ACOUSTIC TERMS Wave front – A surface of a propagating wave • Hearing – The sense by which sound is

composed at any instant of all points having perceived, involving the entire mechanism of the
SOUND
identical phase, usually perpendicular to the internal, middle, and external ear, and including
Sound – The sensation stimulated in the organs direction of propagation. the nervous and cerebral operations that
of hearing by mechanical radiant energy translate the physical operations into meaningful
Pitch – The predominant frequency of a sound as
transmitted as longitudinal pressure waves signals.
perceived by the human car.
through the air or other medium.
o Loudness – A subjective response to sound
Octave – The interval between two frequencies
Sound wave – A longitudinal pressure wave in air indicating the magnitude of the auditory
having a ratio of 2:1.
or an elastic medium, esp. one producing an sensation produced by the amplitude of a sound
audible sensation. Fundamental –The lowest frequency at which a wave.
vibrating element or system will freely oscillate.
Wave – A disturbance or oscillation that o Phon – A unit for measuring the apparent
Also called fundamental frequency.
transfers energy progressively from point to point loudness of a sound, equal in number to the
in a medium or space without advance by the • Harmonic – A vibration having a frequency that decibels of a 1000 Hz, reference sound judged by
points themselves, as in the transmission of is an integral multiple of that of the fundamental. a group of listeners to be equal in loudness to the
sound or light. given sound.
• Band – A range of wavelengths or frequencies
Waveform – graphic representation of the shape between two defined limits o Sone – A unit for measuring the apparent
of a wave, obtained by plotting deviation at a loudness of a sound, judged by a group of
. • Doppler effect –An apparent shift in
fixed point versus time. listeners to be equal to the loudness of a 1000-
frequency occurring when an acoustic source
Hz, reference sound having an intensity of 40
Wavelength –The distance, measured in the and listener are in motion relative to each other,
decibels.
direction of propagation of a wave, from any one the frequency increasing when the source and
point to the next point of corresponding phase. listener approach each other and decreasing o Equal loudness contour – A curve
when they move apart. representing the sound pressure level at which
• Phase – A particular point or stage in a periodic
sounds of different frequencies are judged by a
cycle or process. • Speed of sound – The velocity of sound
group of listeners to be equally load.
traveling through air at approximately 1087 ft. per
• Amplitude –The maximum deviation of a wave
second at sea level, through water at o Threshold of pain – The level of sound intensity
or alternating current from its average value.
approximately 4500 ft. per second, through wood high enough to produce the sensation of pain in
Frequency –The number of cycles per unit time at approximately 11,700 ft. per second, and the human ear, usually around 130 db.
of a wave or oscillation. through steel at an approximately 18,000 ft. per
o Audio frequency –A range of frequencies from
second.
Hertz – The SI unit of frequency, equal to one 15 Hz to 20,000 Hz audible to the normal human
cycle per second. Abbr: Hz ear.
• Auditory fatigue –Physical or mental weariness o Sound pressure level –Sound pressure o Acoustical design –The planning, shaping,
caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises. measured on the decibel scale, equal to 10 times finishing, and furnishing of an enclosed space to
the common logarithm of the ratio of the sound establish the acoustical environment necessary
• Hearing loss – An increase in the threshold of
pressure to a reference pressure, usually 20 for distinct hearing.
audibility, at specific frequencies, caused by
micropascals
normal aging, disease, or injury to be hearing o Acoustical treatment –The application of
organs. . o Micropascal – One-millionth part of a pascal. absorbent or reflecting materials to the walls,
ceiling, and floor of an enclosed space to alter or
• Sound level meter –An electrical instrument • Sound intensity –The rate at which acoustic
improve its acoustic properties.
for measuring sound pressure levels. To energy flows through a medium, expressed in
compensate for the way we perceive the relative watts per square meter. • Room acoustics – The qualities or
loudness of different frequencies of sound, there characteristics of a room, auditorium, or concert
o Sound intensity level –Sound intensity
are three networks: A, B, and C. These networks hall that determine the audibility of speech or
measured on the decibel scale, equal to 10 times
weight the recordings for different frequencies fidelity of musical sounds in it.
the common logarithm of the ratio of the sound
and combine the results in a single reading. The
intensity to a reference intensity, usually 10 -12 o Sounding board – A structure over or behind
A-network sale, In dBA units, Is most commonly
watts per square meter. and above a speaker or orchestra to reflect the
used since it discriminates against the lower
sound toward the audience.
frequencies, as does the human ear at moderate o Logarithm – The exponent indicating the power
sound levels. to which a base number must be raised to arrive o Reflecting surface –A non-absorptive surface,
at a given number from which incident sound is reflected, used esp.
