The ideal low-glare lighting for illuminating learning & workspaces

When a space is lit appropriately, it meets visual comfort and quality standards, saves energy, and maximises performance. Students and office workers need to concentrate for long periods of time, and the lighting needs to support and enhance the work or learning environment. 

“There are two areas of requirement for work and learning space lighting: illuminance, which is the light levels on the desk (it needs to be bright enough to read and write comfortably without causing eye strain); and glare, which is when you can see and feel blinded by the light source, which can be distracting and cause fatigue,” says Evolve Lighting’s Michael Strong. 

In order to solve illuminance and glare problems, Evolve Lighting set about designing a luminaire that would offer sufficient light without the glare. They came up with Excel, a high-performance and energy-efficient batten that is compliant with Ministry of Education (MoE) requirements. With its multi-wattage design, the luminaire adapts seamlessly to various mounting heights, ensuring the perfect amount of light reaches the working plane.

Another standout feature of the Excel light is its low-glare diffuser, boasting a Unified Glare Rating (UGR) of less than 19. 

“The diffuser is designed to minimise glare by controlling the high-brightness angles and directing them from the occupants' view, creating a soft diffused light that is pleasant for the human eye,” says Strong.  

Exceptional colour rendering & temperature for vibrant environments

The Excel luminaire boasts a Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of >93 and R9>60, which ensures that the colours of objects under the light source appear more accurate and vibrant, closely resembling their appearance under natural daylight.

“High CRI lighting can contribute to increased visual comfort by reducing eye strain and promoting a more pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Another benefit is that it renders healthy, natural-looking skin tones.”

The R9 value is the red value; LEDs have a hard time reproducing red at lower CRI, so this value is essential and is required to be greater than 50. A CRI of >93 and R9>60 means the Excel luminaire has excellent colour rendering. 

“High CRI lighting is beneficial in industries like architecture and design, where accurately reproducing colours is crucial,” shares Strong. “In schools, it is useful in art classes and chemistry classes, for example.”

The recommended colour temperature of 4000K in the Excel light also plays a vital role in improving concentration, especially in classrooms and workplaces. While warmer lighting fosters a relaxing atmosphere, the cooler 4000K temperature invigorates and aids concentration.

Energy efficiency & longevity

With a remarkable system efficacy of up to 136lm/W, the Excel Batten achieves an impressive 50% energy savings over older fluorescent luminaires.

“As lighting is responsible for a large portion of the school's energy consumption; these will add up to excellent savings.”

Its extended life of over 60,000 hours translates to substantial cost savings on maintenance, too, shares Strong. 

“Unlike older fluorescent luminaires, LEDs don't require lamp changes during their lifetime; this saves on both the costs of replacement lamps and the labour involved in installing them. With schools and offices usually having a lot of fittings, this is a significant cost saving over time.”

Easy installation & replacement of existing fittings

The easy-lock end caps of the Excel Batten secure the diffuser in place, simplifying the installation process. Spring-loaded for ease, these end caps contribute to the overall useability of the product.

The luminaire’s 90° beam angle also allows for a one-for-one replacement of older style fittings with the same spacings. 

“A wider beam angle will also lighten the walls more effectively, reducing the ‘cave’ effect common with low glare fitting,  giving the room a spacious, comfortable feel.”

Compliance with DQLS Standards

When it comes to workspace and classroom lighting, it’s crucial to comply with the MoE’s Designing Quality Learning Spaces (DQLS) standards, which ensure that lighting meets specific requirements for learning spaces.

The DQLS standards provide the requirements for the main internal environmental quality factors: acoustics, lighting and visual comfort, indoor air quality and thermal comfort.

The DQLS specifications, including CRI > 90, R9 > 50, and UGR < 19, align with the Excel luminaire's design, making it a reliable choice for creating quality learning environments that prioritise visual comfort and efficiency.

“The DQLS documents have been developed to provide technical requirements that assist architects, designers and engineers in creating quality learning environments that are fit for purpose, and the Excel batten not only meets but exceeds these standards.”

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