SINGAPORE & THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA
37
MODERN FLUORESCENT LIGHTING.
Soft restful lighting is obtained by using a Tubes in the cornice.
Indirect lighting for the dining room of a modern flat.
continuous row of Peach
The use of the fluorescent tube for interior lighting has become so widespread that for the majority of new installations the incandescent lamp has been supplanted. Great strides have been made since the tube was first marketed, research into the composition of fluorescent powders has brought about a range of colours from the cold white, which is necessary
Twin 5 foot-80 watt tubes in enclosed Fittings provide a high intensity of well diffused lighting in this dress salon.
where colour discrimination is of importance, to the warm "Peach" which provides a soft intimate atmosphere in homes, restaurants and the like, new materials combined with advances in manufacturing technique have resulted in a range of light- ing fittings which are inexpensive and yet have an attraction and elegance which make them acceptable for almost any interior.
of
There are sufficient large scale installations of fluorescent lighting in Great Britain and the U.S.A. to enable a balanced judgment to be given to this form of interior lighting. Many these installations are excellent and underline the importance of well thought out, carefully planned schemes; on the other hand, there are installations which are offensive to look at and intolerable to work under. It will usually be found that where there is dissatisfaction, it is because fluorescent lighting has been installed without regard to its function or architectural fitness. Criticism is levelled at the source of light or the lighting industry, whereas the fault lies with the installation, the thoughtless choice of fittings or the incorrect colour of tube for a particular interior.
LIGHTING AND COMFORT.
The relationship between the brightness of surfaces within the field of vision has an enormous effect on visual efficiency. Too great a contrast in the brightness pattern causes glare which, besides being uncomfortable, often makes seeing difficult because of the veiling effect of the brighter surface; this "veiling glare" is usually the result of having high brightness light sources within the line of sight, any detail of a lower brightness becomes obscured. As the final crilerion of any lighting scheme, whether functional or decorative, is that of visual comfort, glare which interferes with seeing or causing discomfort is a serious defect and should be avoided.
Glare can be caused by three factors:
(a) High brightness light sources within the field of
vision. (Direct Glare).
(b) Reflection from polished surfaces, (Reflected
Glare).
(c) Wide contrasts in brightness between adjacent
surfaces within the field of view,
The fluorescent tube has a surface brightness which is very much lower than that of any incandescent lamp, and when fluorescent lighting was first introduced, it was considered that the tube could be used unshielded with perfect comfort. During recent years, however, the efficiency of the tube has been considerably increased with a resultant increase in surface brightness, and experience shows that in normal surroundings, an unshielded tube has a brightness which is too great for comfortable or efficient seeing. In the factory or office the discomfort glare from exposed tubes leads to a feeling of eye-strain and consequent slowing down of mental processes, whilst in buildings of architectural merit the veiling glare from the unshielded tubes will obscure sculptural details and decorative effects and promote a feeling of disharmony.