Dear Reader:

Control and distribution of the light emitted from a light fixture can be accomplished through use of a lens, and there are attributes specific to each type of material available, and its surface texture, that the Facility Manager may want to consider.

Acrylic and polycarbonate are the most popular materials used for this purpose. Both are plastic, and serve to diffuse light, reduce glare, and perhaps add an aesthetic element to what would otherwise be ‘raw’ light emissions from the fixture.

Each is strong and lightweight, and represents a relatively inexpensive add to the fixture’s overall cost.

Acrylic. A scratch resistant material, acrylic offers good durability when extreme conditions – moisture or heat – are not found within the environment in which the fixture is to be hung. Acrylic is UV resistant, making it an ideal choice where wall or skylight daylighting is to be h...