The principles of office lighting require the design and implementation of suitable lights, which are done with the aim of increasing illumination, creating communication between spaces and increasing attractiveness and beauty in work environments. This process is done with the help of various types of lighting, usually using artificial or natural lights. The main purpose of office lighting is to improve the lighting conditions and create a balance between light and shadow to make the work environment better and more optimal.
Important principles of office lighting
Today, professional 3D lighting design focuses on the quality of light, which includes:
- Visual quality: Adequate lighting and visual quality are essential for flawless vision and recognition of visual tasks. This type of light is very important to improve the visual performance of employees and increase their visual comfort.
- Emotional quality: Daylight and artificial light in the form of architecture and work environment are designed in such a way as to create a suitable atmosphere and a sense of relaxation for employees. These types of light can create positive emotional effects such as freshness and relaxation in the work environment.
- Biological quality: The right light can harmonize human biorhythms, regulate the stages of wakefulness and sleep, and have a major impact on the health and performance of employees. Light with biological quality makes employees feel more energetic and healthy.
Read more about office lighting: Impact of Lighting on Work Environment
The bottom line is that companies that invest in the health and well-being of their employees end up with motivated and empowered teams. Considering that employees and their expertise are the employer’s most important resource and also the biggest cost factor, improving the working conditions and well-being of employees can improve the efficiency and performance of the organization and help attract and retain distinctive talents.
Ergonomic lighting in the workplace
Having ergonomic lighting in the workplace means providing suitable and optimal lighting for employees, which increases comfort, improves efficiency, and reduces eye fatigue and stress in the workplace. Below are several ways to have ergonomic lighting in the workplace:
Proper design of the building
In the design of the building and workplace, in terms of the principles of lighting and ergonomics, attention should be paid to the following:
Choosing the right location of windows to allow natural light to enter the work spaces.
Using glass walls in the right size to transmit more light in indoor environments.
Considering the height of the ceilings and the proper position of the lights for more optimal distribution of light in the work spaces.
More about lighting: Basic quantities in lightingÂ
Use of appropriate artificial light
Using proper ergonomic lights and lamps with the ability to adjust light intensity, color, and lighting direction can help employees to have optimal light at different times and conditions.
Arrangement and placement of lights
The correct arrangement and position of the lights is such that the darkness and blind spots in the work environment are minimized and the right light is distributed on the work surface and its surroundings. It is also important to pay attention to the appropriate height of the chairs and tables in order to avoid creating unpleasant shadows on the desk.
What is the intensity of lighting in the workplace?
The appropriate lighting intensity in workplace lighting depends on the type of activities and the needs of employees. Factors such as the type of activities, the size of the space, the type of use, and the natural light available in the work environment are among the influential factors in determining the appropriate lighting intensity. Also, there are different standards and guidelines for the intensity of lighting in work environments, which are usually defined based on the lighting standards of indoor environments. How many lumens do I need to run my project?Â
In general, a higher intensity of light is required for precise tasks such as official work, engineering, reading documents, graphics, etc., while lower brightness can be used for general activities such as routine office work, correspondence, rest, etc. did
One of the usual standards in the work environment can be the IES (Lighting Engineers Association) lighting standard , which is usually 300 to 500 lux for general office and commercial spaces based on this standard. (Read lumen and lux ) Of course, this value may change based on the specific conditions of the work environment and user needs, and you may need higher or lower values ​​for specific activities. Also, in environments where there is sufficient natural light, the combination of natural light and artificial light can be used to create appropriate lighting intensity and save energy.
Suitable color temperature in office light
The color temperature of light, as one of the characteristics of light, is measured in Kelvin units and is known as CCT (Correlated Color Temperature). The color temperature of light means how to determine the color of light, which is displayed from the spectrum of different colors of light. Fore more information about Color temperature read this article: Kelvin Scale and Color Temperature
The color temperature of the light can vary from warm to cold. This value is determined based on the degree of Kelvin (K), so that a smaller number means warm light and a larger number means cold light. In general, the light color temperature ranges are:
- 2700K – 3000K: Warm and pleasant light, usually suitable for spaces that need intimacy and relaxation, such as rest rooms, exhibitions and restaurants.
- 3500K – 4000K: Semi-warm to semi-cool light, usually suitable for work and office spaces. This color temperature is widely used in office and work environments because it increases lubrication energy and concentration.
- 5000K – 6500K: Cold light, usually suitable for spaces that require high precision, such as hospitals, workshops, and manufacturing spaces.
For example, using light with a semi-warm to semi-cool color temperature in office environments will help employees focus more on their work and reduce eye fatigue. For environments where the feeling of intimacy and comfort is important, a warmer light color temperature may be chosen to create a feeling of relaxation and comfort.
Knowing more: How to light up small spaces with LED strip lights?Â
How is the installation of lights in the office environment?
The installation of lights in the office environment should be done in such a way that proper and optimal light distribution is created in the entire work space and the needs of employees in relation to light are met. In general, the lights are installed in various ways such as surface, built-in and hanging.
You can use lights with the ability to direct light and adjust the light intensity. Install these lights directly on the employee’s desk to create sufficient and appropriate light for activities. Ambient or decorative lights are used to create beauty in the office environment. These lights usually use soft and dim lights that help create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere. Also, it is necessary to pay attention to the geographical direction of the windows and consider the lighting for the desks based on the angle of natural light. Because it is possible that due to failure or lack of light, seeing the equipment on the desk may cause eye irritation.
What factors should we consider when choosing a lamp for our office?
- Color rendering index (CRI): The closer the color rendering index is to 100, the closer the objects under this light are to their true color and the clearer they are seen.
- Flicker of the lamp (do not flicker): When buying a lamp, make sure that it does not have a flicker. Because over time they cause eye fatigue and headaches. This feature is related to the quality of the LED driver.
- Brightness and light efficiency: it means how many lumens of light are emitted from the lamp for 1 watt consumption. The light efficiency also depends on the way the light is installed and the type of space.
- Beam angle: We suggest using lights with a smaller light distribution angle for accent lighting and lights with a wider light distribution for general lighting in the office. and light spread evenly in the space.
The importance of lighting in the workplace
Learning the principles of proper office lighting increases the efficiency of employees. It also creates a sense of motivation in people. The right light gives employees a feeling of energy and freshness, and this can reduce the daily tensions and stresses of employees and make the work environment more favorable. Also, the correct use of the combination of natural light and artificial light saves energy and optimizes energy consumption .