Course Light-1: An Introduction to Lighting Design

Course Description:

This course is intended to prepare the target persons with the ability to understand and recognize different lighting sources, fixtures and lamps with defining the basics of lighting design terminology. 

The target Persons:

Design engineers, new graduate engineers, under graduate engineering students, site field engineers, maintenance engineers and technicians. 

Skills Development:

On completion of this course the target person will be able to: 

• Understand the concepts , terminology and basics for lighting design, 

• Recognize lighting sources, fixtures and lamps, 

• Understand day lighting design basics. 

Course Outline:

1- What is light?

2- What are the main sources of light?

2.1 - Natural light (day light or sun light) source: 

A- Effects of Using Day Lighting Source in Electrical Design.

B- What is Importance of day lighting in electrical lighting design?

C- What are the main characteristics of day lighting source?

C.1 Daylight Factor.

D- What are the types of day lighting technologies?

D.1 Active day lighting.

D.2 Passive day lighting.

E- What are the Common Methods for using Passive day lighting technology in a building?

E.1 Windows.

E.2 Skylight.

E.3 Light shelves.

E.4 Tubular Day lighting Devices (TDDs).

E.5 Smart glass.

F- Problems generated from using day lighting source.



2.2- Artificial lighting. 

First :Artificial light sources : 

A- Incandescent lamp.

B- Compact fluorescent lamp.

C- Fluorescent tube.

D- Discharge lamps:

• Low pressure discharge lamps. 

• High pressure discharge lamps. 

• High-intensity discharge lamps. 

E- Light Emitting Diode (LED).



Second: Forms of Artificial lighting: 

A- Indoor lighting: 

A.1 Types of Indoor Light fixtures/luminaires .


A.2 Types of Light fixtures according to light function:

• Ambient (general lighting). 

• Task. 

• Accent. 

• Informational lighting/Guidance Lighting. 

• Decorative lighting. 

A.3 Classification of Light fixtures according to lamp type .


A.4 How we can select the proper lamp type for a certain application:


A.5 Classification of Light fixtures according to installation method :

a- Free-standing or portable

b- Fixed:

• Recessed light.

• Surface-mounted light.

• Pendant light. 

• Sconce. 

• Track lighting fixture.

• Under-cabinet light.

• Emergency lighting or exit. 

• High- and low-bay lighting. 

• Strip lights or industrial lighting. 

• Soffit. 

A.6 Types of Light fixtures according to the percentage of light output above and below the horizontal:

• Direct Lighting. 

• Semi-direct Lighting. 

• General Diffuse Lighting. 

• Semi- Indirect Lighting. 

• Indirect Lighting. 

A.7 lighting fixture classification according to the Building/Space type.



B- Outdoor lighting: 

B.1 Classifications of outdoor Light fixtures/luminaires:

1- Types of Light fixtures according to light location and function:

• Floodlight. 

• Sports Lighting. 

• Street and Roadway. 

• Pathway. 

• Parking Lot and Garage. 

• Security. 

• Landscape. 

• Signage. 

2- Types of Outdoor Light fixtures according to lamp type .


3- Introduction in Lighting Design Process.

3.A- First step in designing lighting system for buildings.

3.B- Factors that can be controlled in the design of a lighting system:

• Direction.

• Color: 

1. Correlated Color Temperature (CCT). 
2. Color Rendering Index (CRI). 

• Quantity (Illuminance).

the next Course for Lighting Design will be " Course Lighting-2: Advanced Course for Lighting Design - Level I ".