Increase productivity with the right lighting

There is so much more to workplace lighting than simply illuminating a work area. The right lighting has a significant impact on employees’ levels of concentration, productivity, safety and well being. In production, logistics, workshops and warehouses in particular, lighting concepts must satisfy both ergonomic and regulatory requirements. At the same time, modern LED systems can significantly reduce energy costs. This guide tells you which factors are important when planning workplace lighting that complies with the relevant standards, which role the visual tasks play, and which lighting solutions are suitable for different applications.

Lighting in the workplace is not just about being able to see. Light affects people in many different ways: it regulates the circadian rhythm, helps ensure important physical functions and influences emotions, well being and performance. That is why light is now regarded as a key factor when it comes to workplace productivity.

When planning modern workplace lighting, these factors should be taken into account. The aim is not only to provide sufficient brightness, but also to adapt the lighting to the needs of the employees and the respective tasks they are working on.

The study “LightWork – User Acceptance and Energy Efficiency of LED Lighting in Knowledge-Based Workplaces” by Fraunhofer IAO demonstrates how big the impact of light is on work performance.

The term visual task describes the visual demands of a given activity. It is determined by different factors:

The more demanding the visual task, the higher the level of lighting must be.

Professional workplace lighting starts with an analysis of the respective visual task and the required level of illuminance. The differing requirements of different workplaces can often be satisfied just by using general, workplace oriented lighting with a fixed alignment. If the placement of machinery, workbenches or workplaces is to remain variable, then modern lighting systems suitable for modular extension provide a particularly cost effective solution. They enable the lighting to be adapted as required to suit changing workflows and production processes.

When it comes to demanding activities, general lighting alone often won’t be sufficient. Higher levels of illuminance are required, particularly for work involving fine details, quality control or the assembly of small components. In cases like these, additional sources of light should be used to provide specific support for visual acuity.

In order to plan lighting optimally, existing daylight should be factored in from the very start. Lamps should, where possible, be installed parallel to the window front so that they complement the natural light effectively. Employees’ line of sight should also run parallel to the window, while workplaces should ideally be set up at right angles to the window surface. Light that shines from the side is particularly important. Lamps should therefore be installed at a slight offset to the work surfaces. This ensures that tools, machinery and workpieces are evenly illuminated, while minimising shadows that obstruct the view. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that there are no reflections from shiny machinery surfaces, scales or workpieces, as these can make visual tasks more difficult or impair concentration.

Modern LED workplace lighting provides numerous benefits. It reduces energy consumption, lowers running costs over the long term and, at the same time, ensures high quality light. Mirror grids and modern light guidance systems enable precise, glare-free illumination of the work area. This reduces eye strain and helps employees to concentrate on their work.

When inspecting surfaces, the direction in which the light shines is particularly important. Additional lights should be positioned so that the light strikes the workpiece at an angle, intentionally creating more pronounced shadows. This makes scratches, unevenness or other surface defects visible, even on matt materials.

Alongside productivity, safety plays a key role when it comes to workplace lighting. Dust, swarf, moisture, splashes of water and chemical vapours are widespread in workshops, production halls and storage areas. In environments like these, lamps with the appropriate level of ingress protection must be used. Appliance class IP65 is used particularly often.

Important: anywhere that paints, adhesives or solvents are used, explosion-proof lighting is often required. Modern LED lights also offer the advantage of generating significantly less heat, thereby improving operational safety