Final answer:
The minimum clearance from the storage area to surface mounted fluorescent luminaires depends on factors such as illuminance level and safety regulations. OSHA recommends an illuminance of 500 lx for desktop lighting. By rearranging the formula for illuminance, we can calculate the height at which the lighting fixtures would need to be lowered to achieve the desired illuminance level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minimum clearance from the storage area to surface mounted fluorescent luminaires depends on several factors, including safety regulations and recommendations. One important consideration is the illuminance level required for the area. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends an illuminance of 500 lx for desktop lighting.
In the given reference information, it states that an office space has lighting hung 2.50 m above desktop level, providing only 300 lx. To calculate the height at which the lighting fixtures would need to be lowered to achieve 500 lx, we can use the concept of illuminance.
By rearranging the formula for illuminance (E = Lux / distance^2) and solving for distance, we can find that the lighting fixtures would need to be lowered to a height of 1.22 m above the desktops.
The question involves understanding the principles of lighting and illumination as specified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Given that the current illuminance (light level) is 300 lx from lighting fixtures hung at a height of 2.50 meters, and that the desired illuminance is 500 lx, we can use the inverse square law of light to find the correct height at which to place the fixtures to achieve the desired illuminance.
The inverse square law states that illuminance from a point light source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. Therefore, if the height is decreased, the illuminance increases.
Using the ratios from the inverse square law, we can set up a proportion: 300 lx / 500 lx = (2.50 m / new height)². By solving this proportion, we find that the correct new height to achieve 500 lx is approximately 1.22 meters