Air-handling luminaires and plenum exhaust systems

There is growing interest in the use of plenum exhaust type air-handling luminaires to handle the return air in air-conditioned or ventilated spaces. One way of collecting the return air from the luminaires is to use the plenum as a duct. The types of air-handling luminaire in use are outlined and a standardized way of testing and presenting the data is proposed. The role of the ceiling in forming a plenum chamber and the types and ranges of ceiling available are examined and the effect of air leakage through the ceiling is described. Practical methods of measuring the air-tightness of commercially available ceilings are suggested and the use of the data with the performance data for air-handling luminaires during the design of plenum exhaust systems is described. Some site experiences and proposals for commissioning these systems are included.