Important tips to avoid the effects of poor lighting in the office
Lighting is an integral part of all commercial spaces and offices are no exception. Modern workspaces have recognized the importance of the right illumination in an office space to make business more profitable and efficient. Ensuring the right levels of lighting is imperative to ensure the health and wellness of the driving forces of the company i.e. the employees. Thus, most workplaces prefer office LED lighting above all. They understand the importance of proper lighting requirements in the office and use hi-tech office lighting fixtures, such as - high-quality suspended lighting, surface-mounted lighting, recessed luminaires, etc.
Unfortunately, many offices still rely on
traditional lighting solutions based on compact fluorescent lights or
incandescent bulbs for meeting their lighting requirements. They end up with
poor lighting conditions that do more harm to the business as well as the employees.
In addition to same conventional lighting is less energy efficient hence leds
to higher power wastage.
How does poor
lighting affect the office environment?
Various researches confirm that lighting tends to influence human behaviours and mood. Poor lighting conditions compromises the good health and safety of the employees which eventually affects business growth in the long run. Here are some adverse effects of poor lighting in offices:
Physical discomforts
Poor lighting conditions make people prone to a variety of physical discomforts. For instance, it makes them vulnerable to eye problems like eye strains. Prolonged eye strain conditions hamper vision and may deteriorate its quality. Furthermore, poor lighting is one of the primary causes of headaches, migraines, and posture-related issues among employees.
Lowered productivity levels
Physical discomfort induced by poor lighting
conditions eventually lowers the productivity levels of the employees. Low
levels of illumination can make them feel lazy, lethargic, and unmotivated
towards work while over-illumination can lead to glare-related problems. Poor
lighting hampers the concentration levels of the employees which eventually
increase the risk of mistakes and errors.
Moreover, poor lighting conditions also increase
the risk of mishaps and accidents in an office space, especially in
accident-prone areas like storage and staircases. Simply put, poor lighting is
a safety and health hazard. But fortunately, this hazard can be prevented
easily by getting a lighting retrofit and replacing all old lighting solutions
with LED office light fixtures and following some simple tips. Here are some
important tips that you should consider minimizing the effects of poor lighting
in the office:
- In case the
office space is leveraged with problems associated with low illuminations
levels, it is better to increase the number of LED luminaires in the
space. LEDs encourage energy efficiency so it serves more like an
investment than an expense.
- Many-a-times, the
wrong placement of furniture and workstation deters the illumination
levels and lighting quality. Thus, try rearranging them as per a distinct
lighting plan.
- If your office is
experiencing glare-related issues, then it is imperative to identify the
source (luminaire) and change its position. You can also consider
installing glare reduction glasses in your office space.
- Illumination
levels are largely affected by the wall paint in the office spaces. Dark
colour paints absorb light and lower the levels of illumination while
light-coloured walls reflect light and make the space look brighter and
more spacious. Thus, consider painting the walls with light-colour paints.
- Last but not the least, try to increase the amount of natural light in the office space. For instance, integrate big windows and mirrors to increase illumination naturally.
In case you're planning a lighting retrofit to
eliminate poor lighting problems, you must decide on smart lighting
solutions like Human Centric Lighting (HCL). Also, you should go for the modern office lighting
ranges, like -Inform, Stylus, Axeon, etc. offered by brands like Wipro Lighting. These
are new-age indoor lighting solutions that try to bring in the effect of
sunlight through Insync technology and complement the health and wellness of
people. It improves concentration, enhances safety, and boosts productivity to
put all poor lighting problems at bay.