Living space lighting

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As home lighting is called the interior lighting in living spaces. Living rooms are all common rooms in an apartment in which people can stay permanently. The living space is illuminated with natural and artificial light sources. It is mostly adapted to the respective use of the living space .

history

The current type of lighting technology that uses artificial light sources is still relatively new. In the past, living spaces were illuminated with the help of torches , pine chips , oil lamps or candles , often only as a selective brightening of the room. The kerosene lamp with round wick and glass cylinder, as they have existed since the beginning of the 19th century, represents an improvement in lighting . With the invention of the incandescent lamp by Thomas Alva Edison and the electrification of households, indoor lighting could be improved.

Tasks and quality characteristics of living space lighting

The lighting of a living room is primarily intended to create good visual conditions . In addition, depending on its quality, the lighting influences people's mental and physical wellbeing. To achieve this, the artificial lighting must correspond to the spectrum of daylight. Purely quantitative values ​​(“a lot of light ”) do not give any indication of the quality of the lighting. High quality lighting is characterized by the fact that it is tailored to the respective living space and its use. In new builds and renovations, early planning can prevent costly changes in rooms that have already been completed. Relevant standards exist for interior lighting. There are also four main criteria according to which the quality of lighting is assessed.

Source:

Depending on the task, the lighting is divided into general lighting , workplace-oriented general lighting and single-seat lighting . The uniform illumination of rooms is achieved through general lighting. Through them, uniform visual conditions are achieved throughout the room. With workplace-oriented general lighting, individual room zones are illuminated to different degrees. This enables different visual conditions to be achieved in the respective zones. Individual space lighting is used when the entire room is not evenly illuminated, but only certain areas are given separate lighting for general lighting.

Illuminants for the living area

When selecting the light source for living space lighting, the light color, the luminous flux and the color rendering properties must be taken into account. Questions of energy efficiency or light output and economy gained in importance in the course of the 20th century. Incandescent lamps , halogen lamps , fluorescent lamps , compact fluorescent lamps (better known as energy-saving lamps ) and LED lamps (as retrofit lamps) are predominantly used to illuminate living spaces . Each of these lamps can be used in a variety of different lights , which are adapted and designed for the purpose. The main task of the luminaire is to hold the light source and, if necessary, accommodate additional components such as switches, ballasts or necessary connecting elements to the light source. In the case of LED luminaires, the luminaire body also often serves as a heat sink for the LEDs. All other properties of the luminaire, such as light control, glare control or glare limitation or mechanical protection of the light source, are possible or necessary for a specific purpose.

Illuminance levels for the living area

There are no requirements for minimum illuminance levels in living areas. The focus is on the psychological and physical effects of light on people. Therefore, the illuminance does not have to be the same everywhere in the living area, it can be adapted to the respective visual task. The tables in DIN 12464 Part 1 Lighting of workplaces - indoor workplaces can be used as a selection aid during planning.

Illuminance levels recommended for living areas
Rooms in the living area or
activities in the living area 		Requirements for
the visual task 		Recommended
illuminance (lux)
Cloakroom
hallways and stairs		 orientation 50-100
General lighting in:
bedroom, bathroom,
living room, children's room		 Easy visual tasks:
large details with
high contrast		 100-300
Kitchen chores, housework,
personal hygiene, laundry maintenance,
reading, writing, handicrafts		 Normal visual tasks:
small details with
medium contrast		 300-500
Handicrafts, drawing,
fine handicrafts, sewing		 Difficult visual tasks:
smaller details with
low contrast		 500-2000

Source:

Since lighting equipment ages over time, an initial illuminance must be taken into account when planning, which corresponds to 1.25 times the value of the nominal illuminance.

Adjustment to the living spaces

In entrances, stairwells or corridors, lighting is important for safe and safe traffic flow. In living rooms where work is carried out, good lighting is one of the prerequisites for performing the respective tasks. Good lighting helps people achieve their full potential, and it also counteracts premature fatigue. This means that the lighting has a direct influence on the work result. In living spaces where people spend their free time, comfort and aesthetics play a particularly important role when choosing the lighting.

