Lighting

In the 2000s, neon lighting is increasingly yielding to digital vehicle lighting, in which bright LEDs are placed on the car and operated by a computer which can be customized and programmed to display a range of changing patterns and colors, a technology borrowed from Christmas lights. [1]. In the 1990s, a popular trend was to customize vehicles with neon lighting, especially underneath the body of a car. The wording has since been changed to reflect that it is legal for the consumer to remove the tag of a mattress that they have purchased. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, manufacturers would sometimes backlight their logos and or other translucent panelling. The tag previously read "Do not remove under penalty of law", causing some consumers to believe that they could be arrested for cutting it off. In addition to lighting for useful purposes, automobiles increasingly feature ornamental lighting. United States law requires all new mattresses, pillows, upholstered chairs, and similar items to be sold with a tag describing the fabric and filling.

In the image to the right, the top (white portion) of the tail light is the back-up lamp, which when lit, is used to indicate that the vehicle's transmission has been placed in the reverse gear, warning anyone behind the vehicle that it is moving backwards, or about to do so. See Races from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Tail lights are always red and are placed in the rear to quickly alert other drivers about the vehicle's direction of travel. None of them seem to mind and all of them are called Zem." Very few mattresses actually come back to life and attack the sleeper. Headlights are white or yellow lights placed in the front of the vehicle, designed to illuminate the upcoming road and to make the vehicle more visible. Many of them get caught, slaughtered, dried out, shipped out, and slept on. Vehicles typically include headlights and tail lights. large, friendly, pocket-sprung creatures which live quiet private lives in the marshes of Squornshellous Zeta.

In the last few years, software has been developed to merge lighting and video by enabling lighting designers to stream video content to their LED fixtures, creating low resolution video walls. In Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams, mattresses are ".. LED technology is useful for lighting designers because of its low power consumption, low heat generation, instantaneous on/off control, continuity of colour throughout the life of the diode and relatively low cost of manufacture. Be aware that the bigger the mattress, the more expensive the sheets. Patent disputes of RGB colour mixing ideas are currently slowing development, despite the fact many products are being released that take advantage of red, green, blue, and sometimes white, LEDs to mix colours. According to experts, a mattress should be at least six inches longer than the tallest person who will be sleeping on it. LED Technology for theatrical and concert applcations is still in its infancy, but is advancing at an incredible rate. Twin & Double are 75 inches long; Queen & King are 80 inches long; California Queen & California King are 84 inches long.

White LEDs are about the same efficiency as other fluorescents, while red ones can be up to 90% efficient. Unlike an eggcrate or other forms of padding, the mattress inner components cannot be removed and replaced when damaged. They are also being increasingly used as Christmas lights. The fabric, foam or cotton eventually become concave because thick plush or pillowtop components eventually break down even if the springs do not. Colored LEDs can also be used for accent lighting, even in fake ice cubes for drinks at parties. Thick layers of padding are more likely than the springs to compress to the point of feeling like the mattress is sagging. It appears that for now these will be most useful and cost-effective in smaller applications, starting with nightlights. Wool, silk, foam and cotton all increase the cost of the mattress.

These have come about only since the white LEDs they use, and in turn the blue LEDs which they were based on. Fabric is the most expensive element of mattress construction. They do however last an extremely long time, up to 100,000 hours (compared to around 10,000 for fluorescent and 1,000 for incandescent). Furthermore, there is a "Sleep number" bed that inflates and deflates inner air chambers to make it harder or softer, with separate controls and air chambers for both sides of the mattress, also to adjust to the different comfort preferences of the sleeping partners. LEDs are a very recent introduction to the market, and they are still extremely expensive for any decent-sized bulb. The brand Simmons currently produces King and Queen sized mattresses with a softer side and another firmer side, for the different tastes of the sleeping partners. HID bulbs are over 60% and up to 80% efficient. Now that we know that a majority of Americans sleep mostly on their side, further research tells us that a mattress that conforms better to the shape of the body provides better support.

Like fluorescents, all HID bulbs require a ballast, but they also require a few minutes (or seconds for headlights) to warm up after "igniting". Doctors used to say that when they were rather oblivious about people's sleep habits and thought that everybody slept on their back 100% of the time. Modern ones are metal halide, used in everything from headlights to floodlights, and with a more pleasant color balance. It is a common misconception that a "firm" or hard mattress provides better support. High-intensity discharge lighting first came about with the mercury-vapor streetlights, and later the high-pressure sodium ones with their characteristic orange color. The sleeping position determines which part of the body will interface with the mattress, which in turn determines the amount of stress to the body. Because the above terms are entirely relative and almost arbitrary, color temperature and/or the color rendering index (CRI) are used as absolute scales of color for fluorescents, and sometimes for other types of lighting. During a night's sleep, most people use more than one position.

