Offices are changing the stereotypical image of mundane and boring spaces within people’s minds. They are being transformed into more creative workspaces where ideas come to life and important business decisions are made.
Office buildings have a variety of spaces to suit different needs. From open offices to general walkways, individual offices and public meeting rooms, all spaces have their own unique lighting characteristics.
Meeting rooms within open offices deserve special attention as they are used relatively frequently. Everything, from office furniture to decorative items, should work in tandem to harmonise these items to the maximum extent possible.
- Lighting design is therefore particularly important for office spaces and it must not be overlooked.
- Now is the time to adopt LED lighting solutions to help you light up your office space, so that LED lights can help you maximise productivity within your office.
Here are the considerations for lighting design in meeting spaces
Lighting design for meeting rooms is a complex process involving a variety of factors such as luminaire type, wattage and colour temperature.
1. Luminaires and technology – set-up
LED lighting solutions are now the best option. Compared to traditional lighting solutions, LED lighting solutions are more energy efficient, maintenance free, environmentally friendly and have a life span of up to 50,000 hours.
As offices become more and more creative in their design, the selection and arrangement of luminaires becomes particularly important and needs to be flexible to match the interior design.
For example, if the table is round or oval, choosing fixtures that align with the shape will enhance the look of the meeting room. Be sure to pay attention to the angle of illumination and colour temperature of the fixtures, as it can have a significant impact on people’s moods and feelings.
2. Flexibility – automation and control
Meeting rooms in offices serve many purposes, such as meetings, presentations, client calls, etc. Lighting solutions must be able to adapt well to these scenarios.
The use of LED lights helps to achieve this well, as they can be connected and controlled by various automation devices via a network. Certain intelligent lighting controls (such as occupancy sensors) can be fitted with LED lamps to detect the presence of people to switch the lamps off and on, or they can detect the brightness of natural light and automatically adjust the illuminance of the lamps to automate and save energy.
3. Colour temperature – productivity
Colour temperature is one of the elements that must be considered when planning the lighting design of a meeting space. This is done in conjunction with the colour scheme of the space, as colour plays a vital role in defining the space.
Colour temperature is measured in kelvins (K). As a measure, a colour temperature in the range 2000K to 3500K has a warm tone, while 4000K is known as a neutral white. For office spaces, the preferred colour temperature is 4000K to 6000K, as it favours a more active environment.
In addition, the choice of colour temperature depends on the geographical location of the office. Depending on the weather conditions outside, the colour of the luminaire can induce the brain to think about whether it is hot or cold outside. It can increase productivity and improve concentration.
4. Maintenance
Although LED lamps are maintenance-free, they still need to be maintained according to the actual situation.
If there are other factors that can harm the luminaire, it must be maintained by a service professional in order to avoid costly damage to the luminaire.
5. Illumination standards
The amount of light projected on a surface is called illuminance and is measured in lux (lx). Basically, the lux level indicates how the light intensity is distributed in an area.
As a rule of thumb, a single lux is equal to one lumen per square metre. For example, if an LED lamp with 100 lumens illuminates an area of 1 square metre, the area will be illuminated with 100 lx.
Lux levels are very important in an office and give an indication of how well the space is lit. Generally, depending on the use of your office, the illumination level of your office is determined.
We recommend keeping the illumination level between 300-500 lx for a typical office, and if there is a need for video calls, we recommend increasing it to 750LX or more.
6. Uniformity
Evenly lighting workspaces, especially meeting rooms, is essential as uneven lighting can be frustrating. In uneven light, it forces the eye to involuntarily adjust to stay in focus.
With even lighting, spaces look more uniform and distractions can be minimised. LED lamps are known to provide uniform illumination without flicker. the uniformity of LED luminaires also depends on their reflectors.
7. Glare
Glare is defined as difficulty in seeing in bright light. When the light source is much brighter than its surroundings, it can be perceived as an uncomfortable visual sensation.
Glare can be either direct or indirect. When considering the lighting of a meeting space, it is important to take glare into account and to arrange the lighting in a way that minimises it.
It is also recommended to design meeting spaces with LED lamps as these have minimal glare, especially when compared to conventional lighting solutions.
This concludes that lighting is of paramount importance and affects the entire state of people at work. As the working environment gradually changes, the way in which lighting is used must also change with it, especially in the corporate sector.
In today’s world, a vibrant workspace not only increases the productivity of employees, but also creates a sophisticated space that is comfortable for people and showcases a company’s brand culture.
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