LED Office Lighting

LED Commercial Office Lighting: Enhancing Workspace Efficiency and Comfort

LED office lighting has become increasingly popular for commercial and residential workspaces. Its energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and versatile design options make these a great choice. LED Lighting products can help create a comfortable and productive environment, to suit various needs.

LED lights not only boast a longer lifespan compared to traditional lighting options. They also offer better brightness control with dimming capabilities. Many modern LED fixtures now include colour temperature selection features. This allows users to choose from warmer or cooler lighting, depending on their preferences or the task at hand.

Many options of LED Lighting for Offices are available. Keep reading below for some more info on the types of lights we commonly design and install in a commercial office setting.

Types of LED Office Lighting

LED Panel Lights

Similar to our other article, ‘LED Lighting For Schools and Colleges,’ the main light fittings we design and install in offices are LED Panel Lights.

Panel lights are a popular choice for LED office lighting due to their even distribution of light across a large area.

These fittings are typically recessed into suspended grid ceilings. These come in 2 x sizes. 600 x 600 and also 1200 x 600 (depending on the size of the ceiling grid). They are easy to fit and slot straight into the ceiling grid.

If the office doesn’t have a ceiling grid then the lights can installed into a surface mounting kit. You can read more about the LED Panel Light Surface Mount Kit Here.

Our LED Panel light of choice are the the Collingwood Solis Panel Lights. These come in either warm white or cool white. They have 30 watt or 40 watt versions and a lumen output of 3240 LM – 4600 LM depending on what version is purchased.

They are extremely easy to fit and come with Plug and Play connectors.

Recessed Downlights

Downlights, also known as recessed lights or spot lights, are installed within the ceiling.

A circular hole will need to be drilled into the ceiling which the lights are pushed into. The circular hole sizes range depending the type of fitting. They can range from anything from 65mm – 150mm.

Once the hole is drilled out and cables connected the light is pushed into the ceiling. The lights have 2 x spring arms which hold the light into place above the ceiling.

LED Downlights have to be installed away from joists or any obstructions above the plasterboard ceiling. This is to allow the spring arms to hold the light in place.

There are many manufacturers of LED Downlights. Our Choices range depending on the environment. We usually stick to Collingwood lights due to their ease of installation and reliability.

A good choice from Collingwood for a Commercial LED Recessed Downlight would be the Thea range.

Collingwood Thea’s range come in 12watt, 16watt, 24watt and 32watt versions. The lumen out put ranges from 1300lms – 3500lms depending on which wattage version is installed.

They have changeable colour options within the light which range from 3000k – 6000k. They come dimmable as standard too!

They retail for around £27 – £60 depending on the wattage version and your supplier of choice.

The Collingwood Thea Light fittings have a hole cut out size of 150mm. Make sure you have the right size hole saw for your drill and remember to make sure your clear of joists above the ceiling when installing these!

LED Linear Lighting

Linear LED fixtures are versatile and easily adaptable to different office spaces. These lights are available in various lengths and can be suspended or surface-mounted. There are even recessed vesrions available too. They are commonly used in open office spaces and hallways, offering even and continuous illumination.

Linear lights are also known as LED Battens. These types of light replace the old fluorescent light fittings. They come in a range of colours and sizes. Typical sizes range from 4ft, 5ft and 6ft are common sizes.

Our choice of LED Batten is the Collingwood Borealis range. They come in 4ft, 5ft or 6ft versions and offer a lumen output of 4000 lm – 5200 lm depending on the size of the fitting purchased.

There are also weatherproof versions LED Batten lights which means they are suitable to be installed outside.

Task Lighting & Desk Lamps

Task lighting is essential for focused and detailed work in office settings. Desk lamps and under-cabinet lights are common examples of LED task lighting.

These fixtures provide direct illumination to specific areas, such as desks and workbenches. These can help with productivity and reducing eye strain.

Task lighting should be adjustable to accommodate individual preferences and different work tasks.

There are so many types of desk lamps out there and for the sake of this article we won’t go into it in detail. Also you do not need an electrician to install a desk lamps as it is as simple as plugging them into a socket.

Benefits of LED Office Lighting

Energy Efficiency

LED office lights are energy efficient. They consume less power compared to traditional lighting solutions.

This reduced energy consumption means lower electricity bills which also means being greener!

