When it comes to lighting at work, employers are required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ARBO) to provide good lighting.
In almost every profession, good light is a necessary condition. Light is necessary to perform work properly. Without light, we find it difficult to orient ourselves in a room. Sufficient light ensures that you can see what you are doing. This prevents accidents at work. If a workplace is insufficiently lit, it can lead to dangerous situations. Employees working with dangerous machinery must be able to see their actions clearly. Dark paths or steps should also be lit to prevent falls or trips.
Light also stimulates a number of important processes in our bodies, such as the production of vitamins. In addition, light makes us feel fitter and more comfortable. This is especially true of natural daylight produced by the sun. Artificial light is monotonous and has a lower intensity than daylight, so it has a lot less effect on our bodies. When we get too little light, it can lead to health problems, stress and gloom.
Color temperature
In the absence of daylight, artificial light is a good alternative. This is created by converting (electrical) energy into visible light. Depending on what you need lighting for, you can choose from different color temperatures.
Daylight has a color temperature between 5500 - 7000K (Kelvin), candlelight has a color temperature of 1500K.
The higher the color temperature, the cooler the light. In an LED bulb with a high color temperature there is more blue in the light, in an LED bulb with a low color temperature there is more red in the light.
Cool - white - light keeps you alert. You can find lighting with 6000K, for example, in a production area. Warm - yellow/orange - light like the old-fashioned incandescent bulb is often described as "cozy" light and fits well atmospheric space such as hospitality.
Lux
The unit of measurement lux indicates the amount of light per square meter: 1 lux means that an area of 1m2 is evenly lit with 1 lumen. While the brightness of a lamp is indicated by lumens, lux refers to the light reaching a surface, such as a table or a tennis court.
To give an idea about the required lux value for different working conditions according to the generally applicable NEN-EN 12464 standardization for LED lighting in the workplace, here are some examples.
General office: minimum 500 lux
Computer work: minimum 750 lux
Metalwork: at least 300 lux
Laboratory work: minimum 500 lux
Dental treatment room: minimum 1000 lux
Lumen
The lumen is the unit of luminous flux. The lumen is the measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source in all directions. The number of lumens indicates the light output of the lamp.
1 lux is equivalent to 1 lumen/m2.
To calculate the required light intensity (lumens) in a room, you need the lux value and the number of m2.
Number of m2 x amount of lux = .......lumen brightness needed.
Factors to consider are the ceiling height, the beam angle of the lamp, the application for which the room is being used and the color temperature.
Not so easy to choose the right lamp. The specialists of Vocare Ledlight are happy to help you choose the LED lighting you need!
