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7
Luminaires
T
he lamp is the heart of every lighting xture but a complete luminaire usu-
ally includes most of the following: reectors for directing the light, optics
for diffusing the light, an aperture (with or without a lens), the housing for lamp
alignment and protection, ballast, if required, and connection to a power source.
There is a great variety of luminaires and choices are made depending on the lamp
to be used, but also with aesthetic criteria. Figures 7.1 and 7.2 show two typical
luminaires found in most house and ofce ceilings, respectively. For incandescent
lamps, with the exception of spot halogen lamps, all luminaires hav ...