Lighting in Design Q2 2023

www.crown.co.za Q2 - 2023

Edendale Mall: Rising out of the ashes

Locally manufactured fitting for V&A Waterfront

How smart street lighting is improving cities

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Ed Space

resulted in an emphasis on “extended producer responsibility” legislation, such as the Directive 2000/53/EC of the Euro pean Parliament on end-of-life vehicles and Germany’s End-of-Life Vehicle Act of 2002. Designing for disassembly involves a number of considerations, including the selection of materials and fasteners that can be easily disassembled without damage, the use of standard parts that can be easily replaced, and the elimina tion of adhesives or other materials that make disassembly difficult. In addition, designing for disassembly requires careful planning and testing to ensure that the disassembly process is safe and efficient. The goal of designing for disassembly is to create products that can easily be disassembled and recycled, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserving natural resources. This approach is particularly important in in dustries such as electronics, automotive, and construction, where products can be complex and difficult to disassemble. To overcome this hurdle, manufactur ers should plan in reverse. Imagine that your design is going to be taken apart before you even plan on how to put it together. Looking at the materials to see which will be the easiest to remove and make the demolition process as smooth as possible will enable you to choose the best reusable materials there are. Are lighting manufacturers actively practicing DfD? It would be interesting to hear if any local companies are.

The circular economy and lighting is nothing new. In fact, Lighting in Design published an article in 2019 by Henk Rotman, IESSA Gauteng Branch Chair and Tridonic Business Development Manager, where he explained that prod ucts are designed to prevent waste and optimised for a cycle of disassembly and reuse. Any product design has to take many things into account: it must do what it is supposed to do, meet relevant safety (and performance) standards, be easy to produce, meet cost targets, etc. The circular economy adds an extra dimension to product design, as the product needs to be designed for ser viceability, which is the ability to extend both the technical and the economic lifetime of the product. Recently I came across another term: designing for disassembly (DfD) This re fers to the practice of designing products or systems in a way that makes it easy to take them apart at the end of their useful life or for maintenance purposes. DfD is an important aspect of sustainable lighting and circular design. This design approach aids the recovery and recycling of materials and components, and reduc es waste and the environmental impact of products. DfD is a growing topic within manu facturing industries as greater attention is devoted to the management of the end-of-life of products. This need is driv en by the increasing disposal problems of large amounts of consumer goods, and the resultant pollutant impacts and loss of materials resources and energy that is embodied in these products. In Europe, in particular, constraints on the production of waste and pollution have

Editor: Gregg Cocking (lighting@crown.co.za) Advertising manager: Carin Hannay (carinh@crown.co.za) Layout: Katlego Montsho • Circulation: Karen Smith Cover: Edendale Mall Published by Crown Publications (Pty) Ltd PO Box 140, Bedfordview, 2008 - Tel: +27 (0)11 622 4770 Fax: +27 (0)11 615 6108 - Website: www.crown.co.za ABC 2023 Q1: 7 400 • Printed by: Tandym Print All issues of Lighting in Design can be viewed on our website. Visit www.lightingindesignmagazine.co.za

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IN side ...

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EDspace Editor’s comment. Rising out of the ashes

Extensively looted and damaged by the riots that took place in July 2021, Edendale Mall in Pietermaritzburg recently reopened after an extensive renovation. Improve ments to the centre include increased natural lighting, wider walkways and an updated tenant mix. How smart street lighting is improving cities Johannesburg. Paris. Beijing. Oslo. Jakarta. Dublin.The street scenes vary, but cities worldwide share an imperative to improve the efficiency, costs, and operations of their streetlights. Outdoor lighting control solutions are helping these cities, and others, do more with their strategic but costly lighting assets. Locally manufacturing a fitting with international quality standards The V&A Waterfront is an iconic precinct that welcomes millions of people from all over the continent and the world, but have you ever noticed the traditional fittings populated all over this prominent landmark? Regent Lighting were approched to provide an upgraded African lighting solution for this historical precinct. The future of lighting in the new retail sector The retail sector has undergone a major transformation in recent years. The accel eration of certain consumer trends and behaviour has meant that retail spaces are changing and adapting in order to give their customers a different type of experience. Contemporary South African design meets modern local culinary flavours Emazulwini restaurant’s dockside location has been transformed, with pared-back neutral tones brought to vivid life with the use of bold blues and reds, and unique furniture and lighting by local designers. Office lighting revisited In the Q1 issue of Lighting in Design , we ran an article on office lighting best practices courtesy of www.opensourcedworkplace.com. Local senior electrical engineer and lighting designer, Bjorn Smidt-Hart reached out to the magazine after the publication of the article with some concerns. News The best lighting choice for gardeners, garden designers and landscapers; BEKA Schréder has supplied a complete smart lighting solution for a public walkway in Stellenbosch; and the indoor and outdoor application of architectural lighting.

