Lighting for better workspaces

Lighting in Design approached manufacturers, suppliers and lighting designers from the industry to get their views on the latest trends in office lighting.

LiD: The new-age workspace is designed for creativity, inspiration, and relaxation. How can lighting support these elements?

Eurolux: When it comes to home offices, working under the direct glare of harsh, overhead lighting is a sure way to discourage productivity. Eurolux Lighting recommends lamps with shades and floor lamps that shine in an upward direction. They are great for providing sufficient ambient lighting and create a soft glow without casting shadows. People will likely use this room to work on a computer, file paperwork, and sign documents. Tasks like these are focus-intensive and require a reliable, defined light source. An adjustable desk lamp is ideal for the job so that you can direct the light source exactly where you need it. If there are multiple workstations in the room then consider a dedicated task light for each.

Task lighting and ambient lighting are essential for creating a productive workspace but do not forget to incorporate decorative lighting to add a bit of personality to the room. You may also want to consider highlighting a favourite piece of artwork or photographs on the wall with accent lighting.

K. Light: There are many different types of lights that can be used for an office environment. With LEDs being environmentally friendly, more economical and generating little heat, LED lighting is very popular in the office. Natural light is always best and adding different types of light fittings can play an important factor in the outcome of the appearance and the feel of the office. Task lighting is important for an office and direct lighting above a work area is key to giving sufficient light. Our range of LED Strip Light Aluminium Pendants offers a choice of different designs, colours, sizes and colour temperatures, which are perfect to suit every office setup.

Ledvance: The latest technology available is Smart Lighting & HCL (Human Centric Lighting). Using wireless technology, together with the various platforms such as Android and IOS, it is possible to control and create different scenes by changing light levels and light colours. This technology has been proven to enhance the operation of the biological clock which increases productivity in the workspace. Ledvance was looking to launch its Human Centric Lighting Portfolio at the Light and Build show. This will now have to happen without all the fanfare associated with the show.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: Efficiency and productivity in the workplace can be increased by using the correct colour light, and by adjusting the light levels to suit the working environment and natural light variances into the space. It is important to ensure the lighting forms part of the space; designed into ceiling structures, so the effect, rather than the actual source, is seen.

Regent Lighting Solutions: In this day and age, we no longer generalise office spaces. Long gone are the days when every time you design an office you revert to the same layout. One thing that has become evident is the increase of more purpose-built offices as opposed to traditional, generic offices. Office spaces and the way we work in them are constantly evolving. Lighting within these spaces needs to evolve too.

Lighting is a vital element for any office as the aesthetics effect, and the control, impact the work being done within the space. With the advancement of LEDs and the individual control of luminaries, we are able to adapt lighting to suit the needs of each individual, task and industry without compromising on the quality of light.

Designers can create interesting visual installations of luminaires that, if positioned in specific ways, still achieve the light level requirements, and at the same time give the space a visually aesthetic appearance. So instead of achieving one uniform lux level throughout the whole office, the interior designers are getting involved in lighting and choosing the luminaires to enhance the look and feel of the various areas. These designs help achieve the required levels where needed by placing luminaries in key areas above workstations and boardroom tables.

Areas where work is not being carried out, such as passages, get addressed differently as their requirements are not the same. This concept is opening the possibility to use a much wider variety of luminaries and technology. One such technology, that is becoming more popular, is the use of ‘Dark light’ where the LED light is controlled using a small lens which is concealed and is only visible at a viewing angle of 30 degrees under the fitting. This drastically reduces the glare ratio of the luminaire, but as a result, the projected light is much more focused and needs to be positioned directly above the workstation.

A key focus from designers is the comfort of the working environment for the workers. The comfort of workers within the office space has been linked to an increase in productivity and job satisfaction. This is often achieved by using lower colour temperature lighting like 3000 K, while certain engineers are looking to Human Centric Lighting mimicking daylight within the office space. The added option of integrating controls into the lighting systems adds flexibility, allowing for even further creativity and functionality throughout. In certain instances, this also gives staff individual control of their own lighting environments

LiD: What trends are you seeing in lighting which reflect the evolution of today’s workspace?