• Sound power – The amount of acoustic energy
to redirect sound in a space. To be effective, a
radiated by a source per unit time, expressed in . o Common logarithm – A logarithm having a
reflecting surface should have a least dimension
watts. base of 10.
equal to or greater than the wavelength of the
o Sound power level –The acoustic power of a lowest frequency of the sound being reflected.
source, measured on the decibel scale, equal to
• Acoustics – The branch of physics that deals o Acoustic cloud – One of a number of acoustic
10 times the common logarithm of the ratio of the
with the production, control, transmission, panels installed near the ceiling of a concert hall
acoustic power to a reference power, usually 10-
reception, and effects of sound. to reflect sound for improving the acoustic
12 watts.
quality of music.
o Acoustic analysis –A detailed study of the use
• Sound pressure – The difference between the
of a building. The location and orientation of its o Diffracted sound – Airborne sound waves bent
actual pressure at any point in the field of a
spaces, possible sources of noise, and the by diffraction around an obstacle in their path.
sound wave and the static pressure at that point,
desirable acoustical environment in each usable
expressed in pascals. o Reflected sound –The return of unabsorbed
area.
airborne sound after striking a surface, at an
angle equal to the angle of incidence.
o Direct sound – Airborne sound travelling distance from the source increases as a result of to sounds in this frequency region. Also called
directly from a source to the listener. absorption, scattering, or spreading in three NC curves.
dimensions.
• Airborne sound –Sound radiated directly into • Background noise level –The level of ambient
and transmitted through the air. o Live – Highly • Echo – The repetition of a sound produced by sound normally present in a space, above which
reverberant or resonant, as an auditorium or the reflection of sound waves from an speech, music, or other sounds must be
concert hall. obstructing surface, loud enough and received presented to be heard.
late enough to be perceived as distinct from the
o Dead – Without resonance, as a room free from o Background noise – The sound normally
source.
echoes and reverberation. present in an environment, usually composite of
• Flutter – A rapid succession of echoes caused sounds from both exterior and interior sources,
o Soundproof –Impervious to audible sound.
by the reflection of sound waves back and forth none of which are distinctly identifiable by the
• Resonance – The intensification and between two parallel surfaces, with sufficient listener.
prolongation of sound produced by sympathetic time between each reflection to cause the liste
o White noise – An unvarying, unobstrusive
vibration. ner to be aware of separate, discrete signals.
sound having the same intensity for all
o Sympathetic vibration –A vibration induced in • Focusing – The convergence of sound waves frequencies of a given band, used to mask or
one body by the vibrations of exactly the same reflected from a concave surface. obliterate unwanted sound. Also called white
period in a neighboring body sound.
• Noise – Any sound that is unwanted, annoying,
. • Reverberation –The persistence of a sound or discordant, or that interferes with one’s • Standing wave – A wave in which the
within an enclosed space, caused by multiple hearing of something. amplitude of the resultant of a transmitted and a
reflection of the sound after its source has reflected wave is fixed in time and ranges from
o Noise reduction –The perceived difference in
stopped zero at the nodes to a maximum at the antinodes.
sound pressure levels between two enclosed
. o Decay rate – The rate of decrease of sound spaces, due to the sound-isolating qualities of • Interference –The phenomenon in which two
pressure level after its source has stopped, the separating barrier as well as the absorption or more light or sound waves of the same
usually expressed in decibels per second. present in the receiving room: expressed in frequency combine to reinforce or cancel each
decibels. other. The amplitude of the resulting wave being
o Reverberation time –The time in seconds
equal to the algebraic or vector sum of the
required for a sound made in an enclosed space • Noise criteria curve – One of a series of curves
amplitudes of the combining waves.
to diminish by 60 decibels. representing the sound pressure level across the
frequency spectrum for background noise that • Absorption –The interception and conversion of
should not be exceeded in various environments. sound energy into heat or other form of energy by
• Attenuation –A decrease in energy or pressure Higher noise levels are permitted at the lower the structure of a material, measured in sabins or
per unit area of a sound wave, occurring as the frequencies since the human ear is less sensitive absorption units.
o Sabin – A unit of sound absorption, equal to by the alternating air pressures of incident sound • Average transmission loss –A single-number
one sq. ft. (0.09 sq. m.) of a perfectly absorptive waves. rating of the performance of a building material
surface. or construction assembly in preventing the
• Structure-borne sound transmission –Sound
transmission of airborne sound, equal to the ave
o Metric sabin – A unit of sound absorption, transmitted, through the solid media of a
rage of its TL values at nine test frequencies.
