Achieving a properly lit working environment is not an easy task. There are a number of technical, human and project management factors that have to be taken into account before the ideal task-specific environment is created. That is why it is important for those concerned with creating interior working environments to carefully consider the working environment and the task that is to be accomplished.
This Appendix is intended to provide instructions for the drawing up of lighting plans (including use of colours) for the lighting of working areas such as offices, control rooms, workplaces, laboratories etc.
It describes the method for drawing up lighting plans for new building projects. The methodology is represented schematically in the form of a flow diagram as well as explicit instructions for each step. These procedures are easily transferable to any project that requires an appropriate lit environment in which an office or control environment is going to be created.
A properly lit environment allow work to be accomplished in a safer, more comfortable and more productive working environment. With the appropriate employment of this design tool, project management will help to add value to the working system.
2. FLOW SCHEME FOR IMPLEMENTING SCHEDULE OF LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS IN PROJECTS
1. Conduct HFE design analysis
2. Formulate schedule of lighting requirements
BOD/BDEP Phase
3. Include lighting plan in HFE design analysis report
4. Select a lighting supplier
5. Design lighting system Definition
Phase
6. Conduct review of lighting system
7. Finalize lighting system
8. Check lighting system Construction
phase
9. Stop
3. FLOW SCHEME: EXPLANATORY NOTES 1. Conduct HFE design analysis
In order to formulate Human/Machine Interface design requirements, a HFE design analysis is conducted as part of the design process.
In the HFE report, the locations of the various indoor areas and/or workplaces are recorded, together with the jobs and tasks performed there.
The workplace locations and tasks define the requirements that may be imposed on the lighting system.
2. Formulate lighting requirements
Section 4. below gives a work instruction for the formulation of a lighting plan. In this plan, lighting requirements are incorporated as follows:
- Required horizontal and vertical illumination in each indoor area or workplace.
- Luminance ratios.
- Diffuse reflections.
- Lighting system.
- Use of colours. (See Appendix 6).
3. Include lighting plan in HFE report
The lighting plan is incorporated in the HFE report, which forms part of the BOD.
4. Select a lighting supplier
Suitable lighting system suppliers are those firms that are experienced with project lighting systems and are able to elaborate the lighting requirements by means of a 2D CAD diagram for each workplace and/or indoor area.
5. Design the lighting system
Subsequently a draft design including a 2D CAD diagram of the various lighting intensities for each workplace and/or indoor area is prepared.
6. Review the lighting system design
The lighting system is reviewed with the aid of the supplier’s 2D diagram.
7. Finalize the lighting system
After the lighting system has been reviewed and the findings fed back into the design, the design is finalized and executed.
8. Evaluation of lighting system
During the construction phase the lighting system is evaluated by measuring the illumination and luminance ratios. Any imperfections are corrected.
9. Stop
4. FORMULATING SCHEDULE OF LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS
The schedule of lighting requirements should be formulated on the basis of the visual tasks to be performed in the indoor area in question. The attached form will help to identify the visual tasks.
When formulating the schedule of lighting requirements, the following procedure should be followed:
1. In the draft design, identify what tasks are accomplished at the various workplaces and in the individual indoor areas.
2. Determine the lighting requirements for each workplace/indoor area.
These requirements are expressed in terms of horizontal illumination, vertical illumination and brightness differences (luminance ratio).
3. Determine the required general level of illumination in the indoor area. The function of the indoor area is a relevant factor. For example, the general level of illumination required in a corridor differs from that required at a workplace.
4. Determine the desired lighting system or combination of lighting systems. It is possible to have one lighting system in a working area (e.g. direct or indirect ceiling lighting) or a combination of lighting systems (e.g. ceiling lighting in conjunction with other light sources).
The choice of lighting system often depends on the other requirements imposed on an indoor area.
Formulate a lighting plan (including requirements governing the use of colours) on the basis of the requirements listed under 1 to 4 above.
5. STANDARDS
Further guidance can be found in ISO 8995.
FORM FOR IDENTIFYING VISUAL TASKS
Project: Working area: Location No.:
Type of working area Use of area Special features
Enclosed working area Daytime working
Working area with windows on 1 side 24h shift working Working area with windows on 2 sides Frequent
Working area with windows on 3 sides Occasional Working area with windows on 4 sides
Open-air working area
Working area underneath a structure
Type of workplace/area Visual tasks to be accomplished Categorization of visual tasks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Console/desk 1 Observing large objects and moving persons.
PC workstation E.g.: Parking vehicles, storage of large materials, etc.
Reading/writing workplace
2 Observing very approximate details, recognition of persons.
Workbench E.g.: Movements through plant, conveying goods, etc.
Laboratory bench 3 Observing approximate details.
Meeting/conference room
E.g.: Rough structural work, transporting of goods in store, etc.
Social area 4 Observing details.
Library E.g.: Occasional reading and writing tasks.
Corridor 5 Observing fine details.
Machine room E.g.: Frequent reading and writing tasks, scanning VDU.
Sanitary facilities 6 Observing very fine details.
Plant E.g.: Drawing work, fine inspection tasks, high-precision
work, etc.
7 Observation at limits of visual perception.
E.g.: Highly extreme precision work.
APPENDIX 6 USE OF COLOUR IN ERGONOMIC DESIGN