FlucsPro

FLUCS logo

Performs analysis of artificial and daylighting to investigate lighting levels on a notional working plane or any other physical surface in the room. The analysis can use luminaires placed by LightPro, and windows and openings from the 3D building model. Surface reflectances and transmittances may be edited. Two sky models are available, the CIE Standard Overcast Sky and the Uniform Overcast Sky. A progressive radiosity method is used for calculating inter-reflected light. The lighting database is provided by LightPro.

FlucsPro can also design regular layouts of luminaires using calculations based on required illuminance and maximum glare according to UK CIBSE methods. FlucsDL is the daylighting-only version of FlucsPro.

Keywords

luminaires, lighting design, lighting analysis, photometric data, radiosity

Validation/Testing

N/A

Expertise Required

Intended for use by building services engineers and architects. Basic knowledge of Windows required.

Users

Engineers, architects, many throughout the UK, Europe, Australia & USA.

Audience

electrical building services engineers, architects.

Input

A simple dialogue box allows the reflectances and transmittances of selected surfaces to be edited globally or individually. Other dialogue boxes allow the creation of notional working planes and task areas. Dialogue boxes also allow the design or analysis calculations to be performed for all selected rooms in one go, and give full control of the calculation parameters. Output may be reviewed at any stage.

Output

The output is in HTML format, which can be copied to Windows clipboard or saved. It is organised by room and calculation, with a summary of the calculation status for all rooms. User settings allow the user to control the level of detail on output, from a basic summary to full details of the illumination levels at all points on all surfaces. The 3d views of selected surfaces can be overlaid with the calculated illuminance levels displayed as contours, filled contours, grey shading, or a threshold contour. The view bitmaps may be copied to the Windows clipboard or saved to file. A threshold table is also available � useful for daylighting evaluation.

Computer Platform

PC compatibles running Windows 95/98/NT.

Programming Language

C++, Visual Basic, Fortran

Strengths

Includes a lighting design module. The analysis calculations are simple but with options for advanced users. The graphics are attractive. The output is to some extent customisable. It has access to the extensive LightPro database.

Weaknesses

Not intended to be a full visualisation package. It has only two sky models, no direct solar models, no image overlays, no luminaire geometry, only diffuse reflections, no angle-dependant transmittances, no light colour analysis, not a sophisticated calculation method. Unlike gaming visualisations, it is not optimised for speed. Advanced options have to be used with care and some understanding. Also at present there is no link with lighting controls and energy analysis.

Contact

Company:

IES Ltd

Address:

Helix Building, West of Scotland Science Park
Kelvin Campus
Glasgow G20 0SP
United Kingdom

Telephone:

+44 (141) 945 8500

Facsimile:

+44 (141) 945 8501

E-mail:

don.mclean@iesve.com

Website:

http://www.iesve.com

Availability

Contact IES at the above address or visit the web site.