Fixtures for Indirect Lighting

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Wall Washers

Coves and Soffits

Strip Lights

Light Coves

Light Soffits

IC - Suitable for insulation contact
AT - Air tight
ES - Energy Star
W - Watts

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Coves and Soffits

Cove and soffit lighting generally uses T-5 or T-8 linear fluorescent strip fixtures mounted within constructed architectural features. The light source is concealed from view and the room is illuminated by the indirect wash of light across room surfaces. Coves typically are located a distance down from a ceiling and throw light across the ceiling. The most widely used soffit configuration is above a bathroom vanity directing light both downward to illuminate the vanity area and upward to light wall and ceiling surfaces. Several representative designs for coves and soffits are illustrated in this section and are intended to show the characteristics that are important for their proper function as light fixtures. Actual configurations are limitless as these fixtures should develop naturally from the architectural features of a room.

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Strip Lights

In both coves and soffits, strip lights are installed end to end for a continuous wash of light. Because the length of coves and soffits is usually determined by the dimensions of room elements, various lengths of strip lights may be required to get the best fit into the space allowed. T-5 and T-8 strip lights are available in nominal lengths of 2’, 3’, and 4’ for the layout of coves and valances. Strive to use the fewest possible different length of strip fixtures to minimize the number of different lamp sizes that will be needed for re-lamping in the future.

T-5 and T-8 strip lights are made by numerous manufacturers. Both are suitable for use in coves and soffits. The choice is generally made based on size. T-5 strip lights have a smaller cross-section than T-8s, thus making them suitable for more compact cove and soffit designs. To be acceptable as HPL fixtures, fluorescent strip lights must have electronic ballasts. All T-5 strip lights using (new) metric lamp technology will have electronic ballasts. T-8 strip lights may be supplied with electronic ballasts or with the old technology magnetic ballasts. Because of their quietness and greater efficiency, only T-8 strip lights with electronic ballasts are specified.

T-5 Strip Lights

• Lithonia: MS5 series (see example at right)
  • Specify: 1 or 2 lamps
  • 2’ nominal length-14W, 3’ln,
    21W, or 4’ln, 28W
  • ballast: MVOLT (120-277V),
    GEB10PS
• Bartco:
  • Specify: 1 lamp – BFL 285
  • 2 lamps – BFL 282
  • 2' ln - 14W, 3'ln - 21W, 4'ln - 28W
• Sea Gull – none
• Progress – none
• Lightolier: SVT%
  • Specify: 1 or 2 lamps
  • 2’ln-14W, 3’ln-21W or 4’ln-28W
  • ballast: 120 volt, P1 (electronic)

T-8 Strip Lights

• Lithonia: S series (see example at right)
  • Specify: 1 lamp only
  • 2’ln- 17W, 3’ln-25W, or 4’ln-32W
  • ballast: 120 volt, GEB10RS
• Lithonia: C series (see example at right)
  • Specify: 2 lamps only
  • 2’ln-17W, 3’ln-25W, 4’ln-32W
  • ballast: 120 volt, GEB10RS
• Lightolier: SN series
  • Specify: 1 lamp only
  • 2’ln-17W, 3’ln-25W, 4’ln-32W
  • ballast: 120 volt, SO (electronic)
• Lightolier: SW series
  • Specify: 1 or 2 lamps
  • 2’ln-17W, 3’ln-25W, or 4’ln-32W
  • ballast: 120 volt, SO (electronic)

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Light Coves

There are several basic configurations for light coves:

1.Wall coves and tray ceiling extensions are often developed using molding and trim lines of a room. The picture below shows a room with a strong trim line located down from the ceiling. With the addition of a modest spacing strip, such a trim element could become an effective lighting cove. Sections of typical wall coves are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 below.

Click for a larger image.

Figure 1. Click for a larger image.

Figure 2. Click for a larger image.

2. A feature in some homes with higher ceilings is a raised or tray ceiling area. This is often found in dining rooms, living rooms or in the master bedroom. Extending the ceiling surface at the base of the tray ceiling area is a very natural location for the development of a light cove. The coves often allow the distribution of indirect light through the length and breadth of the room. The configuration of a typical raised ceiling light cove is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Click for a larger image.

3.The space above built-in cabinetry, between the cabinet top and the ceiling, is an ideal location for cove lighting. It requires no additional construction and allows the strip lights to be positioned for excellent light distribution. Where this is most frequently used is the kitchen. The picture below shows such a kitchen cove lighting installation.

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Light Soffits

A typical bathroom vanity soffit is illustrated in Figure 4 below. A light fixture that provides much of the function of a soffit is shown below. Because soffits can eliminate the need for many additional fixtures in a bathroom, they typically are installed with 2 lamp fixtures to provide good light levels.

Figure 4. Click for a larger image.

Click for a larger image.