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Light can be white, white,

white or white
The right fluorescent lamp from OSRAM, whatever the application
 Light
colours
Fluorescent lamps and their selection criteria
Fluorescent lamps generate more than 70% of all the artificial light in the world but consume
only 50% of the energy needed for lighting. Fluorescent lamps last between eight and forty
times as long as ordinary light bulbs and need up to 90% less electricity for the same bright-
ness, depending on the type. They are therefore the best possible option for economical
lighting. In addition to luminous efficacy and efficiency, the light colour or colour temperature
and colour rendering are the most important criteria to consider when choosing the right
light fluorescent lamp.

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 Colour rendering
International colour code The first digit in the international colour code stands for the
colour rendering:
8 = colour rendering index Ra 80 – 89

L 18 W/930 9 = colour rendering index Ra 90 – 100

Light colour / colour temperature

The next digits in the international colour code stand for the
International colour rendering light colour or colour temperature:
International light colour 27 = 2700 K | 30 = 3000 K | 35 = 3500 K | 40 = 4000 K
54 = 5400 K | 65 = 6500 K | 80 = 8000 K

Light colour
The light colour of a lamp depends on its spectral power It is possible to produce white light with very different
distribution in the visible range. However, it is difficult colour nuances.
to compare different lamps on the basis of their spectral
power distribution. It is much easier to use their colour Colour rendering
temperatures and colour rendering properties. The colour temperature indicates the shade that the light
source appears to our eyes. If different light sources are
Colour temperature used to illuminate coloured objects, the colours of these
The colour temperature of a light source is defined as the objects appear different despite the same colour tempera-
light colour that corresponds to the temperature of a ture of the light sources. Such differences in quality are
standard radiator (black body radiator). It is expressed in indicated by the colour rendering index Ra. The colour
kelvin (K). The colour temperature of a lamp gives us an rendering index is determined by a comparison with the
idea of its light colour. The light colours or colour tempera- standardized black body radiator which is defined as
tures of fluorescent lamps are determined by the com- having the “ideal” colour rendering Ra of 100 at every
position of the phosphor coating on the inside of the tubes. temperature.

Light colour = colour temperature + colour rendering

The greater the differences in colour between the com-

parison lamp and the black-body radiator at the same
colour temperature, the smaller the colour rendering
index Ra. Colour temperature and colour rendering are
therefore needed to define the light colour of a lamp fully.

Colour temperature Colour rendering Light colour Colour rendering groups

Light sources can be easily assigned to different colour rendering
Black body radiator 4000 K Ra = 100 Ideal value
properties on the basis of the Ra index:
Lamp A 4000 K Ra ≥ 90 940

Lamp B 4000 K Ra ≥ 80 840 Properties Ra index

Lamp C 4000 K Ra ≥ 60 640 Very good 90 – 100

Good 80 – 89

Satisfactory 70 – 79
Notes
Every colour temperature can have the ideal value of Ra 100. This Satisfactory 60 – 69
means that the colours are rendered in the typical manner for this
Adequate 40 – 59
temperature. This is not always satisfactory, however. For example
an incandescent lamp may render blue tones only in a subdued
manner despite an Ra value of 99. If fine distinctions are required for
blue tones a light colour with a higher colour temperature needs to
be selected.

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Quality fluorescent lamps from OSRAM
Modern high-quality fluorescent lamps from OSRAM are available in different light colours with
different colour rendering properties and in numerous different wattages. Our complete range,
supplemented and rounded off by fluorescent lamps for special applications, offers the perfect
solution for every application and requirement.

LUMILUX® lamps meet the require- EN 12464-1 for workplaces: “Lamps

Seven light colour groups
ments of colour rendering index with a colour rendering index of
Fluorescent lamps can be assigned to 80 – 89. The special three-band phos- Ra < 80 should not be used in rooms
the following seven light colour groups phors of the LUMILUX® lamps ensure in which people work or stay for
according to their colour temperature: a high luminous flux with a luminous lengthy periods.”
efficacy of up to 93 lm/W and there- (Source: EN 12464-1)
fore offer the most economical lighting.