Compact ones are usually considered warm white, though many have a yellowish cast like an incandescent. There are three main sleep positions — Back, stomach and side. There is also a very cold daylight white (DW) which is rather unpleasant to most people and therefore rarely used. There is no proven scientific way of finding the right mattress, so the best advice is to try it out. In between there is an "enhanced white" (EW), which is more neutral. The ticking produces the look and feel of the mattress, so it is usually soft to the touch and attractive to the buyer (at least that is what manufacturers intend to create). Fluorescents most often come in cool white (CW), with some home bulbs being a warm white (WW), which has a pinkish tint. Most ticking is made of synthetic fibers like polyester, latex and acrylic, or of natural materials such as cotton, silk & wool.

All last far longer than incandescents, but do have some starting trouble in very cold weather when installed outside. It is usually made to match the foundation and comes in a wide variety of colors and styles. The compacts can plug into their own fixture, or fit in to a standard screw base for self-ballasted ones. The protective fabric cover, which encases the support and comfort layers of the mattress, is called ticking. Fluorescents were limited to linear and a few circular ones until the 1980s, when the compact fluorescent was invented. The quilt can be firm or soft and plush. Fluorescent bulbs are about 40% efficient, meaning that for the same amount of light they use 1/4 the power and produce 1/6 the heat of a regular incandescent. The quilt is a top layer of the mattress made of light foam or fibers stitched to the underside of the ticking, and provides the immediate soft texture that the user feels when lying on a mattress.

People sometimes find them psychologically pleasing over other types of bulbs due to the more natural colour, which lights some skin tones and other artifacts more accurately. It is usually made from materials that give maximum comfort — regular foam, viscoelastic foam, felt, polyester fibers, cotton fibers, egg-crate foam, non-woven fiber pads, etc. Good halogen bulbs produce a sunshine-like white light, while regular incandescents produce a light between sunlight and candlelight. The middle upholstery comprises all types of materials on top of the insulator and beneath the quilt. Halogen capsules can be put inside regular bulbs or dichroic reflectors, either for looks or for safety. This layer separates the mattress core from the upholstery, and it is usually made of fiber or mesh, with the intention of keeping the middle upholstery in place. The risk of burns or fire is also greater than other bulbs, leading to their prohibition in some places. Aside from the number and gauge of the coils, the upholstery layers are used to differentiate the different "qualities" of mattresses that manufacturers produce.

This means that glass bulbs can explode if broken or brought into contact with cool materials such as water, or if operated with residue such as fingerprints on them. The "Comfort layer"can be divided into three sub-layers — Insulator, Middle Upholstery and Quilt. As well as being much smaller and having a hotter filament temperature, this causes halogen bulbs to have a very hot surface. Some manufacturers call the mattress core by the name "Support layer" and the cushioning materials by the name "Comfort layer". The bulb capsule is under high pressure instead of a vacuum or low-pressure noble gas. The mattress core is covered by several soft materials, providing cushioning and comfort. Light energy output is about 15% of energy input, instead of 10%, allowing them to produce about 50% more light from the same amount of electrical power. It is a combination of steel and wood.

Halogen bulbs are an improved incandescent. Since a box spring has coils, it generally increases the give in the mattress, which in turn produces a softer or bouncier feel. Due to their heat output, incandescent bulbs can cause burns or start fires if used improperly. If the springs match the mattress it is called a coil upon coil box spring. This excess heat is then dumped into the air which, in warm climates, must then be cooled by ventilation or air conditioning, resulting in more energy wastage. It features extra-heavy-duty springs. About 90% of the energy input is wasted as heat. This type of foundation, called by the industry a zero deflection unit, increases the feeling of firmness or stability.

The incandescent light bulb was the first type of bulb, and is inefficient at converting electricity to light. It usually has seven or eight support slats, covered with cardboard or beaverboard. Cost of replacement lamps is also an important factor in any design. It is usually made of pine or similar hard wood. Common characteristics used to evaluate lamp quality include efficiency measured in lumens per watt, typical lamp life measured in hours, and Color Rendering Index on a scale of 0 to 100. There are three main types of foundations:. Commonly referred to as 'light bulbs', lamps are the removable/replaceable portion of a luminaire which convert electrical energy to both visible and non-visible electromagnetic energy. Although in the past the foundation actually contained springs, increasingly today it functions primarily to elevate the mattress, although a good box spring can help prolong the life and comfort of the mattress.

These are used for holding acrylic color 'gel', which is available in many hundreds of shades and hues. This type of coil system does tend to be the strongest, however we must remember that strength does not dictate support. All Theatrical Lighting Fixtures should have a steel or metal color or 'gel' frame, which slots into a receiver at the front of the fixture. The idea is that with a continuous coil system, each coil is connected to the next so that it can draw strength from it. Floods usually have a halogen tube bulb, backed by a curved symmetric or asymmetric reflector, to give a flat beam to be used for lighting sets or backdrops from above or below. Kingsdown also uses such a system. PAR lamps contain a reflector (Parabolic Aluminumized Reflector), filament and lens in an enclosed glass envelope, and have various beam types:. The brand Serta uses continuous coils in their mattresses.

