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Recommended Practice for the Calculation of

Daylight Availability
Published online: 20 Sep 2013.

To cite this article: (1984) Recommended Practice for the Calculation of Daylight Availability, Journal of the
Illuminating Engineering Society, 13:4, 381-392, DOI: 10.1080/00994480.1984.10748791

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 Recommended practice for the
calculation of daylight availability

Prepared by the IES Calculation Procedures Committee

Foreword-The two publications dealing with 1.2 Caution. Frequent use of the curves or formulas
daylight predictions, “Recommended Practice of used to express daylight availability can result in a
Daylighting,”l and IES Lighting Handbook, 1981 feeling that the numbers represent instantaneous
Reference Volurne,2 lack information relating to values, rather than mean design values. Do not make
partly cloudy skies. The Practice provides a few this mistake. It is not unusual for the instantaneous
curves giving approximate sky luminances and hor- values to be more than twice or less than half the
izontal and vertical illuminances under overcast sky mean design values.
and clear sky with sun; the Handbook contains ta-
bles, curves and equations for approximating sky 1.3 Basic Procedure.The basic procedure is to start
luminances for clear and overcast skies and solar il- with
luminance. As a result of recent research on daylight (1) The latitude and longitude of the site loca-
availability, the Calculation Procedures Committee, tion
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with the Daylight Committee, has provided more (2) The day of the year (Julian date)
complete information on partly cloudy sky condi- (3) The local time
tions, along with information in both equation-form
(for use with hand-held calculators and computers) The local time is converted to solar time. Then a
and graphical-form. number of angles are computed that give the position
of the sun in the sky, delineate shadows and relate
geometric orientation. Finally, for a particular sky
IES Calculation Procedures Committee condition, the appropriate daylight availability
equations are used to compute the daylight illumi-
D. L. DiLaura, Chairman nation (mean design value) on the desired sur-
faces.
R. J. Burkett J. C. MansTir* 1.4 Angles. All angular measurements used in the
F. Clark* M. M. McCloskey equations are expressed in radians rather than in
W. L. Fink T. K. McGowan degrees. The conversion to radians is accomplished
G. Gillette W. Pierpoint by multiplying an angle in degrees by ?r/180.
I. Goodbar R. T. Moxey
J. W. Griffith S. M. Stannard 2. Site location
K. Honeycutt G. R. Steffy Site location is specified by a latitude 1 and a
R. E. Levin G. J. Subisak longitude L . Latitudes and longitudes may be found
in any standard atlas or almanac. Table 1shows the
* Advisory latitudes and longitudes of some North American
~ i t i e s Conventions
.~ used in expressing latitudes
are:
1. introduction Positive = Northern Hemisphere
Negative = Southern Hemisphere
1.1 General. The phrase, daylight auailability ,re- Conventions used in expressing longitudes are:
fers to the amount of light from the sun and the sky Positive = West of Greenwich
a t a specific location, time, date and sky condition. Negative = East of Greenwich
Measurements of daylight illumination by various
researchers in numerous worldwide locations over the 3. Time
past 60 years have resulted in very similar mean 3.1 General. Solar time can be determined from
trend curve^.^ The available daylight is determined standard time (or daylight time) by correcting for site
from a set of these statistical mean trend curves. longitude within a time zone and by correcting for the
During the design process, the architect or engineer equation of time.
is interested in the quantity of daylight illumination 3.2 Equation of time. The equation of time is a
on a horizontal or vertical surface. correction term that accounts for variations between
solar time and clocked time. It is caused by two fac-
Approved by the IESNA Board of Directors, December 5,1983,
tors:
as a Transaction of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North 1. The elliptical orbit of the earth.
America. 2. The solar declination of the axis.

JOURNAL OF IES I X L Y 1984 38 1

 Table 1-Latitude and Longitude of Some North
Amerkan Cities
Latitude Longitude
Cwntn/Clty h r w a Radians Degrees Radlans
Canada
Ottawa 45 0.79 76 1.32
MontrMli 46 0.79 74 1.28
Toronto 44 0.76 79 1.39
vancower 49 0.86 123 2.15
Winnipeg 50 0.87 97 1.70
Mexko
Mexico city 19 0.34 99 1.73
United Stater
Anchorage 61 1.07 150 2.62
Chicago 42 0.73 88 1.53
Dallas 33 0.57 97 1.69
Denver 40 0.69 105 1.83
Honolulu 21 0.37 158 2.76
Los Angeies 34 0.59 118 2.06
Miami 26 0.45 80 1.40
NewYakclty 41 0.71 74 1.29
Seattle 48 0.83 122 2.14 t, = t d -1
39 0.68 77 1.34
(2)
Washington - where
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t, = standard time in hours

t d = daylight time in hours
Equation 1is a least squares best fit to a very precise
equation of time given by Lamm.5 Solar time can be calculated from standard time
using Equation 3.
ET = .170 gin
:;(J- 80)1
-
[ t = t, + ET + 12(SM- L ) / T (3)

[&
-.129sin -(J-8)
1 (1)
where
t = solar time in decimal hours
t, = standard time in decimal hours
where E T = equation of time from Equation 1
ET = equation of time (decimal hours) SM = standard meridian for time zone in ra-
J = Julian date, 15 J I365. dians
L = site longitude in radians
Plots of the equation of time are given in Figure 1.
The solid curve is a plot of Lamm’s equation; the 4. Solar position
dotted curve is from Equation 1. Since Equation 1 4.1 General. The position of the sun is given in
has a maximum error of less than 40 seconds, its use terms of solar altitude and solar azimuth. Solar alti-
is suitable for daylighting calculations. tude is the angular distance from the horizon to the
3.3 Time zone standard meridian. Each time zone sun, measured perpendicular to the plane of the ho-
has a reference longitude that is used in calculating rizon. Solar azimuth is the angular distance from true
solar time. These standard meridians are given in South (in the Northern Hemisphere) to the vertical
Table 2. plane containing the sun. Solar altitude and azimuth
3.4 Solar time. The relationship between standard are shown in Figure 2.
time and daylight time is given by Equation 2. Solar position is a function of site latitude, solar
time and solar declination. Site latitude and solar
time have been determined in previous sections.
Solar declination is calculated in Section 4.2.
Table 2-llme Zone Standard Meridians 4.2 Solar declination. Solar declination is the tilt
Standard MerMlan of the earth’s axis with respect to the ecliptic. The
n m ZCMW Denroes Radians solar declination can be closely approximated by:
Atlantic
Eastern
Central
Mountain
60
75
90
105
1.05
1.31
1.57
1.83 where
[:;
6 = 0.4093 sin -(J- 81)
] (4)

