Overhead lighting is essential for providing general ambient lighting in larger offices, and in order to promote circadian entrainment, it should ideally be layered with diffused daylight from windows and/or skylights. However, it is not always possible for all workstations in a room to receive an optimal amount of glare-free daylight during the critical “high circadian stimulus” hours of the working day, in which case a carefully designed and spectrally enhanced overhead lighting layout—combined with individual task lighting or table lamps for additional illumination as needed—will ensure a comfortable, energizing and well-lighted office environment.
The lighting design layout should carefully consider both the luminaire spacing and the light intensity distribution, such that an effective amount of light is delivered not only horizontally onto the workstations, but especially vertically onto the eyes to ensure maximum circadian effectiveness.
Overhead LED lighting can be achieved with recessed, ceiling-mounted (close to the surface) or suspended luminaires—or a combination of all these types. For a higher ceiling, consider suspended pendants with both a direct and indirect distribution, so that light is reflected off the ceiling and onto the walls, increasing the vertical light levels and enhancing the feeling of brightness. In addition, the light output and distribution must ideally ensure that fewer luminaires are required (avoiding a “crowded” ceiling effect) while ensuring uniformity and glare control.
See below for a few examples of how some of the BIOS Partners have incorporated our SkyBlue LED technology into their spectrally optimized overhead LED luminaires in various office spaces, for improved energy and enhanced concentration (without sacrificing aesthetics) during the work day or shift.
