Quality indoor lighting for comfort, health, wellbeing and productivity
Quality indoor lighting for comfort, health, wellbeing and productivity, was written by Cosmin Ticleanu and Paul Littlefair. It was published by BRE Trust in February 2019 and is available as a free download at: https://www.bregroup.com/bretrust/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/02/Quality-indoor-lighting-Trust-report.pdf
Suitable indoor lighting and lighting controls are essential for people to work and move around a building safely, and also play a key role in their comfort, wellbeing, health and productivity.
But, in practice, indoor lighting is not always designed or installed to standard recommendations. Poor lighting can cause visual discomfort which may result in sore eyes, headaches, and the aches and pains associated with poor body posture.
Building designers, owners and occupants should be aware of the potential benefits of lighting design that meets the recommendations of codes and standards, and ensures occupants’ visual requirements are met. Well-designed lighting can help to maintain a healthy physiological and psychological balance through its influences on hormone secretions, body temperature, cognitive activities and moods.
This publication gives expert guidance on issues such as:
- Quality indoor lighting design.
- Visual comfort.
- Health and wellbeing.
- Emergency lighting.
- Relevant standards and codes.
Its contents are:
- Introduction.
- The role and impact of indoor lighting.
- Standard recommendations and guidance on indoor lighting.
- Post-occupancy evaluation of indoor lighting problems.
- Case study – Office space.
- Case study – Secondary school.
- Case study – Hospital.
- Case study – University campus.
- Conclusion.
- References.
- Acknowledgements.
Download it for free at: https://www.bregroup.com/bretrust/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/02/Quality-indoor-lighting-Trust-report.pdf
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BRE articles.
- BRE Expert Collection 6 Daylight and shading.
- BRE Trust.
- BREEAM Internal and external lighting.
- BREEAM Visual comfort Daylighting.
- BREEAM Visual comfort Glare control.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Health and wellbeing impacts of natural and artificial lighting.
- Human-centric lighting.
- Lighting and health infographic.
- Lighting.
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