Lighting Design: Do You Know What It Is and When to Use It?

To ensure the quality of lighting in a building, certain precautions need to be taken. Poorly designed lighting fixtures will directly affect the quality of life of people who circulate in the space. Therefore, lighting design is essential in any construction or renovation project.

In the case of businesses, a series of standards determine the criteria to be adopted regarding illuminance, color temperature, and color rendering index. These elements vary depending on the industry’s specificity and work performed. Therefore, following these guidelines is a way to avoid sanctions and affect employees’ quality of life.

To learn more about lighting design and when it should be applied, continue reading. In this post, we will discuss important details about it!

What is lighting design?

Lighting design is the development of appropriate lighting for the chosen environment. For this purpose, several factors are considered and adjusted to obtain a satisfactory result, according to the objective set for the space.

It is necessary to perform a series of lighting calculations to achieve the appropriate illuminance, color temperature, and color rendering index, in order to choose the correct luminaire to be installed.

Both companies and residences need lighting design. In the case of industries, attention must be paid to technical specifications and regulations that stipulate the relationship between the work performed on the site and the illuminance level, for example.

On the other hand, in residences, there are no specific rules. What will impact the lighting design calculation are information such as the age of the people living in the location, the frequency of people in the house, different environments, personal taste, etc.

What is the purpose of lighting design?

Discovering how to use the correct luminaire, the ideal quantity, and also knowing exactly where and what to illuminate makes all the difference. In addition to being able to enhance an environment, an object, an architectural facade, or a garden, lighting has the role of providing different sensations. Therefore, the importance of professionals in the area.

For a business or a residence, the enhancement of an environment is essential to increase the well-being of the people who live there. For industries, knowing how to position the ideal luminaires in the appropriate places impacts productivity and work safety.

In addition to guaranteeing a well-lit environment, lighting design is essential to avoid excessive expenses. The quantity of luminaires, as well as their power, is dimensioned according to the space’s needs.

What is taken into consideration in a lighting design?

There are two different models of lighting design: corporate and residential. Each one takes into account specific factors to ensure the quality and safety of the location.

Corporate projects

The first step in corporate projects is to know the company’s segment and study the specific standard for the sector and type of work to be performed. It is necessary to make an on-site visit to understand the space, architecture, and structure of the location.

Subsequently, it is necessary to verify which machinery and/or equipment will be used and, if possible, calculate the volumetrics of each one. After this evaluation, it is necessary to analyze the ceiling height and how the installation of each luminaire can be done – in a plaster ceiling, directly on the slab, or in profiled.

It is important to know the influence of natural light and the levels of reflectance of walls, floors, and ceiling. With this information in hand, we can start choosing the appropriate luminaire for the location, performing the lighting calculation, and distributing it appropriately on the plan to have the least possible shadow areas.

Residential Projects

Although it may seem simpler, as there is no standard to follow, lighting projects for condominiums or those involving residences must also consider the emotional aspect of the people who will live in that location. Therefore, the first step is to talk and understand the client’s desires.

Some people like a lot of light, while others prefer a more intimate and less illuminated environment. It is possible to take personal taste into account, but the age of the people living there should not be forgotten. For older people, for example, it is appropriate to have white lights.

In leisure areas, it is ideal to create a combination of scenarios for each occasion, separating them into circuits or automation. In the laundry room and kitchen, lighting needs more attention and should be less relaxing.

After knowing every detail of the residence, such as finishes, decoration style, ceiling, and electrical points, it will be possible to choose the model of the luminaires. This way, it will be possible to match them to the context in which they will be installed.

What is the importance of a lighting project?

Proper industrial lighting has the power to improve the work environment, relax during leisure time, maintain attention during a precision task, highlight monuments and facades, enhance a product for sale, reduce workplace accidents, etc.

With the lighting calculation and precision studies performed by specialized and qualified professionals, the result can bring all the benefits mentioned. In some cases, application and correct luminaire direction tests are performed.

A poorly calculated or distributed project, for example, can have faults due to both excess and absence. Lack of lighting problems are usually felt more due to shading and difficulty seeing objects around.

But excess also brings problems. Glare is one of the inconveniences that can happen with a poorly dimensioned or neglected lighting project. In work environments, especially in factories, shadow can be as serious a problem as glare, and can lead to serious accidents.

The lighting project should be requested when starting the environment elaboration phase, so the lighting designer will elaborate the lighting according to the layout provisions of the space. Then, they can calculate and plan the entire electrical structure of the location.

Who are the professionals responsible for lighting projects?

It is essential that the lighting project be done by a specialized professional. These professionals are known as lighting designers or lighting designers for parking lots and commercial, business, and industrial establishments.

They are responsible for the development of projects and the analysis of all factors that influence luminosity. They perform the technical survey of the location and perform the lighting calculation before elaborating the project.