Traffic routes

All traffic areas such as stairs, entrances and corridors are sources of danger in living areas. Good lighting can significantly reduce the risk of accidents if, for example, danger zones are made recognizable by adequate, glare-free lighting. The correct shadow effect of the lighting must also be ensured. This is especially true for longer stairs, as good lighting enables quick and safe orientation. Targeted lighting from the upper landing makes it easy to distinguish between the individual steps, as the lighting from above only creates short cast shadows. Good lighting results can be achieved here with fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps with light-diffusing covers.

kitchen

The workplaces in the kitchen must be brightly and evenly lit. A suitable mixture of daylight and artificial light ensures good general lighting. When positioning the lighting, care must be taken to avoid body shadows. The most appropriate lighting can be achieved through ceiling lights with fluorescent lamps and a tub cover. In addition, workplace lighting can be installed under the wall cupboards, which should be shielded towards the front to avoid glare. The lighting by means of light bundling incandescent lamp spotlights is completely inexpedient. However, the color design of the ceilings and walls is beneficial. The ceilings and walls should reflect the light well and have a degree of reflection that is greater than 50 percent.

nursery

Since the children's room is used in many ways by the children (playing and working), bright and even lighting is required in this room. The lighting is optimal when it works without glare sources or long and hard shadows. A light band of fluorescent lamps above the window is suitable for this. Ceiling lights with a light-diffusing cover are also very suitable here. Furthermore, wall lights are well suited for children's rooms. Warm white fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps are suitable as lamps. The lamps should be dimmable if possible . The lighting must be installed in such a way that the lamp light is distributed to all corners. A bedside lamp must be attached to the beds for reading purposes.

dining room

Glare-free kitchen table lamp by Poul Henningsen

In the dining room, the lighting should be concentrated on the dining area without dazzling people in a disruptive way. Pendant lights suspended from the ceiling are well suited for this. Incandescent lamps or compact fluorescent lamps are suitable as lamps. In larger rooms, it is advantageous to install multi-lamp lights. Several individual pendant lights can also be positioned accordingly.

bathroom

The lighting in the bathroom depends on the size of the bathroom. In smaller rooms, two mirror lights attached to the right and left of the washbasin are often sufficient. Vertical rod-shaped lights that are attached a short distance from the mirror are suitable for this. Downlights mounted in the ceiling with narrow light distribution are unsuitable, as they cause long and hard shadows . For larger bathrooms, lighting with mirror lights is no longer sufficient. Bright general lighting is required here. A mixture of daylight and artificial light is advantageous. In addition to lighting the bathroom mirror, additional window lighting or shielded curtain suitcase lighting is also required here. Alternatively, ceiling lighting can also be used.

living room

Lighting in the living room can have both a positive and a negative effect on the mood. Therefore, the arrangement and type of luminaire must be sensibly adapted to the room size and furnishings. Blinding effect lamps or other unshielded light sources should be avoided. Narrow beam reflector lamps must also be used very carefully. In these rooms, decorative lights are used more than purpose lights. Floor or pendant lights create a cozy atmosphere. If these lights are provided with light-diffusing , large-area shades, a harmonious distribution of brightness is achieved with these lights. Indirect lighting from the wall or window supports a light-dark distribution. Suitable lamps are incandescent lamps or compact fluorescent lamps. Warm white fluorescent lamps with a low output are suitable for indirect lighting. In the living room, sterile, flat matt, completely diffuse light is inadequate. Bundled grazing light with long disfiguring cast shadows is also unpleasant.

Workspace

In the study, the lighting depends on the respective activity. A combination of indirect and direct lighting is advantageous for desk work. In addition to the ceiling lamp on the desk, there should be an additional desk lamp. With this lamp, the artificial light can be used individually. Desk lights are available in different designs. Suitable lamps for the desk lamp are incandescent lamps or halogen lamps, as well as compact fluorescent lamps or light-emitting diodes with a high color rendering index . For the latter two, light sources with a high color temperature (4000 Kelvin) are recommended. The rest of the study should not be too dark or completely unlit to prevent unnecessary eye fatigue. A ceiling light is recommended here. Orientation towards DIN EN 12464-1 “Lighting of indoor workplaces” is recommended, especially when working at home at home with a computer screen. In small rooms there is no risk of the light being reflected on the screen. This means that there is no reflection glare on the screen.

