flexiblefullpage -

HORIZONTV FEATURING BD+C: WATCH EPISODES ON DEMAND AT HORIZONTV

Menu View Full Menu
Subscribe Here
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings

Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings

Engineers at Brinjac quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance.

By C.C. Sullivan and Barbara Horwitz-Bennett | September 16, 2013
Continue Reading
To quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance (LR), ceiling system manufacturer Armstrong World Industries commissioned Brinjac Engineering to conduct two controlled studies. (Illuminance is a measure of the intensity of light on a unit area of a surface.)
 
In the first study, four different room configurations were outfitted with a direct recessed 2X2-foot parabolic troffer and an indirect pendant. One set of rooms was given a 75% reflective ceiling; the others, a 90% reflective ceiling. After measuring work plane illuminance in both sets of rooms, Brinjac found the 0.90 LR ceiling to increase direct lighting levels by just 2–5%; however, indirect lighting levels jumped by almost 22% and offered greater lighting uniformity.
 
Although work plane illuminance from direct lighting only increased modestly when changing the light reflectance from 0.75 to 0.90, the effect of indirect lighting on work plane illuminance was significant. In addition, the higher LR value enabled a reduction in indirect luminaire fixtures and a decrease in lighting power density.
 
Based on these results, specifiers can use fewer fixtures or lower wattage levels to achieve required lighting levels, which can reduce energy costs, as analyzed in the second study where the 90% reflective ceiling tile was installed in the same spaces with an optimized lighting design and compared to the 75% and 90% ceiling with the original lighting scheme.
 
After comparing the three ceiling designs, the Brinjac researchers found that:
• Spacing between indirect luminaire sections with the 0.90 ceiling could be increased, thereby reducing the total number of luminaires required to achieve light levels afforded by the 0.75 ceiling.
• The 0.90 reflective ceiling with indirect fixtures yielded a 23% lower lighting power density than the 0.75 ceiling, and 21% lower than the parabolic troffer layout.
• This lighting power density reduction was calculated to achieve 9% HVAC energy costs savings, as compared to the 0.75 ceiling, and 7% in relation to the troffer layout.
 
For more information on this study, see: http://www.armstrong.com/common/c2002/content/files/38652.pdf. 

Tags

Related Stories

| May 15, 2012

National Tradesmen Day set for Sept. 21

IRWIN Tools invites the nation to honor "The Real Working Hands that Build America and Keep it Running Strong".

The 4.2-million-sf (389,980-square-meters) project has been designed to LEED go
| May 14, 2012

SOM to break ground on supertall structure in China

The 1,740-feet (530-meter) tall tower will house offices, 300 service apartments and a 350-room, 5-star hotel beneath an arched top.

Tishman managed the construction for the project, which includes 1,898 guest roo
| May 9, 2012

Tishman delivers Revel six weeks early

Revel stands more than 730 feet tall, consists of over 6.3 milliont--sf of space, and is enclosed by 836,762-sf of glass.

The City Year transformation took place within the short time frame of one week
| May 8, 2012

Gensler & J.C. Anderson team for pro bono high school project in Chicago

City Year representatives came to Gensler for their assistance in the transformation of the organization’s offices within Orr Academy High School, which also serve as an academic and social gathering space for students and corps members.

| May 8, 2012

Morgan/Harbour completes three projects at Columbia Centre

Projects completed on behalf of property owner, White Oak Realty Partners, LLC, Pearlmark Realty Partners, LLC and Angelo Gordon & Co.

Atrium of the PORTAL at UNC Charlotte.
| May 7, 2012

4 more trends in higher-education facilities

Our series on college buildings continues with a look at new classroom designs, flexible space, collaboration areas, and the evolving role of the university library.

A project undergoes design review at MHTN Architects, a 65-member firm based in
| May 7, 2012

Best AEC Firms: MHTN Architects nine decades of dedication to Utah

This 65-person design firm has served Salt Lake City and the state of Utah for the better part of 90 years.

Metal tiles were used in the physical therapy gymnasium to give the space a more
| May 7, 2012

2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital

How a Building Team created a high-tech rehabilitation center for wounded veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Tower's exterior skin includes a rainscreen, glass, and metal panel system.
| May 3, 2012

2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: Rush University Medical Center

This fully integrated Building Team opted for a multi-prime contracting strategy to keep construction going on Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, despite the economic meltdown.

| May 3, 2012

U of Michigan team looking to create highly efficient building envelope designs

The system combines the use of sensors, novel construction materials, and utility control software in an effort to create technology capable of reducing a building’s carbon footprint.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -

Top Articles

native1 -

More In Category

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021