When performing major repairs, people are faced with the problem of calculating the number of lumens per square meter. This calculation is necessary to create good lighting in the room. An experienced person can immediately imagine the required number of lamps, their power, the type and amount of luminous flux they give, roughly estimating the area of the room. Lumen is a measure of light output.
Content
- Illumination standards
- Self-calculation
- Lighting in living quarters
- Innovative devices
- Converting watts to lumens
Illumination standards
A professional will competently make lighting that will emphasize the features of the interior and create a pleasant atmosphere in the apartment. A beginner will have to look for an answer to the question of how to calculate the required amount of light.
All recommendations on the standards of illumination required for a person for normal life and work, contain sanitary norms and rules (SanPiN) and building codes and regulations (SNiP) established by the state.
Many people believe that the more powerful the bulbs, the better. But this is not at all the case. It is the illumination that plays the main role. The meaning of this concept is that there is a certain amount of light per square meter of surface. Luminous flux is measured in lux and lumens. The relationship between these units is as follows: one lux is one lumen of light per square meter of area. For example, a 5 watt incandescent lamp emits a luminous flux of 20 lumens, and a 10 watt lamp emits 50.
It is quite obvious that the illumination is influenced not only by the power of the light sources, but also by the parameters of the room itself: its dimensions, the materials from which it is made, and many other factors.
Professionals measure the amount of light with special devices - lux meters. Not everyone has this kind of equipment, but everyone can roughly determine the level of light needed in a particular room. Of course, he will not be able to say exactly how many lumens are required per square meter, but a competent approach will help to find the right amount of illumination without harm to health.
The lighting rates required for the calculation are how many lumens do you need per 1 m² are as follows:
- study room - 300 lumens per sq. m;
- children's room - 200 lumens per sq. m;
- utility rooms, corridors, bathrooms - 50 lumens per sq. m;
- living quarters - 150 lumens per sq. m.
Self-calculation
You can determine the required number of lumens using the following example. It is necessary to calculate the amount of light for the workplace. The standard set by the state says that the illumination level should be 300 lumens per square.
With an approximate area of the room of 30 squares, the total number of lumens will be 9000 (the norm of SanPiN multiplied by the area of the room). The approximate illumination value has been found. But then you should take into account such a value as the coefficient of the height of the room. The greater the distance from floor to ceiling, the greater this parameter is:
- at 2.7-3 m - 1.2;
- at 3.1-3.4 m - 1.5;
- at 3.5-4.5 m - 2.
This indicator is included in the general calculation formula, which will look like this: 300 lm / m² x 30 m² x coefficient = result. For example, with a hypothetical room height of 3.5 meters, 18,000 lumens are obtained. Next, you just need to determine how many lamps will create such illumination.
Lighting in living quarters
General lighting fixtures are always used in the bathrooms. In some cases, it is possible to add lamps that provide local illumination, such as mirrors.
In the corridor (entrance hall), the layout in most cases does not provide for natural light - there are no windows. Therefore, you have to limit yourself to artificial light. To create a comfortable environment, lamps with a wide scattering angle of the light flux are used.
The kitchen is a workplace. In addition to the general, it uses spot lighting for the convenience of cooking - above the sink and cutting tables.
The living room in all houses combines many functions: they relax here, meet guests, work, play sports, eat, etc. Therefore, an important aspect is the use of all possible types of lamps to create full-fledged lighting in the room.
The bedroom is a place where people take a break from the day's business. To illuminate bedrooms, soft and warm light is used. Luminaires in the bedroom often have a built-in power control function.
Innovative devices
Increasingly, people are changing their choice from traditional incandescent lamps in favor of LED. They, some time ago, were considered unacceptable light sources that could be used in an apartment or house. With the growth of production capacity and science, they began to represent significant competition for standard lighting devices.
Their ability to compete is due to the following factors:
- the lamp life is much longer than the usual one;
- LED lamp consumes less energy than halogen and incandescent lamps;
- The LED lamp does not heat up with prolonged use, which allows better and more creative use in interior design.
If earlier this device did not have the opportunity to compete with other lighting devices, now the manufacturers have tried. The market is saturated with lamps of various lighting levels, energy consumption and spectrum. Anyone can purchase exactly the product they need.
An important role is played by the fact that LED bulbs are more environmentally friendlythan their predecessors. They do not create fluctuations in the luminous flux, and they do not emit ultraviolet radiation.
Many experts advise using LED lamps when planning a room. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it is possible to purchase low-quality products. When buying a product, it is recommended to pay attention to the manufacturer's brand. As a rule, the more famous he is, the more high-quality products he produces.
Converting watts to lumens
When buying lighting devices, people are guided not by the number of lumens, but by the number of watts indicated by the manufacturer of the product. Moreover, the illumination parameters are not always indicated on the packaging. Buyers are more accustomed to counting not how many lumens per square meter will be required, but how much and what power of lamps should be purchased.
Incandescent lamps have taught consumers that the more watts, the better the lamp shines. But not everyone knows that there are more reliable and economical light sources that give the same illumination as an incandescent lamp. The table shows the approximate figures required when calculating how many watts per square meter of lighting are needed:
| Power | lamps | (watt) | The magnitude of the light |
| LED | Luminescent | Incandescent | flux (lumen) |
| 2−3 | 5−7 | 20 | 250 |
| 4−5 | 10−13 | 40 | 400 |
| 8−10 | 15−17 | 60 | 700 |
| 10−12 | 18−22 | 75 | 900 |
| 12−15 | 25−30 | 100 | 1200 |
The table clearly shows the difference in energy consumption between different types of lamps. However, you should not assume that the parameters given in it are very accurate. Here are only approximate characteristics of lighting devices that can be used when calculating how many lumens per square meter are needed.
On average, an incandescent lamp can produce 8 to 20 lumens of light per watt of energy consumed. The scatter occurs for many reasons. Some of them are: materials used by manufacturers, damage during transport of goods, etc.
The norms adopted in Russia have been adopted for a long time, and the calculation made according to them does not satisfy the modern quality of life. Many people complain that their apartments and houses are not well lit. For such consumers, when calculating how many lumens are needed per square meter, it is recommended to increase all indicators by 1.5 times.
There is also a need to install several switches in the same room that activate different lighting devices. A person with such a system can adjust the light level from soft and relaxing to bright working.