They basically consist of a tube of steel or aluminum with a rounded removable end, for changing lamps (bulbs). They look like double wire spirals or loose ringlets, creating a network of wire running nonstop through the entire bed. PARs or PAR cans are among the most simple and widely-used theatrical lighting fixtures. The biggest problem with this system is called "roll together." Because the rows of coils generally run from side to side and the wire that holds them together also runs side to side, over time (not always much time at all) it will cause two people to roll towards the middle of the mattress. PCs produce a more focused beam than fresnels, and are suitable for many of the same applications as fresnels and profiles. For example Stearns and Foster was made with a Bonnell coil system for many years, however, when they were purchased by Bain Capitol (the same company that now owns Sealy) the coil system was changed to a Double Offset system exactly like the Sealy Posturepedic. The body of PCs is longer than fresnels. Additionally, some brands change over the years for many reasons including, but not limited to, the change of ownership of a manufacturer.

Prism Convex fixtures or 'PCs', are much the same as fresnels, but with a prism convex lens instead of fresnel lens. Brands like Sealy and Spring Air use open-end offset coils in their mattresses. Large metal 'barndoors' (four in total) are affixed to the front of the lamp on a rotating ring, to cut away unwanted parts of the beam. However, loose ends increase the odds that a spring will begin to punch through the padding. The beam size is adjusted by a screw, which actually moves the bulb of the fixture forwards and backwards within the body of the lamp. These improvements gave offset coils an extra turn of working wire for greater spring action on each end of the coil. These have a pebbled lens with concentric rings, which results in a large hazy circle around the focal point of the lantern. These are called "open end offset coils".

Used for colour washes, side, front and back-lighting. In other words, offset coils might be tied off or feature a loose end (sensory arm). Profiles have one or two convex or plano-convex lenses, which can be adjusted to create a larger or smaller beam, with a hard or soft edge, and have steel shutters placed at the focal point of these lenses, to cut away unwanted portions of the beam. An evolution of the offset coils brought the elimination of the knot that tied the end of the wire to the coil. Used for front (face) lighting and, with the insertion of a 'gobo' (stainless steel pattern) are used for break-up effects or projecting simple images onto the stage floor or set/backdrop. They are almost identical to the Bonnell coils, except that the top and bottom circular part of the coils have flat or straight sides, which allow for better hinging action when they are placed together in a spring unit, and which can be easily aligned. Although these fixtures are of the 'fixed' variety, they are adjustable to a huge degree. Bonnell coils evolved into Offset coils, which are currently popular, but happen to be the most expensive ones.

Types of fixtures include:. When a sleeper is undisturbed at night they can fall into that deep sleep faster, stay in a deeper sleep longer and wake up feeling more refreshed because it allows the sleeper to get more use out of their sleep. Connectors are fuseless, as the fuse for the fixture is provided at the dimmer end of the circuit. Additionally, when two people sleep on the same mattress, the individually wrapped (or individually pocketed) coil provides motion separation (when one person tosses and turns, the other doesn't feel it.) This is important because when one person tosses and turns, it may not completely wake the other person, but, it can take them out of a deep sleep which is when the body does all of its regeneration. A short cable is normally hardwired or connected to the body of the light and has an electrical connector on the end. By "pre-compressing" the coil, it becomes a firmer coil, thus making up for the steel not being tempered. Power for the fixtures is provided by dimmers which receive control signal, either digitally multiplexed (DMX) or analog + / − 12v from the main lighting desk or console, where all of the lights used in a production are controlled. They "pre-compress" their pocketed coil, which means that they pack the coil into a "pocket" that is shorter (usually by a couple inches) than the coil.

Conventional Fixtures are stationary or 'fixed' and normally controlled by a power cable, allowing the fixture to output a beam of light with a brightness of 0 to 100 percent. Simmons also does some things that other brands that use pocketed coils don't. Generally, standard sound XLR cabling is not suitable for lighting, because the gauge of the wire is too small. The brand Simmons uses pocketed coils in their mattresses. The protocol runs on standard three pin XLR cable, although, some older theatres still use five pin DMX cabling. Might not be properly tempered. In the United States, automated lighting fixtures are normally controlled by the United States Institute of Theatre Technology Digital Multiplex - 512 Channel Standard Protocol, or simply DMX-512. Also called pocketed coils, they are individually pocketed and less frequently used.

