Spazio Issue 3

●●●

Kardan 2 LED downlights in a simple,
elegant arrangement draw attention to the
perfectly polished bonnets of the vehicles

on display in the VW showroom.

49

50 WWW.S PAZI O.CO.ZA

DEALERSHIP ● JOBURG

●●●

Opposite: Optimal task lighting
in the reception area and office

spaces has been achieved
using the T-Uni suspended
lighting system from Spazio.

Read what lighting specialist
Paul Pamboukian has to say
about showroom lighting

on page 54.

51

sa852017/54/e

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LIGHTSHOW

MERCHANDISE, ACCENT AND CUSTOM LIGHTING – SPECIALIST AND DIRECTOR AT
PAMBOUKIAN LIGHT DESIGN PAUL PAMBOUKIAN TALKS LIGHTING DESIGN

#IT I TEM LONE LED TRACK
360º LED beam that can
be tilted and rotated. 53
Available in black and
white from R1 400
(excl. track).

WWW.S PAZI O.CO.ZA

LIGHTSHOW ● TECH

THE REAL DEAL

Car showrooms and dealerships are part of the landscape wherever you are. Lighting designer
and specialist and director at Pamboukian Light Design Paul Pamboukian shares his thoughts on

making a showroom a showstopper

M any car THE GENERAL FLOOR vehicles positioned on the floor, very much IMAGE MARIJKE WILLEMS
showrooms SHOULD BE LIT WITH in the same way that one would light a shop
are large, LOW-GLARE, HIGH-COLOUR window display differently to the general
high volume spaces RENDERING LIGHT SOURCES. shop interior.
with little definition
that are often, may I say, definition is minimal. My take on lighting a Cars positioned at the window require
bland. This is surprising car showroom is based on a merchandising careful vertical lighting so that the vehicle is
considering the value of the merchandise on solution rather than a general “warehouse” moulded with low-level soft light from the
display. The lighting of a showroom is often lighting philosophy. Vehicles displayed at the front rather than being bombarded with
governed by the operational methodology shopfront should be differently lit from the high-intensity top lighting only.
of how vehicles are rotated and replaced
on the floor and how the floor needs to be WWW.S PAZI O.CO.ZA Downlights create hotspots on reflective
a flexible space, where any vehicle can be paintwork and this is distracting and visually
parked anywhere. We are told that it requires uncomfortable. Softer, adjustable lighting is
general lighting. often the most flattering method to show
The result of this display philosophy a beautiful, exclusive car and that is why it is
is not too far removed from that of a so often used as a lighting technique for car
supermarket where wall-to-wall lighting falls shows and photography.
on a sea of merchandise and contrast and
A feature display may have a light under
54 the vehicle, possibly on a rostrum, soft
overhead lighting through a diffused ceiling
fabric or material, and a focused key light to
pick up detail and colour.

The general floor should be lit with low-
glare, high-colour rendering light sources.
In many showrooms, the glare from ceiling
downlights overwhelms the visual impact
that the merchandise should have. Good
colour rendering sources are also vital to
render different paint colours accurately.
Using techniques such as lighting walls and
backdrops effectively to create dramatic
silhouettes adds to the visual interest and
offers different views and profiles. Daytime
lighting control settings should be different to
night lighting: Night settings can be dramatic
and evocative, while the general lighting can
be dimmed or circuited appropriately to be
switched off, resulting in a more focused view
of feature displays in pools of light, silhouettes
or even colour statements.

In short, we should approach the lighting
of car showrooms with more imagination
to create more of a jewellery display than
a parking lot.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Standards for electrical products, including those for luminaires, have been developed over many years, with the main objective to ensure that the
performance and safety of such products are of such a standard that users are protected from electrical and other safety hazards, but also that the
functionality, quality and life expectancy of the products are in accordance to customer expectations and manufacturer’s claims.
Some safety specifications have been adopted by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) as technical regulations with the aim to
protect the public and the environment against non-compliant products. All types and models of luminaires offered for sale in normal retail outlets, shall
be approved by the NRCS before being offered for sale and shall be supported by a Letter of Authority (LoA). This approval can only be obtained on
submission of a Type test report issued by an accredited test laboratory to NRCS.
Although Type Testing is an essential part of conformity assessment of a product, it does not ensure compliance of a manufacturer’s production. This
aspect is lacking in the NRCS LoA process, which almost exclusively only evaluates Type test report without sample and production verification.
The NRCS has established an inspectorate that has the authority to conduct surveillance inspections, and if necessary, sample luminaires for testing on
imported and locally manufactured luminaires.
Due to the large number of luminaires available manufacturers and importers are severely impacted by the regulations for the following reasons:
a) Lack of capacity of accredited test laboratories: South African accredited test facilities have a capacity of less than 2% of the types available on