SKYWHITE 8000 K LUMILUX® DE LUXE lamps have a

R 80
a
EN12464-1
colour rendering index > 90 with very
Cool Daylight 6500 K good colour rendering properties.
They offer the best colour rendering. Special fluorescent lamps
Daylight 5400 K However because of their lower lumi- BIOLUX® lamps are ideal as additional
nous flux compared with LUMILUX® lighting for terrariums and the like for
Cool White 4000 K
more lamps need to be used to small animals.
White 3500 K achieve the same level of lighting.
NATURA® and NATURA® SPS with
Warm White 3000 K BASIC lamps are reliable fluorescent their light colour 76 to DIN 10504
lamps with a colour rendering index are ideal for displaying food and for
INTERNA 2700 K below 80. They are suitable for appli- presenting and selling flowers.
cations with modest requirements in
LUMILUX®, LUMILUX® DE LUXE terms of colour rendering and lighting FLUORA® lamps with light colour 77
and BASIC comfort (e.g. garages, cellars, ware- emit light at the blue and red ends of
OSRAM fluorescent lamps are avail- houses and outdoor lighting). the spectrum. The result is healthier
able in three versions for different plants.
application and requirement profiles. Fit for the future
LUMILUX®, LUMILUX® DE LUXE All fluorescent lamps from OSRAM in
and BASIC differ in particular in their LUMILUX® and LUMILUX® DE LUXE
colour rendering properties but also versions already meet the require-
in other important parameters. ments of the new European standard

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LIGHT C

880
LUMILUX SKYWHITE®
A new dimension in white light
LUMILUX SKYWHITE® lamps produce heavenly light – at any time of day or night – thanks to its light colour 880, i.e. a colour
temperature of 8000 K and good colour rendering of Ra = 80. These fluorescent lamps emit a large amount of “blue” light in
the wavelength range from 410 to 460 nm and therefore come closer to natural daylight. They therefore improve contrast and
reduces visual fatigue, which in turn helps of course to improve mental and physical performance.

This makes LUMILUX SKYWHITE® the first choice wherever high levels of concentration and well-being are needed in
conjunction with special visual requirements.

LUMILUX SKYWHITE® lamps create a pleasant productive atmosphere in companies and public buildings – in stairwells and
corridors, single and open-plan offices, conference rooms and hospitality rooms. The list is endless. They provide excellent
lighting conditions in modern production complexes, bring fitness centres to life, help boost concentration levels in training
rooms, classrooms, libraries, auditoriums and reading rooms, give retail premises a breath of fresh air – and are just what
the doctor ordered for medical centres and waiting rooms.

The SKYWHITE® 880 light colour is the new “asset” for high-quality lighting with a wide variety of applications.

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LIGHT C LIGHT C

865 965
LUMILUX® Cool Daylight LUMILUX® DE LUXE Cool Daylight
Economical daylight Daylight source for special requirements
Fluorescent lamps with light colour 865 are the ideal eco- LUMILUX® DE LUXE Cool Daylight lamps correspond closely
nomical light source wherever the artificial lighting needs to standard illuminant D 65 and have a colour rendering
to have a daylight character, shades of colour have to be index of Ra > 95. As they fall in quality class 2 (as defined
identified and colours have to be rendered as naturally as in DIN 6173) they even meet the high requirements for
possible. These requirements have to be met, for example, colour matching. Previous this was possible only with
in clothing and shoe shops, photographic, jewellery and costly colour testing luminaires fitted with XBO® lamps
flower shops, opticians, textile companies, doctors’ practi- and filters. Now entire rooms can be illuminated with this
ces and editorial offices. type of light.

Source: Hetzler Store, Munich / Photo: Bernd König, Michael Schmidt

Attractive lighting for modern merchandise presentation in light colour 865. Light colour 965 puts pictures and exhibits in the right light.

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954
LUMILUX® DE LUXE Daylight
Daylight for optimum colour rendering
LUMILUX® DE LUXE 954 is an even better choice for precise colour matching, the finest nuances and superb daylight quality.
With this light colour it is possible to produce a close approximation to standard illuminant D 50. In dentists’ practices, for
example, crowns can be perfectly matched to the patient’s natural tooth colour. In reprographic workshops, prints can be
checked under optimum daylight conditions.

Light colour 954 combines high luminous flux and excellent colour rendering.

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LIGHT C

840
LUMILUX® Cool White
Economical light in which to work
With a colour temperature of 4000 K, LUMILUX® Cool White is somewhere
between daylight and incandescent light. It has a very bright appearance and
combines very well with daylight without giving the impression of twilight.
LUMILUX® Cool White is the most widely used light colour for “working light”
and can be found in factories, workshops, shops, offices, exhibition halls,
trade fairs and sports halls. It is also used extensively throughout the home in
corridors, kitchens, bathrooms, cellars and hobby rooms.

The popular light colour 840 can also be used with great
success in combination with daylight.
LIGHT COLOUR

940
LUMILUX® DE LUXE Cool White
Optimum quality of light – high efficiency
LUMILUX® DE LUXE 940 offers excellent colour rendering for all applications in
which a neutral white light colour is required, such as clothing stores, print shops
and factories assembling printed circuit boards.

Precision work is made easier by neutral white light

colour 940 with optimum colour rendering.

