Lighting of all types of terraces and balconies
Lighting ideas for terrace and balcony lighting can transform these spaces into a different environment. These arenas can become one of the most beautiful and attractive areas for gathering family members at night. Lighting intensity , quality of light, color of light and suitable equipment to create a suitable and catchy lighting in the terrace or balcony are some of the effective things. Terrace or balcony are areas that are used intermittently in some seasons of the year for spending time, relaxing and having fun.
Difference between terrace and balcony
First, it is necessary to mention a general definition about the difference between these two fields. Many people consider these two spaces to be the same, but the fact is that the terrace and the balcony are different from each other. From the past until today, these two spaces were considered as part of the architecture of the buildings. In fact, the terrace is a space without a roof, which is usually larger than the balcony. The terrace can be attached or detached from a building. The balcony is a roofed part of the building that protrudes from the building in the form of a platform. Its protrusion is not more than 120 cm provided that it is not restrained by a column. The terrace is usually enclosed on 2 or 3 sides. These differences are effective in the lighting design engineering process of these two spaces.
Checking the lighting parameters in the terrace and balcony
As mentioned earlier, the architectural identity and decoration of these two spaces, including the size, walls, ceiling, materials used, and vegetation are influential in the lighting process by lighting designers.
Brightness
About the type of use of these spaces and considering that there is not going to be any precise work in these areas, the amount of light luxury is determined based on the taste of the designer and client. Of course, it should be said that in these spaces, because light is not taken from other parts, the lighting intensity should be considered higher.
Light color and color rendering index
The light color of the equipment used for lighting the terrace and balcony, according to the type of uses, a range between 2700 and 4000 Kelvin is suggested. The color of sunlight creates a warm and intimate environment. On the other hand, a high CRI is not required for these spaces, because in these areas there is no need for better visibility of colors.
degree of protection
For these environments, due to the possibility of snow and rain and the contact of optical equipment with water, in order to maintain safety, it is necessary to use lights that have IP. For wall and ceiling lights, IP44 protection level is sufficient, but for burial lights or products that are installed at a low height, it is mandatory to use a higher protection level such as IP65.
What is IP Ratings in Lighting? >> Importance of IP Numbers
The technology used
Due to the advancement of technology, the best type of lights used for terrace and balcony lighting are the LED family. These products have a longer useful life. Their breakdown percentage is much lower and in terms of energy saving, they have better performance than old technologies. All kinds of SMD, COB products and even filament models from the generation of LEDs are the best lights for lighting the desired spaces of this speech. It goes without saying that in roofless spaces where natural light is available, using solar technology (solar lights) can be a very useful way to conserve energy and help the environment.
Lighting technique
This category means the methods used for terrace and balcony lighting are more influenced by the architectural components and structure of these spaces. But in general, according to the use of these environments, the most used technique for lighting is local and accent lighting. In these areas, there is no need for public lighting, especially in the form of high light intensity. The decorative lighting technique is also very useful in helping to make the decoration of the space more attractive.
According to the designer’s judgment and according to the type of decoration, it is possible to use all kinds of ceiling lights (surfaced and built-in), all kinds of wall lights (one-way or multi-directional light), burial lights, under stairs, all kinds of strings (hose and needle). , wallwasher, projector and even hanging and standing lights. Also, the ability to adjust the brightness of the lights (being mobile) as an added value in the lighting of the terrace and balcony can have a significant impact.