Lighting solutions
en
Lighting for IT offices and call centres should be designed around prolonged screen-based work rather than simply around achieving a target lux level on desks. The priorities are clear task visibility, control of direct and reflected glare, balanced brightness across the room and the ability to manage different parts of the office independently.
This is particularly important in call centres and large open-plan offices where numerous workstations, displays, acoustic elements and communication areas operate at the same time.
At a computer workstation, the brightest luminaire is not necessarily the best one. A light source that is directly visible or reflected in a display can create visual discomfort even when desk illuminance is adequate.
The lighting layout should therefore consider monitor positions, viewing directions, windows and the reflectance of ceilings, walls and furniture. EN 12464-1 provides requirements for typical office tasks and discomfort glare, but the actual result needs to be verified for the real workstation arrangement.
Luminaires should not simply be positioned on a geometric ceiling grid. Photometric calculations should follow the locations of desks and screens.
In a large office, employees look in many different directions. A luminaire that is outside one person's field of view may be positioned directly above another employee's screen.
Lighting systems with controlled luminance, suitable optics and even distribution are therefore useful. An indirect component can also reduce excessive contrast between bright displays and darker surrounding surfaces.
Whenever an open-plan layout is reorganised, the new desk positions should be reviewed to ensure that they do not introduce screen reflections or direct views towards bright luminaires.
In call centres and IT offices, lighting often needs to be coordinated with the acoustic design. Telephone calls, online meetings and team communication can create substantial sound activity within a shared workspace.
Acoustic luminaires and profiles combine a lighting element with sound-absorbing material. They can be positioned above work groups, shared tables or meeting zones, allowing two functions to be integrated within the same architectural element.
The actual acoustic performance should be determined from documented product characteristics and the room's acoustic design. The presence of an acoustic panel within a luminaire does not by itself define the acoustic result for the entire space.
A meeting room may be used for discussion, video conferencing, presentations and training. General lighting and the display area should therefore be separately controllable where practical.
For video meetings, faces need useful illumination. Strong overhead light alone can create shadows around the eyes and face, while an excessively bright background can make camera exposure more difficult.
Dimming and preset scenes allow the space to move quickly between normal meetings, video conferencing and presentations.
Kitchens, lounges and informal meeting areas can use a different lighting character from the open-plan office. Pendants, wall lights, indirect illumination and local accents can visually distinguish these spaces.
Function still matters. Kitchen worktops need useful task lighting, while circulation routes between working and social areas should remain clearly visible.
An IT office may operate for long hours without every room being occupied continuously. Meeting rooms, phone booths, kitchens and individual team zones can therefore be controlled independently.
Occupancy sensors should use suitable time delays. A person working at a computer may remain relatively still for extended periods, so an overly short automatic switch-off period can cause unwanted lighting interruptions.
In shared workplaces, not every user requires exactly the same lighting condition. Where the project allows it, local dimming or individual task lighting can complement the general lighting system.
This can be particularly useful for desks close to windows, workplaces used by different shifts or positions where both screen and paper-based tasks are performed.
Before luminaires are selected, the project should establish workstation and monitor positions, meeting areas, booths, acoustic elements and break zones. Photometric calculations can then verify illuminance, glare and reflections before suitable luminaires and control strategies are specified.
Polaris Lighting provides lighting design and supply for IT offices and call centres, including work areas, meeting spaces, acoustic lighting, sensors, dimming and individual and zoned controls. Contact us if you need lighting design and supply for an IT office or call centre.