equal to 1 square meter of perfectly absorptive building’s structure as a result of direct physical
surface. Also called absorption unit. contact or impact, as by vibrating equipment or • Sound transmission class –A single-number
footsteps. rating of the performance of a building material
• Absorption coefficient –A measure of the
or construction assembly in preventing the
efficiency of a material in absorbing sound at a • Transmission loss –A measure of the
transmission of airborne sound, derived by
specified frequency. performance of a building material or
comparing the laboratory TL test curve for the
construction assembly in preventing the
• Noise reduction coefficient –A measure of the material or assembly to a standard frequency
transmission of airborne sound, equal to the
sound-absorbing efficiency of a material, equal curve.
reduction in sound intensity as it passes through
to the average of the absorption coefficients of
the material or assembly when tested at all one- • Impact noise –Structure-borne sound
the material, computed to the nearest 0.05 at
third octave band center frequencies from 125 to generated by physical impact, as by footsteps or
four frequencies 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz.
4000 Hz: expressed in decibels. the moving of furniture.
• Sound isolation –The use of building materials
• Acoustic mass – Resistance to the • Impact insulating class –A single-number
and construction assemblies designed to reduce
transmission of sound caused by the inertia and rating of the performance of a floor-ceiling
the transmission of airborne and structure-borne
elasticity of the transmitting medium. In general, construction in preventing the transmission of
sound from one room to another or from the
the heavier and denser a body, the greater its impact noise.
exterior to the interior of a building. Also called
resistance to sound transmission.
sound insulation. • Discontinuous construction –Any of several
• Vibrator isolator – A resilient base for construction methods, as the use of staggered
• Flanking path – A path for the transmission of
mechanical equipment, installed to reduce the studs or resilient mountings, for breaking the
sound other than through a floor, wall or ceiling
transmission of vibration and noise to the continuity of a path through which structure-
assembly, as along interconnecting structures as
supporting structure. Also called isolation borne sound may be transmitted from one space
ductwork or piping.
mount. to another.
• Plenum barrier –An acoustic barrier erected in
• Inertia block – A heavy concrete base for o Staggered-stud partition –A partition for
a plenum over a partition to reduce sound
vibrating mechanical equipment, used in reducing sound transmission between rooms,
transmission between adjoining rooms.
conjunction with vibration isolators to increase framed with two separate rows of studs arranged
• Airborne sound transmission –Sound the mass of the equipment and decrease the in zigzag fashion and supporting opposite faces
transmitted when a surface is set into vibration potential for vibratory movement. of the partition, sometimes with a fiberglass
blanket between.
o Resilient mounting –A system of flexible LIGHTING TERMS o Candle –A unit of luminous intensity used prior
attachments or supports that permits room to 1946, equal to the luminous intensity of a wax
LIGHT
surfaces to vibrate normally without transmitting candle of standard specifications.
the vibratory motions and associated noise to the • Light – Electromagnetic radiation that the
o Candela – The basic SI unit of
supporting structure. unaided human eye can perceive, having a
luminousintensity, equal to the luminous
wavelength in the range from about 370 to 800
o Resilient channel –A metal channel for the intensity of a source that emits monochromatic
mm and propagating at a speed of 186,281
resilient mounting of wallboard to studs or joists, radiation of frequency 504 x 10 to the 12th power
mi./sec (299,972 km/sec).
used in sound isolating construction to reduce hertz and that has a radiant intensity of 1/683
the transmission of vibrations and noise. • Nanometer –A unit of length equal to one watt per steradian. Also called standard candle.
billionth of a meter, used esp. to express the Abbr. Cd.
o Resilient clip –A flexible metal device for the
wavelengths of light in or near the visible
resilient mounting of wallboard or metal lath to o Steradian – A solid angle at the center of a
spectrum. Abbr. nm.
studs or joists, used in sound-isolating sphere subtending an area on the surface equal
construction to reduce the transmission of • Angstrom – A unit of length equal to one ten- to the square of the radius of the sphere. Abbr. Sr.
vibration and noise billionth of a meter, used esp. to express the
 Solid angle – An angle formed by three or more
wavelengths of radiation. Symbol: A.
planes intersecting at a common point.
