Standards for Office Lighting
While the number of options can be overwhelming, enough research has been done on office lighting that trial and error is unnecessary. There are specific requirements to meet when it comes to illuminating your workspace.
The ambient brightness of your space directly determines workers' ability to see computer monitors, which are much less potent than incoming sunlight. When office lighting is too bright or dim, it can be a struggle to see images and text on screens—causing eye fatigue, mistakes, and stress.
Therefore, the recommended luminance (measured in lumens) for an office is different from other workplaces or home environments. The General Services Administration laid out the following guidelines.
Ensure 500 lumens of brightness per square meter. In other words, if your typical workstation is a 6'x6' cubicle, it requires at least one 35-watt incandescent bulb for proper luminance.
Create even light distribution. Make use of general, localized general, and task lighting to create even lighting throughout each workspace, considering shadows cast by walls, partitions, monitor arms, file storage, and other obstacles.
Consider any physical barriers in the space. Cubicle walls, dividers, monitor arms, and file cabinets can all cause shadows that are distracting for employees. For situations where rearranging general or localized general lighting is impossible, task lighting can fill in gaps and minimize unwanted shadows.
Color and Temperature of Office Lighting
Electric lighting varies in its color spectrum and reflection properties, affecting how we see our environment as it bounces off objects and reaches our eyes. Research shows that the color temperature of lighting conditions affects how we as humans work, with cooler light promoting productivity.
Breaking it down, light emitted in the warm color spectrum includes colors like orange and yellow and is perfect for creating a calm and comforting environment of relaxation. Cooler light has more white and blue tones, reducing melatonin production in the brain and, in turn, boosting alertness, mood, and productivity.
While better for alertness, prolonged exposure to cool light can be fatiguing. That's why office lighting that closely emulates natural sunlight—welcoming but still cool in color—is perfect for encouraging productivity among workers. Even better, the lightning in your workplace should start cooler in the morning and gradually shift to warmer hues as the day progresses and employees wind down.
