the lighting industry, and lighting's role in reducing carbon emissions throughout the lifetime of a building.
The aim is for Light2Perform to provide a platform for lighting manufacturers, designers, researchers and suppliers to engage with the wider building services industry. 'It will provide an opportunity for lighting professionals to speak to specifiers and engineers from related industries, sharing knowledge around the circular economy, net zero policy, building safety, and health and wellbeing in the built environment,' said CIBSE.
The dedicated area within Build2Perform will offer a range of opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors, says CIBSE. With more than 3000 people already pre-registered for this year’s event in December, attendees include specifiers and key decision makers from lighting and related building services sectors.
The first Light2Perform will take place as part of Build2Perform Live on 5-6 December 2023 at ExCeL, London.
For more about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities: https://go.cibse.org/b2p-2023-l2p-downloads-pr
The outcrop of traditional table lamps which has mushroomed in a woodland setting is one of the more domestic lighting installations by Norwegian artist Rune Guneriussen.
Elsewhere, task lights cluster in the rocks by the sea or in a melted patch of snow, illuminated geometric constructions nestle among trees. Formerly working with reclaimed wood structures, his creations increasingly evoke high-rise buildings or office lighting.
'Being an artist for 20 years, always working in and with nature, it has been a story of going from optimism to seeing
our nature in a dystopian manner,' Guneriussen told art platform Colossal. 'I have felt nature change to a degree I cannot recognise.'
www.runeguneriussen.no/#0
BACK TO SCHOOL
Two lighting professionals recently took part in a Class Of Your Own initiative with students in a South Yorkshire school.
Liz Cooper from Arup lighting and David Battersby from Gamma Illumination attended a workshop with sixth-form students studying Design Engineer Construct! (DEC!) at King Ecgberts School in Dore.
The students' project was a community or mixed-use building scheme involving the design of all elements, from foundation and structural design to the building services. Ideas included converting Sheffield's John Lewis building into an indoor go-kart and BMX track, and redesigning the city's dry ski slopes.
Cooper and Battersby presented on lighting design techniques, discussing the fundamentals of light, how light can influence feeling and wellbeing, and how to create a lighting journey. They also advised students on their projects.
Cooper had previously taught teacher Helen Vardy the basics of Dialux to allow students to create visuals of their work.
'Helen shared some of the students’ work as a result of our lighting session and the results were great,' said Cooper. 'We hope to have inspired some budding lighting designers to join the SLL and see potential in a career within the vast world of engineering and design.'
CIRCLE OF LIGHT
An SLL event in August will focus on the circular economy and the application of CIBSE TM66. The Path to Sustainable Lighting will be held at Edinburgh Napier University and online, and will feature speakers Ruairidh McGlynn of Stoane Lighting, and Dr Irene Mazzei, KTP associate, Edinburgh Napier University/Stoane Lighting.
The theme is recognising and quantifying the circularity of lighting products and looking at how to increase their service life. The presentation will involve detailed scrutiny of the metrics used to quantify the environmental impact of luminaires.
www.sll@cibse.org
July/August 2023 sll.org.uk 4 THE LATEST NEWS AND STORIES
News
LIGHTING TO PLAY MORE PROMINENT ROLE AT CIBSE'S FLAGSHIP EVENT
SCIENCE IS GOLDEN
Putting the emphasis on science, and the solutions it holds for key issues such as sustainability and human centric lighting, was to be a primary focus in her presidential year, said incoming SLL president Helen Loomes in her address.
'I'm intrigued by what new developments will bring, and enjoy the thrill of learning something new,' she said. 'For instance, I became interested by the discovery of the third photoreceptor in the eye – intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells – and this added a new dimension to my career in lighting. I started attending scientific conferences and reading learned papers, which led to my regularly presenting on the topic of human-centric lighting.'
A new focus, the drive towards sustainable lighting and circularity of lighting products, had once more led her to a new area of learning, she said. 'Science is helping us once again and I am keen to see where it takes us. It could be cornstarch light fittings or new developments in LEDs to reduce the gold content and other rare earth metals. Perhaps it will even be bioluminescent plants.'
It was important to share this aspect of lighting with the world in general, Loomes said. To achieve this she was proposing that the SLL holds a large conference. She acknowledged the tradition within the SLL of having a symposium prepared and delivered by the Lighting Research and Technology Editorial Board, centred on a consensus of knowledge around a given field of lighting. However, Loomes said that in addition to the LR&T remit, she would like to broaden the field for the event she had in mind.
'The LR&T Journal is a valuable and wellrespected part of the SLL, enabling research to be published via peer review, and it provides a platform to share these ideas with the lighting
community,' she said. 'However, for the event next year I would like to widen their scope, invite other practitioners to present interesting case studies and create some crosstalk between potential researchers, and those who will put this knowledge into practice.'
Loomes also acknowledged that organising such an event involved a great deal of effort and hard work, and that it should not fall on the shoulders of LR&T alone. 'We have the brilliant machine that is CIBSE behind us, and I would like to call upon everyone to spread the word, encouraging others to attend. The ideas for this event are still very much at the germination stage, and I would welcome assistance from anyone who is interested in making this a landmark event for the lighting industry.'
As the webinar Agile Lighting Research, held
last year, had confirmed to her, the cross-pollination of thoughts and ideas was vital, said Loomes. 'We sparked an ongoing conversation between researchers, practitioners and those who have access to funding. This conversation will have the benefit of drawing our community together, and possibly providing some answers to the questions we already have, and those we haven’t thought of yet.'
On the subject of events, Loomes also announced that the SLL would be expanding its presence at CIBSE's Build2Perform. 'This will be branded as Light2Perform and will consist
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 5 E AGM: Presidential address
Scientific research, and the solutions it can bring to urgent issues such as sustainability, will be the focus of her presidential year, says Helen Loomes
'I'm intrigued by what new developments will bring, and enjoy the thrill of learning something new'
Eof our own area and dedicated theatre,' she said. 'In addition to sharing knowledge this will become a meeting hub for all lighting people.' Content for the two-day event was still being developed, and it would also be used to announce the winner of the SLL Young Lighter Award and hear the winning paper, she added.