Automated lighting fixtures use digital electronics to adjust the color, position, beam angle, brightness, and other special effects. They have an hour-glass shape, and the ends of the wire are knotted or wrapped around the top and bottom circular portion of the coil (round-topped and self tied). Conventional lighting consists of stationary lights that can only be moved manually, by means of adjusting, or focusing the fixture with a yoke. They are still prevalent in low priced mattresses. Concert and theatre lighting use special types of fixtures. They were adapted from buggy seat springs of the 19th century. It is usually a floor lamp but may be wall-mounted like a sconce. These are the oldest ones and most commonly used.

A torchiere (tour-she-AIR or tour-SHARE) is an uplight usually intended for general lighting. One thing to remember is that while there are many different types of coils and many manufacturers, most manufacturers have their coils made by one company, Leggett & Platt. A sconce is a wall-mounted fixture, particularly one that shines up and sometimes down as well. However, there are only a few innerspring manufacturers and four general types. Nearly any material can be used, so long as it can tolerate the heat and is in keeping with safety codes. Construction-wise, most manufacturers claim to have the best coil-to-gauge ratio. Some are very plain and functional, while some are pieces of art in themselves. However, the special pockets provide the support required by the coil instead of the interconnection with other coils.

Lighting fixtures come in a wide variety of styles for various functions. There are some manufacturers that make individually pocketed coils, which avoid movement on different sides of the bed because they are not interconnected. Underwater accent lighting is also used for koi ponds and the like. Mattresses that sag quickly usually have few interconnecting wires. This would probably fall under accent lighting, though in a dark nightclub it could be considered general lighting. If there are too few of these interconnecting wires a mattress can lose its shape more quickly than one that has an adequate amount. Other forms include neon, which is not usually intended to illuminate anything else, but to actually be the artwork in itself. Generally, the number and quality of these interconnecting wires is not published by the manufacturers.

This uses diffuser panels hung like a suspended ceiling below fluorescent lights, and is considered general lighting. A 12.5 gauge (1.94 mm) innerspring, the thickest typically available, may feel rock hard in a double mattress even with a coil count of 400 or less. The illuminated ceiling was once popular in the 1960s and 1970s but fell out of favor after the 1980s. With coils of 14 to 15.5 gauge (1.63 to 1.37 mm), it is important that the total coil count be high to compensate for the fact that they give so easily under pressure. Magnifier lamps are also task lighting. The lower the number, the thicker the spring. The standard lamp and shade that sits on a table is general lighting, while the desk lamp is considered task lighting. Coils are measured in quarter increments.

The lamp is probably the most common fixture, found in every home and many offices. Many premium mattresses feature 14-gauge (1.63 mm) coils. A modified version of this is cable lighting, where lights are hung from or clipped to bare metal cables under tension. A low coil count and heavy gauge wire can pass as a firm mattress in the store, but it is likely that this mattress will become lumpy quickly because it does not have enough coils. There are traditional spots and floods, as well as other small hanging fixtures. Some mattress manufacturers will compensate for a higher (thinner) guage of steel by using a higher coil count. A master transformer feeds all of the fixtures on the track or rod with 12 or 24 volts, instead of each having its own. This couldn't be farther from the truth.

It has regained some popularity recently in low-voltage tracks, which often look nothing like their predecessors because they do not have the safety issues that line-voltage systems have, and are therefore less bulky and more ornamental in themselves. Most would think that obviously heavy gauge (thick) coils will offer a great deal of support while light gauge coils will give less support. Track lighting, invented by Lightolier, was popular at one point because it was much easier to install then recessed lighting, and individual fixtures are decorative and can be easily aimed at a wall. Usually this is achieved with an individually wrapped coil system (see below.). True can lights are uplights, sitting on the floor in a can-like fixture, or mounted on a spike or even in the ground for plants or outdoors. Most people sleep on their side, and as the side of the human body is not flat like the back, better body conformity provides better support. Either type can be incandescent, fluorescent, HID or LED, though only incandescents or LEDs make narrow-enough spots. This was actually only true with a small percentage of people, back and stomach sleepers.

They may also have their own reflector built-in to the fixture, so that they can take regular and less-expensive bulbs. Doctors USED to say that a harder mattress will give better support. These downlights use narrow spotlights or "spots", or wider-angle floodlights or "floods", which are both bulbs with their own reflectors. Additionally, there are some other misconceptions as far as coil count and firmness are concerned. Recessed lighting (often called pot lights in Canada and can lights in the U.S.) is popular, with fixtures mounted above the ceiling so as to appear flush with it. Assuming that the overall coil count is decent, a heavy duty innerspring mattress may also increase the longevity of the mattress for large users. The effect depends heavily on the exact type of lighting used. However, some expensive and comfortable mattress only have around 400 coils, and it takes as few as 312 coils in a full mattress to provide decent support.

Soffit lighting can be general or a decorative wall-wash, sometimes used to bring out texture (like stucco or plaster) on a wall, though this may also show its defects as well. Depending on the size, 500 to 800 coils is considered firm. It is a form of backlighting. Generally, but depending on the mattress size, they come with 300 to 800 coils. This is often done with fluorescent lighting or rope light, or occasionally with neon lighting. The coil construction will determine the ammount of support the user gets. Particular forms include alcove lighting, which like most other uplighting is indirect. This is not so true today.

