Shielding angle

What is the shielding angle?

The Shielding angle is the angle between the horizontal plane of a luminaire and an imaginary line drawn from the edge of the luminaire to the edge of the light source. It describes the viewing angle at which the light source becomes visible and has a significant impact on visual comfort.

Significance for Glare Control

When it comes to lamps, glare caused by excessive luminance should always be avoided. One cause of direct glare can be an insufficient shielding angle. If the light source is visible from an unfavorable angle, high brightness contrasts arise between the light source and its surroundings.

A properly designed shielding angle reduces these effects and helps limit direct glare. A larger shielding angle reduces glare and reflections, while an angle that is too small can result in the light source being directly visible.

Design Measures to Reduce Glare

Various components are used to improve the shielding angle and prevent direct glare, including:

• Housing components
• Slats
• Grid
• Opal or prismatic covers
• Darklight Reflectors

These elements partially shield the light source and reduce the perceived luminance.

Relevance for Different Types of Lighting Fixtures

The beam angle is particularly important for the following types of lights:

• GU10 Spotlights
• Spots
• LED Spotlights
• Surface-Mounted Spotlights
• Recessed spotlights
• Track spotlights (single-phase / three-phase)

In these luminaires, the light source is often directly or partially visible, which means that the shielding angle is critical for limiting glare.

Regulatory Requirements in the Workplace

Particularly in work environments where precise vision is required, DIN EN 12464-1 specifies requirements for limiting glare. These include, among other things, a minimum shielding angle for certain types of luminaires.

A shielding angle designed in accordance with standards helps prevent direct glare and create a uniform visual environment.