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LIGHT C

835
LUMILUX® White
The golden middle way
If LUMILUX® Cool White light is too “business-like” but “homely” lighting conditions are also not required, there is a “middle
way”, namely LUMILUX® White with light colour 835. The fluorescent lamps with a colour temperature of 3500 K are the best
solution for all applications in which it is important to strike the right balance between cool and cosy. Home offices for example
take on a more professional look, while waiting rooms and reception areas seem friendlier and more comfortable in LUMILUX®
White light.

Light colour 835 is already the most popular choice for offices and similar rooms in the USA, Great Britain and Commonwealth
countries.

Professional and friendly: Light colour 835 is suitable for all domestic and commercial applications in which the right mix of light is important.

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LIGHT C LIGHT C

830 930
LUMILUX® Warm White LUMILUX® DE LUXE Warm White
The warm economical light The most beautiful colours in a warm light
If you need light that is bright and cosy at the same time If, in addition to a warm light, the quality of colour rendering
then LUMILUX® Warm White is the ideal choice. With a is a prime consideration, LUMILUX® DE LUXE Warm White
colour temperature of 3000 K the light is pleasantly “warm” 930 is the ideal supplement to lighting with light colour
and is similar to the light from tungsten-halogen lamps. It 830, for example in clothing stores, hairdressing salons,
creates a relaxing atmosphere in which even high lighting cosmetic studios and anywhere optimum colour rendering
levels do not seem too bright and in which people feel is an important requirement.
comfortable. LUMILUX® Warm White is used wherever both
good background lighting and a positive mood are required,
for example in shops, exhibition halls, trade fairs, schools,
auditoriums, kindergartens, offices and meeting rooms.

Light colour 830 provides bright background lighting and a pleasant atmosphere. A brilliant choice: Light colour 930 shows everything as it really is – making it easier
for customers to buy precisely what they want.

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827
LUMILUX INTERNA®
Economical light for the home
This is the “warmest” light of all the LUMlLUX® light colours. With a colour temperature of 2700 K, LUMILUX INTERNA® is
particularly cosy – just like the light from ordinary light bulbs. Light colour 827 brings out the best in wood. LUMILUX INTERNA®
is ideal for installing in furniture and for use as indirect lighting. Fluorescent lamps with this warm light are used above all in
the home, but they are also used in shops, hospitals and waiting rooms to create a positive atmosphere.

LUMILUX INTERNA® provides warm and welcoming lighting for public rooms such as hotel foyers, restaurants and theatres or a
relaxing atmosphere in libraries, lecture halls and conference rooms.

Source: www.wila.com

Warmly recommended: LUMILUX INTERNA® is ideal wherever welcoming light and a relaxing atmosphere are required.

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965
BIOLUX®
Light that makes you feel good
BlOLUX® fluorescent lamps emit a daylight white light that closely mimics natural
sunlight. They are ideal for offices which get little daylight and for areas where
light is needed to make people feel good, such as department stores, banks,
schools, kindergartens, open-plan offices and doctors’ practices. Because of its
spectral distribution, the light from BlOLUX® lamps is also excellent for raising
small animals (birds, fish, reptiles, etc.).

Note: When planning lighting systems the lower luminous flux compared with
LUMlLUX® light colours must be taken into consideration.

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LIGHT C

76
NATURA®/NATURA® SPS
Light for food
Fluorescent lamps with light colour 76 are the perfect light source for making
food look really appetising. Their specially matched spectrum makes meat,
sausages, bread, cakes and other foods look fresh and appealing without
disguising poor produce.

To meet the requirements of the International Food Standard (IFS) for lighting
systems with open luminaires, NATURA® lamps are also supplied with splinter
protection sleeves (SPS).

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LIGHT C

77
FLUORA®
Light for healthier plants
The light from FLUORA® fluorescent lamps has an emphasis at the blue and red
ends of the spectrum so it is ideal for promoting photo-biological processes in
plants. The result is healthier plants.

FLUORA® lamps are used wherever plants do not receive enough natural daylight,
for example over feature planting in shopping centres, offices, hotels and the
home, and also for florists’ shops, greenhouses and aquariums.

OLOUR OLOUR
LIGHT C LIGHT C

765 640
BASIC
The conventional light colours
Fluorescent lamps in BASIC light colours 765 (Cool Daylight) and 640 (Cool White)
can be used in existing lighting systems in which relatively low levels of lighting
comfort and colour rendering are required, for example in warehouses and garages.

Better to use LUMILUX® light colours

BASIC fluorescent lamps are no longer recommended for new installations or
even for replacing lamps in existing lighting systems because LUMILUX® lamps
offer more light, better colour rendering and higher luminous efficacy. This means
that fewer luminaires are needed, making the lighting system much more
economical. Even in old lighting systems the extra light from LUMILUX® lamps is
beneficial. Old luminaires lose their initial efficiency as they yellow and the
reflectors lose their shine. The higher luminous flux of the LUMILUX® lamps can
compensate for this.

