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 Mobile ViewBUILDING INTERIORS ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine AIR BYPASS LEAKS AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AIR SEALING STRATEGIES ANIMAL ALLERGENS ANTI SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & MOLD ATTIC VENTILATION BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM VENTILATION BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLOWN-IN INSULATION BOOKSTORE BRICK LINED WALLS BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CASEWORK, CABINETS, SHELVING INSTALLATION CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION CEILING FINISHES INTERIOR CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL CEILINGS, PLASTER TYPES CERAMIC TILE FLOOR, WALL CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS in? CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS CRAWL SPACES DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DOORS, INTERIOR DRYWALL HAZARDS, CHINESE DRYWALL INSTALLATION Best Practices DRYWALL MOLD DRYWALL MOLD RESISTANT EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ENGINEERED WOOD Flooring ENGINEERED WOOD Products EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN buildings-mold FLOOR TYPES & DEFECTS FLOORING MATERIALS, Age, Types FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FOUNDATION BULGE or LEAN MEASUREMENTS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE GAS DETECTION & MEASUREMENT GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS EXPOSURE LIMITS & STANDARDS GAS TEST PROCEDURES HEAT LOSS in buildings HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions HOT WATER HEATERS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION Ice Dams: Comparing Two Houses INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSULATION CHOICES INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT INSULATION MOLD INSULATION R-Values & Properties INTERIOR FINISHES: BEST PRACTICES INTERIOR FINISHES: DRYWALL KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE LIGHTING, EXTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE Accent Lighting, Definition, Uses Accent Lights Ambient Lighting, Definition, Uses Bathroom Lighting Guidelines Buy Lighting Products, Where to Closet Lighting Fire Safety Color Temperature and CRI for Indoor Lights Color Temperature Bulb Comparisons Common Lighting Terms Compact Fluorescent Lights, Indoors CRI Scale Rates & Definition Decorative Lighting, Definition, Uses Direct Lights, Types Downlights & Uses Fluorescent Lights, Compact Indoors Fluorescent Lighting Guide, Indoors Fluorescent vs Standard Incandescent Bulb Gas Lighting Pipes & Fixtures GLARE, Sunlight/Lighting Control Halogen Lights, Indoor Uses Incandescent Light Bulbs Guide Indirect Lights & Best Uses Kitchen Lighting, Ambient Specifications Kitchen Lighting Counters, Sinks, Cooktops Kitchen Lighting Requirements Lamp & Bulb Abbreviations & Types Lamp & Bulb Types, Indoor Lighting Levels Indoors, Recommended Low-voltage Lighting Guide, Indoors Lumens, Definition, comparisons Luminaires, Definition, Uses Recessed Light Housings,Guide to Recessed & Track Lighting Best Uses Recessed & Track Light Bulb, Guide to Recessed Lighting Fixture Trims Rules of Thumb for Interior Lighting Spacing, Light Fixture Table Top Lighting Specifications Task Lighting, Definition , Uses LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS LOW VOLTAGE BUILDING WIRING LOG HOME GUIDE METAL LATH, PLASTER & STUCCO MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD in FOAM INSULATION, RESISTANCE MOLD INFORMATION CENTER Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR NOISE, DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for FLOORS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL for ROOFS NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST NOISE, WATER HEATER NOISES, WATER PUMP ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PASCAL CALCULATIONS PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PLASTER PLASTER & BEAVERBOARD & DRYWALL PLASTER BULGES & PILLOWS PLASTER LATH, METAL PLASTER, LOOSE FALL HAZARDS PLASTER TYPE IDENTIFICATION PLASTER VENEER Best Practices PLASTER VENEER Best Practices RADIANT HEAT RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SAFETY: Elderly & Veterans Home Safety SAFETY for ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS SEARS KIT HOUSES SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SINKING BUILDINGS SLAB CRACK EVALUATION SOUND CONTROL in buildings Splits in Structural Wood Beams STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS & FINISHES, INTERIOR STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STRESS SKIN INSULATED PANELS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss TILE INSTALLATION DETAILS TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves WOOD FLOOR DAMAGE More Information |
A guide to light bulbs ("lamps"): Here we provide a guide to the different types of light bulbs (lamps) used in indoor light fixtures. We describe the indoor use of halogen lights, and low-voltage lights. We provide a guide for using fluorescent lights and compact fluorescent bulbs indoors and we include a table comparing fluorescent bulb light levels to incandescent light bulbs. And we discuss issues surrounding the color temperature of fluorescent lighting. This article series details guidelines for selecting and installing interior lighting to meet the requirements for different building areas. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Guide to Lamp Types & Types of Bulbs for Indoor Lighting More detail about lamp or bulb types including abbreviations and feature comparisons can be read at Lamp & Bulb Abbreviations & Types. Also see LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE our home page for information about all lighting topics relating to building interior There is a vast array of choices in light bulbs, known in the lighting industry as “lamps.” For residential lighting, the main choices are incandescent, halogen, low-voltage, tubular fluorescent, and compact fluorescent. Which lamp to choose for a given application will depend upon the amount of light needed (lumens), color of light desired, type of fixture (luminaire), and whether the application calls for a directed beam or a diffused light source. Incandescent Light Bulbs
Incandescent's have a low color temperature of around 2700 K, which produces a warm light with lots of red and yellow tones that make skin, natural wood, and other warm colors look good. To some extent, things look good to us under incandescent light because it is what we are most accustomed to. Incandescent lamps are inexpensive and are easy to dim, but they are also the least efficient type of bulb and the shortest lived. Our photo (above-left) illustrates an antique ceiling light fixture using incandescent bulbs in a home in Wappingers Falls, NY. Originally the fixture included small glass shades around each bulb - yet to be restored by the editor - DF.
