Every workplace should be sufficiently illuminated, and due to the activities performed, the light intensity in the office plays a particularly important role. Adequate lighting has a positive effect on employees and increases their performance. This can be achieved by using energy-efficient solutions such as LED luminaires.

What to look for when choosing new LED luminaires - light intensity for office workplaces

Employees spend a lot of time in office buildings, and they often lack daylight. Some companies also work at night, so artificial light sources are indispensable. Electric lighting should be adapted to the prevailing conditions and the type of work to be performed.

High levels of concentration are required when working on computers and with documents. They put a great strain on workers' vision, so their performance depends on the lighting of their workplace. In such activities, large contrasts between the area of activity and the surroundings are not conducive. General lighting with sufficient luminous intensity must be provided for this purpose, and it should also meet the requirements of the standards.

Furthermore, other parameters of the light source should be taken into account, which can have a negative impact on the comfort of work. These are the flicker effect, CRI and UGR, as well as light color. They are often responsible for headaches, discomfort and fatigue among workers. Therefore, it is worth investing in workplace lighting with high-quality power supplies and high color rendering.

Requirements for lighting in the workplace

What light intensity is required in an office can be determined based on the applicable guidelines and regulations. Workplace lighting should meet at least minimum requirements, so it is advisable to take lighting measurements before and after modernization.

Light and lighting according to EN 12464

The proper lighting of workplaces is defined in EN 12464 1. This standard specifies the minimum lighting intensity for each activity performed indoors. In addition, the standard addresses the required uniformity of lighting and the degree of glare at workstations.

For office work performed mainly on computers, the illuminance of the work surface is required to be 500 lux. However, in areas where computers are rarely used, the illuminance should be at least 300 lux. The table below provides further examples of office activities and the illuminance required for them.

Suitable illuminance levels and their advantages

Appropriate lighting of the workplace offers many benefits. Daylight promotes a sense of well-being. A neutral light color has a positive effect on concentration; the recommended color is 4000K. On the other hand, lighting adapted to the specific work increases the efficiency of workers. Therefore, it is worth thinking about the appropriate use of scientific achievements such as LED lights and their control to combine energy efficiency with productivity.