• Ultraviolet –Of or pertaining to
• Luminous flux –The rate of flow of visible light
electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths
per unit time, expressed in lumens.
from about 370 nm, immediately beyond the
violet in the visible spectrum, to 10 nm, on the o Lumen – The Si unit of luminous flux, equal to
border of the X-ray region. the light emitted in a solid angle of one steradian
by a uniform point source having an intensity of
• Infrared – Of or pertaining to electromagnetic
one candela. Abbr. lm
radiation having wavelengths from about 800 nm,
contiguous to the red end of the visible • Inverse square law –One of several laws
spectrum, to 1 mm, on the border of the relating two quantities such that one quantity
microwave region. varies inversely as the square of the other, as the
law that the illumination produced on a surface
• Luminous intensity –The luminous flux
by a point source varies inversely as the square of
emitted per unit solid angle by a light source,
the distance of the surface from the source.
expressed in candelas.
o Cosine law – The law that the illumination
o Candlepower –Luminous intensity expressed
produced on a surface by point source is
in candelas.
proportional to the cosine of the angle of reflection, and the incident ray, the re flected ray, o Diffuse –Dispersed from an irregular surface.
incidence. Also called Lambert’s law. and the normal to the surface all lie in the same
• Reflectance –The ratio of the radiation
plane.
• Illumination –The intensity of light falling at any reflected by a surface to the total incident on the
given place on a lighted surface, equal to the • Angle of reflection –The angle that a reflected surface
luminous flux incident per unit area expressed in ray makes with a normal to a reflecting surface at
. • Absorptance – The ratio of the radiation
lumens per unit of area. Also called luminance. the point of incidence.
absorbed by a surface to the total incident on the
O Lux – The SI unit of illumination, equal to one • Angle of incidence –The angle that a straight surface.
lumen per square meter. Abbr: lx line, as a ray of light falling on a surface, makes
• Transmittance – The ratio of the radiation
with a normal to the surface at the point of
o Foot-candle –A unit of illumination on a transmitted through and emerging from a body to
Incidence.
surface that is everywhere ne foot from a uniform the total incident on it, equivalent to minus the
point source of one candela and equal to one • Reflection –The return of light, sound, or absorptance.
lumen incident per square foot. radiant heat after striking a surface.
• Opaque – Impenetrable of light.
• Luminance – The quantitative measure of • Incidence –The striking of a ray of light or
brightness of a light source or an illuminated sound wave on a surface.
surface, equal to the luminous intensity per unit • Translucent – Transmitting and diffusing light
• Refraction – The change of direction of a ray of
projected area of the source or surface viewed so that bodies on the opposite side are not
light as it passes obliquely from one medium to
from a given direction. clearly visible.
another in which its velocity is different.
o Lambert – A unit of luminance or brightness • Transparent – Capable of transmitting light so
o Angle of refraction – The angle that a refracted
equal to 032 candela per square centimeter, that bodies of situated beyond or behind can be
ray makes with a normal to the interface between
Abbr. L distinctly seen.
two media at the point of incidence.
o Foot-lambert –A unit of luminance or • Lamp – Any of various devices for producing
• Diffraction –The modulation of light or sound
brightness equal to 032 candela per square foot. light or heat, as by electricity or gas.
waves as they bend around the edges of an
Abbr. FL
obstacle in their path. • Incandescent lamp –A lamp in which a
o Brightness –The sensation by which an filament gives off light when heated to
• Specular – Directed from a smooth, polished
observer is able to distinguish between Incandescence by an electric current. Also called
surface.
differenced in luminance. light bulb.
• Diffusion –A scattered reflection of light from
• Law of reflection –The principle that when light o Filament –The threadlike conductor of an
an irregular surface or an erratic dispersion
or sound is reflected from a smooth surface, The electric lamp that is heated to incandescence by
through a translucent material.
angle of incidence is equal to the angle of the passage of an electric current.
 Incandescence –The emission of visible light luminous flux, equal to the ratio of flux emitted to
by a body when heated to a high temperature. power input and expressed in lumens per watt.
• B bulb – A flame-shaped for low-wattage,
o Bulb – The glass housing of an incandescent • Rated life – The average life in hours of a given decorative Incandescent lamp.
lamp, filled with an inert gas mixture, usually of type of lamp, based on laboratory tests of a
• C bulb – A cone-shaped bulb for low wattage,
argon and nitrogen, to retard evaporation of the representative group under controlled
decorative incandescent lamps.
filament, Its shape is designed by a letter, conditions.
followed by a number that indicates the lamp • CA bulb – A candle-shaped bulb for low-
• Three-way lamp –An incandescent lamp
diameter. wattage, decorative incandescent lamps.
having two filaments so that it can be switched to
o Lamp diameter –The maximum diameter of a three successive degrees of illumination. • R bulb – A reflector bulb of blown glass for
lamp bulb measured in eights of an inch. incandescent and high-intensity-discharge
• Tungsten lamp – An incandescent lamp having
lamps, having an internal reflective coating and
o Maximum overall length –The dimension in a tungsten filament
either a clear or frosted glass front to provide the
inches from the base of a lamp to the point on
. • Tungsten-halogen lamp –A tungsten lamp desired beam spread.
