Correct arrangement of luminaires on a stretch ceiling

The design of a stretch ceiling is not limited to the layout of levels, the choice of canvas and decorative elements. Ceiling spotlights are important decorative elements that add light accents as the designer wishes. The location of the luminaires on the stretch ceiling depends on their number, the area of ​​the ceiling and the purpose of the room.

The choice and location of spotlights affects not only the illumination of the room, but also the durability of stretch ceilings.

The following restrictions will help to avoid damaging the canvas during the installation and operation of lighting fixtures.

• In order to prevent breaks and deformation of the canvas, the minimum distance from the lighting points to the baguettes is taken equal to or greater than 20 cm.
• For seam films, the distance from the seam to the luminaire should be the same as to the edge of the web.
• The internal arrangement of incandescent bulbs in spotlights forces the use of a power of no more than 40 W for PVC cloth and 60 W for fabric ceilings. The power of halogen lamps should not be higher than 35 W, LED counterparts have no special restrictions.
• Power supplies for LED strips and assemblies not only get pretty hot, but also often burn out. If possible, they are located in an area with good ventilation and free access.
• The suspension of the chandelier or outdoor spots must provide a distance from the surface of the plafond (casing) to the canvas of at least 25 cm. The power of the lamps is selected according to the same calculation as in the spotlights.
• In any case, the heating temperature of the web should not exceed 60-70˚С. In dish-type chandeliers, a mirror reflector must be installed between the lamps and the ceiling.

Important! All installation and preparatory work - installation of fasteners and platforms, laying and installation of wires, checking the correct connection - must be completed before stretching the web.

With a large number of lighting fixtures, it is more convenient to combine them into separate groups with independent switching. Such a scheme allows you to adjust the intensity of lighting or concentrate it in the required areas of large rooms. When installing a chandelier, ordinary spotlights and spots on a stretch ceiling, it is also advisable to connect them separately. Separate switching allows, along with conventional lamps, to use light sources that require conversion of standard mains voltage - LED strips and assemblies, low-voltage halogen lamps and other lighting devices.

Lamps used in spotlights and spots

The lighting in the room primarily depends on the chosen lighting fixtures. At the moment, 4 types of lamps are used in spotlights, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:

Incandescent lamps are the oldest light source, still not losing ground. This is facilitated by the low cost, undemanding quality of food and a pleasant light spectrum that does not tire the eyes. The use of mirror-matte bulbs significantly reduces heat generation inside the luminaire, but does not eliminate it.

The disadvantages include low efficiency and relatively short service life.

Fluorescent lamps are also not a novelty, but modern samples are produced with an E27 and E14 base for conventional cartridges, and have a built-in choke. Low power consumption with good light output, different shades of emitted light are their positive aspects. The main disadvantage is that it takes about 40 s to fully warm up the lamp, and frequent on / off switching reduces the service life to the level of conventional lamps.

Halogen lamps provide a strong luminous flux with less energy consumption, while maintaining the "warm" spectrum characteristic of incandescent lamps. The relatively high price is offset by a significant service life - 2-4 thousand hours. Disadvantages - very high temperature of the bulb and sensitivity to voltage surges. Not recommended for wet rooms.

LED luminaires, with luminous efficiency indicators similar to incandescent lamps, consume 10 times less energy. The service life of high-quality semiconductor devices is also striking - 40-50 thousand hours. The location options are expanded by the absence of heating of the case and heat radiation. The most noticeable drawback is the high cost.

Recommended number of light sources for different rooms

The generally accepted method of calculating the illumination of a room based on one lamp per 1.5-2 m2 is correct for rooms with an average light intensity when installing incandescent lamps with a power of 40 watts. This level of illumination is sufficient for a bedroom, study or bathroom. Too bright lighting in the kitchen is also not required; it is better to take care of additional lighting of the working area.

For a hall or a nursery, the power of the lamps would have to be increased to the maximum value - 60 W, which is highly undesirable. To obtain the required light intensity without increasing power, a denser placement of fixtures will help at the rate of one point per 1-1.5 m2. But in the case of the hallway and other rooms where dim light is more appropriate, the result is achieved by reducing the power of the light sources while maintaining the standard installation density.

The light intensity of halogen lamps is 1.5 times that of ordinary ones, but heating the bulb also requires power limitation. So, when calculating the required number of points, proceed from the above calculations. Energy-saving lamps, fluorescent and LED, have significant luminous efficacy at low body temperatures. But, based on the requirements for a uniform distribution of light over the area, it is more expedient to place lamps on a stretch ceiling at least one per 2 m2.

Spotlights placement schemes

The placement of lighting fixtures affects not only the quality of lighting, but also the perception of the room as a whole. A well-thought-out design of stretch ceilings with spotlights can make a small room more spacious, and a huge hall warm and cozy. Placing 2-3 spotlights is not difficult, but as the number of dots increases, the number of installation options grows progressively. The sketches below can become the basis for an independent study of the lighting design of the premises.

Thinking over the layout of the luminaires on the stretch ceiling, one should take into account not only the shape and area of ​​the room. The factor that strongly influences the distribution of light is the furnishing of the room. For example, if there will be a high wall in the room, the arrangement of the lamps around the perimeter is inappropriate.

In the hallway and corridors, due to their considerable length, spot lighting is placed in one row along the longitudinal center line. The close-to-square shape of the hallway allows you to arrange the lamps in two rows, symmetrically or staggered. Such a scheme is used when the question arises: how to place 6 or more lamps? Visually expanding the room will help placing light sources closer to the walls.

When lighting a bathroom, lamps are placed in a rectangle or oval around the perimeter of the walls. The area near the mirror is additionally illuminated by wall lighting fixtures. The design of the luminaires should not only fit into the interior, but also have sufficient moisture resistance. In conditions of high humidity, it is not recommended to use fluorescent lamps due to the insufficient tightness of the electronic choke.

The best combination for the hall is considered to be a chandelier and spotlights. Opinions are quite conservative regarding the main light source - the chandelier should be located in the center of the room. Point sources are arranged in the form of geometric figures and their fragments, symmetrical with respect to the chandelier. In a hall with asymmetrical multi-level ceilings, central lighting is often dispensed with. Luminaires are arranged taking into account the shape of the levels, evenly covering the room or highlighting several conventional zones in it.

The bedroom is a resting place, and the emphasis here is usually on the bed. Placing 7-8 lamps around the perimeter of the bed will provide sufficient illumination of the required area, creating a kind of light canopy. The shape of the arrangement is U-shaped, with a wide arc or semicircle, depending on the general design of the room. The light intensity can be limited by a dimmer, or you can install additional night illumination. For example, highlighting the wall opposite to the bed with several low-power spots.

In the nursery, it is important not only to correctly position the lamps in order to ensure sufficient illumination, but also to take care of the safety of the emitted light for the eyes. It is recommended to use incandescent lamps and halogen lamps as the main light sources, the light spectrum of which is closest to natural. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury vapors, but LED lamps and strips will help to decorate the ceiling of the nursery with all the colors of the rainbow. The chaotic arrangement of small-sized spotlights is used to decorate the ceiling under the starry sky.

In most apartments, the kitchen and dining room are one room, but the allocation of functional areas is rare here. Spotlights are evenly placed over the entire area of ​​the room, trying to cover both the perimeter and the center. This arrangement provides good illumination with a minimum of shadows. If there is a lack of light in the working area, additional local lighting is arranged.

Of course, the location of spotlights on a stretch ceiling is individual for each room, and photos and sketches are attached only as the most successful examples. Based on the material presented, it is easy to independently develop a lighting scheme in accordance with individual needs and preferences.