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Rising out of the ashes

Extensively looted and damaged by the riots that took place in July 2021, Edendale Mall in Pietermaritzburg recently reopened after an extensive renovation. F irst opened in 2011, Edendale Mall is located in Plessislaer, part of the sprawling Edendale township in Pietermaritzburg. The mall would

damage is that it gave us a clean sheet to redesign the Mall,” explains CEO of Exemplar, Jason McCormick. “The phased reopening of the Mall has been done to ensure we can address the most immediate retail needs of the community first. The priority for Phase 1 was food, healthcare and banking, while Phase 2 and 3 saw the reintroduction of additional anchors as well as fashion tenants.” Improvements to the centre

have celebrated a decade of retail convenience last year but, instead, the team spent its birthday de signing a refined retail experience. Damage to the centre totalled over R230 million with an estimated 1800 direct job losses. The only silver lining coming from the extensive

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include increased natural lighting, wider walkways and an updated tenant mix. “The mall was almost completely destroyed by the riots of 2021 and the brief was to rebuild the mall but to change the look and feel to make it look brand new,” says Louis Pretorius, partner at MDS Architecture. “We had to completely change the mall finishes and bulkhead design but keep the structure to the original design. We also had to introduce more natural light in the mall. Although there was no specific brief for the lighting, Pretorius notes that MDS have come to

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know the preferences of the developer, with LED lights in all public areas the norm. “The lighting in the mall accentuates the ceiling design, and, although we had to achieve a certain lux level, the surface mounted lights on the ceiling enforced the triangular shapes of the ceiling. The coved lights that were installed are not visible but they light up the vertical bulkheads,” says Pretorius. In the previous iteration of the mall there were only coved lights with a few pendant lights in the courts. The coved lights were all fluorescent type fittings, and as such, the mall was quite dark in certain areas. Walter Ritson, CEO of the lighting supplier WB Lighting says that for the areas with lower ceilings, they used the same profile as in the higher ceiling areas, but the light output is 30% less, to equal out the lux in each area. “Furthermore, each light runs on a 160 lm/W light source to reduce consumption but keep the product value feasible for the client.” “It always does,” answered Pretorius emphatically when asked if he believes that the lighting adds to the success of the project. “It

is an integral part of the design and, if not done well, distracts from the overall design rather than enhancing the design.” Edendale Mall’s unexpected renovation allowed the architects and lighting supplier not only to improve the quality of both the natural and artificial lighting in the mall, but also give it a brand-new look and feel.

www.wblighting.co.za

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How smart street lighting is improving cities

Johannesburg. Paris. Beijing. Oslo. Jakarta. Dublin. The street scenes vary, but cities worldwide share an imperative to improve the efficiency, costs, and operations of their streetlights. Outdoor lighting control solutions are helping these cities, and others, to do more with their strategic but costly lighting assets.

I t’s estimated that as much as 40% of city energy budgets are spent on outdoor lighting, and that a single street light can emit 200 kg of CO 2 each year. Increasingly, cities need to save energy or do more with less energy, reduce carbon emissions, lower operating and maintenance costs, and com ply with tighter government regulations. In addition, many are exploring Smart City applications and the use of lighting to boost safety for both drivers and pedestrians. For all these reasons, better lighting and light ing control top most cities’ priority lists. Recently, hybrid wired/wireless network products have been pioneered that enable cities to mix and match their communications media. For instance, cities can use wired power line communications (PLC) for tunnels or remote stretches of highway and wire less radio frequency (RF) where wired solutions are cost-prohibitive. In this way, cities can, for the first time, achieve 100% lighting coverage with a

single solution.

The results Cities that have implemented web-based lighting control systems report results that include: • Average energy savings ranging from 28% to 62% – with up to one-third of the savings attributed to adaptive lighting control. • Ability to free up energy according to demand. • Lower ongoing maintenance and inventory costs through remote identification of lamp failures, preventive maintenance, and the use of lower-wattage, longer-lasting street lights. • Improved public safety and satisfaction due to reduced lamp downtime, less light pollution, and better overall lighting quality. • Reduced CO 2 emissions. • Rapid detection of electricity theft and leakage. • Preservation of historical and decorative lights, while still attaining the benefits of modern

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the city. • In a Jakarta trial by Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy (MOE) Research and Development Agency, more-efficient street light lamps combined with dimming and scheduling capa bilities yielded 59% in energy savings. Plus, Jakarta was able to detect electricity theft and reduce maintenance and operational logistics of their outdoor lighting system. • The City of Paris replaced 80,000 light fixtures with a multivendor open system. In addition to saving 35% in both energy and capital expenses, Paris is using its citywide lighting network as the basis for developing Smart City applications. In Sénart en Essonne , a four-city area 35 km south of Paris, an outdoor lighting system has helped reduce the area’s operating budget and maintenance costs while increas ing road safety. • A state-of-the-art outdoor lighting system controlled by smart technology provides Sau di Arabia’s Riyadh and Mecca with real-time outdoor lighting control. Now, the cities can remotely turn lights on and off, adjust their intensity through automatic programming or sensors, detect energy leakage or possible ca ble cuts, and receive an alarm for any unauthor ised opening of a power supply cabinet door. • Milton Keynes, 45 miles northwest of Lon don, modernised its outdoor lighting net work by installing smart electronic bal lasts and enterprise monitoring software. The city’s lower-wattage street lights – paired with a control network and various sensors – allow lamps to adjust illumination automatically for longer life and less light pollution; cast higher-quality light; and help the city satisfy various EU and worldwide directives to reduce energy usage.

