and can rarely predict and describe their intentions reliably. Good
professionals are rare enough; amateurs should be engaged only with great
caution.
The use of so-called dalle glass rather than leaded glass may be
appropriate in relatively dark surroundings and when the elegance of leading
is not beneficial. Many other recent attempts to be inventive in the use of
colored glass have brought exotic novelties, but few of them are worth a
second venture.
b.
Artificial Lighting. Artificial lighting conforms with the
directives of NAVFAC DM-4.4, Electrical Utilization Systems, with few but
important exceptions, relating especially to the use of incandescent lamping.
(1) Characteristics of Good Lighting. Good lighting requires
functional distribution at proper illumination intensities; it implies
distribution of light and shade such that spaces and shapes are comprehensible
and interesting; it needs some glitter or nonglaring highlights to supply
warmth and liveliness; the light must render color as daylight does and it
must avoid glare. These qualities are especially important In chapels. The
energy conservation of fluorescent and other High Intensity Discharge (HID)
sources is to be respected as possible; but that advantage is very moderate in
situations where the use of rooms may be only a few hours a week. It may be
noted also that although the best fluorescent tubes are of a good color,
replacement tubes may vary a great deal.
(2) Lighting Places of Worship. Some events in the assembly spaces
will involve considerable reading, some will profit from very low light
levels. Therefore the general lighting should be incandescent on dimmers with
30 footcandles top level. Glaring lighting is the enemy of hospitality;
therefore the use of high wattage light sources is troublesome even when the
source is not directly visible; a larger number of smaller lamps is proper.
The use of downlights alone for general illumination is poor practice despite
the efficiency measurable in footcandles; shadowed eyes and faces bring a dour
and gloomy ambience. The sense of light in a room depends on lighting the
surfaces in the visual field (walls rather than floor). Wall brackets, wall
washers or other accent lighting are useful.
Along with the general illumination some special spot and flood
lighting is needed to focus on liturgical centers. The location and control of
special lighting needs critical study, both so that it functions properly and
so that variety in configurations of the spaces is supported. The proper angle
at which a spot light should light people's faces is about 35 degrees from the
horizontal. A higher beam may leave a minister's eyes in shadow; a lower one
may give a
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