Pacific 120 2.09 6 = solar declination in radians

Yukon 135 2.36 J = Julian date (1IJ I 365)
AiaskerrHawailan 150 2.62 4.3 Solar altitude. Solar altitude is given by
Bering 165 2.88 Equation 5. It has a range from 0 to 7r/2. If the sun is

302 JOURNAL OF ES I J U Y 1084

 ZENITH N

MERIDIAN NORMAL TO / 1,
VERTICAL '
SURFACE
Figure 2. Solar attitude and azlmuth (Northern Heml-
sphere).
S

Flgure 3. Azlmuth angles (plan vlew).

below the horizon, Equation 5 will give a negative
value.
4.6 Solar elevation azimuth. The solar-elevation
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at = arcsin[sin 1 sin6 - cos 1 cos6 cos(7rt/12)]

azimuth gives the azimuthal angle between the sun
(5) and the normal to the elevation. It is given by
where Equation 7.
at = solar altitude
1 = site latitude
6 = solar declination where
t = solartime a, = solar-elevation azimuth
4.4 Solar azimuth. Solar azimuth is given in a, = solar azimuth
Equation 6. Since the standard arc tangent function ae = elevation azimuth
has a range from -7r/2 to +n/2 and the solar azimuth 4.7 Incident angle. The incident angle is the an-
has a range from -7r to +T,the sign of the argument gular distance between the normal of the elevation
numerator and denominator must be checked to and a ray of sunlight. It is shoprll in Figure 4 and can
determine the proper quadrant. Correct quadrant be computed from Equation 8.
placement can be achieved without this previous step ai = arccos[cos at cos a,] (8)
if the computer or calculator has a rectangular-to- where
polar conversion function of the FORTRAN ATAN2
function available. Note: if the ATAN2 function is ai = incident angle
used, both numerator and denominator of Equation at = solar altitude
6 must be multiplied by negative one (-1 to give the a, = solar-elevation azimuth
proper quadrant. A discussion of alternate methods
of expressing the solar azimuth equation is given in Flgure 4. incident and profile angles.
Reference 6,
as = arctan
cos6 sin(7rtll2)
+
cos 1 sin6 sin 1 cos6 cos(7rtl12) 1
(6)
A
ZENITH
I

where
a, = solar azimuth
1 = site latitude
6 = solar declination
t = solartime
4.5 Elevation azimuth. In any daylighting calcu-
lations, it is necessary to calculate the daylight on a
vertical surface (wall, window or other elevation.
Elevation azimuth correlates the elevation view
(normal to the vertical surface) to the plan view of the
building. Elevation azimuth angle is measured
clockwise (positive angle) with respect to true south
(Northern Hemisphere). Elevation azimuth angle a,,
NORMAL TO
VERTICAL J
is shown in Figure 3. SURFACE

JOURNAL OF IES I JULY 1984 333

 4.8 Profile angle. The profile angle is the apparent Table 3-Daylight Avallablllty Constants for Equatlons
altitude of the sun in the vertical plane containing the 12 and 16
normal to the elevation. It is shown in Figure 4 and A B C
is calculated by Equation 9. It is used primarily to Sky Condition c klx (fc) klx (fc) klx (fc)
determine shadows.
Clear 0.21 0.8 15.5 0.5
1.o
[:2]
a, = arctan - Partly Cloudy
Cloudy
* No direct sun; Ed,,
0.80

= 0.
0.3
0.3
45.0
21.0 1.o

where
up = profile angle
at = solar altitude 5.4 Direct normal solar illuminance. As with any
ai = incident angle radiation passing through an attenuating medium?
the direct solar illuminance that reaches the ground
5. Sunllght after passing through the atmosphere is given by
5.1 General. For the purpose of daylighting calcu- Equation 12. Values for the atmospheric extinction
lations, the sun is considered to be a point source coefficient vary with the sky condition, which is
providing a constant illuminance at a fixed distance discussed in Section 6.
in free space. In order to calculate the sunlight Edn = Ex, exp(-cm) (12)
reaching the ground, the following must be consid-
ered: where
1. The varying distance of the earth to the sun Edn = direct normal solar illuminance
caused by the earth's elliptical orbit.
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Ext = extraterrestrial solar illuminance

2. The attenuation of sunlight by the earth's c = atmospheric extinction coefficient (see
atmosphere. Table 3)
5.2 Solar illumination constant. The solar illu- m = optical air mass
mination constant is the total solar illuminance at
normal incidence on a surface in free space at the The equation that is the simplest, and the most
earth's mean distance from the sun. The solar illu- often used representation,1° for optical air mass is
mination constant is a calculated quantity. It is ob- expressed in Equation 13.
tained from Equation 10.
Esc = Krn.fGXVXdX (10)
where where
m = optical air mass
E,, = solar illumination constant
Krn = spectral luminous efficacy of radiant at = solar altitude
flux 5.5 Direct horizontal solar illuminance. The di-
GX = solar spectral irradiance at wavelength rect sunlight on a horizontal plane is expressed in
x Equation 14.
VX = photopic vision spectral luminous effi-
ciency at wavelength h EdH = Edn Sin (It (14)
X = wavelength in nanometers (for photopic where
vision at 380 to 780 nanometers) EdH = direct horizontal solar illuminance
The following summarizes some important solar Edn = direct normal solar illuminance
parameters based on current at = solar altitude
Solar illumination = 127.5 klx (11,850 fc)
constant 5.6 Direct vertical solar illuminance. The direct
Solar irradiation = 1353 W/m2 (125.7 W/ sunlight on a vertical elevation is expressed in
constan t ft2) Equation 15.
Solar efficacy = 94.2 lm/W
Ed" = Edn COS Ui (15
5.3 Extraterrestrial solar illuminance. The earth
does not move in a circle around the sun, but in an where
ellipse. Thus, on any day of the year, the extrater- Edo = direct vertical solar illuminance
restrial solar illuminance is: Edn = direct normal solar illuminance
ai = incident angle

