Dedicated office lighting is a concept that has been around for a long time; many years before the appearance of the computer, in fact. Technical progress has accumulated over the years, particularly in terms of lighting. In the past, everyone was satisfied with office lighting that was bright enough and aesthetically pleasing enough, but this is no longer the case today, with sometimes a whole list of criteria to be met, ranging from efficiency in terms of energy savings to environmental compatibility.
The history of office lighting is changing rapidly. Candles and oil lamps were the first true desk lamps at the time. Incandescent lamps (tungsten bulbs) then came to replace them. They consumed a lot of electricity and had a short lifespan. They therefore had to be replaced regularly. Then fluorescent tubes were used for general lighting. Hanging in most offices, the ceiling lights of yesteryear had a warm yellow light…and they produced a characteristic hum. Desk lamps usually carried incandescent bulbs which, while producing bright light, were nonetheless energy sinks. Ergonomic desk lamps don’t did not yet exist at the time. On the one hand, the technique did not yet exist and on the other hand, the importance of light was a completely unknown subject a few years ago.
Office lighting – The importance of light
Lighting at work plays a crucial role in productivity and well-being. A light that is too weak or too intense often causes headaches and can sometimes even disturb the biological rhythm of employees, who will suffer from fatigue and have problems concentrating. Poor lighting also increases the risk of error and accident. Lighting that avoids all these problems consists of a solution that skilfully mixes direct and indirect light. PoE Lighting in the workplace is a complex subject, however there are many factors to consider.
Daylight – office lighting from A to Z
In fact, lighting at work is an aspect that requires special attention, but the first factor to consider is daylight. No artificial light can replace daylight. Employees who spend most of their days indoors need daylight more than anyone else. This light is indeed important, as it helps to improve concentration and well-being. Ideally, make sure the workstation is near a window. Be careful, however, not to place it in front of the window, to avoid being dazzled by the sun. In this way, you capture most of the daylight, and you benefit from an essential condition for a good working day.
Small aside on the terms “lighting” and “light”
Although our usage is incorrect, we sometimes say “desk light” instead of “desk light”. These terms have entered common parlance. In the strict sense, a lamp is only a means of lighting, while lighting designates everything that surrounds the means of lighting and everything that is necessary for its operation. The lampshade, the reflector, the glass, the electronics, the supports, the lamp arm, the foot, the table vice or the other elements are some examples.
Incandescent bulbs
The era of traditional incandescent bulbs is ending. An incandescent bulb produces light through a tungsten filament that glows due to heat. Light radiates evenly in all directions and with a high light (or color) temperature of approximately 2700 Kelvin. Incandescent bulbs can be used almost anywhere in a home, with variations that are easy to implement. However, light bulbs have disappeared from stores due to their very low efficiency, a possible ban or the minimum requirements that the EU has voted. In fact, this type of bulb only converts about 4% of the electricity consumed into light. The rest is lost as heat, hence the statement that the
Halogen
Basically, the halogen bulb is a development of the incandescent bulb. If it is much smaller, it still offers an identical or almost identical function. It is actually a glass bulb that contains a gas from the halogen family. The light it produces is much brighter, but also colder (2,600 to 3,000 Kelvin). It is for this reason that halogen lamps are often used in theaters and other establishments, as it is important that the brightness there is as high as possible. Halogen lamps also allow light variations. Their energy efficiency of up to 5% is higher than that of incandescent bulbs.
Fluorescent lamp
Fluorescent tubes or fluorescent lamps come in different forms. The old tubes made it possible to produce light using natural gas. The color of the lamp varied according to the nature of this gas. Nowadays, it is mercury vapor which, when subjected to an electric current, produces invisible radiation which a fluorescent coating will then convert into visible light. Modern compact fluorescent lamps are much smaller and very energy efficient. They are available in all light colors (colour temperature). A ballast makes it possible to regulate the intensity of the light. The energy efficiency of commercially available lamps is typically 25%,
LED
LED lighting lamps are the most modern light sources on the market. They produce light using a semiconductor. Electrons pass through a barrier layer in the semiconductor, and in doing so, they emit some of their energy as light. LED luminaires require a special LED dimmer. LEDs are also available in all light colors from warm white to neutral white to daylight white (cool white). A good LED on the market has an efficiency of up to 50%. However, the losses of the ballast electronics must be subtracted from this value. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the effectiveness of different products. LEDs are true energy-saving lamps.
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