New guidance on office lighting

Office lighting is becoming more complex, and is often not installed or maintained by lighting specialists, according to a recent report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

The new report - Office Lighting - summarises the findings from a number of recent research projects conducted by the BRE, with the support of the DETR, and results from work carried out by other bodies.

Lighting in offices is becoming an increasingly important issue as it is now accepted that good lighting can result in important gains in productivity, improved corporate image and reduced energy and running costs. Lighting is a significant part of the energy costs in offices, typically 20-30%.

The new BRE document has been produced for the non-lighting specialist and provides an introduction to the key lighting concepts, with simple, practical guidance on lighting provision, particularly as a retrofit, and the maintenance of existing installations.

The guide also summarises findings from the BRE's research into daylight provision, setting up lighting controls, user requirements for illumination, and energy efficiency. Also included are the findings from external research into polarised and full spectrum lighting.

Office Lighting‚ (BR415) is £38 and is available from the BRE online bookshop.
This document is for general guidance and research purposes only, and does not purport to give professional advice. Please check the date at the top of the article; the Workplace Law Network retains historic articles for general research.