Loomes also emphasised the importance of the collaboration and continuity which lay behind the president's year, highlighting that engagement with the role lasted much more than a year, in both build up and legacy. Given that they were unable to speak at live events because of the pandemic, she invited two past presidents, Bob Bohannon and Ruth KellyWaskett, to join her to give their reflections.
'I think we can safely say that it was not just one year in the history of the SLL but that you have provided us with a legacy,' Loomes told them. 'This legacy and continuity is perhaps something that many people will not be aware of.' An informal group, the VP Group, comprising all the vice presidents, president elect, president and immediate past president, meets every two months 'to consolidate our ideas and make sure that new initiatives are not just for one year but that we can build on everything together as a team,' she explained.
For the next year that team will be Andrew Bissell, Dan Lister, Kristina Allison, Carolina Florian and Loomes herself. 'This team is expanded by Brendan Keely, to whom special
thanks are due, all of the executive and council members, whose hard work and dedication make our society what it is, and the SLL regional lighting representatives who add the local touch which is invaluable.' But ultimately the SLL is the members, concluded Loomes,
Science was her first love, says Helen Loomes, who jokes that it was almost preordained that she should become involved with lighting, 'with Helen being the Greek for light and Loomes being very close to lumen'. But like many people in the lighting profession, she says, 'I love the combination of science and art that lighting brings'.
A chance job advert in the local paper led her to Holophane, working in the laboratory. She was also sent to Southbank Polytechnic to study for a City and Guilds qualification in illuminating engineering and lighting technology. 'I recently had a chat with one of my lecturers, David Loe, who remembers me as his first female student,' she says. 'I probably wouldn’t have known what a mentor was then, but David made everything seem so interesting and could explain it further on the train back home to Hemel
'and I am looking forward to working with everyone, including the CIBSE staff and regions, over the next year.'
The AGM took place at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 24 May
Hempstead. He had the uncanny ability to make everything not quite as complicated as it first seemed.'
Other people who gave her encouragement in lighting and from whom 'I learned in a very informal way' were the 'three musketeers', Barrie Wilde, Bob Venning and Eric Maddock. 'Knowledge was shared over the lunch table and I wish I still had the napkins with all the detailed drawings of lighting designs or ideas.'
Loomes worked in sales at Zumtobel and in public relations at Concord, and then set up Blueridge Consultancy where for five years she offered PR and marketing services for the lighting industry and recruitment services for designers. She has spent the past 15plus years working at Trilux, latterly as head of the Trilux Akademie until her retirement in 2022.
July/August 2023 sll.org.uk 6 AGM: Presidential address
p Loomes invited two past presidents, Bob Bohannon and Ruth Kelly-Waskett, to join her on the platform following her address: 'The legacy and continuity is perhaps something that many people will not be aware of'
STAR LIGHTERS
As a Cambridge University engineering student, Ridler was asked to operate the followspot and so began a career in lighting, first a very successful one in theatre and then in architectural lighting design. He began as a senior lighting designer with Maurice Brill Lighting Design in 1998 and was soon made associate.
Then, one icy night 20 years ago, a motorcycle accident left him with life-changing injuries. 'In the years I’ve known Mark it was the very fact that he’s hardly ever mentioned that night, never let it define him, or indeed stop him, that I find truly awe inspiring,' said Bohannon.
It did stop him from returning to Maurice Brill, but he joined BDP under Martin Lupton in 2003 as a senior lighting designer, eventually becoming head of BDP Lighting in 2010. Ridler won the IALD Award of Excellence for Finsbury Avenue Square back in 2004 and with his team has won many awards since.
Reflecting the importance of the SLL's relationship with other design disciplines, this year's AGM and Awards took place at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.
The President’s Medal, first awarded to Joe Lynes in 2009, was introduced to recognise a significant and lifetime contribution to lighting, and this year went to Sharon Stammers and Martin Lupton of Light Collective.
Lupton and Stammers began as lighting designers, working in the profession since the late 1990s, Stammers at Lighting Design Partnership and later Light Matters, before moving to PLDA to act as its UK coordinator in 2007. Lupton began his career at Pinniger and Partners before moving to BDP, where he stayed for eight years.
They found a common ambition in wanting to achieve something different in the lighting profession, to be 'lighting evangelists', showcasing and celebrating the work of others. They formed Light Collective in 2010. 'Most of their projects involve collaboration and engagement with a wider group, spreading the positive power of light,' said former SLL president Ruth Kelly Waskett in her citation, describing them as 'two of my lighting heroes'.
They have made films, and organised conferences, events and exhibitions (including works by women light artists based on their recent book, Collected Light), in the UK and
around the world. One of their significant achievements has been Women in Lighting, launched on International Women’s Day in 2019. Today, WiL has ambassadors in 78 different countries and features more than 200 interviews with women in lighting on its website.
'Martin and Sharon’s impact on the lighting industry is immeasurable,' said Kelly-Waskett. 'The mission of Light Collective, to be “lighting evangelists”, continues to increase awareness of the importance of light as a language for communities, and inspires us all.'
An honorary fellowship, given by the SLL in recognition of a significant contribution not only of services to the society but to the wider lighting profession, was awarded to Mark Ridler.
'If ever there was somebody who talked quietly but carried a big stick, it is Mark Ridler,' said Bob Bohannon in his citation. 'When Mark talked, you listened, and that big stick was the moral and ethical compass and that blend of art, design, science and engineering that he brings to all his work.'
He was the first to gain chartered engineer status via a lighting design route, with the Engineering Council and the ILP. He became a VP of the ILP in 2011 and in 2013 won the Lighting Designer of the Year Award. The ILP went on to give him a special recognition award in 2016 and he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2017.