lighting control. • Compliance with European Union, worldwide, and local laws and directives for reduced ener gy use, CO 2 emissions, and use of high-pollut ing components such as mercury. • An infrastructure for efficiently controlling future technologies, including Smart City and Internet of Things applications. Real-world examples • Norway’s capital, Oslo, was one of the first cities to deploy a large-scale intelligent, open standards-based outdoor lighting network. Data from traffic and weather sensors and an internal astronomical clock are used to auto matically dim some street lights, thus reducing energy use by 62%, extending lamp life, and lowering replacement costs. • Elsewhere in Norway, Øvre Eiker, famous as the site of the first major Viking gold find, in stalled a dynamic outdoor lighting system with PLC transceivers and controllers that reduced street light energy use by 45%, cut mainte nance costs by 35%, reduced CO 2 emissions, and helped meet EU directives. • Using the new technology, Quebec City saved 30% in energy use, reduced maintenance and inventory costs, increased public safety, and beautified the city’s historical district. • After installing electronic dimmable ballasts and enhanced fixtures controlled by technol ogy, the densely populated Chinese cities of Dongguan and Shenzhen saved an average of 52% in energy costs; identified cable theft; and reduced the number of maintenance people. • Dublin completed a successful project replac ing 1300 light points with electronic dimmable ballasts controlled by CMS cloud-based soft ware. With average energy savings of 35%, Dublin approved the solution for the rest of

www.echelon.com

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The process; from initial design to casting.

Locally manufacturing a fitting with international quality standards The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is an iconic 123-hectare precinct that welcomes millions of people from all over the continent and the world, but have you ever noticed the traditional fittings populated all over this prominent landmark?

I n the late 1980s, The V&A Waterfront set the standards by importing over 300 amenity lights to install around the perimeters of the Water front before the grand opening in November 1988. These nautical-styled luminaires soon became a significant feature of the V&A brand. In 2023, 35 years after the initial installation of the fittings, the lighting technology was obsolete and the fixtures were deteriorating; it was time for an upgrade. The V&A Waterfront has a policy of support ing positive social, economic, and environmental change, and approached Regent Lighting to pro vide an upgraded African lighting solution for this

historical precinct. The Regent Lighting Solutions (RLS) design department accepted the challenge of developing a traditional product that stays visually consistent with the previous design but harvests all the new technological advances that have become available. To get the main components of the body, the manufacturing processes included aluminium gravi ty die casting, metal spinning, vacuum forming, and even hot dip galvanising to locally manufacture a fitting with international quality standards. RLS, in collaboration with Wahl Aluminium, was able to design, machine, and use the 3-part gravity casting die with a sand core to shape the intricate internal details and attain the required structural strength. Because the fittings are mounted onto the side walks, the RLS858 lens was installed to maximise the asymmetrical light distribution onto the roads and pedestrian walkways. Step-dimming functions were implemented on each fitting to allow for fluc tuating output levels throughout the night, saving electricity and extending the LED lifecycle. In addition to supplying the Victoria light fixture, RLS was also able to assist the V&A Waterfront with replacing the mounting brackets. Once again,

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staying true to the original design, a mounting bracket was made from mild steel, hot dip galva nised, to provide the structural strength and mate rial qualities required for a coastal installation. The brackets were mounted onto the existing wooden posts installed in 1988. At various locations around the V&A Water front, different brackets were required, including single, double, and quad brackets with signage incorporated onto them. With precision and perfection, we were able to deliver 340 traditional fittings with cutting-edge technology and brand-new mounting brackets in a timeframe of three months. They are currently

being installed on site. Regent Lighting Solutions was honoured to have been part of providing an African lighting solution to this iconic landmark, with the Victoria now available as a standard RLS product.

www.regentlight.co.za

Installation of upgraded fittings.

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The future of lighting in the new retail sector The retail sector has undergone a major transformation in recent years. The acceleration of certain consumer trends and behaviour has meant that retail spaces are changing and adapting in order to give their customers a different type of experience. L ighting has always been considered to be a key element in providing the best possible customer experience. As well as enhancing Shop windows are visual presentations of the experiences being offered to the customer on the inside. For this reason, the lighting in these areas can be quite dynamic and striking, as it is the first point of contact with potential customers.

the brand through its integration with the compa ny’s interior design, it also helps to optimise the flow of both workers and consumers. It is clear that there is a broad diversity in the different areas that make up a shop, including shop windows, the general sales area, display areas, the main areas of circulation, and customer attention at counters and dressing rooms, etc. All of these areas have their own particular lighting requirements in order to meet the emotional and functional needs of the customers and workers. And, of course, this must always be carried out in line with the communication and positioning strategy that each brand offers through its corporate image. Some of the trends that are bringing about these transformations in the retail sector are: • The migration of big brands to city centres. • The rise of proximity marketing. • Greater environmental awareness on the behalf of the consumers. • The exponential growth of e-commerce. Lighting as a focal point in urban retailing Commercial areas in cities require greater integration with the urban environment while, at the same time, retaining the focus on capturing the attention of passers-by.

