A Lamps
The most common incandescent household lamp; a standard general
service lamp.
Accent Lighting
Localized and directional lighting used to
highlight, focus attention or dramatize a room or outdoor space. As
part of a decorating
scheme, it is used to spotlight paintings, houseplants and other possessions,
or to highlight the texture of a wall, drapery or outside landscaping.
Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal
point as the general lighting around it.
ADA Wall Brackets
Wall-mounted fixtures that extend less than
4” from the wall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
and are usually called ADA brackets.
Adjustables
Adjustables are accent lights that can be aimed.
The professional term is “adjustable accent light.” In practice,
most of the fixtures used for accent lighting are adjustable in some
fashion.
Aiming Angle
How you point or direct an adjustable light. The
aiming angle is calculated from vertical or nadir. An aiming angle of
30 degrees is effective for paintings and/or sculptures.
Alabaster
Shades can be made of either alabaster stone or alabaster
glass. Alabaster stone is much like marble in that it is quarried, cut
and made into shades and bowls. It creates a warm, rich look, with each
piece being completely unique. Stone is very expensive, however, so many
lighting pieces recreate the look with more affordable alabaster glass.
Alzak
The trade name used for a method of anodizing. Now a generic
term for brightened, anodized aluminum.
Alternating Current (AC)
Flow of electricity which cycles or
alternates direction many times per second. The number of cycles is referred
to as frequency. Most common frequency used in this country is 60 Hertz
(cycles per second).
Aluminum
A pure metal, aluminum can be shaped and finished easily.
It can be dyed to a brass-like finish, but without the depth and luster
of real brass. Aluminum is usually sealed through painting or anodizing
to avoid oxidation.
Ambient Lighting
Also known as general lighting, ambient lighting
provides an area with overall, non-specific illumination. Ambient lighting
radiates a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk
about safely. It can be accomplished with chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted
fixtures, recessed or track lighting or with outdoor fixtures. A basic
form of lighting that replaces sunlight, ambient lighting is fundamental
to lighting a home.
Amperes / amps
The unit of measurement of electrical current.
Antique Finish
A finish that simulates aging, often accomplished
by wiping dark pigment across a metal or wooden part.
Aperture
Opening of a fixture through which light exists.
Architectural Lighting
This broad term generally refers to
built-in fixtures, such as downlighting, valance lighting or a luminous
ceiling.
Some people also include functional lighting, such as track or simple
fluorescent, which has an architectural appearance.
Argon
Inert gas used in incandescent and fluorescent lamps.
In incandescents, argon helps retard the evaporation of the tungsten
filament.
Art Deco
A mainstream design style that reached its heyday
in the 1920s. Typified by streamlined design shapes, geometric patterns,
bold outlines and the artistic use of industrial materials, such as stainless
steel, plastic and pressed glass.
Art Nouveau
A decorative art movement that emerged in the late nineteenth
century. Characterized by dense asymmetrical ornamentation in sinuous
forms.
Average Rated Life
The number of hours required for half of
a large group of lamps to fail or burn out. The actual life of any lamp
or small group of lamps will typically be different from the average
rated life. |