6. Skylight
where 6.1 General. As sunlight passes through the atmo-
Ex, = extraterrestrial solar illuminance sphere, a portion of the incident radiation is scattered
E,, = solar illumination constant by dust, water vapor and other suspended particles
J = Julian date (1I J I365) in the atmosphere. This scattered light from the sky
3a4 JOURNAL OF IES I J U Y 1984
 is divided into three categories: (1)clear, (2) partly Table 4-Overcast Sky Zenith Lumlnance and Vertkal
cloudy and (3) cloudy. Either the sky ratio method Half-Skv lllumlnance Constants
or the sky cover method is normally used to classify ZL V
a sky. A brief description of these methods is given 1.286 0.396
in Appendix A under sky condition. The equations
in this publication are based on the sky ratio method;
however, the use of either method should give similar where
results.
6.2 Horizontal illuminance from the sky. Plots of [ = the zenithal point angle
the horizontal illuminance from the sky (excluding a = the azimuth angle from the sun
direct sunlight) versus solar altitude show a charac- Angle, y, may be calculated from Equation 19.
teristic form3 given by Equation 16. The form of the y = arccos(cos 2, cos[ = sin 2, sin[cosa)
equation works well for all three sky conditions, with (19)
different values for the constants depending on
whether the sky is clear, partly cloudy or cloudy 6.3.1 Clear sky. A standard clear sky luminance
(Table 3). distribution function was developed by Kittlerl' and
adopted by the International Commission on Illu-
EkH = A 4- B sinC at (16) mination (CIE).12 This distribution is given by
Equation 20.
where
[.91+ 10 exp(-3y) +
EkH = horizontal sky illuminance
A = sunrise/sunset illuminance
= solar altitude illuminance coefficient
L=L,
{[.91+ 10 exp(-3Z0)
B .45 cos2y][1- exp(-.32/cosj?]
]
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C = solar altitude illuminance exponent

at = solar altitude + .45 cos2 2,][1 - exp(-.32)]
(20)

6.3 Sky luminance distributions.The illuminance where

from the sky, on other than horizontal surfaces, can L = sky luminance at point P
be determined from a sky luminance distribution. A L, = sky zenith luminance
unique sky luminance distribution is used to repre- y = angle between the sun and sky point P
sent each of the three sky conditions. The luminance { = zenithal point angle
of the sky is a function of: 2, = zenithal sun angle
1. The luminance distribution with respect to zenith 6.3.2 Partly cloudy sky. A distributionl3 similar
luminance. in form to the clear sky distribution, but with con-
2. Absolute values for the zenith luminance. stants modified from partly cloudy sky measure-
In the method used in this publication, a zenith lu- ments, is given by Equation 21.
minance factor is used to calculate zenith luminance +
from the horizontal sky illuminance, as shown in
Equation 17.
L = L,
1[.526 5 exp(-1.5y)][l- exp(-.€@/cosD]
[.526 + 5 exp(-1.5 2,)][1 - exp(-.80)]
(21)
I
L, = EkHZL (17)
where
where L = sky luminance at point P
L* = zenith luminance L, = sky zenith luminance
EkH = horizontal sky illuminance from y = angle between the sun and sky-point P
Equation 16. [ = zenithal point angle
ZL = zenith luminance factor a t the same 2, = zenithal sun angle
solar altitude as &H
Values for the zenith luminance factor can be Figure 5. Sky angles.
found in Tables 4 through 6 (repeated in Tables 7
through 9). These tables are associated with Sections 1
6.4 and 6.5.
In order to understand the sky luminance equa-
tions, a number of angles must be identified as shown
in Figure 5. The position of the sun in Figure 5 is
given by the solar azimuth, a,, and zenithal sun angle,
2,. Note that 2, is related to the solar altitude, a t ,
by the simple formula of Equation 18.

The position of an point, P, in the sky (at which the

sky luminance is calculated) is give by angles [and
a,

JOURNAL OF E S I J U Y 1964
 Tabk 5. Clear Sky ZenHh Lumlnance and Vertkal Half-Sky lllumlnance
Azmm
ALT ZL 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
90 3.248 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441 0.441
85 2.591 0.476 0.476 0.474 0.471 0.468 0.463 0.458 0.453 0.447 0.442 0.436 0.431 0.426 0.422 0.418 0.416 0.413 0.412 0.412
80 2.086 0.518 0.516 0.513 0.507 0.499 0.489 0.478 0.467 0.455 0.444 0.433 0.423 0.414 0.406 0.400 0.395 0,392 0.389 0.389
75 1.698 0.565 0.563 0.557 0.547 0.534 0.519 0.502 0.483 0.465 0.448 0.431 0.417 0.405 0.394 0.386 0.379 0.375 0.372 0.371
70 1.398 0.619 0.616 0.607 0.593 0.574 0.552 0.528 0.502 0.477 0.453 0.432 0.413 0.397 0.385 0.375 0.368 0.362 0.359 0.358
65 1 . i ~ 0.678
~ 0.674 0.662 0.643 0.618 0.589 0.557 0.523 0.490 0.460 0.433 0.411 0.393 0.379 0.368 0.360 0.354 0.351 0.350
60 0.985 0.742 0.737 0.722 0.698 0.667 0.629 0.589 0.546 0.506 0.469 0.437 0.411 0.391 0.375 0.364 0.355 0.350 0.347 0.346

