Lighting - Any software to help design?

PaulStat

PaulStat

PaulStat

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Joined
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Cotham, Bristol
We're thinking of re-doing the lighting in our hallway, the only natural light it receives is from the doors leading into it so it can get a bit dark. Currently there are some up lights controlled by a dimmer switch.

What I want to know is is there any software out there that can simulate what it might look like? A couple of pics to give an idea of the layout, the hallway is labelled dining area.

floorplan.jpg


hallway.jpg
 
I'm not too sure on the software, but 99.9% of any people I work for want downlights, LED ones are cheap enough to run 24/7 and if you get a decent brand there are many diffrent types of "light" colour warmth, spread etc...

What are you thinking of?
 
Well we were thinking of downlighting but we weren't sure of how to configure it, how many to have etc.

We're in a basement flat so directly above our hallway is the hallway for the main building, not sure if that makes any difference.
 
PaulStat said:
We're in a basement flat so directly above our hallway is the hallway for the main building, not sure if that makes any difference.
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That's probably the reason you have wall lights as the fire break will be you plasterboard ceiling, if you put downlighters in you'll probably be breaching the fire compartment unless you use proper fire proof downlighters but I don't know if they are fire proof themselves or seal and become part of the compartmentation.

You probably have two layers of fireline board in your ceiling if it's an hour fire break, that is unless is was converted / built many moons ago.

What's the vent in the loft hatch for?
 
I would probably have 2 rows 4/5 long spaced to miss the hatch.
Downlighters would be a messy job though as you would have to nock quite a few holes in the ceiling to run cables etc... Although providing your ceiling is quite high you an always lose 20mm over boarding to save trying to patch the ceiling.
 
That's a smallish loft space, directly underneath the stairs in the main hallway. It used to contain the hot water tank before we got a combi boiler.

Not sure about the fire stuff, the building was converted to flats in the mid 80's.
 
I've recently got some LED downlights, GU10 fittings, the type with 20 SMD LED's with a 120 degree beam angle and they give a very good wide spread of light. Much better than the 3 LED GU10's which give the more tradition downlight/small circle of light on the floor/ look.

I can try and take some comparison shots tonight if you like. They aren't in the ceiling as I haven't moved house yet but you could compare the spread of light.
 
PaulStat said:
That's a smallish loft space, directly underneath the stairs in the main hallway. It used to contain the hot water tank before we got a combi boiler.

Not sure about the fire stuff, the building was converted to flats in the mid 80's.
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If you open the loft hatch has it been boarded out or can you see the timber backs of the treads and risers?
 
BennyC said:
I've recently got some LED downlights, GU10 fittings, the type with 20 SMD LED's with a 120 degree beam angle and they give a very good wide spread of light. Much better than the 3 LED GU10's which give the more tradition downlight/small circle of light on the floor/ look.

I can try and take some comparison shots tonight if you like. They aren't in the ceiling as I haven't moved house yet but you could compare the spread of light.
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might be useful, do they provide a good amount of light? The hallway is quite long

maccapacca said:
If you open the loft hatch has it been boarded out or can you see the timber backs of the treads and risers?
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errr that I will have to check, I don't believe it has been boarded out no. In fact I remember looking up there and seeing an old ceiling rose cabled and sat between some timbers
 
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MeEsH BaKkA said:
All downlighters fitted now should fire rated most use intumescent material.
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Can you even get downlighters to put in party / fire walls, I know most now are fire proof within themselves so they don't actually catch fire but do they provide the 1/2 or 1 hour protection from a fire either side?
 
maccapacca said:
Can you even get downlighters to put in party / fire walls, I know most now are fire proof within themselves so they don't actually catch fire but do they provide the 1/2 or 1 hour protection from a fire either side?
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Yes you can buy self sealing fire rated lights, infact they are now required for use in any new build.
 
PaulStat said:
might be useful, do they provide a good amount of light? The hallway is quite long
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In comparison to a regular halogen downlight yes. As a light itself downlights aren't the best option if you were after maximum illumination.

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Those are the two bulbs. I was expecting the one in the fitting to be inferior to the bulb on the left but I much prefer it. They both give the same color light. The 20 SMD LED gives a wider beam and an even coverage where as the 3 LED bulb gives a more focused spot of light.

I will wait till tonight and take some comparison shots.
 
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