A crucial contributor to TM66, Ridler had the idea of devising a score that could be used by specifiers to protect their positive sustainability choices against value engineering. 'That key, catalyst idea started us on the journey that ended with the full scoreable Circular Economy Assessment Method,' said Bohannon. Ridler has recounted BDP’s circular economy journey in the TM66 publication, and was a founder of the GreenLight Alliance.
After 45 years, Ridler recently left lighting to undertake a new role as director of programmes for the Spinal Injuries Association, having served on their board for four years and also on an NHS board for the past two. 'Fittingly he will bring his talents to help drive the charity’s role of being the expert, guiding voice for life after spinal cord injury,' said Bohannon.
This year's Lighting Award, acknowledging outstanding service to the SLL, went to Bob Bohannon and Kristina Allison, respectively the project lead and project manager of CIBSE TM66, Creating a Circular Economy in the Lighting Industry. 'I have known both recipients for a considerable length of time and have enjoyed their professionalism and passion for lighting,' said David Mooney in his citation.
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 7 AGM: Awards
This year's awards honoured some of the more stellar figures in the lighting firmament
E
'Most of their projects involve collaboration and engagement with a wider group, spreading the positive power of light'
Allison has worked on the sustainability side of the profession for more than 16 years, at Lighting Enterprises Consultancy and Associates, and as senior lighting consultant to the Carbon Trust UK among others. Having also worked for Into Lighting and Zumtobel, she now works for Atkins
in the specialist architectural lighting team where she has been involved in large infrastructure projects such as London City Airport and HS2 Euston, adding daylight design to her skills.
A chartered engineer, through the SLL/CIBSE, Engineering Council alternative route, she has chaired the SLL education and membership committee (2019-2022) and is now a vice president of the society. She also sits on the CIBSE Knowledge Generation Panel. Her recent task has been working with Bohannon on both CIBSE TM66 and CIBSE TM65 – Embodied Carbon in Lighting Equipment.
Bob Bohannon attended Bradford University Management Centre and joined the family firm before regretting his career choice. His first sight of the blue-lit Lloyds Building was the catalyst for a career in lighting. Signing up to lighting courses at the then Lighting Association and Lighting Industry Federation (winning the LIF Outstanding Student), he was then accepted on the MSc architectural lighting course at the Bartlett.
A lighting consultant with DPA and then BDP, he went on to lead the UK subsidiary of German lighting company Sill for 19 years,
working on projects ranging from Swiss Re and the Millennium Dome to Heathrow’s T5 and T2, and many rail termini (with St Pancras being his favourite – his name is inside one of the projectors lighting the clock).
After leaving Sill, Bohannon founded his own consultancy, LuxRapide, also helping friend and mentor Thomas Paterson to set up a UK team for his Mexico-based LuxPopuli practice. His schemes include the multi-award-winning Iron Bridge in Telford with Liz Peck.
His work for the SLL has included roles as honorary treasurer, VP and president. Making good on the themes of his presidential speech, he instigated the groundwork for what would become TM66 with Allison managing the project. It won both Green and Platinum Build Back Better awards and is now used not only in the UK but also Europe and the US. It was described by lighting designer Kevan Shaw as 'at last providing a comprehensible standardised scoring system for circular economy aspects of lighting equipment... it is delightfully readable compared to most technical memoranda, is insightful and, by including detailed case studies for both manufacturers and projects, demonstrates that this is doable now…'
The Regional Award, presented in recognition of the work undertaken by an individual on behalf of the society in the regions, was presented to Chris Dicks of the Home Counties North West region. 'He has proven to be very successful in raising the profile of the society in his region,' said Jim Shove in his citation, praising his hard work, including his switch to online events due to Covid. 'A few of the events he has organised read like a Who’s Who of the industry.'
The Leon Gaster and Walsh Weston Awards are given annually for the best published papers in Lighting Research and Technology. The Leon Gaster award, presented for the best paper concerned with lighting applications, went to Yukio Akashi, Yuta Kuno, Kaori Murakami, Masaru Inatani and Tomoe Aoki for their paper 'Readability model of letters with various letter size, luminance contrast and adaptation luminance level for seniors' (see LR&T Vol 54, Issue 5).
The Walsh Weston award is for the best paper concerning more fundamental lighting matters. This year it was given to Janne Askola, Petri Kärhä, Hans Baumgartner, Santeri Porrasmaa and Erkki Ikonen for their paper 'Effect of adaptive control on the LED street luminaire lifetime and on the lifecycle costs of a lighting installation' (see Vol 54, Issue 1).
July/August 2023 sll.org.uk 8 AGM: Awards
p President's Medal winners Martin Lupton and Sharon Stammers of Light Collective with new SLL president Helen Loomes (centre)
p Ma rk Ridler, recipient of an honorary fellowship
E
p Bob Bohannon and Kristina Allison, who were presented with the Lighting Award
THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT
Lighting Guide 14: Control of Electric Light was first published in 2016 and has proved popular with designers and specifiers ever since.
The aim of the original LG14 was to demystify, as far as possible, the subject of lighting controls, and allow informed and objective decisionmaking for the application of controls to lighting projects. A decade ago, it was quite common for lighting controls to be seen as an optional extra to schemes, and they would often be ‘value engineered’ out of a project.
In the eight years since LG14 was first conceived, the lighting industry has evolved to the extent that automatic lighting controls are now an essential and integral part of the vast majority of lighting designs. The overarching reason is the versatility of LED light sources and their easier controllability. This means that lighting control systems have seen a notable rise in use in the following applications:
● Energy reduction: the cost of energy has risen significantly, and controls can easily deliver an annual financial saving on energy costs of at least 20-30 per cent, in addition to the savings made with LED lighting. This lowering of operational energy also supports the reduction of operational carbon as we move towards a net zero carbon future.