At the same time, however, it must be respectful of the environment and not produce light pollution or excessively intrusive light. The dynamism of the lighting can become an excellent resource to capture people’s attention, and can also provide the option to modify the lighting effects to allow for changes in the season or in the design of the shop window. In the general sales area, lighting helps to highlight certain areas or points of interest by using different levels and types of illumination; you can also make use of the different effects associated with accent lighting. In addition to this, it is possible to highlight the spatial hierarchy of the so-called “hot spots” in the retail area (those that are more relevant and which aim to attract more traffic, as they are the busiest and most visible). In this way, through lighting, we can help to highlight the counters, displays, or other areas of special relevance, helping the user to identify them more easily. In order to achieve these eye-catching effects, a shop’s lighting has three layers of illumination: • General horizontal lighting, which, depending on the brand image and the desired intention, will have varying levels of brightness. • Vertical lighting, which will allow us to

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product at the end of its useful life.

illuminate the vertical planes we wish to highlight, and, at the same time, will provide us with a better visual and spatial perception. • Accent lighting, which will focus the attention on specific points. The balance in terms of the accentuated lighting contrast also goes hand in hand with the communication and positioning of the brand. It does so by seeking to achieve varying degrees of eye-catching effects with this last layer of lighting. A better purchasing experience through the use of lighting The rise of local commerce, and a greater ecological awareness on the part of the users, have brought to the fore the so-called ‘Slow-Shopping’. This form of shopping, which is far more leisurely than normal shopping, means that your commercial space needs to be divided into several different types of areas, each with its own distinctive type of lighting. This helps you to create diverse atmospheres and an increase in lighting quality, thus increasing the average time spent in these areas. Having luminaires equipped with a light source that supplies a good colour rendering capacity is extremely important in order to improve the overall shopping experience. LED technology allows us to measure this capacity thanks to the Colour Rendering Index (CRI). However, this is not the only metric that tells us about the quality of light in terms of its ability to reproduce colours. The TM-30-15 method helps us to get to know data such as colour fidelity (Rf) and saturation (Rg): • The colour fidelity index (Rf) allows us to know if the colour we’re perceiving is close to a “natural” colour, or if, on the contrary, there are deviations in perception. Values close to 100 would show us a colour in a very natural light. • The saturation index (Rg) helps us to know the degree of saturation of a colour in certain shades. These two indexes help us to choose the best light source to reproduce the different colours and shades we need, whether this be the illumination of the objects on display or to improve the perception of the environment. At the same time, it allows us to implement certain strategies, thanks to which we can maximise and enhance specific characteristics of the materials. The new breed of conscious consumer demands a holistic experience, as well as an identification with brand values. These values shouldn’t only be reflected in the products on offer, but the whole area should also convey this sustainable awareness on behalf of the brands. For this reason, the lighting solutions in the area must be: • Highly energy efficient. • Designed using concepts of eco-design and circularity, to allow better recyclability of the

Lighting to add dynamics to the exhibition area The rise of e-commerce and the omnichannel phenomenon means that the shopping process is increasingly becoming a hybrid process between the online and offline experience. This trend, on the one hand, offers us the opportunity to enjoy experiential shopping areas. In these, the experience, the element of surprise, and distinctiveness play a significant role in brand generation. On the other hand, there are large logistical areas aimed at optimising the whole process. Lighting plays an important role in dynamising and driving experiential spaces. Thanks to this, it is possible to reinforce the so-called ‘cold spots’ (those with lower performance) transforming them into ‘hot spots’ by improving their visibility and improving and encouraging the circulation flow of the consumers. Different strategies can be employed to achieve this, from raising the lighting level – using projectors with more concentrated optics to achieve greater light contrast – or by using dynamic lighting that introduces a variety of intensities and tones that change over time. • Flexibility: The chosen lighting system must be flexible enough to adapt to all the changes in the display area, such as the use of luminaires on track. • Dynamic: The technology used can allow for changes in the products that are on display, modifying both intensity and colour temperature. Dynamic lighting helps to create more people orientated spaces, making them more fluid and organic. The lighting supplied by the luminaires in shops affects the customers’ sensory perception and mood: a cool white light, for example, relates to the feeling of spaciousness, while a warm light gives the impression of intimacy and comfort. • It allows us to create experiences that are very different to the online commerce experience. Lighting in physical shops adapts to both the customers’ shopping habits and experience, making it more people-oriented. • It creates more dynamic commercial areas, adapting at all times to the needs of the business, while, at the same time, making it possible to maintain a lighting coherence that the customer can easily identify with the brand. • It facilitates interaction between the commercial space and its customers and workers. The lighting ambience is adapted to the elements as well as to the use of the different spaces, customer flow, or density.

