Light loss in complex heavily obstructed interiors: influence of obstruction density, obstruction height and luminaire type

Illuminance conditions in real interiors are influenced by obstructions such as furniture or machinery located between luminaires and the working plane. Investigations based on electrically lit offices have shown relationships between the various geometric and photometric parameters of general lighting installations and magnitude of working state light loss caused by furniture. This paper investigates the influence of obstruction height, vertical and horizontal surface area, and luminaire type on working plane illuminance characteristics and light losses. The results are applicable to a much wider range of interiors than studied hitherto including industrial type interiors that differ markedly from offices in building scale, type of obstruction and lighting equipment.