55 0 A44 0.812 0.806 0.787 0.758 0.720 0.674 0.624 0.572 0.523 0.479 0.442 0.413 0.391 0.374 0.363 0.355 0.349 0.347 0.346
50 0.734 0.887 0.880 0.858 0.823 0.777 0.722 0.662 0.601 0.543 0.491 0.449 0.417 0.393 0.376 0.365 0.357 0.352 0.350 0.349

45 0.648 0.967 0.959 0.933 0.893 0.838 0.774 0.704 0.632 0.564 0.505 0.458 0.423 0.398 0.381 0.370 0.363 0.359 0.356 0.356

40 0.581 1.053 1.043 1.014 0.967 0.904 0.830 0.749 0.666 0.588 0.521 0.469 0.431 0.406 0.389 0.378 0.372 0.368 0.366 0.366

35 0.530 1.142 1.131 1.098 1.044 0.974 0.889 0.797 0.703 0.614 0.539 0.482 0.442 0.416 0.399 0.389 0.384 0.381 0.380 0.379

30 0 -491 1.235 1.222 1.185 1.125 1.046 0.951 0.848 0.742 0.643 0.559 0.497 0.455 0.429 0.413 0.404 0.399 0.397 0.397 0.397
25 0.464 1.327 1.313 1.272 1.206 1.118 1.014 0.899 0.782 0.673 0.581 0.515 0.471 0.445 0.430 0.422 0.419 0.418 0.418 0.418
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20 0.446 1.414 1.399 1.355 1.283 1.188 1.075 0.950 0.823 0.704 0.605 0.535 0.490 0.464 0.450 0.444 0.442 0.442 0.442 0.443
15 0.436 1.490 1.474 1.426 1.350 1.249 1.129 0.996 0.861 0.734 0.630 0.557 0.513 0.488 0.475 0.470 0.469 0.470 0.471 0.472

10 0.435 1.541 1.524 1.476 1.397 1.293 1.169 1.032 0.892 0.762 0.655 0.582 0.538 0.514 0.503 0.500 0.501 0.503 0.505 0.506

5 0.440 1.552 1.536 1.488 1.410 1.307 1.184 1.049 0.911 0.783 0.678 0.608 0.566 0.544 0.535 0.533 0.536 0.539 0.542 0.543

0 0.452 1.511 1.495 1.450 1.377 1.280 1.166 1.040 0.913 0.794 0.698 0.633 0.595 0.575 0.568 0.568 0.572 0.577 0.580 0.581

Table 6. Partly Cloudy Sky Zenlth Lumlnance and Vertical Half-Sky lllumlnance Constants
Azmm
ALT ZL 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
90 2.002 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419 0.419
85 1.782 0.448 0.448 0.447 0.444 0.441 0.438 0.433 0.429 0.424 0.419 0.414 0.410 0.405 0.402 0.398 0.3% 0.394 0.393 0.392
80 1.595 0.482 0.481 0.478 0.473 0.467 0.459 0.450 0.440 0.431 0.421 0.411 0.402 0.394 0.386 0.380 0.376 0.372 0.370 0.369
75 1.434 0.518 0.517 0.512 0.504 0.494 0.482 0.468 0.453 0.438 0.423 0.409 0.3% 0.384 0.373 0.365 0.358 0.353 0.350 0.349
70 1.296 0.558 0.556 0.549 0.539 0.524 0.507 0.488 0.468 0.447 0.427 0.408 0.391 0.375 0.362 0.351 0.343 0.337 0.334 0.332
65 1.178 0.601 0.598 0.589 0.575 0.557 0.535 0.510 0.484 0.457 0.432 0.408 0.387 0.368 0.353 0.340 0.330 0.324 0.320 0.318
60 1.076 0.646 0.643 0.632 0.614 0.591 0.564 0.533 0.501 0.468 0.438 0.409 0.384 0.363 0.345 0.331 0.320 0.312 0.308 0.306
55 0.990 0.694 0.690 0.677 0.656 0.628 0.595 0.558 0.519 0.481 0.445 0.412 0.383 0.359 0.339 0.324 0.312 0.304 0.299 0.297
50 0.916 0.744 0.739 0.724 0.699 0.667 0.627 0.584 0.539 0.494 0.453 0.415 0.384 0.357 0.335 0.318 0.306 0.297 0.292 0.290
45 0.854 0.796 0.790 0.773 0.744 0.707 0.662 0.612 0.560 0.509 0.462 0.420 0.385 0.356 0.333 0.315 0.302 0.292 0.287 0.285
40 0.802 0.849 0.843 0.823 0.791 0.748 0.697 0.641 0.582 0.525 0.472 0.427 0.388 0.357 0.333 0.313 0.299 0.290 0.284 0.282
35 0.758 0.903 0.895 0.873 0.837 0.790 0.733 0.671 0.606 0.542 0.484 0.434 0.393 0.360 0.334 0.314 0.299 0.289 0.283 0.281
30 0.723 0.955 0.947 0.923 0.884 0.832 0.770 0.701 0.630 0.560 0.497 0.443 0.399 0.364 0.337 0.316 0.301 0.290 0.284 0.282
25 0.694 1.006 0.997 0.971 0.928'0.872 0.805 0.731 0.653 0.578 0.5il 0.453 0.407 0.370 0.342 0.320 0.304 0.294 0.287 0.285
20 0.672 1.052 1.042 1.014 0.969 0.910 0.838 0.759 0.677 0.597 0.525 0.465 0.417 0.378 0.349 0.326 0.310 0.299 0.293 0.291
15 0.656 1.091 1.081 1.052 1.005 0.942 0.867 0.785 0.699 0.615 0.540 0.478 0.428 0.388 0.358 0.335 0.318 0.306 0.300 0.298
10 0.644 1.120 1.110 1.080 1.032 0.968 0.891 0.806 0.718 0.632 0.555 0.491 0.440 0.399 0.368 0.345 0.327 0.316 0.309 0.307
5 0.636 1.136 1.126 1.096 1.047 0.983 0.906 0.821 0.733 0.618 0.570 0.505 0.453 0.412 0.380 0.356 0.339 0.327 0.320 0.317
0 0.632 1.137 1.127 1.098 1.050 0.988 0.913 0.830 0.744 0.660 0.584 0.520 0.467 0.426 0.394 0.369 0.35l 0.339 0.332 0.330

