Commercial lighting designs are used for commercial spaces like offices, hospitals, restaurants, educational institutions, and government buildings. As compared to other types of lighting design, commercial lightings tend to have a longer lifespan, better durability but higher maintenance costs.
When designing lighting solutions for commercial buildings, the purpose of the rooms should be clear. For instance, when creating a stimulating workplace, the comfort of the employees should be in mind as this is where they spend one-third of their lives. So, a lighting design company should focus on creating a design that best reflects the activities taking place in the building.
A team consisting of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and designers with lighting consultants work together to create a design for a commercial space. Creating a perfect commercial lighting plan requires more than some luminaire selections. As the lighting design can significantly affect the ambience of the room and the psychological well-being of the occupants.
The purpose of Commercial Lighting Designs
The primary function of lighting is to support the work being done in the building. It has a significant effect on both productivity and emotional well-being. That is why lighting designs are vital towards the successful operation of any business/ or activity.
One of the best and the easiest ways to improve the environment of the building is by focusing on the lighting design. However, creating a cohesive and effective lighting plan isn’t easy. The lighting design should perfectly illuminate different rooms that coexist under one roof, and it should all come together to represent and reinforce the overall image of the building. When developing a lighting plan, the lighting designer must consider factors like system efficiency, lumen maintenance, light distribution, and service cost.
In addition to that, the plan should also focus on incorporating flexibility for easy expansion in the future. The lighting design should answer concerns related to energy costs and must adhere to the energy codes. For example, integrating and controlling daylight will not only improve morale but also cut energy costs.
Things to consider for Commercial Lighting Designs
The best lighting design integrates into the architecture of the room by enhancing the architect’s conception of the space and reinforcing the activity happening in the room. When creating a lighting plan for commercial spaces, a “one size fits all” approach is unsuccessful. Different areas of the building have different lighting needs. It is important to adopt a space-by-space approach to determine specific lighting design.
Multiple factors must be taken into consideration when designing lighting solutions of commercial spaces, such as:
- Size and shape of each room of the commercial building.
- The purpose of the room, as some tasks require more light than others.
- The height of the ceiling to determine how the light will reflect off these surfaces.
- The Color of the walls, depending on the level of illumination required in the room.
Role of Color Temperature
The colour temperature and CRI are key factors in projecting and supporting the image of the building and significantly affects the feeling of the space itself. All light sources are not equal; two white light sources may look the same but can render different colours.
Moreover, reflections and glare can be either your best friend or your enemy when designing the space. On one hand, well-designed lighting solutions can improve the visibility to see tasks clearly, whereas on the other, create unproductive and damaging conditions. It is important to keep in mind that a very bright space isn’t the most effective lighting solution. Using luminaires with effective glare control and proper fixture selection and placement create a welcoming and productive environment.
The Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) is a measure of a lamp’s colour when lighted. All lamps are given a colour temperature based on the colour emitted, measured in Kelvin(K) and are divided into these categories:
- 2,700 K to 3,200 K: Warm
- 3,500 K: Neutral
- 4,000K to 5,000 K: Cool
Warm colours give a more relaxing ambience, while cool colours create a more energetic environment inside the room. Moreover, if you want to make space smaller yet familiar, choose warm light and to make the area appear more spacious, choose cooler tone light.
There are ‘n’ numbers of factors to be taken into consideration when creating an impeccable lighting design plan, especially for commercial spaces. We understand how easy it is to get overwhelmed by the amount of information available on the internet.
Indeed, some businesses are the best in this field of work and offer excellent services. However, doing some research about the characteristics, applications and functions of commercial lighting designs is always a good decision.
Ultimately, the best lighting solutions providers are the companies that appreciate new trends but still see the value in timeless lighting designs as it is the sign of a well-balanced lighting design specialist. So, before getting started, it’s always better to contact some reputable business to get advice about suitable lights and their installation to get the perfect result!
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