the local market.
b) Excessive delays in processing of LoA applications: Following NRCS statistics less than 70% of applications could be processed within the

claimed 120 days during 2015/16
c) Cost of testing and approval and expiry of LoA’s.: Expiry of LoA’s in a three year cycle increases the load to a degree that only ± 22 000 LoA’s are

valid covering the entire scope of electro-technical products covered by 16 compulsory specifications.
d) Non-effective surveillance inspections : Inspections alone does not prevent the distribution of non-compliant luminaires:
e) Ineffectiveness of the regulatory process entices fraudulent and corruptive practices.
f) Delays in processing LoA applications hamper luminaire suppliers reasonable access to market and participation in tender processes.
g) Regulations on luminaire components, such as control gear, wiring, lampholders, etc. cause increased input costs due to levies and LoA

application fees.
The inability of luminaire suppliers to comply with the regulations, stresses the importance of the suppliers responsibility and integrity to only supply
luminaires to the market that comply with the technical requirements to ensure product safety. Customers are therefore advised to purchase product
from reputable companies that have a proven track record and which have quality control measures in place to ensure product safety.

FAIIR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
FORUM FOR ALTERNATIVES TO INEFFECTIVE/IRRATIONAL REGULATIONS CONNIE JONKER

[email protected]

LIGHTSHOW ● TECH

THEANDAOTOLMCYEOFS …POT

#IT ITEM Dolce Spot
Adjustable,
available in ● ● ● WHAT’S AN
black and white IP RATING?
from R2 131.
IP stands for Ingress
● ● ● WHAT IS Protection – protection
A CLASS OF against water and dust
INSULATION? that may enter a fitting
In this case it’s a technical and cause an electrical
specification for
installation: Class I short circuit or other
fittings require earth damage. The first number
connections. signifies protection against
solid objects; the second
● ● ● BEAM ME UP!
This fitting would work against liquid.
well for lighting art.
Turn the page to find ● ● ● WHAT’S
out why. THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WATTAGE
Aluminium and glass
Wattage: 42W AND VOLTAGE?
Voltage: 230V A volt refers to

Class of insulation: I electronic potential:
Dimensions: length 240mm x When an electric current
height 291mm x width 154mm
flows around a circuit,
Colour temperature: electrons gain energy
3 000K and 4 000K as they go through cells
or generators, and they
IP rating: 20 lose this energy as they
Beam: 40° go through loads that
have resistance. Watts
CRI: 90 measure electric power:
the rate at which energy is
56 produced or consumed.

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LASTING OUTDOOR LIGHTING

IMPORTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY SPAZIO LIGHTING
JHB: 011 555 5555. CPT: 021 461 0061

LIGHTSHOW ● TECH

Q&A

Paul established Paul Pamboukian & Associates almost three decades ago, so has solved a fair number
of lighting problems. He answers our accent light questions…