Ledvance: Lighting automation is definitely a technology that we are starting to see more and more in the workspace and, as mentioned above, it is now controlled with wireless technology to create the correct environment whereas in the past all you could do was switch it on/off and dim it up/ down. With this new technology, workspaces are becoming unique spaces for each individual and no longer a boring space for everyone.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: The increasing use of daylight harvesting and circadian rhythm, as well as designing space to maximise the use of natural light sources.

Regent Lighting Solutions: Controls – The trend being noticed within the industry, is that all lighting will have some degree of intelligence. This intelligence is by means of lighting controls, not only to change the output of the light, but also to consume less power. The control then lends itself to be operated by an individual with a mobile device, or by a system such as daylight harvesting and building management systems.

Energy saving – This is one of the key areas that adds value to the owners. With a slightly higher upfront cost, owners can save in the long run. With the efficiency of LED lighting now replacing fluorescent lighting, and the addition of control systems, we can achieve much lower energy consumptions.

Daylight – Designers are maximising the layouts of office spaces to achieve the most from the significant amount of daylight we have in this country. By allowing daylight into the office space we are able to achieve even lower energy consumption by implementing the implementation of daylight harvesting. This is where the luminaire automatically adjusts the light output to a specified lumen level.

Glare – Low glare (UGR) luminaries are essential in today’s office lighting environments. The discomfort caused from luminaries with a higher UGR in offices can lead to poor work productivity and degradation of eyesight. Designers are therefore looking to luminaries with a UGR of 19 or below. This is often achieved with well-designed luminaries like the Dega with the use of 'Dark Light' technology. Certain recessed ceiling panels, such as the Luxon Prism, have a specialised acrylic diffuser that reduces the glare drastically compare to standard recessed panels, making for a far more productive and comfortable work environment.

Flicker and Stroboscopic Effect – This has become a big talking point between lighting manufacturers and engineers because of the effect it has on individuals working underneath the luminaires. Flicker takes place due to a rapid voltage variation of the power supply which leads to a ripple in the light. Stroboscopic Effect takes place between 80 Hz and 2000 Hz and creates an optical phenomenon that causes moving objects to appear stationary or slowed down. This is the modulation of light caused either by incompatible LED modules and their power supplies or by certain means of dimming the luminaries. This is of concern as it is not visible to the human eye and can only be measured by specific lighting equipment, but can have negative effects on health.

LiD: Have you noticed a convergence in design across residential, office and hospitality spaces?

Ledvance: Yes, we have noticed that smart lighting and HCL are welcomed by all the different channels, such as residential, hospitality, commercial and industrial. This new lighting technology allows lighting to be easily adapted for any specific application/industry.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: Most definitely, with the increasing trend of remote working (at home, mixed use spaces, etc.), more areas are deemed as being potential offices spaces. The lighting follows suit… designers need to allow for layers of light to accommodate the various needs of spaces.

Regent Lighting Solutions: Convergence in different sectors means that lighting has become a design element offering both functional and decorative lighting. Where the decorative element is more of a sculptural piece, the object is highlighted with the light source being concealed. This continues into task lighting, where your average downlight is providing the necessary light, but the source is set far back into the ceiling, where from a certain angle, you are unable to see the point of light. Improved glare control is also a major trend across all applications.

LiD: What about the economic benefits of investing in smart lighting for businesses?

Ledvance: Smart lighting has great economic benefits for businesses such as reduction in energy consumption and it also extends the life of products which reduces maintenance costs in the long-term.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: Green star, energy saving… words our industry is extremely familiar with. The drive these days is to lower the running costs of any space as much as viably possible. The correct lighting design, selection of fittings and lighting control play a massive role in contributing to this drive.

Regent Lighting Solutions: The economic benefits speak for themselves. Investing in a smart lighting system upfront has long-term benefits in terms of energy saving costs, maintenance improvements through scheduled maintaining of luminaires, lighting comfort through individual control of your environment, flexibility of the office layout as well as improvement on safety and security. There are various levels of control that could be implemented into an office environment. These range from basic standalone systems to extremely complex building management systems. All forms of lighting control will benefit energy consumption. Larger building management systems with the ability to monitor all aspects of the lighting system through full control and flexibility will have the greatest economic benefits for the owners.

