Lighting Glossary: Most Common Terms Used in Lighting Industry

Understanding technical terms in the lighting industry can be a challenge. That's why we're here to help you.

In this article, we'll introduce you to some of the most common technical terms you'll encounter in the world of lighting. Whether you're new to the field or looking to refresh your knowledge, we've got you covered. Get to know more about some of these concepts here.

Beam Angle:

The beam angle, also referred to as beam spread, defines the width of the light emitted downward from a lighting fixture equipped with a reflector.

It is measured from the point where the light intensity is highest, directly beneath the fixture, to the point where the intensity drops to 50%. Essentially, a larger beam angle indicates that the light spreads over a wider area, illuminating a broader cone.

CRI - Color Rendering Index:

Is related to the LED quality. The closer it is to 100%, the more realistic the color of the object displayed will be. It will resemble the color emitted by natural light, which should always be a reference.

Kelvin Temperature (K):?

Unit of measurement of the Correlated Color Temperature of a light source, indicating whether the light appears warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish).

MacAdam Ellipse (SDCM) :

The MacAdam ellipse shows how the LEDs vary from the standard values in their color consistency. The closer the value is to 1, the more reliable the color representation.

UGR - Unified Glare Rating:

Is a metric used to quantify the amount of discomfort glare experienced by people in indoor environments, particularly in office spaces. It measures the perceived glare from luminaires (light fixtures) within a given area.

A UGR value of 19 or below is generally considered acceptable for most indoor tasks, while values above 22 may cause discomfort and affect productivity.

IP - The Protection Index (IP):

Is a scale used to classify the degree of vulnerability or resistance of LED luminaires against the action of solid particles and liquids.

The IP rating typically consists of two digits. The first digit indicates the degree of protection against solid objects, while the second digit indicates the degree of protection against liquids.

Luminous Flux:

Refers to the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source in all directions, measured in the unit of lumens (lm). It quantifies the overall brightness of the light source, regardless of where that light is directed.

Intensity of Light:

In contrast to luminous flux, light intensity is the amount of light emitted in a certain direction, at a certain angle. It indicates how bright or concentrated the light is in a specific area or direction.

Lumens (lm):

Is a unit of measurement specifically used to quantify luminous flux, representing the amount of light perceived by the human eye. In other words, lumens measure the brightness of a light source as perceived by an observer.

Watts:

Refer to the energy consumption of a device. Their function is to inform the power of the lamp, i.e. the amount of energy it consumes per hour to generate light.

Color Temperature:

A metric for describing the warmth or coolness of a white light source. Warm light sources give off a gentle, yellowish glow, whereas cool light bulbs produce a sharper, bluish light.

Measured in Kelvins (K), lights with lower values (2000K-3500K) are warmer and more yellowish, creating cosy atmospheres.

Intermediate values (3500K-4500K) produce a neutral white light, ideal for tasks and offices.

Higher values (4500K-6500K) generate cool, bluish light, similar to daylight, suitable for environments that require high visibility and concentration.

Zhaga Protocol:

The Zhaga protocol is a standardized interface for LED light engines, aiming to simplify the interchangeability of different components within lighting fixtures.

It establishes standard specifications for aspects like mechanical dimensions and electrical connections, making them compatible with different LED manufacturers. This allows the piece to have more flexibility and ease of maintenance in the lighting industry.

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