LG11 Lighting Guide 11: Surface reflectance and colour

Note: the surface reflectance sample card is not included in the PDF of LG11 due to the limitations of colour reproduction. The card can be purchased by CIBSE members for £10 plus postage, or by non-members for £5 plus postage. Click here to purchase: Surface reflectance sample card

Lighting Guide 11 is one of a series of lighting guides produced by the Society of Light and Lighting, and deals with the specification and measurement of surface reflectance and colour. It will be of value to designers and specifiers, including architects and the designers of interiors and products as well as lighting specialists. It is seen as a work of reference as well as providing a tool for the practical assessment of surface reflectance.

Topics covered include:

Light reflecting properties of surfaces

Light reflecting properties of building materials

Reflectance of building materials

Colour of building materials

Surface finish of building materials

Surface deterioration and maintenance

Depreciation of luminaire performance

Surface colour specification

Munsell system

Natural Colour System

DIN system

BS 5252: 1976: Framework for colour co-ordination for building purposes

RAL design system

Measurement of reflectance and colour

Measurement using a spectrophotometer

Measurement using a calorimeter

Measurement using luminance and Illuminance meters

Field measurements using the reflectance sample card

Visual assessment

Reflectance and colour standards

Surface appearance

Acknowledgements

Task Group

Chair: David Loe (Building Research Establishment)

Members: Teresa Goodman (National Physical Laboratory); Iain Maclean (lighting consultant); Keith Miller (DPA Lighting Consultants); Julie Taylor (National Physical Laboratory)