CBD Lighting Design & Electrical Planning Flashcards

What is the primary advantage of using LED strip lighting under a floating vanity in a bathroom design?

Answer: It creates an illusion of a floating effect and adds visual depth

Under-vanity LED strips create a luminous visual effect that makes the vanity appear to float and adds architectural depth to the space.

When specifying recessed downlights for a bathroom ceiling, which fixture characteristic is most important for wet or damp locations?

Answer: Wet- or damp-location rated housing and trim

Recessed fixtures in bathrooms must carry a wet-location (shower areas) or damp-location (general bathroom) rating to meet safety codes.

What is the purpose of a dedicated exhaust fan circuit versus sharing with the lighting circuit in a bathroom?

Answer: It allows the fan to operate independently without affecting lighting, and may be required by code

A dedicated circuit ensures the exhaust fan operates reliably and independently, and some jurisdictions require separate circuits for fans.

Which lighting strategy is most effective for highlighting textured wall tile in a bathroom?

Answer: Grazing light from a source positioned close to and parallel to the wall surface

Grazing light angled nearly parallel to a textured surface emphasizes relief and texture by casting small dramatic shadows across the surface.

What does CRI (Color Rendering Index) measure, and what minimum CRI is recommended for bathroom lighting?

Answer: How accurately a light source renders colors compared to natural sunlight; minimum CRI of 90

CRI rates color fidelity on a scale to 100; a CRI of 90+ is recommended for bathrooms to ensure accurate skin tones and grooming results.

In bathroom lighting design, what is the term for the practice of placing light sources to wash a wall evenly from top to bottom?

Answer: Wall washing

Wall washing uses fixtures positioned to cast even, uniform illumination across an entire wall surface, minimizing scallops and hot spots.