the bulb farthest away, or the base-to-base
having a quartz bulb containing a small amount
dimension of a lamp having a base at each end. • PAR bulb – A parabolic aluminized reflector
of a halogen that vaporizes on heating and
bulb of cast glass for incandescent and high-
o Light center length – The distance in inches redeposits any evaporated tungsten particles
intensity discharge lamps, having precisely
from the center of the filament of a lamp and a back onto the filament. Also called halogen
formed internal reflector and a lensed front to
reference plane on the lamp base. lamp, quartz lamp.
provide the desired beam spread.
o Lamp base – The part of a lamp that connects • IR lamp – A tungsten-halogen lamp having an
• ER bulb – An ellipsocial reflector bulb for
to a lamp holder. infrared dichroic coating for reflecting infrared
incandescent lamps, having a precisely formed
energy back to the filament, raising lamp
o Lamp holder – A device for mechanically internal reflector that collects light and redirects
efficiency, and reducing radiant heat in the
supporting and making electrical contact with a it into a dispersed pattern at some distance in
emitted light beam.
lamp. Also called lamp socket. front of the light source.
• Infrared lamp – An incandescent lamp having a
• Extended-service lamp –A lamp designed for • A/SB bulb – An A bulb having a hemispherical,
higher percentage of its radiant power in the
reduced energy consumption and a life longer reflective silver bowl opposite that lamp base to
infrared region than a standard incandescent
than the conventionally set value for its general decrease glare.
lamp, often having a red glass bulb to reduce the
class. Also called long-life lamp.
radiated visible light. • G bulb – A globe-shaped bulb for incandescent
• Efficacy – A measure of the effectiveness with lamps, having a low brightness for exposed use.
• A bulb – The standard rounded shape for the
which a lamp converts electric power into
bulbs of generalservice incandescent lamps. • PS bulb – A pear-shaped bulb for large
incandescent lamps.
• S bulb – A straight-sided bulb for low-wattage, • Triphosphor - A phosphor having peaks in • Very-high-output lamp –A rapid start
decorative incandescent lamps. three specific color regions, red, blue, and green, fluorescent lamp designed to operate on a
used to improve the color rendering of a current of 1500 milli amperes, providing a
• MR bulb – A multifaceted reflector bulb for
fluorescent lamp. corresponding increase in luminous flux per unit
tungsten-halogen lamps, having highly polished
length of lamp.
reflectors arranged in discrete segments to • Circline lamp –A doughnut-shaped fluorescent
provide the desired beam spread. lamp for circular luminaires. • High-intensity discharge lamp –A discharge
lamp in which a significant amount of light is
• TB bulb – A quartz bulb for tungsten-halogen • U-bent lamp – A U-shaped fluorescent lamp for
produced by the discharge of electricity through
lamps similar in shape to the A bulb but having square or rectangular luminaires.
a metallic vapor in a sealed glass enclosure
an angular profile.
• Compact fluorescent lamp –Any of various
. o BT bulb – A bulged tubular bulb for high-
• Discharge lamp – A lamp in which light is small, improved efficiency fluorescent lamps
intensity-discharge lamps.
produced by the discharge of electricity between having a single, double, or U-shaped tube, and
electrodes in gas-filled glass enclosure. often an adapter for fitting an incandescent lamp o E bulb – An ellipsoidal bulb for high-intensity
holder. discharge lamps.
• Fluorescent lamp –A tubular discharge lamp in
which light is produced by the fluorescence of • Preheat lamp – A fluorescent lamp that • Mercury lamp – A high intensity discharge lamp
phosphors coating the inside of the tube. requires a separate starter to preheat the producing light by means of an electric discharge
cathodes before opening the circuit to the in mercury vapor.
• Fluorescence –The emission of radiation, esp.
starting voltage.
of visible light, by a substance during exposure to • Sodium lamp – A high-intensity discharge lamp
external radiation. • Rapid-start lamp – A fluorescent lamp producing light by means of an electric discharge
designed to operate with a ballast having a low- in sodium vapor.
o Ballast – A device for maintaining the current
voltage winding for continuous heating of the
through a fluorescent or HID lamp at the desired • Low-pressure sodium lamp –A sodium lamp
cathodes, which allows the lamp to be started
constant value, and sometimes also providing producing a yellow, glare less light and used esp.
more rapidly than a preheat lamp.