● Wellness: there is also the growing appreciation of the importance of wellness. Both daylight and electric light play their part in this area, and need to work in harmony to deliver good quality illumination that considers both photopic and melanopic light. This would be very challenging to realise without a compatible lighting control system.
● Exterior lighting: there has been a significant rise in the use of external lighting that goes beyond just providing functional night-time illumination. Many external lighting schemes now use coloured light, for
instance, and will alter the lighting scenes to suit particular events and occasions, or further accentuate the architectural features of a building facade. The flip side to this area of growth is that night-time light pollution has increased. In addition to good luminaire and lighting design, lighting controls can help reduce light pollution in most project applications, as well as saving operational energy and reducing operational carbon.
WHAT’S NEW IN LG14
Looking at the second edition chapter by chapter, the following is a brief summary of what has been introduced or updated.
Chapter 1
This is an overview of advances in lighting control technology and applications since the first edition was launched in 2016.
Chapter 2
There have been significant updates to the terminology and acronyms used in lighting controls. I have noticed that specifications often ask for certain aspects of lighting control performance on projects where the specification author is not entirely clear what the terminology means and can deliver. There is therefore information on the less than obvious terminology and its application.
Chapter 3
This focuses on how to approach a design and manage the client’s expectations.
The best approach is to first design the lighting and specify the luminaires to be used, then determine with the client how the lighting should be controlled to suit their requirements. These will include meeting legislative or performancerelated energy conservation stipulations, in addition to the client's specific needs. Once the performance criteria are established, the correct
lighting controls can be selected and added to the lighting design. It’s also a good idea at this stage to revisit the luminaire schedule to ensure that the luminaires contain, or can be supplied with, compatible control gear to ensure correct operation with the lighting control system.
Chapter 4
What about the people who actually use the spaces that are lit and controlled? This chapter looks at human factors in typical spaces and where different modes of lighting control are known to be the most effective. Here you will note when you should be specifying absence or presence detection, or if a risk assessment shows that automatic lighting controls which suddenly switch the lights off unexpectedly could be a health and safety risk.
Chapter 5
Lighting controls are not always used for the primary task of saving energy. Controls can also be used for creating visual interest and visual comfort, as this chapter discusses. The correct luminaire control gear and a compatible lighting control system will also be required for the correct operation of integrative lighting schemes.
Chapter 6
Energy reduction is nevertheless the most common application for lighting controls but apart from the financial benefits of saving energy, how do we know how much lighting energy should be saved in order to meet legislative requirements such as Approved Document L of the Building Regulations? LG14 uses Approved Document L, Vol 2, for England as the basis of discussion as this version was updated in 2021/22, and is therefore the most up-to-date Building Regulation in the four devolved nations when it comes to lighting energy efficiency limits.
The Leni (lighting energy numeric indicator) calculation method can be found in its simplest
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 9 Guidance
Control systems have shifted from optional extra to an integral element of most lighting schemes. Sophie Parry outlines the changes and additions in the newly updated SLL guidance
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p Lighting installation where controls provide an hourly show for visual interest
Courtesy of Hoare Lea/ David Linville-Boud
form in this version of Approved Document L and is reproduced with additional commentary in the second edition of LG14.
Leni is derived from BS EN 19193-1 Energy Performance of Buildings – Energy Requirements for Lighting. It is currently the most accurate method of predicting lighting energy usage. It also allows for the benefits of lighting controls to be factored into the calculation. The output of the calculation is expressed in kWh/sqm per annum. This means that the projected cost of lighting energy and the carbon footprint can then easily be calculated. If factoring in or factoring out the energy-saving benefits of lighting controls, the lighting design starts to get interesting. This exercise can make two points:
● The annual energy savings as a return on making the investment in automatic lighting controls, as opposed to not using automatic lighting controls.
● That the inclusion of automatic lighting controls might make the difference between compliance or non-compliance with Approved Document L of the Building Regulations for England.
That said, lighting designers often shy away from using Leni because it can seem daunting and time consuming. However, as the built environment moves towards a net zero carbon future, designers will have to embrace new design methodologies of preserving the required lighting quality and using less energy.
Chapter 7
The data sharing of room occupancy status provided by networked lighting control systems
Classification How space is used
was already possible when LG14 was first published in 2016. The most common example at the time was to share room occupancy data in real time with the BMS system in order to optimise the performance of HVAC systems.
There has also been a noticeable increase in the use of controls to automatically test, and generate fault and test reports, for emergency lighting installations.
There has been much talk about intelligent buildings, and some early adopter projects, as well as the use of digital, IoT and wireless-based lighting controls. This area of development also allows the sharing of collected data, by virtue of the fact that the lighting control network is already covering all areas in a typical building. The use of this network with auxiliary sensors to collect additional useful data such as space usage, lighting energy and maintenance, temperature, humidity and air quality makes it possible to create a more pleasant environment for the end-user. It also enables more informed decisionmaking relating to building comfort, wellness, FM and energy costs.
That said, this new technology also brings new engineering and design challenges, including cyber security considerations, which are also explored in this chapter.
Examples
Owned spaces Small rooms, individual space Cellular offices, consulting rooms
Managed spaces Spaces where lighting scenes are pre-determined by use
Shared spaces Spaces of multiple occupation but would require some local or personal space control
Occasionally visited spaces Periodic use for short periods of time
Retail spaces, hotel foyers, reception desks, sports hall, place of worship, Front of house entertainment venues
Open plan offices, library study areas, hospital wards of multiple occupancy
WCs, stores, warehouse aisles
Temporarily owned spaces Depends on space Classrooms, lecture theatres, meeting rooms, single patient hospital rooms
Unowned space General open spaces, usually unsupervised
Circulation, general open spaces
Chapter 8
This chapter on commissioning and handover should be the most obvious subject, but sadly in practice it is not the case.
