How to Light an Office

1. Light to Boost Productivity

A study from Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering concluded that in companies with a high standard of interior design, productivity could increase by up to 36%. Furthermore, the Light Right Consortium's research on efficient lighting design concluded that 91% of office workers found a lighting atmosphere with direct/indirect lighting and a high quantity of vertical lit surfaces pleasing.

If desk lighting is individually controllable, people feel more motivated and work with greater accuracy. There is more to producing a pleasant ergonomic lighting scheme than just meeting the lux figures and luminance limits — factors such as reflectance, interior colours and vertical surface illumination all come into play.

Recommendation: Use a mix of luminaires — combine ceiling panels, surface-mounted and suspended fittings with downlights. Play with light directions, both direct and indirect, to create layered illumination that energises the workspace.

2. Think 3% Daylight

Lighting designers need to be involved early in new-build projects. Recommendations state that around 3% of daylight should reach a person's working area. Daylight gives an emotional quality to a space — and who doesn't like a workspace with a view?

If you can, locate desks near windows so daylight and artificial light work together. Note: blinds are essential to prevent harsh reflections on computer screens. Earlier lighting guidelines focused on reflectance on screens, but CIBSE LG7 relies on the discretion of the designer over screen reflection limits.

Recommendation: Taking advantage of natural daylight wherever possible reduces the amount of artificial lighting needed and boosts the user's wellbeing. Integrate daylight sensors into your lighting controls to automatically dim artificial light when natural light is sufficient.

3. Provide Choice and Control

Lighting has a significant impact on our circadian rhythm. The blue spectrum of white light keeps you alert and focused — ideal when you need high levels of concentration. Towards the end of the day, as you want to start winding down, warmer colour temperatures help regulate the body's rhythm for the night.

Scientific research has made it clear that light isn't just for seeing — it governs how our body works from both biological and psychological points of view. Our modern lifestyles dictate that we spend most of our time indoors, where commercial lighting has blurred the lines between day and night.

Recommendation: Use different colour temperatures within your scheme. Blend cooler 4000K with 3000K, or give users the flexibility to choose through tuneable white and dynamic lighting controls via DALI or wireless Plexus systems.

4. Light for People, Not Just Tasks

Frequently, workplaces are insufficiently lit — not only from the perspective of natural lighting needs but also from an architectural perspective, making rooms feel smaller and claustrophobic. So how can you create a setting that increases innovation and comfort?

• Adapt the lighting to the daytime and season, as well as to the individual needs of the user • Vertical surface illumination, preferably on large wall surfaces, is vital to create a sense of space and depth — it also gives a visual resting point for the eyes • Light the ceiling as well as the task area to prevent the 'cave effect'

Recommendation: Adaptability and flexibility are key. Once an excellent general scheme has been applied, individual controls such as dimming and colour change can make a world of difference to a user's comfort and satisfaction.

5. Energy is Still Important

Energy reduction in the built environment is a continuing challenge, and lighting within offices is a significant contributor to overall energy demands. Careful selection of luminaires and light sources, along with appropriate sensors and controls, can dramatically reduce energy consumption.

Talking to the people who will use the office at a very early stage of the design helps to understand their needs and work profiles, allowing a more tailored approach — delivering the lighting they need using the minimum amount of energy.

As our patterns of working are challenged and change, our lighting requirements need to respond. Schemes should be adaptable, with controls that allow reconfiguration without rewiring. LED technology combined with DALI or wireless controls delivers both the flexibility and the energy efficiency that modern workplaces demand.

Recommendation: Specify luminaires with high efficacy (lm/W), integrate occupancy and daylight sensors, and use scene-setting controls to match light levels to actual occupancy and activity rather than running at full output all day.