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The right light colour for each lighting task

Selecting the light colour Cultural influences

For many areas of application, the choice of the correct People in northern regions prefer warm white light colours,
light is not based on clearly defined standards, as is the whereas people in the south prefer “colder” light. Homes
case with illuminance or colour rendering properties for filled with wood furniture in a rustic style lend themselves
example. In most cases, there are a number of valid alter- to warm white light, whereas white furniture, marble and
natives. The application table shows this quite clearly. chrome look better in neutral white or daylight colours.
There is no one “correct” solution. Instead, the choice of Warm white light is associated with leisure and relaxation,
light colour often depends on personal taste, national whereas neutral white and daylight white are associated
custom, interior design and our subjective perceptions. with work and concentration.
However, our application table will give you some valuable
ideas. It shows the major applications for the different light
colours of fluorescent lamps. Further information is available on the internet at
www.osram.de/lumilux and www.osram.com/lumilux
and in our product brochures.

Light colour 965 Light colour 827 Light colour 954 Light colour 76 NATURA®
LUMILUX ® DE LUXE Cool Daylight LUMILUX INTERNA® LUMILUX ® DE LUXE Daylight

Light colour 965 BIOLUX ® Light colour 840 Light colour 77 FLUORA ® Light colour 835
LUMILUX ® Cool White LUMILUX ® White

Light colour 880 Light colour 865 Light colour 940 Light colour 640 BASIC
LUMILUX SKYWHITE ® LUMILUX ® Cool Daylight LUMILUX ® DE LUXE Cool White Cool White

Light colour 830 Light colour 930 Light colour 765 BASIC
LUMILUX ® Warm White LUMILUX ® DE LUXE Warm White Daylight

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Area of application SKYWHITE® Cool Daylight Daylight Cool White White Warm White INTERNA® NATURA®

880 865 965 954 840 940 835 830 930 827 76
8,000 K 6,500 K 6,500 K 5,400 K 4,000 K 4,000 K 3,500 K 3,000 K 3,000 K 2,700 K 3,500 K

Offices, administrative buildings

Offices, corridors • • • •
Meeting rooms • • • •

Industry, trade, commerce

Electrical industry • •
Textile industry • • •
Woodworking industry • ° ° •
Graphics industry, laboratories ° • • °
Colour matching • • •
Warehouses, transport depots •

Schools and lecture rooms

Auditoriums, classrooms,
• ° • • • •
Kindergartens
Libraries, reading rooms ° • • •

Retail premises
Food, general ° • • • •
Bread and cakes •
Refrigerated counters, deepfreezers •
Cheese, fruit, vegetables •
Fish •
Meat, sausages ° •
Textiles, leather goods • • • ° • ° • • •
Furniture, carpets • • • •
Sporting goods, toys, stationery • ° • • °
Photo, watches, jewellery ° ° ° • ° • • °
Cosmetics, hairdressers ° • ° ° • °
Flowers ° ° ° • • • ° °
Department stores, supermarkets • ° • ° • ° • •

Public buildings
Restaurants, inns, hotels • • • •
Theatres, concert halls, foyers •

Exhibition rooms
Exhibition halls and trade fairs • • •
Sports halls, multi-purpose halls • • • •
Art galleries, museums ° • ° • •

Hospitals and surgeries

Consulting and treatment rooms • ° • • •
Hospital wards, waiting rooms • • • •

Homes
Living rooms •
Kitchens, bathrooms,
• • • •
hobby rooms, cellars
Outdoor lighting, streets,
• •
paths, pedestrian zones

• recommended ° optional as required

15
OSRAM GmbH
Head Office
Hellabrunner Straße 1
D-81543 Munich

z Printed on paper treated with chlorine-free bleach.

Tel.: (089) 6213-0
Fax: (089) 6213-2020
www.osram.com

OSRAM GmbH
Customer Service Center
(KSC) Germany
Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 64
D-81735 Munich
Tel.: (089) 67845-100
Fax: (089) 67845-166

103W002 GB 03/06 WE OSRAM CS CC Subject to modification without notice. Errors and omissions excepted.
OSRAM
Light Consulting GmbH
Hellabrunner Straße 1
D-81543 Munich
Tel.: (089) 6213-0
Fax: (089) 6213-2020
e-mail: olc@osram.de

Austria
OSRAM GmbH
Lemböckgasse 49/C/5
A-1230 Vienna
Postfach 162
A-1231 Vienna
Tel.: +43-1-68068-0
Fax: +43-1-68068-7
www.osram.at

Switzerland
OSRAM AG, Winterthur
In der Au 6
Postfach 638
CH-8401 Winterthur/Töss
Tel.: +41-52-2099191
Fax: +41-52-2099275
www.osram.ch