● ● ● Is there a difference between task articulate features and objects with direct 5 RULES FOR
lighting and accent lighting? accent lighting. LIGHTING ART
Task lighting is any light that’s suited to
a job: A dentist requires a direct, focused ● ● ● Can I put an accent light inside Successful accent lighting should appear
light, while a person working at a desk my shower?  incidental, even invisible, allowing the
may prefer a more diffuse light so as to An accent light is a hard focused spot that artwork to take centre stage. Here’s how.
minimise hard shadows cast on a keyboard can be used to light a special feature in
or notebook. Accent lighting is any direct, a shower, but far more comfortable is a soft THE RIGHT LIGHT
projected light emitted from a downlight indirect wash down a wall from a ceiling Beware of natural sunlight (UV and infrared
or spotlight. cove or slot where glare and direct view radiation will fade paintings), fluorescent
of the source are minimal.
● ● ● What’s the difference between lamps’high UV rays, and halogen and
uplighting, backlighting and “AN ACCENT LIGHT IS A incandescent lamps that generate a lot of
downlighting? HARD FOCUSED SPOT THAT harmful heat. Instead opt for LEDs, which
Different lighting angles are used to create
different effects, drama and levels of CAN BE USED TO LIGHT A boast a long lifespan, give off little UV
comfort. Front light tends to flatten detail, SPECIAL FEATURE.” radiation and heat, and are available in
whereas backlighting enhances silhouette warm and cool colour temperatures.
and adds mystery. Downlighting is often the ● ● ● Is heat and fading a concern and how
most practical position for a light source, but far should a spotlight be from a painting? THE RIGHT ANGLE
if used on its own without vertical lighting LED sources are low in heat and UV output You want to avoid glare and shadows.
on walls it can result in a “cave” effect where and therefore safe to use for lighting art. As a rule of thumb, ceiling-mounted lights
there is a lot of light from the top yet the When lighting a piece of art, you should take should be placed so that the light beam
room feels gloomy. This is called apparent into account its size and the angle of the hits the centre of the artwork when the
darkness. Uplighting textured walls or light-source beam so that it’s focused – you
surfaces creates interest and shadows. don’t want the light to wash half the wall fixture is adjusted to a 30° angle. 
as well. For the best results, position the
● ● ● When my house is just a shell, how spotlight at a distance from the painting THE RIGHT POSITION
do I know where to place accent lights and where the light’s angle doesn’t exceed 60°. If you’re reluctant to commit to the position
how to aim them?
Try to plan the position of art and furniture ● ● ● Can you use accent lighting of a static spotlight, track lighting is the
as early in the scheme as possible. In outdoors? most flexible way to go. Alternatively,
this way you can determine the lighting Accent lighting can be used for highlighting choose a feature wall that you intend
positions for feature pieces as well as task landscape features such as uplighting trees, to hang art against to wash with bright
areas. These should be put on a plan to scale sculptures and garden features like stone light, indirectly lighting the room at the
so that the lighting can be purposefully walls or columns.
planned and placed. same time.

● ● ● Where should one use more direct THE RIGHT COLOUR
light versus diffuse light?  Traditional halogen lights originally
Diffuse or soft light is visually more used in museums and galleries would
comfortable than direct light, but used
on its own it can create a rather flat, have had a colour temperature
uninteresting ambience. The ideal is to build between 2 700K and 3 000K, with a warmer
up ambient light levels with soft light and
yellow to the light.

THE RIGHT INTENSITY
The intensity of accent lighting should be
three times that of the ambient light: If the
light at the top of a painting is within three
times that at the bottom, the eye tricks itself
into thinking that the painting is evenly lit.

●●●

Track lighting, such as the
Flip All-over Track from

Spazio, is the most flexible
form of accent lighting,

allowing you to rearrange
art and furniture.

IMAGE GETTYIMAGES WWW.S PAZI O.CO.ZA 59

LIGHTSHOW ● TECH

CUSTSPOOMTLIGLHIGT OHNT: ING

“Custom lighting offers developers, architects and interior designers the ability to create unique fixtures
and bring together artistic flair,” says Lionel Keir, Spazio’s Quality and Assurance Officer.
He shares the benefits of Spazio’s custom solutions

S tandard luminaires are limited to their Development Executive at Genlux Lighting, AT A GLANCE… IMAGE WIANÉLLE BRIERS
functional and decorative purpose. to come up with a prototype. “I knew Spazio
The opportunity with custom lighting offered an extrusion that can be converted into 3 benefits of custom lighting
is not only to create a light source that’s any shape, and we worked closely with the
precisely tailored to the lighting layout, but to architects, engineers and interior designer to 1. The ability to tailor-make a fitting to meet
incorporate it into the design. From the shape come up with something completely unique.
and size to the fabrication, a custom fitting can Once the prototype was completed and your project’s aesthetic and technical goals.
meet the exact architectural needs, both in approved, it took around four months for us
terms of form and function. Take the hexagonal to create the lights from scratch,” explains Neil. 2. A team of experts on standby to answer
custom lights for Barclays’ head office. The
concept was for a more energetic and creative .The result is a striking, one-of-a-kind light that questions, create cost estimates, draft
workspace. With a reference from the interior drawings, troubleshoot problems,
decorator, we created a technical drawing adds edge to a traditionally corporate space.
and worked with Neil van Blerk, Business By working with Spazio, customers have the and deal with the engineers, architects and
opportunity to achieve the exact execution project managers.
they’re after. The possibilities are endless!
3. The flexibility to make changes before

the product is manufactured (the Barclays
light changed from white to black
from prototype phase) to fully
customise your product.

SPAZIO.CO.ZA

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Gigi’s Design House • ggdesign.co.za • 041 373 5350 VISO • visoinc.com
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62 WWW.S PAZI O.CO.ZA

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@SpazioLighting
Spazio Lighting