Often the more simple lighting controls installations are not fully commissioned and tested, which means they are not likely to deliver the design intent or the return on investment expected by the end-user.
Part of commissioning should also include a handover process, usually to the facilities manager, that also explains what can be done at site level to effect maintenance or system changes, and also often in layman's terms to the end-users of the space. Typical examples might include how to use a scene-setting switch in the conference room, or why some luminaires appear dimmer close to the windows, and that there is no need to call the FM and report a lighting fault.
Chapter 8 also points towards CIBSE Commissioning Code L (Lighting) which was revised in 2018. This provides the means of developing a commissioning method statement for a lighting installation project where the luminaires, controls, emergency lighting and auxiliary data interfaces with other services all form the basis of a common lighting design.
LG14 concludes with case studies for places of worship, education and offices.
Sophie Parry, FSLL, is a chartered engineer and head of the Trilux UK Akademie. She is chair of the SLL’s technical and publications committee
Lighting Guide 14 (LG14): Control of Electric Light is scheduled for publication in September
Author: Sophie Parry CEng MIET FSLL (Trilux Lighting)
Case study contributors: David Holmes HonFSLL; Simon Robinson CEng FIET FIMechE FSLL (WSP Consulting)
Integrative lighting showing the shift in colour temperature throughout the day p Space classifications originally developed by the Building Research Establishment
July/August 2023 sll.org.uk Guidance E
Table 4.1 Space classification
NIGHT AND DAY CARE
We are all too familiar with the uphill battle faced by the social care sector with rising demand, a funding crisis and crumbling infrastructure, pressures compounded by the pandemic and low staff morale. Pioneering healthcare professionals are battling the odds to invest in dynamic lighting solutions that actively support the sleep-wake cycle of their residents and staff.
They are seeing first hand what a powerful difference that can make. These innovative care home managers point to a 32 per cent reduction in falls, eight per cent reduction in anti-anxiety medication use, in addition to improved staff health and engagement.
The personal rewards are remarkable enough, but their commitment to health and wellbeing turns out to be good for the bottom line too: reduced energy bills, premium pricing and improved occupancy rates as families actively choose these providers because of the positive results they see.
The science backs up the anecdotal evidence with a growing number of studies pointing to the short and longer-term effects of circadian approaches to lighting. At the same time, leading academics are keen to highlight the complexities involved and warn against drawing simplistic conclusions: it is almost impossible to separate changes to the lighting from other aspects of the environment including staff attitudes, multiple underlying medical conditions, and wide variations in visual and biological response in an ageing population.
Prof Russell Foster, currently advising the House of Lords on these issues, is clear that the time is right for closer collaboration between healthcare
providers, scientists and the professionals who design, build and deliver lighting solutions. Helen Loomes, now president of the SLL, concurs: 'We must keep the conversation and collaboration moving forward. The Society of Light and Lighting is delighted to facilitate this.'
Most of us will know a friend or family member who lives in residential care. We will certainly know someone who has been affected by dementia, which, according to the Alzheimer’s Society UK, is currently the leading cause of death in the UK.1
Sleep and disruption to the circadian rhythm are critical symptoms of dementia, contributing to the night-time wandering and confusion that are associated with increased risk of falls, depression and memory loss. Hard-pressed residential care teams often resort to medication to manage these distressing symptoms. According to Journal International Psychogeriatrics, at least one in three nursing home residents are taking at least one type of psychotropic medication at any one time.2 While drugs can deal with the most obvious symptoms of insomnia and agitation, they do not tackle the underlying cause: most residential care homes simply do not offer the contrast between bright, active days and dark, quiet nights that the ageing body clock needs to stay on track.
High staff turnover and burn-out rates suggest that the care home environment does not serve the staff either, particularly those who work nights: according to Skills for Care in 2021, turnover among care staff in the UK in 2021 stood at 29 per cent,3 double the national average of 15 per cent.4
Stable teams with good morale are particularly important in this sector where clients and their families are extremely vulnerable and acutely sensitive to change. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that changes to the lighting have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia as well as the dedicated teams who care for them. In this context, it makes sense to invest in an environment that actively supports the sleep and wider mental health of resident and staff alike.
And yet this is surprisingly rare as these small businesses operating from buildings that are often in desperate need of basic repairs struggle to raise the capital budgets needed to upgrade the lighting. There are also logistical problems.
Jo Cheshire, marketing director at WCS Care, highlighted the problem of retrofitting new lighting while maintaining the daily routine in a busy residential home. She is nevertheless clear about the scale of the opportunity: there are nearly half a million registered bed spaces in the UK alone which need a retrofit solution.5
Cheshire is working with lighting designer John Bullock and the academic team at Oxford University to refine a model and specification that makes it possible and feasible for the UK care sector to adopt this approach. She points to the potential ripple effects if the approach was adopted across the industry, linking into reduced hospital
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 11 Health and wellbeing
Summarising the recent online event, Innovators in Residential Healthcare, Dr Shelley James looks at the mounting academic and case study evidence of the beneficial use of 'circadian' lighting in care homes
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'Pioneering healthcare professionals are battling the odds to invest in dynamic lighting solutions'
admissions and reduced costs. But for Cheshire, resident health and wellbeing is always central to everything they do.
Considering how to gain that industry momentum, she points to her experience of innovating with acoustic monitoring: a system that allows night teams to be aware of unusual movement or sounds in a resident's room without needing to physically go in and switch the lights on. ‘We were the first in the UK to introduce acoustics,' she says. 'We were able to provide evidence that this had a very big impact on the reduction of falls at night and during the day for residents.’
The approach was spotted by the UK regulator, the CQC, which featured it in its annual report. Slowly, it began to be noticed by the Department of Health and Social Care and others. That technology is now being funded through the NHS Transformation Directorate. Cheshire and the team at WCS Care would like to see a similar direction of travel for circadian lighting. If that funding is made available, the approach will become a more mainstream component, not only for new builds but for retrofit to older buildings too. Cheshire is clear that potential customers choose WCS because of the technology.
