Light reflectance value
a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source
The light reflectance value (LRV) is a value for the reflectance of light on a scale from 0 to 1, with zero indicating no reflected light and one indicating complete reflection of light. Reflectance is the proportion of the total electromagnetic energy (EM) that is reflected, making it not a measure of the absolute amount energy in the reflection, but a ratio of the reflected energy to the total energy.
Light reflectance values are used in a variety of applications, from architecture to ecology to cartography, and can indicate how visible an interior is for those with visual impairments to being able to estimate the biomass of a forest from space.
Architecture
In architecture, LRV is a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. The measurement is most commonly used by design professionals, such as architectural color consultants, architects, environmental graphic designers and interior designers. LRVs are frequently reported on paint chips or paint samples. A spectrophotometer can be used to determine the LRV of a surface.
Guidance
Designers of buildings must comply with the building codes applicable to the structure under consideration. Since 2004 guidance has existed in England on access to and use of buildings. These regulations exist under the broader legal requirement of the Equalities Act (2010) which the guidance is particularly concerned with provisions to assist the disabled, including those who are visually impaired.
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