Approximate Reflectance Values of Typical Building Finishes
| Date | July 25, 2018 |
| Categories | Knowledge |
The effect a lighting system creates in an interior is strongly influenced by the properties of the room surfaces. Surface Reflectance greatly assists with light levels. Areas with low reflectance levels need more light to achieve the same lux levels.
Indirect Light works very well in areas with high reflectance surfaces. High reflectance areas soften shadows. In contrast, low reflectance surface accentuate shadows.
At Decrolux, we always try to understand surfaces in our projects, to more accurately calculate lighting levels.
Asphalt
| Surface | Reflectance | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings | 0.80 | White Paint on Plain Plasterboard |
| 0.70 | White Paint on Acoustic Tile | |
| 0.60 | White Paint on Non-fines Concrete | |
| Wall | 0.80 | White Paint on Plasterboard; Tiles |
| 0.40 | White Fibre Cement; Brick; Concrete, Light Grey, Smooth | |
| 0.30 | Brick, Common | |
| 0.25 | Concrete, light grey; Cement, rough; Brick, red: Timber Panelling, light oak, mahogany | |
| 0.2 | Timber Panelling; Dark | |
| 0.15 | Brick; Dark | |
| 0.05 | Black Chalkboard | |
| Floors & Furniture | 0.80 | Paper, White |
| 0.45 | PVC Tiles; Cream, Carpet; Light Grey | |
| 0.35 | Timber; Light | |
| 0.25 | Timber; Medium, PVC Tiles; Brown, marbled, Carpet; Green | |
| 0.20 | Timber; Dark | |
| 0.10 | Tiles; Red, Carpet; Dark, | |
| Sports | 0.60 | Snow/Ice |
| 0.60 | Beach Sand | |
| 0.40 | Concrete | |
| 0.35 | Synthetic Grass | |
| 0.25 | Grass | |
| 0.10 | Asphalt | |
| 0.1/0.2 | Coloured Court - dark/light blue, dark/light green | |
| 0.05/0.15 | Coloured Court - Brown, Sand, Tan, Clay |
