LED lighting is energy efficiency, quality and ... technology - innovative and significantly different from other lighting technologies, which increases the quality of lighting and the quality of lighting intensity, allows you to adjust the directions of light and allows you to choose the color temperature. Technology that can achieve better working conditions and higher general standards.

Lighting at work in the light of standards and recommendations
When designing workplace lighting, it is important to use a general light that disperses the light evenly, and a spotlight that accentuates the selected areas. General lighting does not create shadows. Makes all objects look flat. Direct lighting, on the other hand, makes objects cast shadows, take on forms, and the space becomes dynamic. Such differentiated lighting is closer to natural lighting, which is the healthiest for our eyes.

General lighting is divided into direct (shining down) and indirect (shining from the reflected surface). In the case of high rooms with many ceiling installations, direct light will lower the room and hide imperfections in the ceiling.

Indirect or mixed light (direct and indirect) optically enlarges the room and significantly improves the uniformity of lighting.

Detailed recommendations on how to illuminate indoor workplaces and workstations are included in the PN-EN12464-1: 2012 standard. All European Union countries are members of CEN and are under an obligation to follow these recommendations. The PN-EN 12464-1 standard provides detailed lighting requirements for almost all types of indoor surfaces, tasks and works.

There are also recommendations for good lighting practice. The specified average illuminance values for individual types and workstations have a significant impact on the lighting design. The standard makes a distinction between the workplace (area), its immediate surroundings (at least 0.5 meters around the workplace) and the background area (at least 3 meters wide around the immediate vicinity).
This means that it is possible to use separate calculations for the workplace where 500 lux is required and the rest of the office where the requirements are different. It is a great help when designing lighting, eg. Open space.
Illuminance measures the amount of light that strikes a surface and is measured in lux (lx).

At the same time, particular attention should be paid to the uniformity and homogeneity of lighting and the value of the light intensity on the working surface, floor or walls. If the light spreads too unevenly, the worker's eyes must adjust to the different light intensities. The minimum unevenness of illumination is marked by the UO. 

Glare is another important aspect that must be taken into account when selecting luminaires. It occurs as a result of very strong lighting or as a result of a high contrast of luminance when viewed or directly looking at the LED light source. Usually the eye adapts to any lighting. However, if the light from the lamp or background is too bright or the contrast is too high, the eyesight becomes very uncomfortable. It is easy then for fatigue, lack of concentration or headache. The glare level is determined by the Unified Glaring Rate (UGR). The UGR limit values are determined individually.

UGR values range from UGR 10 (unnoticeable) through UGR 19 (acceptable) to UGR 28 (blinding and dangerous to health). It is worth adding that the individual parameters of the luminaire contribute to the reduction of glare, and the key is their proper arrangement, selection of power to the interior colors and the angle of incidence of the luminaire's light.
The PN-EN 12464-1 standard recommends different limit values of the UGR index depending on the type of room.

Workplace lighting and LED technology in Chors

Luminaires in LED technology must meet certain safety conditions both during installation, use and after the expiry of their durability period. The basic criterion for the specification and selection of devices in LED technology is having the CE mark.
High-quality LED sources can maintain lighting efficiency for tens of thousands of hours.

At CHORS, we use the best components, which is why our luminaires with a LED module shine at least 50,000 RH. This means that with 6 hours of light at home, the luminaire can operate for 22 years while maintaining brightness and high color rendering. However, in an office, lighting up for 12 hours a day, the luminaire should operate for 11 years. After this period, its efficiency drops below 70%.

In addition, each of the elements of our luminaires is replaceable. This allows for easy maintenance or replacement of individual components. In addition, the lenses and shutters we use do not distort the light. They are resistant to sunlight and do not heat up and do not change their properties even for many years. Our general light covers retain their original appearance and the same lighting quality throughout their lifetime.

• Glass lens - a high-quality lens that softens light and prevents it from distorting, while reducing glare. It is the highest quality glass. It distorts the light only minimally - only 8% - and maintains the same lighting parameters throughout its use. Our offer includes luminaires that allow you to conveniently adjust the lighting angle in the following ranges: from 15 ° to 40 ° and from 15 ° to 60 °.

• SOFT diffuser - a milky cover which absorbs about 30% of the light. It softens and evenly diffuses the light. It is recommended for basic and general lighting as well as in rooms where you rarely work with a computer.

• PRISM diffuser - it is a prismatic cover which absorbs about 8% of the light. Thanks to its structure, it directs them at an angle of 60 °, which allows you to focus the entire lighting power on, for example, a worktop. It also reduces glare. It is intended for offices and studios.

• SOFT-PRISM diffuser - it is a prismatic cover, matted on one side, which absorbs only 10% of light. It has a glare factor UGR ≤ 19%, which ensures the highest comfort of work and eliminates reflections on the computer screen.

Photographs from realisations: 

1. Sony Interactive Entertainment Polska office, Warszawa 
Design: A3Creative Design
Photo: Strop Studio
Supplier and projectt support company: Interium Roman Rauch, Warszawa

2. Design Alive office, Bielsko-Biała
Design: Szymon Hanczar
Photo: Weronika Trojanowska