the required starting voltage and current. to illuminate roadways
• Instant-start lamp – A fluorescent lamp
o Starter – A device used with a ballast to • High-pressure sodium lamp –A sodium lamp
designed to operate with a ballast having a high-
provide the starting voltage for a preheat producing a broaderspectrum, golden-white light
voltage transformer to initiate the arc directly
fluorescent lamp. than a low-pressure sodium lamp.
without any preheating of the cathodes.
o T bulb – A tubular bulb for incandescent, • Metal halide lamp –A high-intensity discharge
• High-output lamp –A rapid-start fluorescent
fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge lamps. lamp similar in construction to a mercury lamp
lamp designed to operate on a current of 800
but having an arc tube to which various metal
• Phosphor – Any of a number of substances that milliamperes, resulting in a corresponding
emit light when excited by radiation. increase in luminous flux per unit length of lamp.
halides are added to produce more light and • Parabolic reflector –A reflector having a perpendicular, parallel, and sometimes a 45
improve color rendering. parabolic surface to collinate, spread, or focus degree plane for an asymmetrical source.
the rays from a light source, depending on the
• Neon lamp – A cold-cathode lamp emitting a • Isochart – A graphic plot of the pattern of
location of the source.
glow when a high voltage is applied across two illumination produced on a surface by a lamp or
electrodes in a neon-filled glass tube. • Collimate –To make rays of light parallel. luminaire.

• Cold-cathode lamp –A discharge lamp having • Elliptical reflector –A reflector having an • Isolux line –A line through all points on a
cathodes that emit electrons without having to elliptical surface to focus the rays from a light surface where the level of illumination is the
be heated. source. same. Called isofootcandle line if illumination is
expressed in footcandles.
• Luminaire – A lighting unit consisting of one or • Ridged baffle –A series of circular ridges for
more electric lamps with all of the necessary reducing the brightness of a light source at an • Luminaire efficiency –The ratio of luminous
parts and wiring for positioning and protecting apartment. flux emitted by a luminaire to the total flux
the lamps, connecting the lamps to a power emitted by the lamps in the luminaire.
• Diffuser –Any of a variety of translucent
supply, and distributing the light. Also called
materials for filtering glare from a light source • Point source – A light source having a
lighting fixture.
and distributing the light over an extended area. maximum dimension less than one fifth the
• Reflector –A surface for reflecting light, heat, or distance from the source to the surface
• Louver – A finned or vaned device for
sound, esp. the device on a luminaire having illuminated.
controlling the radiation from a light source.
such a surface for controlling the distribution of
• Wall washer – A downlight mounted close to
light emitted by a lamp. • Eggcrate – A louvered construction divided into
the plane of a wall and equipped with a reflector,
cell-like areas and used for redirecting the light
• Lens – A piece of transparent material, as glass baffle or lens to illuminate the vertical surface.
emitted by an overhead source.
or plastic, having two opposite surfaces either or
• Floodlight –A lamp designed to project or
both of which are curved, used in luminaires to • Baffle – A louvered device for shielding a light
diffuse a comparatively uniform level of
focus, disperse, or collimate the emitted light. source from view at certain angles.
illumination over a large area. Also called flood,
• Freshnel lens –A lens having concentric, • Shielding angle –The angle below which a light flood lamp.
prismatic grooves to concentrate light form a source can be seen.
• Downlight –A luminaire consisting of a lamp
small source.
• Candlepower distribution curve –A polar plot set in a metal cylinder, recessed into or mounted
• Prismatic lens –A lens having a multifaceted of the luminous intensity emitted by a lamp, on a ceiling to direct a beam of light downward.
surface with parallel prisms to redirect the rays luminaire, or window in a given direction from the
• Spotlight –A lamp designed to project a strong,
from a light source. center of the light source, measured in a single
focused beam of light on an object or area. Also
plane for a symmetrical light source, and in a
called spot.
o Spill – Superfluous or useless light rays, as • Pendant – A lighting fixture suspended from a o Backlight – To illuminate something from
from a spotlight or other focused light source. ceiling. behind in order to enhance depth or to separate
Also called spill light. the subject from its background. o Sidelight –
• Bridge lamp – A floor lamp having the light
Light coming or produced from the side.
• Track lighting –Lighting provided by adjustable source on a hinged, horizontally adjustable arm.
spotlight mounted along a narrow ceiling or o Soft light – Diffuse light that produces little
• Gooseneck lamp – A desk lamp having a
wallmounted metal track through which current contrast and poorly defined shadows on the
flexible shaft resembling the neck of a goose. •
is conducted. subject.
