1. What is a Foot Candle Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the illuminance (in foot-candles) based on the total luminous flux (lumens) and the area being illuminated.

Purpose: It helps lighting designers, architects, and engineers ensure proper lighting levels for various spaces.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( FC \) — Foot-candles (illuminance)
• \( Lumens \) — Total luminous flux
• \( Area \) — Area being illuminated (square feet)

Explanation: The total lumens output is divided by the area to determine the illuminance in foot-candles.

3. Importance of Foot Candle Calculation

Details: Proper lighting calculations ensure adequate illumination for tasks, safety, and comfort while optimizing energy efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total lumens of your light source and the area to be illuminated in square feet. Both values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a foot-candle?
A: A foot-candle is a unit of illuminance equal to one lumen per square foot.

Q2: What are typical foot-candle requirements?
A: Offices need 30-50 fc, retail spaces 50-75 fc, and detailed work areas may need 100+ fc.

Q3: How do I find the lumens of a light fixture?
A: Check manufacturer specifications or multiply watts by lumens-per-watt (e.g., 60W LED ≈ 800 lumens).

Q4: Does this account for light loss factors?
A: No, for real-world applications, consider multiplying by 0.7-0.8 to account for fixture efficiency and dirt accumulation.

Q5: How does this relate to lux?
A: 1 foot-candle ≈ 10.764 lux. For metric calculations, use area in square meters.