What is LRV?
LRV is Light Reflectance Value. It seems to be a term commonly used for paints and signage. It is defined as the amount of visible light a surface reflects, but not more strictly than that. I could not find a strict definition, but it appears to be the CIE Y tristimulus value for appropriate viewing conditions.
Light Reflectance Value is how much light is bounced back from the profile and color. Many roof tile colors have low LRV ratings for those communities that require buildings to blend into their surroundings, however in some markets the owner’s preference is toward our series of bright, high gloss cementitous colored slurry finishes such as the white tiles of Gambale. Surfaces low in reflectance value are generally very dark and can get very hot (such as the black leather seats in a car). On the other hand, white has a reflectance value of nearly 100 and keeps a building light and cool. All colours fit between these two extremes. A colour with a reflectance value of 60 (which means it reflects 60% of the light that falls on it) will reflect more light than a colour with a reflectance value of 30 (which means it reflects 30% of the light that falls on it).
