A guide to the possibilities, plus tips when buying
It is fundamental your working environment is lit correctly for safe, easy working, whether in workshops or industrial areas, as well as in the office, as the eye takes most of the strain during office work. Productivity is directly influenced by light, as poor lighting is proven to bring on fatigue faster and reduce performance.
Researchers from the University of Surrey have recently found that blue-tinted lighting is particularly helpful here. During the experiment, the subjects left the office in the evening when they were less exhausted, and had less headaches than in classic white office lighting. Quite clearly, light planning in the workplace should not be left to chance.
LED are useful in workspaces as not only can they give bright and unadulterated white light, but are flexible to use and are extremely energy-efficient.
When properly implemented, energy savings of between 50-80% can be achieved in addition to the improvement in lighting.
The range of LEDs available is very diverse, which can make it difficult to find the right lighting for your own workshop.
This guide is intended as an aid to the initial acquisition of LED lights and gives tips on what to look for when purchasing. For every application and application area, there is a suitable product with an appropriate wattage.
Watt, Lumen, Lux or Kelvin – pay attention to the measurements
Special values to consider when purchasing LED lamps are Watt, Lumen, Lux and the colour temperature, measured in Kelvin. The electrical power of a lamp is given in Watts (W), whereby the current consumption of modern LED lamps is very small and therefore this information can serve as a reference, but little is known about the actual brightness of the lamp.
The lumen value (lm) of a lamp measures the luminous flux, and indicates how much light is actually radiated.
The lumen scale ranges from 100 – 120,000 lm, whereby 100 lm corresponds to a 15 watt incandescent light bulb. The values at the upper end of the scale are only achieved by very bright lights, such as flashlights (120,000 lm). As a rule of thumb, the lumen value is about ten times the stated number of watts.
The illuminance is given in lux (lx) and measures how much light ultimately arrives on the work surface. The measuring range extends from 10 – 40,000 lx, whereby in a living space 50-200 lx are considered normal values.
For concentrated work with focused light, an illuminance of 500-1,000 lx is required. The maximum value of 40,000 lx is reached only by strong sunlight.
A further feature of LED lamps is the colour temperature, which is stated in Kelvin (K) and quantitatively measures the colour impression of a light source.
The colour temperatures range from 1,000 – 12,000 K, which corresponds to a colour spectrum from warm white (under 3,300 K) to neutral white (3,300 – 5,000 K) to daylight white or cold white (over 5,000 K).
LED ceiling panels for office spaces
A lighting intensity of 500 lux and a colour temperature of 4000 K is ideal for lighting office workplaces, as lights with these values have been shown to provide comfortable and fatigue-free working.
You should also consider the Unified Glare Rating (UGR), as this value evaluates the glare and indicates the working conditions for which the light is suitable. A UGR of equal to or lower than 19 must be observed in office rooms so that tasks such as reading, writing, computer work and control work are optimally possible.
For better distribution of the light, LED ceiling panels are suitable.
The panel is easy to install in cassette ceilings, and the maintenance, which has previously been difficult when exchanging conventional fluorescent tubes, is significantly reduced by the longevity of 20,000 operating hours.
The UGR value for office spaces should also be observed for these.
Compact LED floodlights for small rooms and difficult light conditions
In order to optimally equip working areas, the appropriate LED light is available depending on the room architecture and intended use.
Smaller LED spotlights with a lumen value of around 1,000 and neutral white light (4,000 – 5,000 K), are sufficient for smaller working surfaces and workshops as well as for problematic lighting conditions (such as where no sufficient mounting possibilities).
Panel floodlights measuring 10 W are a pleasant light source with 800 lm or 4,500 K and have an impressive service life of 20,000 operating hours. This light is particularly suitable for application in residential and cellar rooms as well as industrial rooms.
With energy efficiency class A +, the LED floodlight is a particularly environmentally friendly and an inexpensive alternative to conventional incandescent lamps.
Lamps for basements, utility rooms and kitchens
In general, the use of stronger LED lamps in interior spaces should ensure that they do not exceed certain values, as otherwise the light can become unpleasant for the human eye.
In indoor areas which are not used for residential purposes, values around the 4,000 lm or around 5,000 K (colour temperature neutral white) are optimal. In addition, the lights should be equipped with an increased degree of protection (IP65) to protect them from dirt or water.
Batten lights are the ideal light source for interior lighting and is especially suitable for use in cellars, laundry rooms and workshops. In addition, they give a pleasantly bright light (2,800 lm, 4,500 K) and consume considerably less energy than traditional tubes.
A beam angle of 120 degrees provides for a wide range of brightness.
High-power spotlights for large indoor areas and outdoor areas
For large outdoor areas and halls, LED spotlights need to be considerably more powerful. In this case, values of 10,000 – 120,000 lm or 4500 – 6000 K are required.
In addition, these should have an integrated constant current supply to protect them from voltage fluctuations, and they have a corrosion coating provided they are used outdoors.
Even for rooms and areas with very high lighting requirements, today, LED lights are available. Impressive 120,000 lm luminous flux lights can illuminate even very large surfaces efficiently. W
ind and weather will not affect this LED floodlight, because the high-quality aluminium covering is corrosion-resistant. This floodlight is also equipped with an increased degree of protection (IP65).
For good lighting in halls, LED UFO lamps are suitable, which can be attached to the ceiling in a number of ways, such as the LED High Bay light. With a high lighting intensity (13,500 lm) and a daylight-like colour temperature (6000 K), halls are perfectly illuminated with low energy consumption. This bulb is also classified as IP65.
Public areas, such as roads and car parks, but also large private areas, such as courtyards and roads, can be lit with street lights.
This street light has an aluminium reflector that optimally distributes the luminous flux of 12,400 lm.
With a colour temperature of 6,000 K (cold-white), the LED light is particularly suitable for exterior surfaces and emits daylight-like light while its energy efficiency class A + guarantees environmental compatibility at the highest level.
Picture credits: Fotolia, # 26874754, Vladimir Melnik