Backlighting either around or through an object is mainly for accent. Basically,it used to be said that the more coils a mattress has, the more support it will give the user. Lighting from the side is the less common, as it tends to produce glare near eye level. He lived in Germany and died in poverty, having never profited from his invention. Lighting from the front is also quite common, but tends to make the subject look flat as its casts almost no shadows. Then, in 1871, Heinrich Westphal invented the innerspring mattress. It can also be used for dramatic effect, such as creating interesting shadows by shining through houseplant leaves or across coarse textures like brick or stone. The steel coil spring was invented during the industrial revolution and was first patented for use in a chair seat in 1857.

Uplighting is less common, often used to bounce indirect light off of the ceiling and back down, though this is less efficient than direct lighting. Proper support is where the wire coils push back in response to weight deflection to hold the body in alignment. This tends to be the most efficient method, used in both offices and homes. It provides support to the set. Downlighting is most common, with fixtures on the ceiling casting light downward. The spring mattress core is also called innerspring. Outdoors, general lighting for a parking lot may be as low as 10-20 lux (1-2 footcandles) since pedestrians and motorists already used to the dark will need little light for crossing the area. In most modern mattresses (except for the foam-only ones), it is made up of steel coils springs, also known simply as coils.

Indoors, this would be a basic lamp on a table or floor, or a fixture on the ceiling. The core of the mattress is the most important part in the support of the body. General lighting fills in between the two and is intended for general illumination of an area. A common innerspring mattress consists of three components:. Accent lighting is mainly decorative, intended to highlight pictures, plants, or other elements of interior design or landscaping. Most mattresses have a thickness from 6 to 14 inches. For example, reading poor-quality reproductions may require task lighting levels up to 1500 lux (150 footcandles), and some inspection tasks or surgical procedures require even higher levels. .

Task lighting is mainly functional and is usually the most concentrated, for purposes such as reading or inspection of materials. With modern production methods, it takes 10 to 60 minutes to make a mattress from start to finish. Lighting is classified by its intended use as general, localized, or task lighting, depending largely on the distribution of the light produced by the fixture. The fabric used to cover the exterior of a mattress is called mattress ticking. Since the exact orientation of printed material may not be closed controlled, a visual comfort probability can be calculated for a given set of lighting fixtures. Although mattresses are sold with fillings of air, water, or foam, innerspring or coil mattresses currently have over 80% of the market share in the U.S. Proper selection of fixtures is complicated by the requirement to minimize the veiling reflections off of printed material. Increasingly, mattresses made with various foam materials such as latex foam, viscoelastic foam and other polyurethane-type foam, but without metal spring units, are becoming common and accepted.

Empirically-established depreciation factors are listed in lighting design handbooks. Mattresses are usually used along with a foundation, which might include metal springs or torsion bars on a wooden frame, which supports the mattress. Practical lighting design must take into account the gradual decrease in light levels from each lamp owing to lamp aging, lamp burnout, and dirt accumulation on fixture and lamp surfaces. A mattress is a piece of bedding typically consisting of multiple layers of foams and fibers, along with an innerspring unit used to provide support to one's back during sleep. Hand calculations might only be required at a few points, but computer calculations allow a better estimate of the uniformity and lighting level. Viscoelastic foam. Again the tabulated light levels (in lux or foot-candles) can be presented as contour lines of constant lighting value, overlaid on the project plan drawing. Ventilator.

Where multiple lamps are used to illuminate the same area, each one's contribution is summed. Upholstery Layers — This includes all the soft layers of a mattress, such as insulators, covers and quilts. Each region is extended to the surface which is to be lit and the area calculated, giving the light power per unit of area. Tufting. The total lighting power of a lamp is divided into small solid angular regions. Twin Extra Long. Modelling of outdoor flood lighting usually proceeds directly from photometric data. Twin.

Simplified photometric values are usually given by fixture manufacturers for use in this method. Topper Pad. This method uses the reflectance coefficients of room surfaces to model the contribution to useful illumination at the working level of the room due to light reflected from the walls and the ceiling. Thermally-Bonded Cotton. The Zonal Cavity Method is used as a basis for both hand, tabulated, and computer calculations. Tempering/Stress Relief. More advanced programs can include the effect of light from windows or skylights, allowing further optimization of the operating cost of the lighting installation. It works best when it provides a seamless and coordinating finish to the mattress.