LiD: How does your company ensure that you meet the demands of the market?

Ledvance: By ensuring we have an experienced team with the latest lighting technology, available immediately in South Africa. The key is to build strong relationships by providing a quality product that is backed up by excellent customer service. We treat our clients like family and we are very close to what they do. Even when we are not involved in the project itself, we are still involved in certain deliverables. This allows us to see what excites the market and allows us to change direction very quickly so that we are always on top of what is happening.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: By ensuring our designs and specifications take all energy saving aspects into account, as well as the client's needs and requirements. And of course, the integration of our deign into the actual architecture and fit-out.

Regent Lighting Solutions: Regent Lighting ensures that we meet the demands by investing extensively in training, and by researching international markets and bringing to light the trends being followed abroad. Regent Lighting’s extensive design team is heavily involved in the Research and Development of the products to create new, innovative luminaries as well as altering and adapting existing fittings to meet the ever-changing requirements of the markets.

LiD: Are you currently working on any office lighting projects?

Ledvance: Yes, we have both commercial and industrial projects. We have recently launched our new project portfolio and this has been very well received. We are currently involved in projects in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius and, of course, there are a multitude of them here in South Africa.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: We are currently working on a large range of office spaces, from entry level-type to upmarket of varying sizes.

Regent Lighting Solutions: Regent is currently involved in multiple office lighting projects throughout Africa, including multiple corporate upgrades in various sectors of the built environment. Regent has just completed the Deloitte Office lighting project where we supplied all the office lighting.

The Luxon Prism Low Glare 600x600 was specified by the engineers to be installed throughout. Linear light sources were supplied in auditoriums, pause areas, passages and curved linears were supplied for the large atrium to accentuate the design features. With Deloitte opting to go with a Leed certified building, energy control and lux levels were critical. All lighting had to be controlled in some form, either through daylight harvesting, motion control or manual override. This was achieved by a standalone control system, using a daylight harvesting and occupancy sensor with every four Luxon panels. Once the lighting was installed, the Regent technical team had to commission and test all lighting fittings and sensors to make sure we met the lux levels set out by the very stringent Leed standards.

Capitec Bank has recently completed building its new head office in Technopark, Stellenbosch, effectively combining many different branches into one large building. The office is custom-designed and owned by the company, thus increasing operational efficiencies. A number of key concepts were considered, namely, the identity of the brand, internal flow and green initiatives – such as water saving, energy saving and air quality. After considering many different lighting options, for the main open plan offices they utilised the 1200x600 LED lay-in panel with a low glare diffuser.

LiD: Is there any other information you would like to share on this topic?

Ledvance: We had a range of new items ready for launch at Light & Build this year, which we could not do because of the COVID-19 outbreak. We look forward to having the opportunity to share this with you soon and we wish all the readers and our clients the best during this time. Stay safe, stay positive, and if you need any further information from Ledvance then please do not hesitate to get in touch with our local office.

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: Gone are the days of standard office lighting, fixed lighting grids and simple control. Lighting, and control thereof, is a hugely important aspect in an office design to ensure a well-designed, effective space.

Regent Lighting Solutions: In the current South African environment with all the load shedding, luminaires with emergency battery back-ups are not doing very well. Due to the load shedding being so long and frequent, the batteries are depleted and are getting damaged. Should you have been responsible and followed the correct trend, you would have installed self-testing emergency back-ups which makes the problem worse as the warning buzzers will now start to sound often which will require an electrician to come and either replace or, in some cases, disconnect.

Surge protection, lighting design and sensor layout design are important elements that should be mandatory on all commercial office lighting projects. The lighting design is influenced by the type of application the luminaire is being used in. Understanding the constraints and opportunities within each application is critical to ensuring the desired lighting effect is achieved.

MORE INFORMATION

Eurolux: www.eurolux.co.za

K. Light: www.klight.co.za

Ledvance: www.ledvance.com

QDP Lighting & Electrical Design: www.qdp.co.za

Regent Lighting Solutions: www.regentlight.co.za