Using Room Estimator

  1. Room Estimator uses luminaires defined in AGi32. Before Room Estimator can be accessed, you must define at least one luminaire with the Add-Luminaires-Definition command. Room Estimator only uses single luminaires (no arrangements or groups) with zero arm length. Luminaires that do not meet this requirement are not loaded into Room Estimator. You will be prompted to define a luminaire if one has not been previously defined.
  2. From the Control bar select the Design Tools button . Room Estimator is the default design tool, if it is not current select it from the Design Tools secondary menu.
  3. By default, Layout 1 is presented first. If desired, type in a description of up to 32 characters for this layout.
  1. Select the luminaire label from the Luminaire Label list box. If a description is associated with the selected luminaire label it will be shown in the Description text box. Lumens per Lamp, Number of Lamps, Light Loss Factor (LLF) and Luminaire Watts are shown for reference.
  2. By default, the luminaires are oriented 0 degrees. If desired, users can opt to orient luminaires 90, 180 and 270 degrees instead.
  3. Room Estimator's interactive 3D display may be rotated and zoomed to provide additional information.
  4. The Room Geometry tab provides input cells to enter room dimensions, luminaire suspension length and work plane height. A scaled isometric view of the room is shown in the graphic display window. The dimension units (ft. or m) are based on the current units in the System Settings dialog. Click on the Units button to change the current units.
  1. The Reflectances tab provides input cells to enter the reflectances (as a decimal percentage between 0 and 1) for the ceiling, walls and floor.
  2. The Specify section allows you to select which numeric method to use. Each numeric method is based on a default assumption of an appropriate Criterion limitation, Maximum, Target or, Minimum.
  1. The Luminaire Layout section displays the calculated luminaire results and allows you to constrain the layout to suit your needs. Clearly, constraining the layout to new values may in turn result in new Illuminance, LPD and luminaire quantity values.

For example: A 50 FC Desired Illuminance request using the Z Lux ZLF1 luminaire results in a layout requiring 28 luminaires producing 52.5 Calculated FC (4 Rows and 7 Columns). To create an alternate layout using 5 Rows and 6 Columns (30 luminaires producing 56 Calculated FC), check the selection box to the left of the Columns cell and change the Column value to 6.

Original Layout

New Layout Constrained by 6 Columns instead

Same example: A 50 FC Desired Illuminance request using the Z Lux ZLF1 luminaire results in a layout requiring 28 luminaires producing 52.5 Calculated FC (5 Ft. between Rows and 5.714 FT. between columns).To create an alternate layout using 8 Ft between Rows instead, check the selection box to the left of the Rows cell and change the Row value to 8.

Original Layout

New Layout Constrained by 8 Ft in between Rows
  1. To constrain luminaire spacing to fit within a ceiling grid, apply the ceiling grid by selecting the Apply selection box. Indicate the appropriate spacing between Rows and Columns. To center the luminaires within the room, click in the Center selection box so that a checkmark appears.

2x2 Grid (2 Ft between Rows, 2 Ft between Columns)Luminaire Orient = 0

2x2 Grid (2 Ft between Rows, 2 Ft between Columns)Luminaire Orient = 90

2x4 Grid (2 Ft between Rows, 4 Ft between Columns), Luminaire Orient = 0

4 x 2 Grid (4 Ft between Rows, 2 Ft between Columns), Luminaire Orient = 90

  1. To constrain luminaire spacing within continuous rows and/or columns, click in the Rows and /or Columns selection box. You may need to apply an Orient angle as well if you desire to align the luminaires end-to-end. If a ceiling grid is applied, continuous rows and columns will ensure luminaires lie in consecutive ceiling tiles, though they may not be end-to-end.

Constrained by Continuous Rows, Orient Angle = 0 Degrees

Constrained by Continuous Columns, Orient Angle = 90 Degrees
  1. You may print any of the layouts and the layout comparison by clicking on the Print button. Only valid layouts with the Estimated Average Illuminance > 0 will be available to print.
  2. You may export any of your layouts to AGi32's Model Mode, including the room size and reflectances, calculation grid, and luminaire locations, by clicking on the Export button. The current layout is exported and the Automatic Placement dialog opens with the work plane selected for the calc points. You may set the point spacing and any other changes that you want and then click OK.