The computer program will then produce a set of contour charts overlaid on the project floor plan, showing the light level to be expected at the working height. Tape edge or Mattress tape — It is a special fabric used to hide the seam where the pieces of ticking are sewn together. Each fixture has its location entered, and the reflectance of walls, ceiling, and floors can be entered. Tack and Jump. For larger projects or those with irregular floor plans, lighting design software can be used. Very important measure of the resistance to bottoming out under sustained downward pressure. Based on the positions and mounting heights of the fixtures, and their photometric characteristics, the proposed lighting layout can be checked for uniformity and quantity of illumination. Support factor — Ratio of the deep down IFD to the surface of a mattress.

For very simple layouts in common configurations, tables and simple hand calculations can be used. Support. This certification process is the only national examination in the lighting industry and is open not only to designers, but to lighting equipment manufacturers, electric utility employees, etc. Spring Wire. Individuals who pass this exam become ‘Lighting Certified’ and may append the abbreviation LC to their name. Split Queen Box. The National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) offers the Lighting Certification Examination which tests rudimentary lighting design principles. Smooth Top.

Those fully independent designers who meet the requirements for professional membership in the association typically append the abbreviation IALD to their name. Slats. The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) is an organization which focuses on the advancement of lighting design education and the recognition of independent professional lighting designers. Sagging. This data is typically expressed in standardized form defined by the IESNA. Rotating — Turning a mattress 180 degrees so that the head of the bed becomes the foot. Manufacturers of lighting equipment publish photometric data for their products, which defines the distribution of light released by a specific luminaire. Roll-Together — When a defective or worn out mattress sags in the center and causes the body of the sleeper to want to roll towards the center of the mattress.

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), in conjunction with organizations like ANSI and ASHRAE, publishes guidelines, standards, and handbooks that allow categorization of the illumination needs of different built environments. A "bottomed out" mattress doe not easily move with the sleeper, causing aches after some time. Lighting design requires the consideration of several design factors:. When sleeping, the user's body moves subtly with every breath. These electrical lighting systems should also consider the impacts of, and ideally be integrated with, daylighting systems. Ride — Reserve "springiness" and ease of vertical movement that a mattress has when a user is lying on it. Therefore, it is important that the sciences of light production and luminaire photometrics are balanced with the artistic application of light as a medium in our built environment. It is also known as bounciness or elasticity.

Other buildings, like casinos and theatres, are primarily concerned with enhancing the appearance and emotional impact of architecture through lighting systems. Resiliency — Ability of the spring, foam, fabric or fiber to spring back to its original form. Some buildings, like warehouses and office buildings, are primarily concerned with saving money through the energy efficiency of the lighting system. Quilting. Some buildings, like surgical centers and sports facilities, are primarily concerned with providing the appropriate amount of light for the associated task. Queen. Proper comprehensive lighting design requires consideration of the amount of functional light provided, the energy consumed, as well as the aesthetic impact supplied by the lighting system. Pressure Points.

Lighting design as it applies to the built environment, also known as 'architectural lighting design', is both a science and an art. Posturized. . Pocketing. In major cities, light pollution is of growing concern. Pillow Top. Smaller or rural roads may not be lit. Platform Foundation.

These are a form of street furniture. Offset Coil. In cities, streets are often lighted at night, usually by streetlights (also known as lamp-posts). Multi-Needle Quilt. Likewise, lighting can also be an important part of landscaping. Migration. Indoor lighting is a form of furnishing, and a critical part of interior design. Mattress Handles.

Modern portable lighting is typically a flashlight (also called a torch) running on batteries. Mattress. Modern freestanding lamps typically have a base which holds up a light bulb which is covered by a lampshade. Latex. Indoor lighting is provided by light sources, today usually electric lights, but previously by gas, candles or oil lamps. Lacing Wire. "Natural" indoor lighting is light from the sun and the sky coming through the windows. Knit.

Lighting refers to the devices or techniques used for illumination, usually referring to electrical light sources such as lamps or flashlights. King. Very wide Flood. Insulator. Wide Flood (W or CP62). Innerspring Unit. Medium Flood (M). Inner Tufting.

Narrow Spot (NS or CP61). Inner Quilt. Very Narrow Spot (VNS or CP60). A measure for the firmness level of foam. Flood (used primarily for lighting backdrops). ILD — Initial Load Deflection. PAR (exchangeable bulbs create varying beam angles/effects). Hog Ring.

Prism Convex (variable beam angle). Hinged King. Fresnel (variable beam angle). Helical Wire. Profile spot (various beam angles). Grid. electrical codes and building codes. Gauge.

operating schedule of the building. Garnetting. maintenance capabilities. Full Extra Long. dirt and dust generation/accumulation. Foundation. surface characteristics (reflectance, specularity). Foam — Padding material used in mattresses, including latex, polyurethane and viscoelastic or memory foam.

physical size of the environment. Flipping/Rotating. aesthetic architectural impact. Flanging. initial and continued operational costs. Deep down firmness is the IFD under severe compression. occupants of the environment. It is measured by the surface Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) measurement.

tasks occurring in the environment. Firmness or Surface firmness — Resistance to compression near the surface of a mattress. Filler. Fiber. Felt.

