8.14.7 Interior Lighting

direct/indirect lighting

spot lighting

Lighting will be designed with the common work practices/activities in mind.  Always supplement overhead lighting with task lighting and use architectural lighting in entrances, corridors, waiting rooms, and other spaces to light artwork and provide interest.  The minimum acceptable ambient lighting levels should be provided in office areas and can be supplemented with task lighting.  Daylighting should also be part of the overall lighting design.  It is a high priority to get the concept of daylighting, direct and/or indirect, into all public spaces within a facility whenever possible.

Daylighting is the use of ambient outdoor light inside a facility.  This concept is the most significant sustainable design feature being used today.  The concept may eliminate the need for more than half the ambient light fixtures normally used in a comparable building.  The idea also provides an opportunity to downsize the mechanical system.  The orientation of a building façade 15 degrees west of due south maximizes the daylight exposure.  Daylight shall be used and designed to reach as far into the space as possible.  Additional sustainable lighting concepts can be found in Appendix D.

For Army installation buildings to achieve a high quality lighting environment, lighting equipment/systems selected must satisfy both performance and aesthetics.  Factors for consideration in this selection are based on the following:  lumens per watt, color temperature, color rendering index, life and lumen maintenance, availability, switching, dimming capability, control of daylighting and artificial lighting, and cost.

• Occupancy sensors, photo sensors, timers, and controlled lighting schedules can turn lights on and off in designated areas for additional savings.

• Lighting controls can turn lights on when daylighting levels are inadequate, and turn lights off when daylighting levels are adequate.

• Lighting design approaches and lighting applications can be found in the following publications:

• Technical Instructions (TI) 811-16, Lighting Design; Design Guide for Interiors, DG 1110-3-122 Chapter 5.

• Air Force Interior Design Guides, Chapter 10.

• Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 3-520-01, Interior Electrical Systems, Appendix F.

• For information on lighting maintenance, types, and lamp trouble-shooting is found in TM 5-683, Electrical Interior Facilities, Chapter 9. 

• For a list of all bulbs kept in stock at Fort Carson see 11.6.1.2 Electrical Frequently Asked Questions.  All new fixtures specified should use a bulb from this list.

Interior Design