bedroom

The lighting in the bedroom has to be designed very differently. Orientation lighting is sufficient for getting up or going to bed. This should generate a nominal illuminance of 20 to 50 lux. The orientation light is well placed in the window area. The lighting should be stronger for tidying up or removing clothes from the closet. A ceiling light with an energy-saving lamp in the middle of the room is ideal for general room lighting or for illuminating the contents of the wardrobe. The luminaire should shine the light as evenly as possible into the room. In front of the wardrobe, a row of lights that have asymmetrical light distribution can be very useful. The lights for this must be installed at a distance of 0.9 meters from the bar. Two wall lights with translucent mirrors can be installed so that the mirror lighting for the vanity mirror does not illuminate the mirror, but the person in front of the mirror. The lights are to be attached to the side of the mirror a few decimeters above eye level. Reflector lights are suitable for reading, but the light should be arranged in such a way that a direct view of the light bulb is prevented. Indirect lighting using fluorescent lamps above the head of the bed gives it an elegant touch. This lighting can be combined with the reading lighting. The respective lights should definitely be switchable separately. A well reflective wall covering can support or optimize the effect of the lighting.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa from Winfrid Hauke, Rolf Thaele, Günter Reck: RWE Energie Bau-Handbuch . 12th edition (1998). Energie-Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg, ISBN 3-87200-700-9 , pp. 11 / 3-11 / 38.
  2. ↑ a b Gottfried CO Lohmeyer, Matthias Post, Heinz Bergmann: Practical building physics. An introduction with calculation examples , 5th completely revised edition, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 978-3-519-45013-9 , pp. 522-536.
  3. ↑ Museum of Energy History (ed.): How light became electric. Hannover, Online ( Memento from August 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on August 19, 2016).
  4. ↑ a b Rüdiger Gansland, Harald Hofmann: Handbook of light planning. 1st edition, Friedrich Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Wiesbaden 1992, ISBN 3-528-08895-8 , pp. 12-25.
  5. ↑ a b c Helmut Schaefer (Ed.): Lexikon Energietechnik. VDI-Gesellschaft Energietechnik, 11th Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH, Berlin Heidelberg 1994, ISBN 978-3-642-95749-9 , pp. 664-666.
  6. ↑ a b c d Institute for Preservation and Modernization of Buildings eV of the TU Berlin (Ed.): Gesundes Wohnen. Self-published by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, Berlin 2007, pp. 8–16.
  7. ↑ Erik Theiß: Lighting technology, new technologies for indoor and outdoor lighting. 5th completely revised edition, Oldenbourg Industrieverlag GmbH, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-486-27013-3 .
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Karl Volger, Erhard Laasch: Haustechnik. Basics - planning - execution, 9th revised and expanded edition, BG Teubner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 978-3-322-94746-8 , pp. 23-26, 53, 363-364, 437-438, 449, 452- 455.
  9. ↑ Trilux GmbH & Co KG (ed.): Lighting practice interior lighting. 1st edition, Arnsberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-00-020912-3 , pp. 304-405.
  10. ↑ Guide to DIN-EN-12464-1 . Online ( Memento of May 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on August 19, 2016).
  11. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Thomas Laasch, Erhard Laasch: Haustechnik. Basics - Planning - Execution, 11th completely updated edition, BG Teubner, Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 978-3-663-10289-2 , pp. 435-438.
  12. ↑ Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: slip resistance, lighting, labeling (accessed on August 19, 2016).
  13. ↑ a b c Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (Ed.): Lighting in the office. VBG-Fachinformation, aids for planning artificial lighting in offices, 2003, pp. 47–51.
  14. ↑ Telepolis: Computers can promote insomnia. Online (accessed October 20, 2011).
  15. ↑ DIN EN 12464-1, PDF file ( Memento from September 30, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed via Archive Org. On January 14, 2016)
  16. ↑ Hans R. Ris: Lighting technology for the practitioner. 2nd expanded edition, VDE-Verlags GmbH, Berlin - Offenbach, ISBN 3-8007-2163-5 , pp. 13–17, 46–47, 229.