Fatigue. Eliocel. Double Extra Long. Double Bed.

The higher the density, the longer the durability and resilience and support of the mattress. It is the most significant factor in the quality of a foam and a very significant factor in the quality of a mattress. Density — It is a measure of weight and it is unrelated to firmness. Damask Cover.

Cushioning. Crown — Convex surface that is higher in the middle than in the sides; used in some mattresses. Cover. Continuous Quilt.

Continuous Coil. Cone-Shaped Coil. Comfort Layers. Coils.

Coil Count — Number of coils in the mattress or box spring. Clipped Border Rod. Channel Quilt. Center Rail.

Cambrick. California King. Bunkie Board. Bunkie.

Box Spring. Border Rod. Bonnell Coil. Body Impressions.

Bed Rails. Bed Frame or Bed Base/Frame. Air Bed. It is not good to habitually sit on the same spot of the mattress edge.

The mattress should not be folded or bent. The mattress should not be lifted or carried using the handles, which are only for positioning it. Do not soak a mattress or foundation. If stained, use mild soap with cold water and rub lightly.

Use a good quality washable mattress pad to keep the mattress free from stains. Vacuuming is the only recommended way to clean a mattress. Use a vacuum cleaner for regular cleaning. An impermeable mattress protector can be used to keep it clean.

Do not wet a mattress. It must be noted that since around 2000, several manufacturers started producing one-sided models that cannot be flipped and in some cases should not be turned either. All mattresses need to be rotated to reduce wear patterns that develop over time. The foundation should also be turned every 12 months.

Some manufacturers recommend to alternately turn and flip the mattress once every two weeks for the first three months and then twice per year after that. Most manufacturers recommend to rotate the mattress (180 degrees, so the head of the bed becomes the foot) every three months and to turn the mattress at least twice a year. Otherwise, even the most expensive mattress will fail. Most manufacturers of box spring mattresses suggest that the consumer should regularly rotate and flip the mattress and box spring.

A new mattress should be put on a firm base, never on a saggy base. Back sleepers need a mattress that offers enough support to fill in the gaps in the contour of the back, while at the same time providing enough comfort, according to the user's preference. A study of sleep quality and bed firmness showed that four of nine male subjects slept significantly better on softer mattresses and two on the harder mattresses. A side sleeper will probably want a softer mattress, to minimize pressure points, especially if they have a very curved or rounded figure.

Side sleepers usually face the greatest amount of weight on the smallest areas of the body thereby creating pressure points, which reduce circulation and can be a cause of the tossing and turning during sleep. A firm or very firm bed might be topped with a three-inch viscoelastic foam pad giving the user the best of both worlds — Good support and soft cushioned feel. However, firm mattresses are designed to feel hard, so even when adding padding to a firm mattress it will not feel like a soft one, because the body will sink through the foam onto the hard surface underneath. It is easier to soften up a firm mattress with the proper padding or bedding, than it is to firm up an overly soft one that is causing a backache.

Stomach sleepers probably need a firmer mattress to prevent spinal distortion that can result in back pain when waking up. Air, water or foam mattresses are not generally recommended because they do not provide this level of support. Orthopedic doctors tend to recommend a firm mattress because it will not allow back or stomach sleepers to sag into the surface at unnatural angles. Serta, Sealy and Simmons are the three largest manufacturers in the United States.

A good warranty, 15 years being the best, will ensure your lower count-higher gauge coil mattress is of lasting quality. On a same size mattress, more coils of a lower gauge (thinner) may give better support and last longer than fewer coils with a higher gauge (thicker). The Marshall coil and viscoelastic memory foam designs achieve this better than traditional coil systems. It should be designed to minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other.

It should be designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and enhance sleep quality. Usually, this will be a heavy gauge border rod, however, in some high end models, a high density foam encased spring unit will provide firmer edge to edge comfort and support. It should have perimeter edge support. The mattress should be designed to conform to the spine's natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when lying down.

If the bed is for two people, both users should try it at the same time. The user should test the mattress on the type of base that it will be used on. If it is uncomfortable for the user's hips and shoulders, it's too hard. Rolling over — If it takes a lot of effort, then the bed is too soft.

If there is no space between the user's back and the bed, it's too soft. Lying on the back — If a user slides his/her hand under the small of the back, and it is very easy and his/her shoulders and hips are uncomfortable, the mattress is too hard. The prospective buyer should lie on it at for least ten minutes, trying different positions. Upholstery layers, which encase the mattress core.

The foundation, which many people call box spring (but it is not always a box spring). The spring mattress core, also called innerspring unit. Mattresses normally absorb moisture from the body, so after years of use it is probably saturated with the salts of the perspiration. A thing to consider is that a regular person exudes about 0.5 liters of liquid a night, although probably the majority of it evaporates.

