How to calculate the number of lamps in a room: types of lighting, an example of the correct formula

High-quality lighting will become one of the prerequisites for a comfortable stay in the house. The homeowner will need to know how to correctly calculate the number of fixtures in the room, which will solve the problems of organizing a comfortable living space. It will be necessary not only to correctly determine the power of the lamps, but also to correctly select the color temperature of the lighting used.

High-quality light is the key to comfort

Many homeowners, when planning the interior and arrangement of an apartment or private building, do not think about about the importance of a competent choice of light, while in many respects the comfort of living in home. The correct calculation of lighting is not particularly difficult, but it will help you choose the necessary sconces, floor lamps and chandeliers that will perfectly harmonize with the interior and cope well with their main functions.

The correct choice of lighting will avoid the increased fatigue, which is noted in dim light in the room, or excessive irritability that occurs with an excessive number of lighting fixtures in bedrooms rooms. The homeowner needs to decide which lamps will be used in his apartment. These can be standard incandescent lamps, economical halogens or LED installations popular today.

In each case, when choosing, the power of the lighting device will differ depending on the area of ​​the room, the functional purpose and financial capabilities of the homeowner. In recent years, LED lamps have become very popular, which at the same time they are economical and allow to completely solve the problems with lighting of different areas premises. However, such lamps are expensive, and they require careful handling and the use of appropriate controllers to control the light in the apartment.

It is customary to distinguish between directional and diffused lighting. In the first case, powerful lamps without reflectors are used, which are capable of forming a narrow light flux. Such lamps are perfect for a study or zoning a room into separate functional areas. As standard lighting for living rooms, kitchens or bedrooms, it is preferable to choose diffused soft light that LED lamps with diffusers, as well as halogen installation.

Common types of luminaires

Until the recent past, the choice of lighting fixtures was limited, so people bought standard ceiling pendant chandeliers. Today, there are built-in models on sale., wall sconces, floor lamps, table lamps, spots and other lighting options:

1. Ceiling chandeliers. They will be an excellent option for the living room, kitchen or bedroom, can be made of various materials, differ in their size and style of decoration. On sale you can find both models with an LED power of 5-10 W, and options for incandescent lamps of 100 W or more.
2. Wall sconces. This option is perfect for a living room or bedroom as additional lighting. The sconce will look good in a dark hallway or in the bedroom above the bed. Such lamps allow the formation of soft diffused light, can be performed in a classic or modern style. On sale you can also find special modifications of sconces that are moisture resistant and suitable for the bathroom.
3. Floor lamps. They differ in ease of use, they can be easily transferred from room to room. Thanks to its stylish and attractive appearance, the lamp will become a real decoration of every interior. It is recommended to install floor lamps in dark corners of bedrooms, which allows you to visually make the room more spacious and comfortable.
4. Desk lamp. It is customary to divide them into decorative and working ones. The former are distinguished by their stylish appearance, can be made of various materials, and their power usually does not exceed 10-15 watts. Decorative lamps form soft diffused lighting, look great in the living room or bedroom. Working table lamps are made of durable materials, have a power of 40-50 W, and are capable of forming directional or diffused lighting, depending on their model.
5. Spots. These are small lamps with a movable leg. Thanks to this design, the lamp can be easily turned in any direction, providing high-quality directional light. Such lamps are distinguished by their functionality, have a neat appearance, and are offered at affordable prices, which has invariably affected their popularity among buyers.

Normative indicators

To simplify the choice of light in apartments, private houses and utility rooms, special building codes that specify the minimum lighting power per square meter rooms. Such indicators are given in suites (Lk), which makes it easy to select lamps made using various technologies.

Key regulatory indicators:

• For a children's room - at least 200 lux per square meter.
• For the kitchen - 150 Lx.
• For hallways - 50 Lx.
• For attics and basements - 50 Lx.
• For toilet and bathroom - 200 Lx.
• For the library and office - 300 Lx.

These are the optimal indicators that must be adhered to when choosing the power of lighting devices for certain rooms and premises. Experts recommend increasing the illumination index for the bathroom to a level of at least 100 Lx, which will ensure the maximum possible comfort of receiving hygienic procedures.

The calculation of the illumination of the room and an example of the calculation will be as follows: for a kitchen with an area of ​​10 square meters, light with a total power of 1500 Lx will be required. You can use either one ceiling lamp or a spot diffused lighting.

Important nuances in the calculation

The correct calculation of the optimal lighting in the apartment is not particularly difficult. The homeowner only needs to arm himself with the appropriate knowledge, which will allow all the work to be carried out as efficiently as possible. When calculating the light intensity, consider the following:

• Each lamp has its luminous flux (in lumens) indicated. Accordingly, you can calculate the required number of lamps for a particular room, depending on its footage. One lumen equals one lux.
• Illumination is calculated not only taking into account the specific dimensions of the room. This indicator depends on the materials used in the decoration of the ceiling, floor and walls. For the highest quality determination of illumination, a luxmeter is used. But according to special formulas, you can get only an approximate value.
• The types of lamps will differ in their power, temperature flow and a number of other characteristics. The best parameters are noted for energy-saving and LED lamps.
• For each type of lighting fixture, its own correction factors have been developed, which allows you to get the most accurate calculations on the quality of room illumination. For example, fluorescent lamps have a factor that reduces the previously obtained value by a factor of 3.5. For ICE technology, this correction parameter is -8.
• The degree of illumination is affected by the shade of the walls in the room. For light wallpaper, a correction factor of 0.7 is used, but for black and dark finishing materials - 0.1.

Having learned all the lighting standards and calculating the indicators, you can start purchasing lamps and performing repairs in the house. If you are not confident in your abilities and knowledge about how to calculate the illumination of a room, then you can turn to professionals. Numerous companies and private specialists work on the market today and offer relevant services.

Formula used

There are several formulas for calculating illumination, which will take into account certain parameters that affect the quality of light in a room. You can calculate the required number of lamps in such a simple way. You will need to multiply the following indicators:

• Illumination rate.
• Luminous flux utilization factor.
• Number of lamps.
• Correction factors.
• Safety factor.
• Room area.
• The number of lamps in the luminaire.

Illumination specifications are measured in lux. You can get the necessary information from SNiP, where this parameter is described in detail for rooms that are different in their purpose.

The area of ​​the room is calculated in square meters. To determine it, you need to know the width and length of the room, which are multiplied by each other.

The safety factor will depend on the characteristics of the lamp and the degree of dustiness in the room. For incandescent lamps, this parameter is 1.1, and for LED lamps - 1.

The correction factor is used if the illumination in the room is planned to be higher than the standard. For fluorescent and LED luminaires, this figure is 1.1, and for standard incandescent lamps, the coefficient is 1.15.

The number of luminaires will depend on the area of ​​the room and the required lighting intensity.

The luminous flux utilization factor depends on the color and used wall finishing material. For light and white coatings, this figure is 50-70%, for dark and gray coatings - 10-30%, respectively.

The number of bulbs is calculated in accordance with the characteristics of a particular luminaire model.

Knowing the characteristics of lamps and norms of SNiP, you can easily calculate the lighting in the room yourself, after which, with the obtained data, purchase the models of lamps you like. The choice of lamp will be individual, depending on the overall style of the room design and the required light intensity in the room.