The Effect of Colored Surfaces and Tinted Window Glazing on Daylight Spectral Characteristics and Illuminance Levels in Deep Space Rooms and its Evaluation for Human Visual and Biological Response
Examination, design and control of internal light conditions in permanently occupied spaces belong to important actual architectural issues. Especially in offices, workplaces can be often situated far from window. As the new medical facts were emerging during last decade, the significance of the non-visual human response on light, also known as circadian efficiency of light has been rising [1]. Biological stimulation of light depends on quantitative and qualitative properties of light, which penetrates directly into the human eye in contrast to visual stimulation depending more on the amount of the light reflected from the observed surfaces. Inappropriate selection of spectral filter in windows or internal coloured surfaces may significantly decrease potential light biological stimulation and may reflects in higher rate of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) occurrence, which is connected to Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD). The paper describes two experiments done in real conditions, focused on the effect of internal coloured surfaces and the influence of tinted glazing on daylight spectral characteristics in three deep space model rooms exposed only to natural daylight. Deeper positions with sensor`s orientation toward window and side wall were selected. The position of sensor representing the eye of sitting person and especially its orientation regarding to window proved noticeable different rate of biological stimulation`s efficiency in comparison with same level of horizontal illuminance on working area.