When the user has difficulty finding a comfortable position to sleep in. When the box spring creaks and squeaks. When the mattress is normally sagged, has lost its flat shape and there is an impression of the user sleeping on it, especially, a noticeable sag in the middle of it. When the mattress looks old, frayed or worn.

When the mattress shows very visible deformities. When inner coils start springing out of the mattress. When the user regularly wakes up feeling tired, stiff, achy and sore. When laying a hand on the mattress with about three pounds-force and sliding it over the mattress lumps can be felt.

While the mattress will still be comfortable, it will no longer feel the way it did when first purchased. Experts indicate that two adults sleeping nightly on a queen mattress will notice the padding, not the coils, breaking down after a period of four to six years. After 7–15 years of use, although many people use their mattresses for many more years. Currently — Most mattresses use innersprings (coils) or solid foam.

most popular choice for mattress size. 1999 — For the first time ever, the queen-size mattress beat the twin-size to become the U.S. During the following ten years, the company had average yearly sales increases of 49%. Memory foam was originally invented for NASA to relieve the pressure of the tremendous G-forces exerted on pilots during liftoff and flight.

1992 — Tempur-Pedic introduced their pressure-relieving "Swedish Sleep Systems" mattresses using TEMPUR branded viscoelastic memory foam. 1987 — Select Comfort introduced their "Sleep Number" bed, which featured an inner core of air which could be inflated and deflated on demand, to provide for variable levels of firmness. The mattress was an inflatable unit made with vinyl. 1980s — Airbeds were introduced.

Also, adjustable beds become popular with consumers. Due to lack of suitable materials, the waterbed did not gain widespread use until this decade, when vinyl was invented. 1960s — Modern waterbed was introduced. 1950s — Foam rubber mattresses and pillows appeared on the market.

1940s — Futons were introduced to North America. These were individual springs sewn into linked fabric bags. Pocket spring mattresses were also introduced. The most expensive beds of 1929 were latex rubber mattresses produced by Dunlopillow.

Artificial fillers became common. 1930s — Innerspring mattresses and upholstered foundations slowly became the most widely used form of mattresses. 1900 — James Marshall invents the pocket coil mattress. They looked like large hot water bottles.

1895 — A few waterbeds were sold via mail order by the British store Harrod’s. Waterbeds allowed mattress pressure to be evenly distributed over the body. Bartholomew's Hospital presented a waterbed designed by Neil Arnott as a treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers (bed sores). 1873 — Sir James Paget at St.

He lived in Germany and died in poverty, having never profited from his invention. 1871 — The German Heinrich Westphal is credited for inventing the innerspring mattress. Even the box spring mattresses were lumpy, but at least the springs made it more comfortable. Mattresses were lumpy up to the late 1800s, when the box spring was invented.

1865 — The first coil spring construction for bedding was patented. 1857 — The steel coil spring was invented and first patented for use in a chair seat. The mattresses also became tufted or buttoned to hold the fillings and cover together and the edges were stitched. The mattress cane box was shaped or bordered and the fillings available were natural and plenty, including coconut fibre, cotton, wool and horsehair.

Mid 18th century — Mattress covers started to be made of quality linen or cotton. 18th century — Mattresses were stuffed with cotton or wool. The expression "sleep tight" comes from the 16th and 17th centuries when mattresses were placed on top of ropes that needed regular tightening. A typical bed of 1600 in its simplest form was a timber frame with rope or leather supports.

16th and 17th centuries — Mattresses were generally stuffed with straw or down, placed atop a latticework of rope. 15th century — In the Renaissance, mattresses were made of pea shucks or straw, sometimes feathers, stuffed into coarse ticks, then covered with sumptuous velvets, brocades and silks. The sleeper would recline in a cradle of warm water until drowsy, then be lifted onto an adjacent cradle with a mattress, where they would be rocked to sleep. Romans discovered the waterbed.

Wealthy people filled the bags with feathers. 200 BCE — Mattresses in the Roman Empire were bags of cloth stuffed with reeds, hay or wool. 3400 BCE — Egyptian people slept on palm bows heaped in the corner of their home. 3600 BCE — The first water-filled beds were goatskins filled with water, used in Persia.

The bags or sacks were initially filled with grass, straw, pea shucks, rags, etc. Then, people started putting the "soft" materials on some kind of cloth, which eventually evolved to be called mattress ticking. With time, humans probably also used straw to sleep on. Most probably, the first "mattress" was a pile of leaves or grass with animal skins thrown over it.

Humans began sleeping off the ground, on primitive beds or mattresses. An important change was raising them off the ground, to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests. 10,000 to 8,000 years ago (Neolithic period) — The quest for comfort brought on the invention of the mattress and then the bed. (In many Asian countries today people still sleep directly on the floor with a simple thin grass mat under them).

Ancient times — Prehistoric humans, simply huddled in groups for warmth at night and slept on the ground or directly on floor boards.