Source: www.lamp.es

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Contemporary South African design meets modern local culinary flavours Chef Mmabatho Molefe’s modern Zulu cuisine offering at Emazulwini restaurant at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town is a celebration of her culinary heritage and childhood food memories viewed through a 21st-century fine-dining lens. Now, the restaurant’s dockside location has been transformed, with pared-back neutral tones brought to vivid life with the use of bold blues and reds, and beautiful and unique furniture and lighting by local designers. T he new space, which has become a stage for a developing South African aesthetic that pays respect to its heritage while charting maker, and young interior designer Walter Train. Train, whose practice is informed by his own diverse heritage, describes his work as sitting at the intersection of two seemingly disparate worlds: one an Nguni upbringing rooted in family and culture, the other a western lineage intimately part the way forward in global style, is the result of a collaboration between Clout/SA, a purpose-driven creative agency and business-to-business market

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such as bars and seating areas. “Lighting creates moods, and should be considered in the design process, along with its use or function, and general aesthetic appeal within the whole design concept. Why not make it impactful?,” asks Train. “With the lighting design, it was important to get the lumens and lux levels right, because if they are too high, you can really overpower a space. Installing a dimmable switch helped counter this, allowing the restaurant to adjust the lighting within the space to create a variety of moods,” he concludes.

of his birth. Says Tracy Lynch, one of Clout/SA’s managing executives, ‘Train is a young, talented designer with a strong connection to his South African heritage and roots, which made him a great collaborating interior designer for the project.’ Train brought to life his concept, which was partly inspired by the surrounds of the restaurant’s dockside location, with the help and guidance of Clout/SA, which facilitates opportunities for companies to support and collaborate with South African designers. The result is a space that features the work of local designers and makers, fabrics and materials. 2020 Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) finalist and 2022 Decorex Cape Town Best New Talent award winner Siviwe Jali’s ‘NoKhanya’ light, which was made in collaboration with Ashanti Design, hangs alongside 2016 Nando’s HYD winner Thabisa Mjo’s ‘Tutu 2.0’ lights. Meanwhile, chairs and tables from designers such as Houtlander, David Krynauw and Kent & Lane fill the space. Using lighting In the new-look Emazulwini, Molefe’s take on traditional food now has a setting that echoes its deeply South African roots with a modern global twist. Train notes that the brief was oriented around a local chef who would be occupying a new restaurant. “We were required to incorporate Clout/SA’s list of designers from the Nando’s portal, a great initiative for providing a platform for only local designers to feature their pieces. The project’s art and creative direction was led by Tracy Lee Lynch, who was a great mentor throughout the process of designing a very impactful space. The chosen direction was a vibrant and bold design that resonated with the environment – the harbour.” Although there wasn’t a lighting brief as such, Train says that they needed to provide adequate lighting for the space. “We wanted the lighting to be functional, and also highlight display shelves and certain key design elements. The feature lights, which are beautiful Etosha Sika wall-mounted lamps from Ashanti Design, also function as a stunning wall display. We used the Nok’khanya pendant light designed by Siviwe Jali of uMugqa Studio above the bar, with unique patterning that shows the creative expression of the women who weave at Ashanti Design,” he says. “The famous Tutu pendant lights by Mash T Design Studio were placed to form part of the artistic composition of shape, forms and colours – the profile of this light is gorgeous and relatable to many local people, something to remind us of our heritage.” Spaces with working surfaces, such as the kitchen, needed a lot of light, as well as the shelving where things are displayed. Pendants were used as visual key points and also highlight certain areas,

www.clout-sadesign.co.za Photographs: Paris Brummer

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Office lighting revisited In the Q1 issue of Lighting in Design , we ran an article on office lighting best practices courtesy of www.opensourcedworkplace.com. Local senior electrical engineer and lighting designer, Bjorn Smidt-Hart reached out to the magazine after the publication of the article with some concerns.

W hile overall, the information was perti nent, he was concerned that some of the guidelines presented in the article, without the application of the fundamental core principles of lighting in place, might be endanger ing the public unknowingly and lead to dissatisfied clients. Smidt-Hart was invited to comment on the article, and offer his advice to those tasked with providing office lighting: 1: Before picking lighting sources and finalising on them, it is necessary for those in charge to study the office layout and plan carefully. Otherwise, it could lead to haphazard placement of lights which would then cause more disruption in office activities – poor positioning of lighting sources is as bad as poor lighting itself. Smidt-Hart says: To elaborate on the placement of lights, one needs to consider what activities and tasks are being undertaken within the workplace, the office. The activities of an advertising agency

vary greatly from those of an accounting office. Thus, these varying activities would require varying lighting conditions in order for the activities to be undertaken safely and preformed efficiently. Table 1 of SANS 10114 Part 1: Artificial lighting of interiors prescribes the minimum maintained illuminance values for various interiors, areas, tasks, or activities. Additional compliances to national building regulations and emergency conditions must be complied with. Thus, the activities and tasks within a space are to be complemented equally with quality lighting to allow employees to perform these safely and productively. 2: Ceiling lighting is one of the first concerns when it comes to choosing office lights, as these will be fixed in maximum quantity all over the office space. It is important to ensure that the overhead lights don’t have glare to them, that is, they are not overly bright. Furthermore, the positioning of the ceiling light should not be directly over the