386 JOWlNAL OF IES I JULY 1984

 Table 'I-OvercasI Sky Zenith Lumlnance and tical half-sky illuminance factor from Tables 4,5 or
Horlrontal Half-Sky lllumlnance Constants 6.
ZL
1.286
H
0.500
Eko = EhH v (26)
where
Eko = vertical sky illuminance on an eleva-
6.3.3 Cloudy sky. An overcast sky-model is used tion
to represent the cloudy sky. The form of Equation 22 E k H = horizontal sky illuminance
can be derived from first prin~ip1es.l~ The first term V = vertical half-sky illuminance factor at
provides the luminance contribution of the cloud the same solar altitude as E k H and the
layer and the second term provides the luminance same solar-elevation azimuth as the
contribution of the atmosphere between the bottom desired elevation
of the cloud layer and the ground. Constants have When Equation 26 is used in conjunction with
been chosen to give a best fit to the original data used Equation 16 and the constants from Table 3, the re-
by Moon and Spencer14in their treatment of the sulting vertical illuminances from the sky can be
overcast sky. approximated empirically13by Equations 27 through
29 (in units of kilolux).
6.4.1 Clear sky

+ .136 [I - exp(-.52/cosnl Eku = (4.0 at1.3 + 12.0 sin3 at ~0sl.3a t )

X [(2 + cos a,)/(3 - cos a,)] (27)
[ l - exp(-.52)]
where where
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Eku = vertical illuminance from the sky

L = sky luminance at point P at = solar altitude
L, = sky zenith luminance a, = solar-elevation azimuth
c = zenithal point angle
6.4.2 Partly cloudy sky
The empirical Moon and Spencer14equation for
the luminance distribution of an overcast sky is given E k u = (12.0 at + 30.2 sin8 at a t )
COS
in Equation 23. It has been almost universally used X [(l + cos a,)/(3 - COB a,)] (28)
to represent overcast skies for the past 40 years and
was adopted by the CIE15 in 1955. It is historically where
significant since a large number of daylight calcula-
tion methods are based on it. There is very little nu- Eku = vertical illuminance from the sky
merical difference between Equation 22 and Equa- at = solar altitude
tion 23 for the selected constants; for application a, = solar-elevation azimuth
purposes, either equation is satisfactory. 6.4.3 Cloudy sky
L Eko = 8.5 sin at (29)
3
+
L = (1 2 cosn (23)
where
where Ehv = vertical illuminance from the sky
L = sky luminance at point P at = solar altitude
L, = sky zenith luminance 6.5 Horizontal illuminance from the half-sky.
{ = zenithal point angle Some daylighting calculation techniques require the
6.4 Vertical illuminance from the sky. If the sky value of the horizontal illuminance from the same
luminance distribution functions are individually half-sky as was used to calculate the vertical illumi-
integrated according to Equation 24 and Equation nance. This is calculated by the same method used
25, the result would be a unique relationship between in Section 6.4, except that Table 7,8 or 9 is used.
the zenith luminance, L, the horizontal sky illumi- The horizontal illuminance from the half-sky is
nance, E k H , and the vertical sky illuminance,Eku. obtained by multiplying the horizontal illuminance
from the full, unobstructed sky by the appropriate
horizontal half-sky illuminance factor.
Ehh =EmH (30)
and
where
Ekh = horizontal half-sky illuminance at an
elevation
Since the horizontal sky illuminance is given by EkH = horizontal illuminance from unob-
Equation 16, zenith luminance and vertical sky il- structed sky
luminance may be determined from the factors given H = horizontal half-sky illuminance factor
in Tables 4 through 6. The vertical sky illuminance at the same solar altitude as Ekh and
is obtained from Equation 26 by multiplying the the same solar-elevation azimuth as the
horizontal sky illuminance by the appropriate ver- desired elevation
 Table 8. Clear sky ZenHh Lumlnance and Horlzontal Haw-sky lllumlnance Constants
A Z m
ALT ZL 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180

90 '3.248 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500

85 2.591 0.546 0.546 0.544 0.540 0.536 0.530 0.524 0.516 0.508 0.500 0.492 0.484 0.476 0.470 0.464 0.460 0.456 0.454 0.454

80 2.086 0.588 0.586 0.583 0.577 0.569 0.558 0.546 0.532 0.516 0.500 0.484 0.468 0.454 0.442 0.431 0.423 0.417 0.414 0.412

75 1.698 0.623 0.621 0.617 0.609 0.598 0.584 0.567 0.547 0.524 0.500 0.476 0.453 0.433 0.416 0.402 0.391 0.383 0.379 0.377

70 1.398 0.652 0.65l 0.645 0.636 0.624 0.607 0.586 0.561 0.532 0.500 0.468 0.439 0.414 0.393 0.376 0.364 0.355 0.349 0.348

65 1.165 0.676 0.675 0.669 0.659 0.645 0.627 0.603 0.573 0.539 0.500 0.461 0.427 0.397 0.373 0.355 0.341 0.331 0.325 0.324

60 0.985 0.695 0.694 0.688 0.678 0.663 0.643 0.617 0.585 0.545 0.500 0.455 0.415 0.383 0.357 0.337 0.322 0.312 0.306 0.305

55 0.844 0.710 0.708 0.702 0.692 0.678 0.657 0.630 0.595 0.551 0.500 0.449 0.405 0.370 0.343 0.322 0.308 0.298 0.292 0.290

50 0.734 0.720 0.719 0.713 0.703 0.688 0.668 0.640 0.603 0.556 0.500 0.444 0.397 0.360 0.332 0.312 0.297 0.287 0.281 0.280

