{"schemaVersion":1,"slug":"ansi-ceiling-lighting-outlet","name":"ANSI ceiling lighting outlet plan symbol","kind":"symbol","abbreviation":"LO","aliases":["ceiling outlet symbol","surface fixture outlet","lighting outlet circle"],"category":"installation-communications","drawingTypes":["GA"],"referenceFamilies":["IEEE / ANSI"],"summary":"US plan symbol for a ceiling lighting outlet: a plain circle at the fixture position, tagged with the fixture type.","description":["In US lighting plans a ceiling lighting outlet or surface fixture is drawn as a circle, often with a letter inside or beside it keyed to the fixture schedule. Lowercase letters link fixtures to the switches that control them.","Rectangular fixtures are drawn to scale as rectangles instead, so the circle typically means a round fixture or a generic outlet box. Emergency fixtures are often shown half filled. The circle does not show mounting type, which comes from the schedule."],"readingNotes":["Read the fixture letter and switch letter.","Check for half-filled circles for emergency fixtures."],"drawingChecklist":["Key fixtures to the schedule.","Key switches with lowercase letters.","Mark emergency fixtures."],"distinction":"The IEC luminaire symbol is a crossed circle; the US outlet symbol is a plain circle.","facts":[{"label":"Graphic form","value":"Plain circle, lettered"},{"label":"Emergency cue","value":"Half-filled circle in many legends"},{"label":"Artwork scope","value":"Original educational illustration; the exact ANSI or IEEE graphic and compliance are not certified"}],"references":[{"sourceId":"ieee-315","relevance":"Graphic-symbol standards context and official status; not a source of reproduced artwork."}],"related":["iec-luminaire-general-plan-symbol","ansi-wall-lighting-outlet","ansi-single-pole-switch"],"artwork":"s28-ansi-ceiling-lighting-outlet","publishedOn":"2026-10-28","updatedOn":"2026-10-28","provenance":"independent-public-research","symbolVariant":{"convention":"IEEE / ANSI","form":"Ceiling lighting outlet","reference":"US architectural electrical plan practice in the ANSI Y32.9 lineage, read alongside IEEE 315 context; independently drawn, not a certified IEEE or ANSI graphic."},"plainEnglish":{"title":"What does ANSI ceiling lighting outlet plan mean?","introduction":"In US lighting plans a ceiling lighting outlet or surface fixture is drawn as a circle, often with a letter inside or beside it keyed to the fixture schedule. Lowercase letters link fixtures to the switches that control them.","example":"Rectangular fixtures are drawn to scale as rectangles instead, so the circle typically means a round fixture or a generic outlet box. Emergency fixtures are often shown half filled. The circle does not show mounting type, which comes from the schedule.","drawings":"Read the fixture letter and switch letter. Check for half-filled circles for emergency fixtures. The IEC luminaire symbol is a crossed circle; the US outlet symbol is a plain circle.","terms":[{"name":"Schematic","meaning":"A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance."}],"diagram":"flow","steps":["Identify the device and form","Read the connections and state","Check the equipment reference"],"caption":"A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.","sources":[{"label":"IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams","url":"https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/315/515/"}],"detail":"US plan symbol for a ceiling lighting outlet: a plain circle at the fixture position, tagged with the fixture type. The IEC luminaire symbol is a crossed circle; the US outlet symbol is a plain circle.","profileId":"reviewed-symbol-20261028"},"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/ansi-ceiling-lighting-outlet","illustration":{"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/tools/electrical-library/illustrations/ansi-ceiling-lighting-outlet.svg","scope":"Original educational concept; not an official standard graphic or product footprint","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"sources":[{"id":"ieee-315","title":"IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams","publisher":"IEEE Standards Association","url":"https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/315/515/","type":"standard","scope":"Graphic symbols and designation letters. IEEE lists this edition as Inactive-Reserved; it is a historical reference, not a claim of current compliance.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Graphic-symbol standards context and official status; not a source of reproduced artwork."}]}