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• How to effectively use natural and artificial light to illuminate a room. • Contrast in luminance and colour between the detail and its background. • The colour and reflectance of surfaces within a room. • Suitability of the light distribution for that application (direct, diffused, semi-direct, indirect lighting). • Uniformity of illuminating the task and surrounding areas. • Flicker and stroboscopic effect. • Ease of maintenance. • Visual comfort. 3: Add corrective lighting as a complement so that the balance between light and shadow is maintained. Corrective lighting acts as a mediator between the different kinds of lighting and colour temperature in the office – the natural light outside, the main lighting source used at the workplace and computer/mobile screens being used there. Such lighting makes adjustments so that the employees don’t have to strain their vision and can work in better conditions. Smidt-Hart says: Contrast in luminance and colour between the detail and its background is important to consider to avoid fatigue. The eyes become strained due to constantly adjusting to the varying conditions. An extreme example of this is if one were reading between a computer screen in front of a sun filled window and fined texted documents on a glossy reflective desk. 4: It is widely agreed that natural daylight is the best kind of lighting one can use for the most productive work environment. However, these days it is increasingly difficult for companies to find office spaces that are exposed to considerable daylight, so it follows that daylight-like lighting must be mimicked by closest available artificial lighting. Thus, the colour temperature of the lighting used in such offices, especially bigger and wider office spaces, should be between 5000K and 7000K, according to lighting experts. Smidt-Hart says: The above statement is inaccurate. Implementing natural daylight into interior lighting is beneficial as it promotes synchronisation of circadian rhythm and wellbeing within employees. Artificial lighting design is

employee’s desk – that can only be feasible if the lights are smaller. Smidt-Hart says: The simplest and ‘cost effective’ means of lighting an office building or office floor, especially for open plan space, is through the use of a monotonous ceiling grid lighting layout, using a single type luminaire. This type of lighting may not always be cost effective, depending on the luminaire selected to addressing the tasks and activities in the workplace. Before selecting this type of lighting, one should consider what would be beneficial to the employer and the employees throughout the lifecycle of the lighting installation. Is it sustainable for the employer (cost effective to implement, operate and maintain, dispose of and replace)? Is the environment and task area being illuminated adequately to allow tasks to be performed safely, efficiently and in comfort? Although glare affects visibility and performance, there are many other factors to consider, some of which are: • The employees undertaking the tasks.

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used to create different sensory environments relating to the intention and purpose of the area to be illuminated. 8: Consider using task lights. In some cases, overhead lighting may not be the best option, but task lighting can salvage the situation. Task lights are small in size, and the advantage is that these can be easily plugged in to outlets as convenient to the employee and their needs. Thus, these can provide concentrated light just where the employee needs some, and using such lights will also allow the employees control over where and how they would prefer lighting for their work. Smidt-Hart says: One should ensure that correct illumination levels are maintained over the task area, that employees are aware of the consequences of not using task lighting and the hazards of working in a workspace with below minimum prescribed illumination levels. The workplace should, where possible promote natural light, then substitute with task lighting. A benefit of task lighting by individual luminaires at the task area is that the general area ceiling lighting does not need to provide the necessary illumination for the task, thus less energy is consumed by the general lighting. Consider an open plan office where only certain employees make use of task lighting while others are supplemented by natural lighting. 9: Remember that some types of lights heat up and cause overheating and stuffiness in the office space. This is true for smaller offices and for low quality lighting. Such lighting will probably not have a long life and may also come with oth er repercussions because of the poor quality. It is advisable not to use such lighting and instead, pay a little more for better quality and longer, more sustainable use, as employees will spend many hours every week in the office and should be comfortable. Smidt-Hart says: All lighting generates heat. Cooling systems and building ventilation designs need to take lighting systems into account. It is important to procure quality lighting products that tend be efficient and generate less heat. Having effective and continuous maintenance programmes in place, cleaning light fittings regularly, do wonders in reducing heat and energy consumption while improving illumination levels. 10: In case a combination of natural and artificial lighting is being used in the office, it is important to make sure that the sunlight from