45 0.648 0.727 0.725 0.720 0.711 0.6% 0.676 0.648 0.610 0.560 0.500 0.440 0.390 0.352 0.324 0.304 0.289 0.280 0.275 0.273

40 0.581 0.730 0.729 0.724 0.714 0.701 0.681 0.653 0.615 0.564 0.500 0.436 0.385 0.347 0.319 0.299 0.286 0.277 0.271 0.270

35 0.530 0.730 0.728 0.724 0.715 0.702 0.683 0.655 0.617 0.566 0.500 0.434 0.383 0.345 0.317 0.298 0.285 0.276 0.272 0.270

30 0.491 0.726 0.725 0.720 0.712 0.700 0.682 0.655 0.618 0.567 0.500 0.433 0.382 0.345 0.318 0.300 0.288 0.280 0.275 0.274

25 0.464 0.719 0.718 0.714 0.706 0.695 0.677 0.652 0.617 0.566 0.500 0.434 0.383 0.348 0.323 0.305 0.294 0.286 0.282 0.281

20 0.446 0.708 0.707 0.703 0.697 0.686 0.670 0.646 0.612 0.564 0.500 0.436 0.388 0.354 0.330 0.314 0.303 0.297 0.293 0.292
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15 0.436 0.694 0.693 0.689 0.683 0.673 0.659 0.637 0.605 0.560 0.500 0.440 0.395 0.363 0.341 0.327 0.317 0.311 0.307 0.306

10 0.435 0.676 0.675 0.672 0.666 0.657 0.644 0.624 0.596 0.555 0.500 0.445 0.404 0.376 0.356 0.343 0.334 0.328 0.325 0.324

5 0.440 0.654 0.653 0.651 0.646 0.638 0.626 0.609 0.583 0.547 0.500 0.453 0.417 0.391 0.374 0.362 0.354 0.349 0.347 0.346

0 0.452 0.630 0.629 0.627 0.623 0.617 0.607 0.592 0.569 0.539 0.500 0.461 0.431 0.108 0.393 0.383 0.377 0.373 0.371 0.370

Table 9. Partly Cloudy Sky Zenlth Lumlnance and Horlzontal Half-Sky Illuminance Constants
AZIMPIH
ALT ZL 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180

90 2.002 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500

85 1.782 0.531 0.530 0.529 0.527 0.524 0.520 0.516 0.511 0.505 0.500 0.495 0.489 0.484 0.480 0.476 0.473 0.471 0.470 0.469

80 1.595 0.560 0.559 0.556 0.552 0.546 0.539 0.531 0.521 0.511 0.500 0.489 0.479 0.469 0.461 0.454 0.448 0.444 0.441 0.440

75 1.434 0.586 0.585 0.582 0.576 0.568 0.557 0.545 0.531 0.516 0.500 0.484 0.469 0.455 0.443 0.432 0.424 0.418 0.415 0.414

70 1.296 0.610 0.608 0.604 0.597 0.587 0.574 0.559 0.541 0.521 0.500 0.479 0.459 0.441 0.426 0.413 0.403 0.3% 0.392 0.390

65 1.178 0.630 0.629 0.624 0.616 0.604 0.589 0.571 0.550 0.526 0.500 0.474 0.450 0.429.0.411 0.3% 0.384 0.376 0.371 0.370

60 1.076 0.648 0.647 0.641 0.632 0.619 0.603 0.582 0.558 0.530 0.500 0.470 0.442 0.418 0.397 0.381 0.368 0.359 0.353 0.352

55 0.990 0.664 0.662 0.656 0.646 0.633 0.615 0.592 0.565 0.534 0.500 0.466 0.435 0.408 0.385 0.367 0.354 0.344 0.338 0.336

50 0.916 0.676 0.674 0.668 0.658 0.644 0.625 0.601 0.572 0.538 0.500 0.462 0.428 0.399 0.375 0.356 0.342 0.332 0.326 0.324

45 0.854 0.686 0.684 0.678 0.668 0.653 0.633 0.608 0.578 0.541 0.500 0.459 0.422 0.392 0.367 0.347 0.332 0.322 0.316 0.314
40 0.802 0.694 0.692 0.686 0.676 0.660 0.640 0.614 0.582 0.544 0.500 0.456 0.418 0.386 0.360 0.340 0.325 0.314 0.308 0.306

35 0.758 0.700 0.698 0.692 0.681 0.665 0.645 0.618 0.585 0.546 0.500 0.454 0.415 0.382 0.355 0.335 0.319 0.308 0.302 0.300
30 0.723 0.703 0.701 0.695 0.684 0.669 0.648 0.621 0.587 0.547 0.500 0.453 0.413 0.379 0.352 0.331 0.316 0.305 0.299 0.297

25 0.694 0.704 0.702 0.696 0.685 0.670 0.649 0.622 0.588 0.547 0.500 0.453 0.412 0.378 0.351 0.330 0.315 0.304 0.298 0.296

20 0.672 0.704 0.702 0.695 0.685 0.669 0.648 0.621 0.588 0.547 0.500 0.453 0.412 0.379 0.352 0.331 0.315 0.305 0.298 0.296

15 0.656 0.701 0.699 0.693 0.682 0.666 0.646 0.619 0.586 0.546 0.500 0.454 0.414 0.381 0.354 0.334 0.318 0.307 0.301 0.299

10 0.644 0.696 0.694 0.688 0.677 0.662 0.642 0.615 0.583 0.544 0.500 0.456 0.417 0.385 0.358 0.338 0.323 0.312 0.306 0.304

5 0.636 0.690 0.688 0.682 0.671 0.656 0.636 0.611 0.579 0.542 0.500 0.458 0.421 0.389 0.364 0.344 0.329 0.318 0.312 0.310

0 0.632 0.683 0.681 0.675 0.664 0.650 0.630 0.605 0.575 0.539 0.500 0.461 0.425 0.395 0.370 0.350 0.336 0.325 0.319 0.317
-

388 JOURNAL OF IES / J U Y 1984

 110 50
MRECTNORMM I HORVONTAL (FULL SKY)

_/----

/
/’
/’
/
/

25
r
0
o 10 M 30 40 50 m 70 m 90
SOLAR ALTITUDE IN DEGREES SOUR ALTITUDE IN DEGREES

Flgure 6. Solar lllumlnance for clear sky. Figure 9. Vertlcal lllumlnance for partly cloudy sky.