And this bulb, a 75-watt unit was over-watted for the fixture whose sticker warned that 60-watts was its limit. Installing a bulb of higher watt-rating than the fixture permits is a fire hazard. Halogen Lights for Use IndoorsHalogen bulbs, also known as tungsten-halogen, is actually a kind of incandescent with more blue and less red light (3000 K), giving it a whiter appearance than standard incandescent lamps. Halogen lamps provide good color rendition and good light for reading and fine detail work. When dimmed, however, halogen light becomes more yellow, like standard incandescent lighting. Also, dimming can cause a halogen lamp to darken due to tungsten evaporation. Turning the lamp to full illumination for about 10 minutes will restore its full power.
The halogen bulb shown at left is used in work lights and security lights. Work lights using this bulb and in use indoors must be kept a safe distance from combustibles. Also, the bulbs should not be touched without wearing a glove (since the oil from your skin can create a weak spot on the bulb), and should be cleaned with alcohol. Halogen PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector) lamps are enclosed in a protective glass casing, which allows them to be handled like ordinary bulbs. (See the 12-V bulbs illustrated below). Low-Voltage lamps are tungsten-halogen, incandescent, or the newer xenon lamps, operating at 12 volts DC. Their small size makes them ideal for under cabinet lighting, and their very precise beam control makes them well-suited to accent lighting of artwork. Many low-voltage fixtures allow the lamps to rotate within the housing to precisely aim the beam. Low-voltage Lighting Guide for Building Interiors
Most newer fixtures use solid-state electronics, which are more energy efficient and longer lasting than the older magnetic type. Transformers are either attached to the fixtures or installed remotely. Since the transformers, as well as the lamps and dimmers, emit a slight hum, remote location can be an advantage. However, locating the transformer too far from the fixtures can result in a loss of power and dimming of the lamps. When using dimmers with low-voltage lighting, make sure they are specifically designed for low voltage systems and for the specific type of transformer. Fluorescent Lighting Guide for Indoors
Fluorescent's produce three to five times the output as incandescent lamps [per watt of energy used], last about ten times as long, and stay very cool. Because they reduce lighting bills by as much as 75%, and reduce cooling loads as well, they are heavily promoted by model energy codes and mandated in some areas. For example, the California Energy Code requires that the main lighting in kitchens and baths be fluorescent. The downside of fluorescent's has always been their poor color rendering. Standard fluorescent's emphasize the blue range of the spectrum, giving skin an unflattering, pale appearance. Manufacturers have worked hard over the years to improve the light quality. So-called “deluxe” fluorescent's offer CRI (color rendering index) values in the 85 to 90 range but with a 25% loss of efficiency. To achieve CRIs in the high 90s without sacrificing energy efficiency, manufacturers use more expensive rare earth phosphors, creating triphosphor and quad-phosphor lamps. Fluorescent lamps with high CRIs, and color temperatures within the range of 2700 to 3500K, create pleasing light for skin tones and natural wood and can blend in with incandescent lighting. In applications where color accuracy is important, such as laundry areas, lighting artwork, and certain hobbies, full-spectrum daylight lamps may be preferred. These lamps, which produce light similar to natural daylight, include General Electric’s Chroma 50 and Chroma 75. Dimming also used to be a challenge with fluorescent's However, using solid-state dimming ballasts and special dimmers designed for fluorescent's can eliminate any humming sounds. These also allow a single dimmer switch to dim groups of fixtures with different length tubes. Guide to Using Compact Fluorescent Lights
While some compact fluorescent's have been introduced that mimic R and PAR-type reflector bulbs, directional lighting is best achieved with incandescent or halogen lamps. Fluorescent's are better used for ambient lighting, indirect lighting, and lighting of closets and storage areas. Although they cost $5 to $20 per bulb, depending on the wattage and configuration, they generally pay for themselves within two to three years in both energy savings and longevity of the bulbs. -- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Industry & Trade Associations for Lighting and Other Interior Components in buildingsAmerican Lighting Association www.americanlightingassoc.com Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries www.awci.org Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) www.carpet-rug.org Drywall Finishing Council www.dwfc.org Forest Stewardship Program www.fscus.org FloorFacts www.floorfacts.com The Gypsum Association www.gypsum.org National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) www.nofma.com National Wood Flooring Association www.woodfloors.org Painting and Decorating Contractors of America www.pdca.org Smartwood/Rainforest Alliance www.smartwood.org -- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about the properties of different types of light bulbs or lamps for indoor lighting use. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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