


As mentioned earlier, light in public areas should typically be lower and warmer, while work areas should receive lots of bright light. Like many tools, it can be used in different settings for different effects. Really, that’s what light is for your business: another tool. Photometry, the measurement of light as our eyes interpret it, is important for businesses and organizations of all kinds because you need to know what customers and staff are experiencing every time they work or shop in one of your buildings. This is different from “ radiometry,” which is the measurement of all forms of radiant energy (including light) in absolute terms. Measuring foot-candles falls under a broad branch of scientific inquiry called “ photometry.” Photometry is the measurement of light as our eyes perceive it. If you have special requirements for how much light needs to be hitting a given space, you’ll want to know how many foot-candles are shining on that space. Without light, we simply can’t live and work the way we need to.
#Candela lumen movie
Movie and video producers carry little meters with them to check foot-candles on subjects they’re going to shoot.Īny business or organization that has physical security requirements also need to be aware of the foot-candle readings in sensitive areas, and around cameras and doors. Horticulture requires very accurate foot-candle readings in order to make sure all plants are bathed in the appropriate amount (and type) of light.

Museums need specific light levels to create the right ambiance and avoid damaging sensitive artifacts. There are lots of organizations that have special lighting requirements, and foot-candles are the go-to measurement to make sure the right amount of light is actually touching the objects it needs to illuminate. Offices, manufacturing facilities, and workrooms need significantly higher foot-candle measurements in order to make work easier and less stressful on your eyes. This can be very important fo r electrical construction as well. So, what is the use of a measurement like foot-candles? Basically, the idea of using foot-candles is to ensure that areas that require certain light levels are actually receiving those light levels. Lux is essentially the same as foot-candles, but it defines the area being lit as a one-meter square, rather than a one-foot square. In other parts of the world, such as Europe, the SI-derived measurement called “lux” is used. Here are some typical foot-candle measurements for given light conditions:Īt this point, it should be noted that “foot-candles” as a unit of measurement are used most commonly in places that follow the United States customary units of measurement.

But what does that mean, exactly? Well rather than measuring the amount of light that leaves a light source (lumen output), foot-candle measurements focus on the amount of light that reaches a surface area.įor example, a foot-candle relates to the amount of light that is on the ground surface beneath a parking lot light as opposed to the output of the parking lot light.