Torchiere – A floor lamp having its light source
• Linear source – A light source having one within a reflecting bowl that directs the light o Hard light – Direct light that produces high
dimension significantly greater than its other upward. Also, torchere, torchier. contrast and distinct shadows on the subject.
dimensions, as a fluorescent lamp.
• Chandelier –A decorative lighting fixture • Task lighting –Lighting designed to provide
o Light strip – A rigid or flexible tape with suspended from a ceiling, usually having strong illumination for a visually demanding
exposed low-voltage light sources of 1 to 10 branched supports for a number of lamps. activity, as reading or drafting.
watts.
• Sconce – A decorative wall bracket for candles • Direct lighting – Lighting in which luminaires
o Troffer – A luminaire having a trough-shaped or other lights. distribute 90% to 100% of the emitted light
reflector holding one or more fluorescent lamps. downward on the surface or area to be
• Lighting – The science, theory, or method of
illuminated.
• Area source – A light source having significant providing illumination through the use of electric
dimensions in two directions, as a large window lamps. • Semi-direct lighting –Lighting in which
or a luminous ceiling. luminaires distribute 60% to 90% of the emitted
• General lighting –Lighting designed to provide
downward.
o Cove lighting –Indirect lighting directed upward a uniform level of illumination throughout an
from an interior cornice at the edge of a ceiling. area. • General diffuse lighting –Lighting form
luminaires that emit an approximately equal
o Valance lighting –Indirect lighting directed • Local lighting –Lighting designed to provide a
distribution of light upward and downward.
upward or downward from a light source relatively high level of illumination over a small
concealed by a horizontal board or band. area, with a surrounding area of lower intensity • Glare – The sensation produced by any
from spill light. brightness within the visual field that is
o Cornice lighting –Indirect lighting directed
sufficiently greater than the luminance to which
downward from an interior cornice at the edge of • Accent lighting –Lighting that calls attention to
the eyes are adapted to cause annoyance,
a ceiling. a particular object or feature in the visual field, or
discomfort, or loss of visibility.
that forms a decorative pattern on a surface.
• Droplight – A lighting fixture suspended from a
ceiling or wall by a flexible cord, by which it can o Highlight –To emphasize by illuminating with a
be raised or lowered. strong light.
o Blinding glare –Glare so intense that, for an • Brightness ratio – The ratio between the o Beam – A group of nearly parallel rays of light. o
appreciable length of time after it has been luminance of an object and that of its Throw – The effective length of a beam of light.
removed, visibility is lost. background. Also called contrast ratio.
• Lumen method / Cavity method – A
o Disability glare –Glare that reduces visibility or • Semi-direct lighting –Lighting in which procedure for determining the number and types
impairs visual performance, often accompanied luminaires distribute 60% to 90% of the emitted of lamps, luminaires, or windows required to
by discomfort. light downward. provide a uniform level of illumination on a work
plane, taking into account both direct and
o Discomfort glare – Glare that produces • General diffuse lighting –Lighting from
reflected luminous flux.
discomfort but does not necessarily interfere luminaires that emit an approximately equal
with visibility or visual performance. distribution of light upward and downward. • Work plane – The horizontal plane at which
work is done and on which illumination is
o Direct glare – Glare resulting from a high • Direct-indirect lighting –General diffuse
specified and measured, usually assumed to be
brightness ratio or an insufficiently shielded light lighting in which little light is emitted in the
30 in. (762 mm) above the floor.
source in the visual field. horizontal plane of the luminaires.
• Ceiling cavity –The cavity formed by the
o Reflected glare –Glare resulting from the • Semi-direct lighting –Lighting in which
ceiling, a plane of suspended luminaires, and the
specular reflection of a lightsource within the luminaires distribute 90% to 100% of the emitted
wall surfaces between these two planes.
visual field. Also called indirect glare. light upward, esp. to avoid glare or prevent
shadows. • Room cavity – The cavity formed by a plane of
o Veiling reflectance –Reflected glare on a task
luminaires, the work plane, and the wall surfaces
surface that reduces the contrast necessary for • Point method – A procedure for calculating the
between these two planes.
seeing details. illumination produced on a surface by a point
source from any angle, based on the inverse • Floor cavity – The cavity formed by the work
square and cosine laws. plane, the floor, and the wall surfaces between
• Adaptation – The regulating by the pupil of the these two planes.
• Spacing criteria – A formula for determining
quantity of light entering the eye, resulting in a
how far apart luminaires may be installed for • Room cavity ratio – A single number derived
change in the sensitivity of the eye’s
uniform lighting of a surface or area, based on from the dimensions of a room cavity for use in
photoreceptors to light.
mounting height. determining the coefficient of utilization.
