Are you perplexed to choose the right office lighting ?
For your convenience, we provide solutions in this article and hope that it would solve your problems.
Know Office Lighting by Language of Light
Why do you buy large wattage of lamps for office, but they are still not bright enough?
When people buy light fixtures, most of them will judge the brightness of lights by”wattage” , thinking that the larger the wattage, the brighter the lights will be. However, in the LED era, for the same brightness, incandescent lamps may consume 85 W of electricity, while LED only 12 W. It means that the use of wattage to judge the brightness of the lamp is no longer meet the requirements.
The more important thing of light fixtures is the “luminous flux” and “luminous intensity.
We will now give a brief explanation of how to understand the “language of light”:
- Luminous flux is like attack power.
- luminosity is like the opponent taking damage.
- beam angle is the attack range.
1. Lm = Lumens (luminosity/illuminance)
Lumens are used to measure the amount of light emitted by a bulb to all sides, that is, the brighter the luminance the higher the lumen value.
2. Cd = Candlelight (luminous intensity)
Candlelight is to measure the light emitted in one direction, such as that projected by a reflective bulb; the greater the luminance, the higher the candlelight value.
3. K = Kelvin (color temperature)
Kelvin is used to measure the color temperature of light. It refers to how red (warm) or how blue (cold) the light appears. The higher the Kelvin value, the bluer the light will be.
4. W = Watt (amount of energy consumed)
For example, a 60-watt bulb uses far more electricity than an 11-watt bulb. But wattage does not represent brightness because it only measures the amount of energy consumed. If you want to know the brightness of a bulb, then you have to look at the lumen or candlelight values.
| Traditional incandescent bulbs | |
| Watt | lumens |
| 15 | 0-200 |
| 25 | 200-300 |
| 40 | 300-500 |
| 60 | 500-700 |
| 75 | 700-1200 |
| 100 | 1200-1300 |
Office Lighting VS Residential Lighting
To increase understanding the concept of office lighting,we list the differences between office lighting and residential lighting.
Requirements of Higher Brightness Levels
Office lighting: 300 to 500 lux or more for desk work. Needs to provide adequate illumination for tasks like reading, writing, and working on computers.
Residential/ambient lighting: Typically 100 to 300 lux for living rooms and ambient areas. Aims to create an attractive ambiance rather than provide task lighting. Lower brightness provides a more relaxing feel.
Office lighting is usually brighter than residential or ambient lighting. Office work requires adequate illumination for reading, computer use, and other visual tasks.
Higher Color temperature for Office Lighting Needs
- Office lighting: 3500 K to 6500 K, producing a bright white light that is stimulating. Higher color temps are better for productivity and focus.
- Residential/ambient lighting: 2700 K to 3500 K usually, producing a warmer, more relaxing light. Lower color temps create an inviting ambiance for homes.
Office lights often have a higher color temperature, around 3500 K to 6500 K, which produces a brighter white light that is more stimulating. Residential lighting may use lower color temperatures for a warmer, more relaxing ambiance.
Higher Energy efficiency for Office Lighting
Office lighting: Commercial building codes require higher energy efficiency. Fixtures are designed to maximize light output for energy used. Uses technologies like LEDs, advanced fluorescents, smart controls, etc.
- Residential/ambient lighting: While efficiency is still a concern, light quality and lower cost are bigger priorities for homes. Relies more on incandescent and halogen lighting which are less efficient than commercial options.
Commercial building codes place higher demands on energy efficiency for office lighting. Fixtures are designed to produce maximum light output for the energy used, using high-efficiency ballasts, LEDs, advanced fluorescent tubes, etc. Residential lights may emphasize lower energy usage, but office lighting performance is a higher priority.
LED lighting is improving efficiency in both office and residential settings. But office lights remain designed primarily for high light output and visual comfort over energy usage alone. Residential lighting balances efficiency with light quality, ambiance and cost.
Easy Maintenance to Office Lighting
Office lighting: Designed for high-uptime use and easy maintenance. Uses commercial-grade components that minimize failures and facilitate quick bulb or part replacement. Often long-life or high-efficiency bulbs are used to reduce maintenance needs.
- Residential/ambient lighting: Requires less frequent maintenance since lighting is not as critical. Uses lower-cost consumer lighting products that may need more frequent bulb replacement. Ease of maintenance is less of a priority.
Office lights are designed for high-uptime use and easy maintenance. Fixtures use commercial-grade components that minimize failures and facilitate quick bulb or part replacement. Residential lighting requires less frequent maintenance and access.
Different Layout Between Two Kinds of Lighting
Office lighting: The layout is designed based on the workplace layout and activities. Aims to provide even, shadow-free lighting, especially on work surfaces. Task lighting, overhead lighting, and wall-mounted fixtures are arranged to achieve optimal illumination where needed.
- Residential/ambient lighting: The layout aims more for an attractive ambiance that highlights architectural features. Fixtures are arranged in a decorative manner, with less emphasis on providing even illumination throughout the space or task lighting. Shadows and variations in lighting are more acceptable and even desirable for some residential styles.
The layout and placement of lighting fixtures in an office environment is designed based on the workplace layout and activities. The goal is to provide even, shadow-free lighting, especially on work surfaces. Residential lighting layouts aim more for an attractive ambiance that highlights architectural features.
Accent lighting: Residential lighting often uses more accent lighting, like recessed lights, track lighting or pendant fixtures to create dramatic highlights or shadows. While office lighting avoids most shadows and uneven light distribution which could hinder visibility.
Conclusion
Office lighting aims for brighter, cooler, high-efficiency lighting tailored to workplace needs. Residential and ambient lighting provide a warmer, inviting ambiance at lower light levels and color temperatures, with efficiency being a secondary aim. However, new technologies are helping to improve the efficiency and quality of lighting in all settings.
- Office lighting requires commercial-grade fixtures for high maintenance, with layouts that provide even, task-oriented illumination.
- Residential and ambient lighting uses simpler consumer products with layouts aimed more at style and ambiance. Uneven lighting and shadows are acceptable or even desirable for certain fixture styles.
- Accent lighting is more commonly used in homes to create visual interest, whereas office lighting avoids most shadows for practical reasons.
The goals of office functionality, visual comfort and style all influence these differences in lighting maintenance, components, and layout. But in some workplaces, a blend of task and ambient styles is to create inviting work environments.
More Content
After reading, we know clearly about the concept of office lighting.So here comes the question: How to design? In next article, we will provide some suggestions. If you have any questions about office lighting, please contact us.
