Preferred luminance distribution in working areas

Tommy Govén, Fagerhult Lighting, Sweden
Lotta Bångens, Aton Teknikkonsult, Sweden
Bo Persson, Photac, Sweden

Keywords

pilot study, preferred luminance distribution, open plane offices, luminance ratio, luminaire light distribution, field of view, Fagerhult, NUTEK, University of Jönköping

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot study carried out at the University of Jönköping with the co-operation of NUTEK (The Swedish board for Industrial Development, which was in charge of implementing the Swedish energy policy up to 1998), and the Swedish lighting industry represented by Fagerhult.

It was undertaken to give a basis for improved lighting in the classroom (and even larger workplaces, such as open-plan offices) by finding out at which luminance ratio (between the luminaire luminance and the luminance of the surroundings) visual acuity started to suffer.

The study aimed at determining an appropriate luminaire light distribution in open plane areas based on general lighting and to investigate suitable lighting luminance distribution within the field of view.