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Lighting Tips and FAQs

How much light do I need?

As we get older, we do require more light. At age 50, we need twice as much light to see well as we did at age 20 and we are more sensitive to glare.
- Good lighting can help by increasing contrast on adjacent surfaces to “clarify” the space.
The quantity of light you need depends on the nature of the task — how easy it is to see — and the age of the person performing it.
The quality of the task lighting is also important.

Yes, they are dependent on the room and application.
Dining room chandeliers should be proportioned to the room and the table size. The diameter should be approximately the width or diameter of the table less 12 inches. This is because people may hit their heads when rising from the table
- In ceilings of 10 feet or greater multi-tiered chandeliers can be elegant and dramatic.
- The chandelier should be 30-36 inches above the table (add 3 inches per foot of ceiling height above 8 feet).
- Remember these are just guidelines and there are always exceptions to the rule.

ADA wall fixtures are wall mounted fixtures that extend no more than 4 inches from the wall to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA compliant fixtures must be used in public circulation areas of commercial and institutional buildings when mounted below 80 inches from the floor.

Unless the bath area is large, light the functional areas first, and then fill in with additional general lighting as needed
At the mirror, diffused light should come from above and from both sides.
Sconces should be minimum of 28 inches or maximum of 42 inches apart and centered 60 inches above the floor.
Over the top of the mirror fixtures should be mounted 78 inches above the floor and a minimum of 24 inches wide.

Shows the beauty of the surrounding property, landscaping and architectural features of your home.
Provides functional lighting for outdoor areas such as patios, decks, gazebos etc.
Adds security and safety by lighting up pathways and steps.

Task lamps direct light onto a relatively small area. Task lighting can be portable or hard wired.

Summer cooling – they can lower the temperature as much as 8 degrees through the wind chill effect.
Winter heating – when the fan is reversed it creates a gentle updraft. By pushing the warm air down, the temperature at the floor can be increased as much as 15 degrees
Energy savings – less need for air conditioning or heating

Below are general recommendations
- less than 100 sf (small kitchen or bedroom) – 42 inch fan
- less than 225 sf (kitchen or bed room) -52 inch fan
- less than 400sf (living room or family room) – 56 inch or larger (or 2-52”)
- more than 400sf multiple fans

Minimum of 7 feet from the floor to the blades
For higher ceilings, usually 8 to 12 feet from the floor. There are exceptions to this rule.

Ceilings fans that can be used outdoors are damp or wet rated.
- The damp rated fans are made for damp conditions; they are not made for direct contact with water.
- The wet rated fans are made for wet conditions and can come in direct contact with water.

The most common low voltage lighting systems for interior residential use are a cable systems or a rail systems. There are many different styles available. When selecting a system it is important to first determine the function of the system, and then select the decorative fixtures to achieve the function you are looking for.
When ordering these systems you should contact Lofings Lighting sales staff for more detailed information
Systems are 12 volt or 24 volt! Do NOT mix voltages! There are benefits to both systems

Flexibility - you can adjust for different occasions, different activities and different occupants.
Enhanced aesthetics
Convenience and security
Cost savings and lamp life
- 10% dimming = 2x life
- 20% dimming = 4x life
- 40% dimming = 20x life
- 60% dimming = over 20x life

The number of lights you can put on the system is restricted by the transformer capacity and the number of circuits you have on the system. There are special considerations when using LED lamping for certain systems because of in rush current. Consult with a lighting specialist from Lofings Lighting when placing order to confirm you are ordering the correct items.

Determine the load – the type of lighting and total wattage. LED dimming has special challenges and you should consult with a lighting specialist from Lofings Lighting to determine the correct dimmer for your application.
Are you installing the dimmer in a switch box with more than one switch? This is called ganging. If you are ganging the switches together you need to follow manufacturer’s instructions regarding lowering the maximum wattage capacity of the dimmer.
Determine the style and finish of the dimmer you require.

The International Dark-Skies Association (IDA) defines light pollution as “Any adverse effect of man-made light including sky glow, glare , light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night and energy waste.”
Some areas have local ordinances that require Dark Sky exterior fixtures.

ENERGY STAR is a label identifying energy-efficient products, such as light fixtures, compact fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, which meet strict energy efficiency guidelines, set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
ENERGY STAR products are third-party verified to meet energy efficiency and such other performance criteria as light output, life, operating characteristics, and reliability.

Many of the traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs to not meet current energy efficiency requirements and are not in production any more. There are new variations of halogen lights, or LED lamps available that have similar shapes and meet the efficacy requirements.

Correlated color temperature (CCT) indicates the warmth or coolness of the light emitted by a given source. CCT is measured on the Kelvin scale (K). Light sources with a low CCT (2,700 – 3,000 K) give off light that is warm in appearance. Sources with higher CCT values (4,000 – 6,500 K) provide light with a cooler color appearance.
Selecting light sources with consistent CCTs helps maintain some consistency in the appearance of various light sources. Check the Lighting Facts label for information on CCT (or “light color”), as well as lumen output, power consumption (watts) and efficacy
What is color Rendering (CRI)
- The color rendering index (CRI) is the current industry standard for measuring how accurately a light source renders the colors of the objects it illuminates. The maximum CRI value is 100. Residential lighting should have a minimum CRI of 80; light sources with a CRI of 90 or higher provide even better color rendering.