The history of residential lighting standards

The purpose of this study was to trace the history of residential lighting standards from 1906 to 1970 and to identify the research methods and instruments used in establishing: present day lighting standards with consideration being given to the quantity and quality of lighting. The procedure was to study articles, for the most part in the Illuminating Engineering Journals, pertaining to research related to recommendations for lighting standards for visual tasks in the home, noting the quantity and quality of lighting. The literature reviewed was concerned mainly with (1) the bases of the Illuminating Engineering Society standards for lighting as stated in the handbooks, (2) the test conditions such as room size, subjects, types of lighting and visual tasks, (3) the kinds of research instruments developed to measure the quantity and quality of lighting and (4) changes in footcandle recommendations for various residential tasks. Two methods of research for illumination were used, the direct and indirect. The direct method for illumination research was used from 1906 to 1950 in which the investigator selected a task, a set of task conditions and measure of performance. From 1906 to 1917, there were few research investigations concerning the quantity and quality of lighting. Light sources were poorly developed and whatever footcandles they provided established the levels to be recommended