Lighting distribution in school classrooms: A pilot study

This article explores how light distribution affects classroom environments and highlights its potential as a design parameter. While lighting intensity and spectrum have been widely studied due to recent technological advances, light distribution from children's vantage points has rarely been addressed. The study includes a survey of current classrooms, a review of school lighting guidelines and a pilot study exploring various lighting scenarios. Observations from six schools are summarized through sketches, followed by the development of six light distribution schemes at the children's desks. These schemes are evaluated using illuminance measurements and photo documentation and compared with software simulations (Dialux Evo 12). One outcome, relevant when designing for children, showed higher vertical illuminance for 1.00 m eye height than 1.20 m for the same horizontal illuminance under directional light. The results outlined the definition of six lighting scenes, achievable using one lighting system, to inform a field study on classroom lighting.