• Visual comfort probability –A rating of the
• Beam spread – The angle of a light beam that • Light loss factor – Any of several factors used
likelihood that a lighting system will not cause
intersects the candlepower distribution curve at in calculating the effective illumination provided
direct glare, expressed as the percentage of
points where the luminous intensity equals a by a lighting system after a given period of time
people who may be expected to experience
stated percent of a maximum reference intensity. and under given conditions. Formerly called
visual comfort when seated in the least favorable
maintenance factor.
visual position.
• Coefficient of utilization –The ratio of the . • Non-recoverable light loss factor – Any of • Cloud sky – A sky having between 30% to 70%
luminous flux reaching a specified work plane to several permanent light loss factors that take into cloud cover, with a solar disk obstructed.
the total lumen output of a luminaire, taking into account the effects of temperature, voltage
• Overcast sky – A sky having 100% cloud cover.
account the proportions of a room and the drops or surges, ballast variations, and partition
Also, the CIE standard for a reference sky having
reflectances of its surfaces. heights.
a luminance distribution three times brighter
• Coefficient of utilization –The ratio of the • Daylighting –The science, theory, or method of near the zenith than at the horizon.
luminous flux reaching a specified work plane to providing illumination through the use of light of
• CIE – Commission Internationale de I’Eclairage,
the total lumen output of a luminaire, taking into day.
an International commission developing
account the proportions of a room and the
• Daylight – To provide an interior space with definitions, standards, and procedures for the
reflectances of its surfaces.
daylight from both direct and indirect sources. art, science, and technology of lighting.
• Recoverable light loss factor – A light loss
• Skylight –The light from the sky, reflected and • IES – Illuminating Engineering Society, a
factor that may be recovered by relamping or
diffused by air molecules. professional society in North America devoted to
maintenance, as lamp lumen depreciation, and
the development and dissemination of standards
room surface dirt depreciation. • Sunlight –The direct light of the sun.
and procedures relating to the art, science, and
o Lamp lumen depreciation –A light loss factor • Ground light – Sunlight or skylight reflected by technology of lighting.
representing the decrease in luminous output of surfaces below the plane of the horizon
• Daylight factor method – A method for
a lamp during its operating life, expressed as a
. • Zenith – The point on the celestial sphere calculating the performance of a daylighting
percentage of initial lamp lumens.
vertically above a given position or observer. • system, based on the daylight factor.
o Luminaire dirt depreciation –A light loss Counter light – Light originating from
• Daylight factor – A measure of daylight
factor representing the decrease in luminous sourcesfacing each other as from window in
illuminance, expressed as the ratio of daylight
output of a luminaire resulting from the opposite walls.
illumination at a point on a given plane to the
accumulation of dirt on its surfaces, expressed
• Cross light – Light originating from sources not simultaneously measured illuminance on a
as a percentage of the illumination from the
facing each other, as from windows in adjacent horizontal plane from an unobstructed sky of
luminaire when new or clean.
walls. assumed or known luminance distribution.
o Room surface dirt depreciation –A light loss
• Clear sky – A sky having less than 30% cloud o Sky component – A component of the daylight
factor representing the decrease in reflected light
cover with the solar disk unobstructed. Also, the factor, equal to the ratio of daylight illumination
resulting from the accumulation of dirt on a
CIE standard for a reference cloudless sky at a point on a given plane received directly from
room’s surfaces, expressed as a percentage of
condition, having the greatest luminance near a sky of assumed or known luminance
the light reflected from the surfaces when clean
the sun and least luminance 90 degree from the distribution to the simultaneously measured
sun.
illuminance on a horizontal plane from an
unobstructed hemisphere of this sky.

o External reflected component –A component

of the daylight factor, equal to the ratio of the
daylight illumination at a point on a given plane
received directly from exterior reflecting surfaces
to the simultaneously measured illuminance on
a horizontal plane from an unobstructed sky of
assumed or known luminance distribution

. o Internal reflected component –A component

of the daylight factor equal to the ratio of the
daylight illumination at a point on a given plane
received directly or indirectly from interior
reflecting surfaces to the simultaneously
measured illuminance on a horizontal plane from
an unobstructed sky of assumed or known
luminance distribution.

• Artificial sky –A hemispherical dome or similar

enclosure illuminated by concealed light sources
that simulate the luminance distribution of a
clear or overcast sky, used for studying and
testing daylighting techniques on architectural
models placed near its center.

• Heliodon –A device for orienting an

architectural model to a light source representing
the sun, calibrated with respect to latitude, time
of day, and seasons of the year and used for
studying daylighting techniques and shadows
cast by the sun.