Dos and Don’ts of Lighting in Commercial Spaces

When it comes to lighting in commercial spaces a variety of considerations must be taken to meet desired illumination conditions. This is because the right lighting choices can have a huge impact on productivity, customer experience, and the overall success of the business. From functionality and energy efficiency to aesthetics and sustainability, each aspect plays a crucial role in creating a well-lit space that meets the unique needs of businesses.

Additionally, commercial spaces encompass a diverse range of environments, including offices, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and healthcare facilities. Each of these spaces has specific requirements and objectives that lighting must fulfill. For this purpose, there are plenty of energy-efficient commercial lighting fixtures in the market such as LEDs that are utilised in such spaces to achieve optimum illumination. 

In this blog, we will shed light on the essential guidelines to follow and pitfalls to avoid when illuminating commercial environments.

Do’s of Commercial Lighting

• Consider the functionality and usage

Choosing the right type of luminaire largely depends on the activities that are to be performed within that area. For example, a retail store would require lighting solutions that optimally light up the space while also attracting consumer attention with their design and brightness. On the other hand, lighting in other commercial places, such as offices and healthcare centres, will require fixtures that ensure comfortable working conditions. Thus, make sure to consider the purpose of lighting. 

• Consider basic lighting characteristics

In order to achieve an effective lighting design, pay attention to details like efficacy, intensity, colour temperature, and CRI of the luminaire. Here’s the role each of these aspects plays:

Efficacy: Efficacy refers to the efficiency of a lighting system in converting electrical power into visible light, which is measured in lumens per watt (lm/W). Choosing luminaires with high efficacy ensures that you get the maximum light output while minimizing energy consumption.

CRI: It is a measure of how accurately a light source reproduces the colours of objects compared to natural light. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest colour rendering ability. 

Colour Temperature: It is defined as the perceived colour of light emitted by a luminaire. The characteristic is measured in Kelvin (K). Understanding colour temperature is crucial for setting the desired mood and ambience in a space.

Intensity: It refers to the level of light output from a luminaire in a specific direction. It is measured in candelas (cd) or lumens per steradian (lm/sr). Selecting the appropriate value of intensity helps determine the appropriate placement and arrangement of fixtures to achieve desired illumination levels. 

• Consider comfort and aesthetics

Ensuring comfort while also enhancing the aesthetics of the space is crucial, as it directly affects the well-being and satisfaction of occupants. For this, focus on incorporating luminaires that offer glare and flicker reduction, resulting in visually comforting environments. At the same time, choose decorative fixtures and use the laying technique to give the space much-needed elegance and personality.

Don’ts of Commercial Lighting

• Overlook Lighting Level

Insufficient lighting levels can negatively impact productivity, safety, and the overall experience of occupants. Ensure to provide adequate illumination in all areas so that tasks can be performed comfortably and safely. 

• Overlook Energy-efficiency

Energy efficiency is a vital consideration for commercial lighting. Ignoring energy-efficient practices can lead to increased operational costs and environmental impact. Avoid using outdated and inefficient technologies. For instance, use LED commercial lights to save energy consumption.

• Overlook maintenance requirements

Regular maintenance of fixtures is essential for ensuring optimal performance and longevity of systems. Neglecting maintenance can lead to lighting failures, reduced efficiency, and potential safety hazards.

These were some of the fundamental aspects that must be considered to create the desired illumination in commercial buildings. Apart from these, to enhance ease of operation, the incorporation of smart lighting solutions is much preferred. These solutions are designed to provide users with access to control luminaires even from remote places.