In addition, they provide advisory services during the project implementation stages, observing the ideal illuminance, environmental protection, investment payback, the need for maintenance and replacement of luminaires, resistance to temperatures, and electricity consumption. The technology used by designers is LED lighting, which includes various equipment such as luminaires, reflectors, sensors, etc.

What are the advantages of lighting projects?

The elaboration of a lighting project brings numerous advantages to businesses, with the main one being energy savings. The pieces last much longer than traditional ones because they have a prolonged lifespan, eliminating maintenance costs. See below for the main benefits of these projects!

Economia de energia” translation:

Energy-saving

The luminaires and other items used by specialists generate adequate brightness while reducing the value of electricity bills. They are highly efficient in illuminating environments without presenting failures or excess brightness.

The project considers the possibilities of using natural lighting, focusing on the concept of sustainability.

Compliance with norms and recommendations

Lighting projects comply with the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) standards, registered in NBR ISO/CIE 8995-1:2013, following all the requirements and specifications contained therein. This legislation points out relevant details that must be observed for lighting in work environments.

Technical recommendations are essential for adequate brightness and lighting efficiency, including in supermarkets.

Guarantee of greater productivity and well-being

Productivity and employee well-being are also affected by lighting. A good lighting project changes the internal environment, increasing worker productivity.

After all, they become more comfortable while performing their daily tasks. LED luminaires do not produce heat and do not tire the eyes of professionals who work for many hours in the same place.

What parameters and concepts are used in lighting design?

In addition to the aforementioned NBR, professionals are required to observe Regulatory Standard no. 17 and Occupational Hygiene Standard no. 11/2018. The three legislations are related to ideal lighting in companies.

They encompass parameters of illuminance, natural light, aspects of light color and surfaces, luminance distribution, glare, light direction, flicker, and maintenance.

What are the main tips for making a lighting design project?

During the development of the lighting design project, professionals evaluate various issues that go beyond the union of natural and artificial light. The particularities for the type of installation, furniture distribution, energy consumption, and architectural design are analyzed.

Check out the main tips below to access projects that generate excellent results!

Consider the particularities of the environment

Corporate environment needs may go beyond the requirements set forth in legislation. Therefore, the professional who develops the project considers the particularities of the location to ensure that the lighting produced by the equipment is efficient.

Various aspects are observed, such as decoration items, walls, curtains, mirrors, windows, skylights, glass ceiling, among others.

Define the project objectives

There are several types of projects, each with defined objectives. LED luminaires and reflectors produce different effects for various environments.

These items influence resource savings, brightness, room appearance, decoration, and worker comfort. Decide on the reasons for implementing the project and check what your priorities are.

Think about the type of lighting

There are several types of lighting to meet numerous situations and environments. Direct lighting is one that shines on a surface or object. Therefore, it is ideal for study rooms and offices.

It helps to increase productivity and maintain focus on a particular point, for example, a computer or study table. It creates shapes and highlights details of the environment’s architecture.

Indirect lighting, on the other hand, is indicated for places with a plaster ceiling. It spreads throughout the environment and illuminates the entire area, producing a feeling of calm and tranquility.

Therefore, it can be projected on a lighting board and the light is reflected on the surface to brighten the area. Thus, it is softer and causes sleepiness, being perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, or leisure spaces.

Finally, diffused lighting consists of installing a central lamp, so that it becomes more present and noticeable. It is comfortable to the eyes and can be used in conjunction with other types of lighting to produce uniformity and eliminate the presence of shadows in the environment. Perfect for kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

Use the right bulbs

Using the correct bulbs is essential for a high-performance lighting design. White and cool bulbs are the most recommended for work environments, as they keep employees alert and stimulate the mind.

Thus, LED lighting is the best for corporate environments. In addition to having excellent quality, the color is stable and its performance is superior.

Proper distribution

Proper distribution of lighting eliminates excess brightness in the work environment. All points receive the right amount of light, there is uniformity, and stimulation for work activities.

Keep in mind that computers also emit light, so it is necessary to avoid screen glare and worker glare.

How is the lighting project effectively implemented?

The LED lighting project is intelligently implemented using the latest technologies on the market. The most commonly used products are LED luminaires, LED floodlights, sensors, and other smart items that are part of a complete system designed to bring benefits to companies in all industries.

A team of specialist professionals can assist in determining the perfect plan for each environment. When hiring a partner, look for a reliable company that specializes in implementing lighting projects.

This will avoid future problems and difficulties, as a good supplier offers high-quality, efficient, and durable solutions, ensuring excellent service.

Now, you know when to do a lighting project! To get one that can promote true energy efficiency, you need to rely on high-quality and technically capable professionals. You need to choose the partner responsible for it adequately, a company specialized in the field that meets your needs!

Need to start the lighting project? Speak to our experts right now!