New indirect luminaire improves drafting-room illumination

IN PLANNING the recently completed installation of a new lighting system for the drafting rooms of the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., the aim was to eliminate glare and obtain 40 to 50 foot-candles of totally indirect light. A study of the fixtures that were commercially available disclosed that approximately eight watts per square foot would be required to obtain the illumination level desired. The heat loss at this rate would have required an air-conditioning system to maintain a reasonable room temperature. The cost of this air-conditioning system would have been at least twice that of the proposed lighting system.