25
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HORIZONTAL (FULL WY)

>
m

o i o m 3 0 4 ~ 5 0 6 0 ~ 1 m 9 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0
SOLAR ALTITUDE IN DEGREES SOUR ALTlTUDE IN DEGREES

Figure 7. Solar Hlumlnance for partly cloudy sky. Flgure 10. Vertlcal lllumlnance for overcast sky.

Figure 8. Vertlcal Illuminance for clear sky. Flgure 11. Horlzontal half-sky lllumlnance for clear sky.

./---
17
HORIZONTAL (FULL SKY) HORIZONTAL (FULL SKY)--
16 -

,/.
VERTICAL /’
,/’ HORIZONTAL (HALF SKY)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Ly)

SOLAR MllTUDE IN DEGREES

JWRNAL OF IES I J U Y 1904 309

 Tabk 10-lyplcal roMlon lor IWlng avallable dayllgM
lnltlal data

Latitude 0.68 radians 39 degrees

Longitude 1.34 radians 77 degrees
Standard meridian 1.3 1 radians 75 degrees
Elevation azimuth - 1.57 radians -90 degrees
Julian date 101 April 11
Standard time 1O:OO a.m.
Tkrn

Equation of time -0.02 hows

Solar time 9.87 hours 9 5 2 a.m.
Anglos

Solar declination 0.14 radians 8 degrees

Solar altitude 0.83 radians 48 degrees
Solar azimuth -0.89 radians -51
Solar-elevatlon azimuth 0.68 radians 39 degrees
lncldent angle 1.02 radians 58 degrees
Profile angle 0.95 radians 55 degrees
Clear aky

. Sunlight on window 50.2 klx 4660 fc

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skylight on window 11.4klx 1060 fc

Total daylight on window 61.6 kix 5720 fc
Partly cloudy sky

Sunlight on window 22.6 kix 2100 fc

skyllght on window 22.7 kix 21 10 fc
Total daylight on window 45.3 klx 4210 fc
cloudy rlcr

Sunllght on window 0.0 klx 0.0 fc

Skyllght on window 6.3 kix 590 fc
Total dayllght on window 6.3 klx 590 fc

When Equation 30 is used in conjunction with where

Equation 16 (with constants from Table 3), the re- Ekh = horizontal illumination from the half-
sulting horizontal illuminances from the half-sky can sky
be approximated by empirical Equationsl3 31 at = solar altitude
through 33 (in units of kilolux).
7. DayllgM avallablllty
6.5.1 Clear sky
The available daylight is the sum of the light from
Ekh = 8.2 sin5 at +
6.9 sin at cos a: cos Q, (31) the sun and sky. The equations described in the
previous sections provide daylight availability values
where for design calculations. Some designers may prefer
Ekh= horizontal illumination from the half- graphical techniques, such as the use of a sun-angle
SkY calculator16to determine solar altitude and azimuth.
at = solar altitude Figures 6 through 13 can be used in conjunction with
a, = solar-elevation azimuth a sun-angle calculator to estimate daylight avail-
ability. Figures 6 and 7 give the sunlight availability
a 6.5.2 Partly cloudy sky for clear and partly cloudy skies respectively. Of
Ekh = 22.7 Sin Q: +
14.1 ~t COB a: COB (32) course there is no graph of the sunlight availability
from a cloudy sky since it is assumed that the sun is
where obscured. Figures 8 , 9 and 10 give the vertical illu-
Ekh = horizontal illumination from the half- minances from clear, partly cloudy and cloudy
sky (overcast) skies, and Figures 11,12 and 13 give the
at = solar altitude horizontal illuminances from the half-sky for the
a, = solar-elevation azimuth three sky conditions.
6.53 Cloudy sky 8. Example
Ekh = 10.7 Sin at (33) 8.1 General. The example in thissection is provided

390 OF E S I J U Y 1984
 50 5. Lamm,L. O., “A New Analytic Expression for the Equation of
HORIZONTAL CULL SKY1
Time,” Solar Energy, Vol. 26, Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981, p.
465.
6. Kittler, R., “A Universal Calculation Method for Simple
Predetermination of Natural Radiation on Building Surfaces and
Solar Collectors,” Building and Environment, Vol. 16, No. 3,
Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981, pp. 177-182.
7 . Standard Solar Constant and Air Mass Zero Solar Spectral
Irrodiance Tables, ASTM E490-73a, Philadelphia: American
Society for Testing and Materials, 1974.
8. Nomenclature and Definitions for Illuminating Engineering,
20t ANSIDES RP-16-1980, New York Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America, 1981.
9. Stephenson, D. G.,“Equations for Solar Heat Gain Through
Windows,” Solar Energy, Vol. 9, No. 2, Oxford Pergamon Press,
1965,p. 81-86.
10. ASHRAE Handbook and Product Directory: 1981 Funda-
mentals, Atlanta: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-conditioning Engineers, 1981, Chapter 27, p, 27.3.
11. Kittler, R., “Standardization of Outdoor Conditions for the
Calculation of Daylight Factor with Clear Skies,” Proceedings of
Figure 12. Horizontal half-sky Illumlnarm for partly cloudy the CIE Intercessional Conference on Sunlight in Buildings,
&Y. Bouwcentrum, Amsterdam, 1967, pp. 273-285.
12. Standardization of Luminance Distribution on Clear Skies,
CIE Publication No. 22, Paris: International Commission on 11-
lumination, 1973. (Available from the National Bureau of Stan-
dards, Washington, DC).
-- I I 13. Pierpoint, W., “A Simple Sky Model for Daylighting Calcu-
lations,” General Proceedings, Edited by T. Vonier, 1983 Inter-
Downloaded by [New York University] at 23:14 03 May 2015

national Daylighting Conference, Phoenix, Az, Feb. 16-18,1983,

p. 47.
14. Moon, P. and Spencer, D., “Illumination from a Nonuniform
Sky,” Illuminating Engineering, Vol. 37, No. 12, Dee. 1942, pp.
707.
15. International Recommendations for the Calculation of
Natural Daylight, CIE Publication No. 16, Paris: International
Commission on Illumination, 1970. (Available from the National
Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC).
16. Sun Angle Calculator, Toledo, O H Libbey Owens-Ford Co.,
1974.

