Electricians - office lighting building regs

[Maslins]

We're looking to put lighting in a new office (blank canvas at the moment). Typical office space, mostly used for computers on desks, with a corridor or two and kitchenette/toilet areas.

I'd like to use LED panels for the vast majority of the ceiling lighting. Appreciate they're not cheap to buy, but they're energy efficient (so should be cost effective long term) and look good.

However, some people have said we need diffusers above computers, Cat 2 lighting (I think to minimise glare on monitors), which seems to mean virtually the only choice is fluorescent tubes with metal grate type things on them. Sure, they're cheaper to buy, but they're ugly, they buzz, and use about twice the power of LED screens (ie not that energy efficient).

Would love it if someone could confirm 100% what the rules are and perhaps provide some recommendations.

If you need any more info before advising, please ask.

 

[msec]

The CIBSE Code for Lighting recommends a maintained illuminance of 500 lux for general offices (e.g. writing, typing, reading, data processing, etc.) and for CAD work stations and conference/meetings rooms. Where the main task is less demanding, e.g. filing, a lower level of 300 lux is recommended.

Is 'category 2' lighting a legal requirement in offices?
No. The Schedule to the Workplace (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 2792) requires that: 'Any room lighting or task lighting provided shall ensure satisfactory lighting conditions and an appropriate contrast between the screen and the background environment, taking into account the type of work and the vision requirements of the operator or user.'

The term 'category 2' is no longer used by the CIBSE. It was used to describe a particular design of luminaire (light fitting) that could be employed to prevent reflections of the luminaire on the display screen. Unfortunately, in doing so, these luminaires can produce a gloomy environment if used on their own without consideration of surface reflectances. In most offices, particularly where modern computers with bright screens are used, such reflections are not likely to occur and therefore it is not necessary to specify this type of luminaire.

 

[Maslins]

Thanks...ok so barring the energy efficiency side of things, the only rule in place now is that lighting should be 500 lux?

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

"In the olden days"

People use to go with "Day-light Tubes (col33) rather than the standard white tube lighting.

This was so that strain was less on the eyes when sat in front of a screen all day.

How it is with LED lighting, I'm pretty unsure about however I'm sure there will be something within the guidelines as to what "colour" you can have.

 

[Maslins]

Hehe, it's "the olden days" that are the problem. Googling can be a bit of a minefield, as it's easy to find loads of articles still up that were written 5 years ago and are no longer true!

I did find what looked to be a nice up to date official PDF of the regs, but it was ~20 pages long, I read the bit on lighting a few times and was none the wiser!

Found an LED panel supplier who's very confident (though sadly not certain!) their panels qualify...says they've put them in loads of offices (which I don't doubt) so if they're not up to the standards I guess we'd be one of many breaking the rules...

 

[Curious]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but can't your electrician tell you if they'll be okay? I'd have thought any reasonably up to date sparks should be able to tell you.

 

[Maslins]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but can't your electrician tell you if they'll be okay? I'd have thought any reasonably up to date sparks should be able to tell you.

You'd think...but spoken to 2 sparks so far, both talked about Cat 2 (which seems to be out of date). Plus Fluorescent tubes still seem to be the norm.

 

[Curious]

You'd think...but spoken to 2 sparks so far, both talked about Cat 2 (which seems to be out of date). Plus Fluorescent tubes still seem to be the norm.

Really?? Where are you based? We've used two different electrical contractors, both of different sizes and both of them have fitted LED's into offices for us no problem, and designed the lighting to make sure it's all up to spec as well.

If you're speaking to one man band electrician might be worth speaking to a slightly larger firm, it's a wild and sweeping generalisation but I've found slightly larger companies are more clued up (I know there are exceptions but that is my experience).

 

[Maslins]

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. It's a fairly modest office, sparks I've approached have been recommended one man band electricians...but I appreciate perhaps recommended for their friendliness/affordability/ability to do the basics etc rather than necessarily knowing about the latest tech available.

Business-wise got suppliers for most things I'm very happy with. For property related things though most suppliers I've used have left me a little disappointed (had another project 2-3 years ago). I accept it's probably at least in part my fault because I haven't known what I'm talking about...

 

[msec]

The recommendation is 500 lux, though not law.

If you're speaking to one man band electrician might be worth speaking to a slightly larger firm, it's a wild and sweeping generalisation but I've found slightly larger companies are more clued up (I know there are exceptions but that is my experience).

I don't agree, though I do see where you're coming from. A larger firm will certainly have designers / contracts managers with more everyday working knowledge of the requirements than your average sparks, however the standard of installation will be lower, the job could actually take longer and the cost will be MUCH more. This is not specialist or complicated work, a conscientious, experienced sparky, one man band or not, could very easily find out the relevant information carry out the work.