moving towards simulating the circadian rhythm to assist in promoting wellbeing within employees which further promotes productivity. 5: It has been observed that brighter and warm, but white-based lighting correlates to energy and wakefulness for employees, boosting performance and productivity, while dim lights make one drowsy and lethargic at times. The idea is to find a right balance between yellow and white lights and use lighting that falls somewhere in the middle. Dimmer lighting can always be used in recreational areas to create a more relaxed atmosphere. Smidt-Hart says: Confusion is created in the above statement whereby “dim” is being associated with low, warmer colour temperature. “Dim” lighting refers to low levels of illumination and not to the colour temperature of lighting. Warm lighting (2000-3000 K) is viewed as ‘yellow’ light which promotes relaxation, neutral white (4000 K) promotes alertness, while cooler to blueish white light (>5000 K) promotes peak coordination and concentration. It is beneficial to promote synchronisation of circadian rhythm and wellbeing within employees. 6: Even today, many offices use fluorescent lights overhead to save costs, but that is not a rec ommended choice. Fluorescent lighting might be a cheaper option for offices looking to cut cost, but using such lighting can come at a cost of employ ees’ health and well-being. Fluorescent lights are very bright and can seem rather harsh to employees with sensitive eyes and/or migraine tendencies. As such lighting hurts eyes when one is exposed to them for too long, it causes disturbance in sleep patterns and causes tiredness. Thus, such lights should be avoided. Smidt-Hart says: Lighting products of poor quality and poor performance should be avoided. Whether the lighting products are fluorescent or LED, employees may be exposed to unnecessary hazards if the lighting products do not operate and perform as required for the intended purpose. 7: If the office has a separate sitting area where guests are welcomed, it would be more aesthetical ly pleasing if the lighting in there is not too bright. Here, dimmer, more yellow-white-toned lights (around 2700 K) can be used to provide a calmer, more relaxed look and pleasant environment. More over, one can be creative with the lighting structure in such areas, including any lounges in the entire office, the cafeteria, recreation room, etc. Smidt-Hart says: Here the use of different colour temperatures and intensities of illumination are

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task lighting.

outside does not create direct glare. If any of the desk spaces or seating areas is placed in direct sunlight, the glare will distract and hurt the employees’ eyes and if it is in close quarters, it can make them feel uncomfortably warm as well. The workstations in such a case should be placed facing the general direction of natural light, but not directly. Smidt-Hart says: Although the use of natural lighting to illuminate interiors is promoted; mitigating glare, high contrast zones, thermal and visual discomfort needs to be attended to by implementing natural daylight control measures (such as glazing, blinds, louvres, or office layouts). 11: Different areas of the office need separate kinds of lighting. Areas such as discussion and conference rooms can use ambient lighting, not dim, but less bright than workstation lighting, as the tasks here are not likely to involve much desk work. However, such areas are important zones of the office, where meetings and important conver sations may be held. Lighting does need to be paid attention to, but perhaps these zones would do with only a few lights in the form of lamps or standing lamp lights rather than traditional overheads. Smidt-Hart says: Different task areas, activities would require varying lighting conditions in order for the tasks and activities to be undertaken safely and preformed efficiently. Table 1 of SANS 10114 Part 1: Artificial lighting of interiors prescribes the minimum maintained illuminance values for various interiors, areas, tasks, or activities. Additional compliances to national building regulations and emergency conditions must be complied with. Thus, the activities and tasks within a space are to be complemented equally with quality lighting to allow employees to perform these safely and productively. 12: Consider keeping table lamps as an option for those employees who would like some more light just at their desk. Many employees may be working late into the night and, in that case, most of the overhead lights can be dimmed or switched off, keeping only task lights and the desk lamp on for the working members. This will also save electricity and will give employees more options to choose what kind of light they want to work in. Smidt-Hart says: One should ensure that correct illumination levels are maintained over the task area, that employees are aware of the consequences of not using task lighting and the hazards of working in a workspace with below minimum prescribed illumination levels. The workplace should, where possible promote natural light, then substitute with

13: Always be cognitive of the fact that where there is light, there will be some amount of shad ow. It is important to consider where the shadows would fall and accordingly place light fixtures above or close to workstations.This is particularly true for task lights, which are smaller and angled particularly to cast light over certain points and may hence create unwanted shadows. Positioning in this case is of maximum importance and corrective lighting may be used alongside. Smidt-Hart says: Uniform illumination over a task area is favourable. Working in a task area where there are large variances in illumination, like shadows, may cause the operator’s eyes to become easily fatigued as they need to constantly adjust between the varying illumination levels. 14: Consider choosing lighting that can be low ered or increased in intensity as the need arises. As evening sets in and the employees prepare to wind up their day, the lights can be lowered in in tensity and set to a warmer tone to calm and relax the mind. For employees working at night, ensure that the lighting remains warm, since the computer screen already has a lot of blue light, which can disrupt the employees’ sleep schedule. Smidt-Hart says: Again, control of artificial light and use of natural light are important to promote synchronisation of circadian rhythm and wellbeing within employees. 15: It will happen at some point that some of the lights will need to undergo repair. Those lights might either go out suddenly or start flickering symptomatically. But the company must ensure that these lights are repaired as soon as possible, particularly if they are placed over workstations or other places where tasks are performed regularly. Smidt-Hart says: In addition to attending to failing lamps or luminaires, employers should implement lighting maintenance programmes to ensure continuous and periodic maintenance of the lighting systems to allow tasks and activities to be performed safely and maintain productivity, including emergency lighting systems. It is important that verification and measurement of illumination levels be conducted and form part of the maintenance programme to ensure illumination levels are maintained. Maintenance should identify failing lighting parts before they critically fail and potentially present unsafe working conditions.