SOUR ALmuDE IN DEGREES Appendix-Glossary of Daylight Terms

Figure 13. Horizontal half-sky Illuminances for overcast
*Y.
altitude: the angle within the vertical plane mea-
sured from the horizontal plane of the horizon
to the object point in the sky.
as an aid to those who choose to imbed the equations solar altitude, at: the altitude of the sun.
into a computer program. Allowances should be made Zenithal angle: the complementary angle to
for differences in machine precision. the altitude angle. It is the angle within the
8.2 Problem. For a window facing due east in vertical plane measured from zenith to the
Washington, D.C., what is the available daylight on object point in the sky.
April 11at 1000 a.m. eastern standard time?
8.3 Solution. The solution to the problem as stated azimuth: the angle within the horizontal plane
in Section 8.2 is shown’in Table 10. measured from the vertical plane intersecting
true south (Northern Hemisphere) and, then,
References rotated about the zenith until the vertical plane
1. IES Daylighting Committee, “Recommended Practice of intersects the object point in the sky. Clockwise
Daylighting,” IES-Rp-5-1978,Lighting Design and Application, angles from south are positive angles; counter-
Vol. 9, No. 2, Feb. 1979, p. 25. clockwise, negative.
2. IES Lighting Handbook, 1981 Reference Volume, New York: solar azimuth, as:the azimuth of the sun.
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, 1981, Section
7. eZeuat;on azimuth, a,: the angle within the
3. Gillette, G., Pierpoint, W.and Treado, S., “A General Illumi- horizontal plane measured from the vertical
nance Model for Daylight Availability,” Journal of the Illumi- plane intersecting true south (Northern
nating Engineering Society, Vol. 13, No. 4, July 1984.
4. Lane, H. U., ed., The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1982,
yemisphere) and, then, rotated until the
New York Newspaper Enterprise Association, Inc., 1981, pp. vertical plane contains the normal to the ele-
768-769. vation.

JOURNAL OF RS I J U Y 1984 391

 solar-eleuation azimuth a,: the angular dif- Cloud cover is estimated in tenths and is ex-
ference between solar azimuth and elevation pressed in a range from 0 for no clouds to 10
azimuth. for complete sky cover. Thus, a sky cover of
daylight availability:the amount of light from the 5 (tenths) means that approximately half of
sun and the sky at a specific location, time, day the sky is covered by clouds. The sky condi-
and sky condition. tions are:
clear= 0 to 3 tenths
daylight time, td: time that is ahead of standard partly cloudy= 4 to 7 tenths
time usually by one hour and used to give addi- cloudy= 8 to 10 tenths
tional daylight for summer evenings.
sky luminance distribution function: for a speci-
equation of time, ET: the difference (not exceeding fied sky condition, the luminance of each point
16 minutes) between mean solar time and ap- in the sky relative to the zenith luminance.
parent solar time caused by the elliptical orbit
of the earth around the sun and the tilt of the solar declination angle,6: the angle measured along
earth’s axis with respect to the ecliptic. a meridian from the equator to the latitude
where the sun is at zenith.
incident angle: the angle between a ray of direct
sunlight and the normal to the object surface. solar efficacy: the ratio of the solar illuminance
constant to the solar irradiance constant. The
latitude: the angular distance measured along a current accepted value is 94.2 lumens per
meridian from the equator, north or south, to a watt.
point on the earth’s surface. (North is positive
latitude; south is negatiue latitude.) solar illuminance constant, E,,: the solar illumi-
nance at normal incidence on a surface in free
longitude: the angular distance measured from the space at the earth‘s mean distance from the sun.
Downloaded by [New York University] at 23:14 03 May 2015

prime meridian (through Greenwich, England) The correct accepted value is 127.5 klx (11,850
west or east to a point on the earth’s surface. footcandles).
(West is positive longitude; east is negatiue
longitude. ) solar irradiance constant: the solar irradiance at
profde angle: the apparent altitude of the sun in the normal incidence on a surface in free space at
vertical plane containing the normal to the the earth’s mean distance from the sun. The
object wall (used primarily to determine current accepted value is 1353watts per square
shadows). meter (125.7 watts per square foot).
sky condition: the determination at a particular time solar time, t: when used without an additional ad-
and location of whether the sky is clear, partly jective, solar time refers to apparent solar time
cloudy or cloudy. I: apparent solar time is determined by the
earth’s rotation relative to the sun and is mea-
sky ratio method: used by the National Bu- sured by a sundial 2 mean solar time is an av-
reau of Standards (NBS), the sky ratio is the erage measure of apparent solar time using a
ratio of horizontal sky irradiance to global uniform time increment, such as measured by
horizontal irradiance. Since the sky ratio ap- a clock.
proaches 1when the solar altitude approaches
0, regardless of sky condition, this method is standard meridian,SM: the meridian located at the
inaccurate at low solar altitudes. The sky center of a time zone and at a multiple of 15
conditions are: degrees from the prime meridian.
clear= sky ratio < .3 standard time, t,: the mean solar time at the stan-
partly cloudy= .3 < sky ratio < .8 dard meridian and used as civil time throughout
cloudy= sky ratio > .8 the time zone.
sky cover method: used by the National time zone: one of 24 longitudinal zones established
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1884 for a regular sequence of standard time
(NOAA),the sky cover is estimated by visual changes between two adjacent zones of exactly
observation of the amount of cloud cover. one hour.

392 JOUANAL OF IES / J U Y 1984