Michelle Borreson who runs two rural residential facilities for Gundersen Health in the USA also took a retrofit approach. She had spotted this technology at a trade fair and decided to apply for a small grant from her head office to install the technology herself. With a limited budget, all the products were ‘off the shelf’ with no special controls. Borreson is clear about the impact:
'After installation in 2017, we saw a 32 per cent reduction in falls – from 9.12 falls per resident day to 6.17. We also saw a reduction in anti-anxiety medication use from 1.99 to 1.84 per 1000 resident days. We saw some reduction in our antipsychotic use also on our dementia unit, from 1 to 0.92 per 1000 resident days. These results are mirrored in a second property.'
Anti-depressant use also fell: from 5.47 per 1000 resident days to 5.3. These results are all the more impressive as the decreases took place during the pandemic, when residents couldn't see their families for long periods of time.
Borreson points to a reduction in electricity costs too. In the first year, one facility reported $3000 savings per year, while the second noted a $4000 reduction. She concludes: ‘We’re seeing less hypnotic use. And our residents are getting better sleep for sure.'
A third example, a state-run care home in Denmark, demonstrates how these benefits extend to staff too. Manager Kirsten SorensenGosvig explained that they made a strategic decision to install the lighting upgrade over the weekend that marks the shift between summer and wintertime in order to maximise the effect for staff. She noted that her teams who work the evening shift were able to fall asleep more quickly after coming home from work. While they used to need around two hours to wind down, after the lighting installation they were able to switch off after just one hour.
Her staff reported quieter nights and fewer conflicts between the residents during the evening, and felt healthier and happier themselves. Prior to the new lighting, patients stepping out into the corridors at night would see bright lights and assume it was morning, wanting to get dressed and asking for breakfast. The care teams were surprised to note that within days of the new lighting installation, when the residents came out in the corridors, they turned around and went back to bed.
The new dynamic lighting was so successful that the nurses all wanted to work nights in the buildings with the upgrade. So they set up a rotation system to settle the argument. Sorensen-Gosvig described how her teams were clear about the difference in their wellbeing in the mornings after night shifts spent under the standard and upgraded lighting. One anecdote brings the value of the transformation into sharp relief. After three years, the lighting broke down following a lightning strike. The employees were very upset at the loss of the 'circadian' lights which, in their view had become a ‘right’ and a standard part of a safe and effective working environment.
While these experiences can be classified as anecdotal, the scientific research points to similar effects, as the following speakers testified.
Prof Shadab Rahman of Brigham Women’s Hospital at Harvard has carried out pioneering work on the impact of dynamic lighting on falls. In the USA, one in four older adults fall each year, at least in the US at a cost of around $50bn each year. Those falls lead to three million emergency room visits a year.6 These numbers are rising,
July/August 2023 sll.org.uk 12 Health and wellbeing
p Be droom area at WCV: marketing director Jo Cheshire is working with lighting designer John Bullock and Oxford University to refine a model and specification that makes a retrofit solution feasible for the UK care sector
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p A living area at Woodside Care Village run by WCS Care, which has invested in dynamic lighting with good results
WCS WCS
with an increase of around 30 per cent in the past decade alone. So it's a major concern in the ageing population.
There are multiple risk factors that are associated with falls. So typically, an intervention to reduce falls needs to be multifaceted. Various options have been tried and tested, including patient education, changes in lifestyle and changes in the environment. The last factor includes changes in the lighting environment so that people can see better.
However, these interventions are often broad and complex, and meet many barriers when it comes to implementation long term. Rahman and his team were therefore keen to explore the potential of a passive intervention and installed a dynamic lighting schedule in a recent large-scale study across a number of different sites. They tracked a 43 per cent reduction in the risk of falls following the lighting intervention.7
Alongside the impact on falls, Rahman invited Northwestern Laboratories in association with the Department of Energy in the US to carry out an independent assessment of the energy saving that resulted from this lighting intervention. This
Innovators in Residential Health Care: Circadian Lighting Principles and Practice was an online event organised by Age of Light Innovations and supported by the SLL. The webinar took place on 7 March and featured a line-up of leading academics, specialists and practitioners, including Prof Russell Foster, professor of circadian neuroscience at Oxford University, who gave the opening remarks.
To view the webinar: www. ageoflightinnovations.com
For more information: shelley@ ageoflightinnovations.com
Care home providers www.wcs-care.co.uk/our-homes/ warwick-woodside-care-village/ www.gundersenhealth.org/ locations/gundersen-tweetencare-center www.healthcaredenmark.dk/ media/irbbjip3/hcd-dementiawhite-paper-v1-single-0318.pdf
conversion from standard fluorescent to LEDs led to a 60-70 per cent reduction in energy usage. Rahman points out that this delivers a win-win for clinical and facilities teams: a reduction in the rate of falls and major energy savings.
Rahman carried out another small-scale study in a domestic setting to investigate the potential for very simple ‘off-the-shelf’ dynamic lighting solutions to improve sleep for patients with mild traumatic brain injury. The trial used a bright ‘cool’ overhead light for daytime and a low-level table lamp with blue-depleted lighting for the evening. His team saw a marked reduction in the Insomnia Severity Score during the dynamic lighting intervention, and saw the scores deteriorate over time when the intervention was removed.8
Rahman is keen to consider the care providers too. In another study, he focused on medical errors. These errors are costly to patients and care providers alike and linked to around 200,000 deaths and more than a million injuries every year in the USA alone.