I'd be very happy to put myself forward for the work if you haven't found a contractor, though I'm not sure if forum rules allow this?

 

[Curious]

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. It's a fairly modest office, sparks I've approached have been recommended one man band electricians...but I appreciate perhaps recommended for their friendliness/affordability/ability to do the basics etc rather than necessarily knowing about the latest tech available.

Business-wise got suppliers for most things I'm very happy with. For property related things though most suppliers I've used have left me a little disappointed (had another project 2-3 years ago). I accept it's probably at least in part my fault because I haven't known what I'm talking about...

Nothing to do with you, if it's their trade they should be able to find out easily enough.

It isn't fair to expect everyone to know every detail off the top of their head but they should find out.

Sorry I'm no where near you, otherwise I'd recommend you someone!

 

[Curious]

I don't agree, though I do see where you're coming from. A larger firm will certainly have designers / contracts managers with more everyday working knowledge of the requirements than your average sparks, however the standard of installation will be lower, the job could actually take longer and the cost will be MUCH more. This is not specialist or complicated work, a conscientious, experienced sparky, one man band or not, could very easily find out the relevant information carry out the work.

Exactly, that's why I clarified it Although yours is a also a sweeping statement saying it the standard will be poorer and could take longer etc.

As you say, any conscientious sparks should be able to find out the answer for him and help. Find it quite amazing 2 different sparks can't find out about and fit LED lights.

 

[Maslins]

@msec - Wakefield's ~200 miles from Tunbridge Wells so not ideal!

To clarify, I like the most recent sparky I've been speaking to, been v helpful, just think he maybe does more residential stuff as his knowledge of office lighting regs seem a bit out of date. Think will be using this guy just wanted to run this Q by a few other peeps.

Cheers for your thoughts. FWIW can sympathise with both points of view big co vs small co! Generally I think smaller's the way to go (assuming it's not a massive project), but downside is occasionally you need to do your own research...

 

[PDW Electrical Services]

Hi

Regarding the type of office lighting its generally down to budget, there are no hard and fast rules just recommendations and obviously it needed to be adequately lit

If you have the budget go for LED lighting as in the long run you will be saving money and energy, but the outlay it greater initially

If the budget wont stretch for LED lighting then a good quality high frequency fluroescent fitting with daylight tubes will be fine

Most good wholesalers such as Newy and eyre and rexel senate will do a lighting plan for your electrician to install to if you give them the layout of your office space

You will also have to include emergency lighting within this too

As said above, in most cases the smaller the company the cheaper the cost and the higher the standard of work

Just ensure the electrician you use is registered with an official body like the NICEIC or ECA

 

[Orrell Electrics]

^^ Can back this up, I have used Neweys in the past to design the lighting plan for me (as long as i buy their products)

Also I am a one man band and like to think the standard of my work is very high, that was a pretty sweeping statement earlier.

I have lots of high levels clients ie local authority, schools, the major fast food outlets.

I actually think a smaller company can deliver a better result as they are dealing with practising electricians directly.

 

[paulears]

I'm a lighting designer - not for business, but for entertainment. There is a new campaign now to make sure we can still get tungsten lamps for the future. LEDs are getting better, but there are issues - and many will translate to the office environment too.

LEDs have very poor colour rendition, and the light they produce is often whitefish, but the results on documents (we of course have the problem on fabrics) are unpredictable. For example, looking at a paint colour sample chart works really badly. If you were selecting colours under LED light, your clients would see very different colours if they view under halogen lighting. Flu tubes do this a little, but LEDs can be very bad. Very expensive ones are better - but there are no real specs you can view.

Many LED products come from China. There is no major problem with this except the shelf life of a unit is measured in batches, not years! If you purchase ten XYZ123s, and like them, in six months if you buy another, it will not match. The Chinese manufacture them in batches, and the next delivery of LEDs are not quality matched - so you need to buy spares to store, just in case. The claimed lifespan is also a myth. 50,000 hours? This is a mathematically derived figure, and real lifespan is much less, usually because the LEDs don't fail, but the driving circuits and wiring do! So when one fails, even in guarantee, the new one may look different, and probably be brighter. Brightness increases with each new product. I have experimented with LED fitting in GU10 holders to fit ceiling lights, and I've found a few that have better colour balance and brightness, but they are expensive - over £10 each, and compared to some flu fittings are uneconomic to light a big room to an adequate brightness level. The brighter ones are also not that low wattage - so the electricity savings correspondingly less. Payback time increases.

For an office - I'm still happy with flu tubes, as they offer better quality light, and are cheap to buy, and not expensive to run - and best of all, you can just replace a tube. You either replace an entire panel or an individual spot, but the new one will be different.

 

[rosewood]

We've fitted loads of these LED panels in offices, they never have any problems with glare on the screens. The direct current design actually reduces headaches because the lights don't flicker like fluorescent lights do.