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The best lighting choice for gardeners, garden designers and landscapers Lightpro is one of Techmar’s many brands and has an extensive range of lights to suit all tastes and applications. The brand is now available in more than 40 countries, including South Africa. It is the best choice for gardeners, garden designers and landscapers.

M arketing and communications manager for Lightpro, Wendy Beukers, explains why its market share is growing so enormously: “It is our mission at Techmar to make the outdoor living environment attractive and safe. Techmar has been developing and selling garden lighting systems for over 20 years, so we really know this market. We continuously strive to stay ahead by developing new and innovative products every year.” Can landscapers install garden lighting themselves? Yes; in the development of the high-end brand Lightpro, a conscious choice was made for a 12 V system. As a result of this, no specialist electrical knowledge is required and a landscape gardening company can install the system quickly, simply, and safely. This ensures that a consumer not only has a safe system, but also only one point of contact for their entire garden construction. For the land scape gardener, this is an excellent opportunity to increase the margin on their projects. Thanks to the low voltage, consumers can rest easy knowing that their outdoor lights are safe for children or pets. From Dutch soil All Lightpro products are designed in the Nether lands, and this is reflected in the design of the light fixtures. They are stylish, functional, robust and at the same time they meet the latest trends. Wendy mentions another important topic: “Because we control the entire chain ourselves, we are confident in the quality of the Lightpro range to be able to provide a five-year warranty

on products. Another great thing about Lightpro is that most lights are dimmable. Although it was always said that dimming on 12 V was not possi ble, we managed to do it. Also, the whole range is built using energy efficient quality LEDs, so very economical to run and this means it is kinder on the environment.” The award-winning connector Whether you choose a ground spot, a post light, an LED strip or a wall fixture, they all have one connecting element – the Lightpro developed, award-winning connector. This easily connects all lights quickly and with out any problems. As a landscape gardener you want to work quickly and efficiently and Lightpro’s connector certainly contributes to this. Smart lighting The latest developments focus on home auto mation; everything, including outdoor lighting, is ‘smart’ these days. Lightpro is leading the way with its NXT series. The first smart phase has been on the market since the end of 2019: the Lightpro NXT Switch. By adding one or more NXT-Switches, you can control your system with an app. You can easily create zones and switch them on and off individually. The new phase will come this year – smart lights. You can then control the smart light individually with a smart phone app. You can, for example, dim the smart light and switch them to any desired colour. Do you want yellow light for the rhododendrons, blue for the pond or red for the roses? It is possible, and the possibilities are endless

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N ews

The benefits of the 12 V system Energy-efficient and durable: • All Lightpro’s light fixtures feature LED light sources. • Extremely low energy consumption. • Long service life.

Safe: • 12 V is low voltage and therefore harmless. • Safe for kids. • Safe for animals. • Safe to fit. • No burying cables. Dutch design: • Tight-knit team. • Best quality guaranteed. • Top-grade range. Lightpro is available in South Africa exclusively through WB Lighting.

Simple and flexible: • The system operates on 12 V. • Easy to fit. • Easy to modify. • No electrician required. • Easily expandable.

www.wblighting.co.za

BEKA Schréder has supplied a com plete smart lighting solution for a public walkway in Stellenbosch.

Smart lighting solution for public walkway B EKA Schréder has supplied a complete smart lighting solution for a public walkway in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The aim of the project was to uplift an unsafe walkway, enabling the general public to safely use it.

is 6m from the pole. When a person is detected, it always triggers two poles ahead, preventing someone from walking into darkness. BEKA Schréder develops and manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products in South Africa, designed and suitable for local conditions.

The requirement was for a completely self-suf ficient system that can deal with any electricity supply problems, and to remain fully functional for up to 10 hours if there is no power. The lighting solution consists of 3m and 4m steel poles with 72Ah lithium batteries, BEKASTAR LED post top luminaires with DALI dimmable function, IP 66 DALI motion sensors, Schréder ITERRA nodes and 500W inverter charge controllers. Furthermore, the poles are fitted with panic buttons and cameras for 24-hour camera surveillance. The motion sensors keep the

The company is proud to be associated with Converge Con sulting in providing a successful smart LED lighting solution for this project.

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za.schreder.com

luminaires dimmed when the area is not in use, in order not to disturb the surrounding nature. Dimming is set to 10% when no presence is detected, ramping up to 100% when someone approaches. Luminaires installed in front of residential buildings only ramp up to 50%, to limit obtrusive lighting into private space. The Schréder ITERRA technol ogy enabled the custom dimming level per pole. The detection area

Luminaires installed in front of residential buildings only ramp up to 50%.

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