Lack of sleep is well established as a major risk factor for medical errors. So in this study,
References
1 https://dementiastatistics.org/statisticsabout-dementia/
2 Jester D, Molinari V, Zgibor J, and Volicer L (2021). Prevalence of psychotropic polypharmacy in nursing home residents with dementia: A meta-analysis. International Psychogeriatrics, 33(10), 10831098. doi:10.1017/S1041610220004032, 33(10), 1083-1098. doi:10.1017/ S1041610220004032
3 www.skillsforcare.org.uk/adult-social-careworkforce-data/Workforce-intelligence/ publications/Topics/Recruitment-andretention.aspx#:~:text=Turnover%20 rates%20amongst%20under%2020s,20%20 years%20or%20more%20experience.
4 www.monster.co.uk/advertise-a-job/ resources/workforce-managementplanning/employee-retention-strategies/ what-is-the-ideal-employee-turnoverrate/#:~:text=The%20UK%20average%20 employee%20turnover,this%20varies%20 drastically%20between%20industries.&text=Industries%20with%20traditionally%20 low%20turnover,accept%20them%20as%20 the%20norm.
5 www.statista.com/statistics/827861/
Rahman and his team simply upgraded the lighting in the nursing stations to deliver far higher levels of blue-enriched white light with the aim of maximising alertness and productivity (from 61 to 208 EDI). They tracked the impact on medical errors over a 12-month period: six months baseline plus six months post-intervention. When Rahman’s team analysed the difference in error rates before and after the lighting upgrade, they found a six per cent reduction in medical errors, which did not reach statistical significance. But they did find a 10 per cent reduction in potential errors and a 13 per cent reduction in harmful errors. More importantly, there was a 33 per cent fall in high-severity harmful errors.9
Scientists and care providers alike are keen to stress the need to keep an open mind and to focus on solutions that are simple, affordable and sustainable. But they all agree that the right light at the right time has the potential to offer a ray of hope for those living with dementia as well as those who love and care for them.
Prof Rahman quotes a Persian saying: 'When you shut out the sun from coming through the window, the doctor comes in the door.'
number-of-beds-in-nursing-and-residentialhomes-england/
6 www.cdc.gov/injury/features/older-adultfalls/index.html#:~:text=About%2036%20 million%20falls%20are,departments%20 for%20a%20fall%20injury.
7 Grant LK, St Hilaire MA, Heller JP, Heller RA, Lockley SW, and Rahman SA (2022). Impact of Upgraded Lighting on Falls in Care Home Residents. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 23(10), 1698–1704.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jamda.2022.06.013
8 Rahman SA, St Hilaire MA, Chang AM, Santhi N, Duffy JF, Kronauer RE, Czeisler, CA, Lockley SW, and Klerman EB (2017). Circadian phase resetting by a single short-duration light exposure. JCI insight, 2(7), e89494. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.
insight.89494
9 Chen Y, Broman AT, Priest G, Landrigan CP, Rahman SA, and Lockley SW (2021). The Effect of Blue-Enriched Lighting on Medical Error Rate in a University Hospital ICU. Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety, 47(3), 165–175. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2020.11.007
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 13 Health and wellbeing
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
From lighting at night for cyclists and pedestrians to the general V( λ) mismatch index, Iain Carlile selects three of the most recently published papers in Lighting Research and Technology
ttley et al have investigated the effect of light levels on promoting cycling at night. They comment that while there are many benefits to cycling, people may be put off from doing it at night because of reduced visibility, road safety concerns and personal security.
Taking results from previous studies and accounting for factors such as time of day, seasonal weather variations and holiday periods, the authors extended this earlier work by analysing cyclist counts in Norway, a country at a higher latitude than those previously studied.
They found that darkness affected cycling rates, but that this impact was lower than previous work had shown, suggesting other factors may be important.
Road lighting can encourage more cycling after dark by increasing average illuminance on routes used by cyclists. The authors note, however, that there may be an optimal illuminance for encouraging cycling at night, and anything beyond this illuminance value would
actually have no further beneficial effect.
In addition to optimal illuminance, other lighting criteria such as uniformity and spectrum are likely to have an effect and further evidence is being collected through the Saturn (supporting active travel using roadlighting at night) project.
Also focusing on lighting at night, Abboushi et al’s paper looks at pedestrians and their potential to experience discomfort glare caused by outdoor lighting. While several models measuring discomfort have been proposed, they point out that no consensus exists as to which is the most appropriate model to use.
Seven models were tested using four independent datasets. From the range of different experimental conditions used, the authors conclude that direct illuminance at the eye is the most suitable model as it tended to offer similar or better predictions than other models. They note that a 2008 study by Bullough et al exhibited best performance, but this method requires additional measurements
that may not be easy either to predict at design stage or to take field measurements.
Krüger et al’s paper examines the general V(λ) mismatch index f’ between a photometer’s relative spectral responsivity, and the spectral luminous efficiency function for photopic vision, V(λ). They present a review of the historical development, explaining the reasons for the current definition and potential future adjustments.
The authors postulate that in future photometers will be calibrated with a white LED light source as the reference, resulting in the need for a more appropriate definition of the general V(λ) mismatch index, either by using a different normalisation in f’ for the photometer’s relative spectral responsivity, or alternatively introducing a different function to assess the mismatch.
They also note that the measurement of coloured LEDs is increasing in importance and therefore suggest that a general mismatch index for white and coloured light sources may be more suitable.