Moreover, LED lights do not produce excess energy in the form of infrared radiation, which is typical of fluorescent lights. This further adds to their energy efficiency and reduces the overall carbon footprint of the office space.

Longevity

One of the most notable benefits of LED lights is their long lifespan. Quality LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours, making them far superior when compared to the average lifespan of incandescent bulbs.

This extended lifespan reduces the need for frequent replacements, saving time and maintenance costs in the long run.

Cost Savings

Although LED lights may have a higher upfront cost compared to other lighting options. Long-term savings outweigh the initial investment.

LED lights are less likely to fail. Their cooler operating temperature limits the risk of overheating, which may occur with incandescent lights.

This increased durability ultimately leads to additional cost savings for businesses over time.

Enhanced Wellbeing

LED lights can improve mood, increase comfort, and enhance productivity among employees.

Adequate and proper lighting reduces eye-strain, which is a leading cause of physical stress in the workplace.

Studies have confirmed that harsh and inadequate lighting can decrease everyday productivity.

Investing in LED lighting for office spaces can contribute to a healthier and more efficient working environment for all.

Creating the Ideal Office Lighting Design

Colour Temperature

Colour temperature is an essential aspect of office lighting design. It contributes to employee productivity and well-being.

A space with the right colour temperature can help improve focus and reduce eye strain.

It is typically measured in Kelvins (K). For office environments, it is recommended to use lighting with a colour temperature between 3500K and 5000K.

– 3500K is known as Warm white (The more Yellowy light)

– 5000K is known as Cool White (The brighter whiter light)

This range provides a balance between and is suitable for most tasks.

Brightness and Distribution

Appropriate brightness and even distribution of light are crucial to achieve visual comfort. This prevents glare, shadows, or uneven illumination.

For an office space, the recommended illuminance values are 5 lux for walls and 30 lux for ceilings.

Uniformity should be equal to or higher than 0.10. LED office lighting is up to 80% more efficient than fluorescent lights and can significantly reduce running costs.

To ensure that the correct lighting is designed be sure to contact a Commercial Lighting Design company.

Zoning and Task-Specific Lighting

Zoning and task-specific lighting play a significant role in creating the ideal office lighting design.

By dividing the office space into zones you can cater to different tasks and individual preferences.

Some common zones in an office include:

General office area: Requires balanced, comfortable lighting for tasks such as desk work and computer usage.

Meeting rooms: Should have adjustable, dimmable lighting to suit meetings and presentations.

Break rooms: A warmer, more relaxed lighting atmosphere. This helps promote relaxation and socialising during breaks.

Installation and Retrofitting

This section will guide you through various installation and retrofitting options. Retrofitting isn’t recommend but it is another option worth looking into if your existing lights are compatible.

Replacement Options

When considering an upgrade in office lighting to LED, there are multiple replacement options available:

Retrofit Kits: These are designed to convert existing antiquated office lighting fitting to modern LED. Retrofit kits typically include magnetic LED strips that are easy to install and compatible with your current office fixtures.

LED Tubes: Another alternative for upgrading office lights is the use of LED tubes. They require some rewiring, bypassing the fixture’s ballast to ensure compatible with the new LED tubes.

Choosing the right replacement option depends on factors such as compatibility, cost, and efficiency.

Weighing the pros and cons of each option will ensure a successful transition to LED office lighting.

It would always be best to replace the existing fitting for a brand new LED fitting but we have included it in this article as it is another option.

Environmental Impact and Regulations

Reduced Carbon Footprint

LED office lighting plays a crucial role in lowering the environmental impact of office spaces.

LED lights are the environmentally-friendly option. They consume less energy and have a longer lifespan. This lessens the amount of waste produced and the need for frequent replacements.

LED lighting not only benefits the environment but also allows companies to boost their productivity.

Conclusion

The way things are going LED will soon be the only way to install lighting in offices. Slowly the older fluorescent and halogen lamps are being phased out so businesses will have no choice other than to go LED.

With the vast amount of choices of light fittings available it can be a daunting task.

It can be extremely overwhelming which is why we recommend getting a qualifed electrician to guide you.

ADS Electrical Specialise in Commercial Lighting Design and Installation. If you need guidance or a free lighting design for your commercial space then get in contact with us today!