Lighting design is becoming more and more the norm in the architectural world. Even in private residential newbuilds and renovations, homeowners are putting money aside and drawing on the expertise of lighting designers to get the right light and right ambience levels for their home. They have realised that light can make all the difference to property and add considerable value to their homes or investments.
Businesses also need to think in the same vein. The right light and output is fundamental to the success of many businesses such as retail and hospitality and industrial environments require the right light levels to work productively and safely.
When to seek a professional lighting design?
You generally don’t have to go ahead and seek professional lighting design unless the space you are in currently has poor lighting or you are looking to make the following changes:
- Installing a new type of light – if you are looking to upgrade your old technology lights to LED.
- Changing the type of occupancy – for example, if you have moved into a space that was previously used as a warehouse and you will be using it for manufacturing.
- New builds – get the right lighting for your requirements the first time.
What you need to consider
There are numerous technicalities that you need to examine when considering commercial lighting design. That is why it is so important to get a professional and reputable company on board to help in the process.
How much light?
Firstly, how much light do you need to perform a task safely and effectively? The AS/NZS 1680.1:2006: General Interior and Workplace Lighting Standards, otherwise known as the general principles for lighting level requirements for Australian and New Zealand businesses sets recommended lux levels for certain industries and work types. It ranges from very high lux levels of 1,600 for assembly of jewellery and watchmaking to low lux levels of around 40 for corridors and interior storage tanks. Lighting design will firstly make sure that you have the right levels for your requirements.
Different work requirement in one space?
Secondly, can different areas within a space be defined for different types of work? For example, often manufacturing facilities will have manufacturing lines and storage facilities under one roof. The manufacturing facility will require much higher levels of light than the storage area and this should be factored into the lighting design.
What level of traffic?
You also need to consider the level and type of traffic that goes through an area. This includes forklifts and other vehicles and you need to ascertain whether they will be sharing an area with pedestrians. Obviously, if traffic of any kind is involved, lighting levels need to be a lot higher than if it is not.
What about motion sensors?
Once you have determined the right light levels for each area within your space, you can consider whether motion sensors would be appropriate. Motion sensors enable a light to turn off when traffic has left an area and are suitable for a range of industries including offices and warehousing. For more details on motion sensors, see our blog.
Where to seek help?
So you’ve decided that lighting design is the right direction for your business, but where to start? If you are looking to upgrade to LED, we provide lighting design as part of our quoting process. That means you can see exactly the light you require, the costs and how much you will save before parting with any money. What’s more, we can run a trial at your premises to demonstrate the effectiveness of our lighting products before you purchase.
Contact one of our lighting specialists today to discuss how we can improve the light levels in your business while saving you money.