Iain Carlile, FSLL, is a past president of the SLL and a senior associate at dpa lighting consultants
Lighting Research and Technology: OnlineFirst In advance of being published in the print version of Lighting Research and Technology (LR&T), all papers accepted for publishing are available online. SLL members can gain access to these papers via the SLL website (www.sll.org.uk)
The effect of changes in light level on the numbers of cyclists
J Uttley, S Fotios, CJ Robbins and C Moscoso
Predicting discomfort from glare with pedestrian-scale lighting: A comparison of candidate models using four independent datasets
B Abboushi, S Fotios, and NJ Miller
General V(λ) mismatch index: History, current state and new ideas
U Krüger, A Ferrero, A Thorseth, V Mantela and A Sperling
p The three illuminance components used in the Bul08 model, right, and the four steps needed to measure them, left (Abboushi et al)
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LR&T essentials
U Ed
Ei Ea
1. Measure total illuminance at the eye (Et)
E
2. Use a tube to block light from surrounding areas and measure Ed
i
3. Measure Ea while source is switched off
4. Subtract Ed and Ea from Et to calculate Ei
BEWITCHING HOUR
Carolina Florian is inspired by the light at a particular time of day. Here she shares her Top 5 golden hour moments from around the world
The golden hour is a captivating time of the day just after sunrise or just before sunset when the sky transitions from yellow to orange, amber and pink, casting a very warm white light (2700K down to below 1800K). With its soft and diffused daylight, it allows our bodies and minds to unwind as the sun sets. Cherishing these natural transitions provides an emotional connection to the beauty of the day coming to a close.
Photographers appreciate the way it erases blemishes, blurs imperfections and adds the perfect glowing touch to surfaces. For a lighting designer, each golden hour evokes a unique set of emotional responses to the way light reveals landscapes for a brief but spellbinding moment.
These memories serve as inspiration for my designs and enable me to influence others in choosing suitable qualities of light for their projects to make them more nature-oriented and more sympathetic to nocturnal biodiversity.
Caribbean coast, Colombia (NeverWinter Land)
Sitting on the Equator means that back home we experience sunrise and sunset occurring almost at the same hour every day. This transition from intense daylight to full darkness lasts just minutes. Here the large, still-bright descending sun accentuates contrast, the sky on the yellow side of white with hints of blue. When designing spaces requiring significant levels of accent, or transition between contrasting light conditions, I remind people that our eyes can adjust, and we can even enjoy staring at this kind of energy.
Mykonos, [d]arc sessions 2022
Attending an industry event in Mykonos made it natural to focus our thoughts and conversations on current lighting topics, mainly related to electric lighting. But nature beckoned us to pause and immerse ourselves in the idyllic setting, and we found ourselves going down to the beach to enjoy the perfect sunset under a beautiful orange sky every evening. The golden hour provided a comforting atmosphere, making the vegetation colours and sand tones more vibrant while gracefully accentuating the predominantly white finishes of the Greek island's architecture.
Tenerife, Canary Islands, holiday
The Canary Islands were created by a series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, and this determines the colour of many of the coastal areas. The sand on the beaches is formed by the erosion of the nearby cliffs, the black colour of solidified lava. When this extreme landscape is revealed by sunlight the contrast is marked. It becomes more pleasant and magical as the daylight transitions into a warm, soft, diffuse shimmer from the sky. This experience helped alleviate my fear of illuminating black surfaces.
London, my current home
This was taken from my balcony. I’m lucky enough to live by a natural reservoir with a bird sanctuary. Sunlight is filtered and diffused by atmospheric particles while the thicker layer of atmosphere scatters the blue and violet wavelengths. This scattering decreases the sunlight's colour temperature creating a golden or reddish hue. It is what all living organisms instinctively cherish at this time of the day – and the main reason why our lighting interventions should align with nature’s intentions.
Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, business trip
A majestic place, with towering rock formations. The top of a mountain overlooking a natural oasis was the best spot to catch the sunset. The natural colours of the landscape became even more vibrant. Yet the grand surprise was when the full moon took the foreground in the still very bright pink sky, bringing a sense of peace as I stared at the sky dome. It was there I was reminded that nature is always variable and unpredictable. I hope to continue using light to create these special moments of surprise in the projects we do.
July/August 2023 Twitter: @sll100 15 Top five
2 5 1 4 3
Carolina Florian, MSLL, is head of lighting at Buro Happold and VP of the SLL.
Events 2023
For details of all upcoming webinars, go to: www.cibse.org/society-oflight-and-lighting-sll/sll-events/upcoming-webinars-and-onlinecontent
For previously recorded CPD webinars (including regional webinars), go to: https://www.cibse.org/get-involved/societies/society-of-light-andlighting-sll/sll-events/on-demand-webinars-past-presentations
EVENTS
THE PATH TO SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING
(organised by the SLL)
Date: 15 August
Venue: Horizon Suite, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh Napier University, and online
Speakers: Ruairidh McGlynn of Stoane Lighting, and Dr Irene Mazzei, KTP associate, Edinburgh Napier University/Stoane Lighting
Guest speaker: Kristina Allison, SLL VP and senior lighting designer, Atkins Global
The aim of the event is to learn about how to recognise and quantify the circularity of lighting products, together with how to increase their service life. The presentation will take a deep dive into metrics used to quantify the environmental impact of luminaires. To achieve low impact luminaires, the whole lighting community is invited to contribute.
SLL READY STEADY LIGHT 2023
Date: 17 October
Venue: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Kent www.sll@cibse.org
LIGHT23
Date: 21-22 November
Venue: Business Design Centre, Islington, London www.lightexpo.london
LIGHT2PERFORM
(organised by the SLL as part of CIBSE's Build2Perform)
Date: 5-6 December
Venue: London ExCeL www.sll@cibse.org
AVAILABLE WEBINARS INCLUDE MERGING WORLDS: LIGHTING IN GAMES, ANIMATION, FILMS AND BEYOND
Speaker: Jeremy Vickery, film and gaming production professional Jeremy will share observations from 25 years in the games and film industry and the advent of virtual production which merges the two. He will discuss how the use of game engines and architectural LED panels have spawned a new brand in live action filmmaking, share lessons learned across different lighting disciplines, and how different fields of lighting can enhance each other, and explore common themes that facilitate pleasing visual storytelling using light.
THE RIGHT TO THE RIGHT LIGHT: URBAN LIGHTING FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY
Speakers: Elettra Bordonaro, co-founder of Light Follows Behaviour, and Don Slater, LSE sociology, co-director Configuring Light/Staging the Social research group
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