Lighting guide
Important things to keep in mind when choosing lighting for your workplace
Important things to keep in mind when choosing lighting for your workplace
When choosing a luminaire and light source for the workplace, it is, among other things, the intensity of the lighting, colour temperature and distribution of light over the desk that is important for the right lighting over your workspace.
The lighting must give an even and reasonably strong light and the contrast between the work object and the surrounding environment and consider the visual requirements in the work. It is also important that the light source at the workplace is adjustable and does not dazzle.
If lighting is not designed correctly, there can be a risk that it may lead to a poorer working environment. If you have the wrong and / or poor lighting in the workplace, you can, for example, get tired eyes and headaches. There can also be problems with, for example, neck and shoulders as poor lighting can make you sit wrong to see better.
The lighting must give an even and reasonably strong light and the contrast between the work object and the surrounding environment and consider the visual requirements in the work. It is also important that the light source at the workplace is adjustable and does not dazzle.
If lighting is not designed correctly, there can be a risk that it may lead to a poorer working environment. If you have the wrong and / or poor lighting in the workplace, you can, for example, get tired eyes and headaches. There can also be problems with, for example, neck and shoulders as poor lighting can make you sit wrong to see better.
CONCEPTS WITHIN LIGHTING TO KEEP AN EYE ON
The power of lighting –
Lumen and Lux
Lumen and Lux
When buying a lamp, it is important to know exactly how much light the lamp provides. This is usually stated in lumen. Nowadays, when energy efficient LED is standard, it is more important to know the number of lumens a light source is measured in than the number of watts (which was previously the standard). For desks and workplace lighting, a strong lamp of 700 – 800 lumen (and above) is recommended.
To describe how strong the light (illuminance) is in a room, lux numbers or lux values are used. The illuminance is the luminous flux that falls on a square meter. It is measured in lux (lx) and 1 lux is simply 1 lumen per square meter (lm / m2). For writing and reading as well as for meeting rooms, the standard recommends a light level of 500 lux (and above).
To describe how strong the light (illuminance) is in a room, lux numbers or lux values are used. The illuminance is the luminous flux that falls on a square meter. It is measured in lux (lx) and 1 lux is simply 1 lumen per square meter (lm / m2). For writing and reading as well as for meeting rooms, the standard recommends a light level of 500 lux (and above).
LUMEN
LUX
The right colour temperature for your workplace
The colour temperature is measured in Kelvin and describes the light appearance provided by a light source. The light outdoors varies in colour temperature between about 2500 Kelvin (at sunset) to more than 10,000 Kelvin (in bright daylight and clear blue skies).
The colour temperature you choose indoors also has a direct effect on the feeling in a room. A high Kelvin number on a lamp gives a colder light, whilst a lower number gives a warmer and more atmospheric glow. It is often said that a good workplace lighting has a white light of 4000 Kelvin.
The colour temperature you choose indoors also has a direct effect on the feeling in a room. A high Kelvin number on a lamp gives a colder light, whilst a lower number gives a warmer and more atmospheric glow. It is often said that a good workplace lighting has a white light of 4000 Kelvin.
Light scattering
In addition to the right colour temperature and the right power of the lighting, it is also important to keep track of how the light spreads over the workspace.
Desk lamps should distribute the light evenly over the work surface. It prevents reflection and does not cause any discomfort to the user. An extended LED light source ensures a symmetrical luminous flux over the work surface and in this way the work surface is evenly illuminated.
A good workplace lighting should also be able to be directed directly at what you are working with, while you do not dazzle yourself or any colleague who is close. In other words, the light distribution of the lamp should not be too wide, as it affects other workstations nearby.
To make it easier to get the light spread correctly, it is of course also important that the lamp has an arm that can be angled and pivoted.
A good workplace lighting should also be able to be directed directly at what you are working with, while you do not dazzle yourself or any colleague who is close. In other words, the light distribution of the lamp should not be too wide, as it affects other workstations nearby.
To make it easier to get the light spread correctly, it is of course also important that the lamp has an arm that can be angled and pivoted.
Other abbreviations within lighting
■ CRI = Colour Rendering Index (or RA-index = Rendering Average)
Indicates the colour reproduction of the light source, ie. the ability of light to reproduce colours. The colour reproduction is indicated on a scale from 0 to 100 percent, where 100 corresponds to perfect daylight. For lighting, a CRI as high as possible is recommended, and for workplaces where precision work is performed, a CRI of at least 80 and over is recommended.
■ UGR = Unified Glare Rating
Measures the degree of unpleasant glare from indoor lighting. The rating is influenced by the position of the lamp, viewing angles, surrounding light, room layout and reflective surfaces. Therefore, the UGR should be calculated in its specific environment. The lower the UGR the better. In offices and workplaces UGR <19 is recommended.
■ PIR = Passive Infra Red
A PIR sensor detects thermal radiation from, for example, humans / animals and can thus detect and register presence. If you have a PIR sensor on a lamp, you set the lamp to turn itself off automatically when the sensor has not sensed movement / presence for a certain time.
Indicates the colour reproduction of the light source, ie. the ability of light to reproduce colours. The colour reproduction is indicated on a scale from 0 to 100 percent, where 100 corresponds to perfect daylight. For lighting, a CRI as high as possible is recommended, and for workplaces where precision work is performed, a CRI of at least 80 and over is recommended.
■ UGR = Unified Glare Rating
Measures the degree of unpleasant glare from indoor lighting. The rating is influenced by the position of the lamp, viewing angles, surrounding light, room layout and reflective surfaces. Therefore, the UGR should be calculated in its specific environment. The lower the UGR the better. In offices and workplaces UGR <19 is recommended.
■ PIR = Passive Infra Red
A PIR sensor detects thermal radiation from, for example, humans / animals and can thus detect and register presence. If you have a PIR sensor on a lamp, you set the lamp to turn itself off automatically when the sensor has not sensed movement / presence for a certain time.