Light has a major impact on people’s well-being. It not only influences our hormonal and metabolic processes, but also determines our ‘internal clock’. The bio-dynamic lighting of Bever Innovations, Industrial division can offer an suitable solution if there is insufficient access to natural daylight – for instance, in production halls, warehouses, cold stores and events halls. This means, besides ensuring high-quality lighting, it is possible to optimise e.g. the sleep cycle, heart rate, blood pressure and mood of your employees.
“Having appropriate lighting in the workplace is particularly important at this time of year. Days are becoming shorter and, in the winter months, more and more people not only go to work in the dark, but also come home in the dark. This has an impact on their mood, performance and health”, says Jeroen de Jonge, former Sales Director at Bever Innovations, Industrial division. “Especially if lighting in their workplace is sub-standard.”
Effect of light
“Way too often, you see companies packed with the most sustainable standard lighting fixtures, but also see that insufficient attention has been given to light intensity, uniformity and light quality”, states De Jonge. “Unfortunately, people do not yet fully realise what impact light has on mood and health. Our organisation wants to change this.”
Bio-dynamic lighting is proven to have a positive impact on the productivity and well-being of employees, he adds. “In addition, good lighting helps to improve safety on the work floor, as confirmed in the Working Conditions Decree. For instance, chapter 3 of the Health & Safety Act says that employers are obligated to create safe working conditions, which includes lighting installations (https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008498/2019-01-01#Hoofdstuk3). Furthermore, employers must consider the activities carried out under such lighting, as well as the personal characteristics of employees. As with so many other tools, lighting cannot result in an unsafe workplace and/or endanger health.”
Appropriate lighting in the workplace
Lighting in the workplace must meet specified norms, explains De Jonge. “The European Union has established a norm for lighting levels in the workplace, which has been included in the NEN 1246-1. This norm uses lux values to determine lighting levels. Each type of workplace is accompanied by a lux norm, which helps to ensure good working conditions. However, no requirements have been set for light colour, light quality and Ra values (CRI), even though they are at least of equal importance. This is something we have fully taken into account when designing our lighting. Our LS Industry LED luminaries guarantee very high colour rendering (CRI 83+) in colour temperature 4,000 Kelvin. Thanks to the light’s colour accuracy, components in your storage area, production environment or cold store can be easily distinguished from each other, which means employees can work much better and more safely.”
Lighting only switches on ‘if you are present’
“Our LED fixtures are by default equipped with a Long Range motion sensor”, explains De Jonge. “When movement is detected, the fixture automatically switches on at a pre-programmed light intensity, bearing in mind the temperature in the room, the amount of daylight and applicable health and safety norms. If necessary, surrounding fixtures can also be activated. Thermal shocks will be consigned to the past, as will voltage spikes in the grid.” Thanks to intelligent lighting, it is possible to make considerable savings in energy costs (< 90%) and CO₂ emissions, while never making concessions in lighting quality and safety.”