Light is the fourth dimension of architecture

Efficient visual comfort as a strategy for office lighting

ERCO comprehends light as the fourth dimension of architecture, and our vision consists of making a positive contribution to society and architecture. We achieve this because our lighting solutions create high-quality work surroundings that target visual comfort and that simultaneously comply with maximum demands for resource-protecting energy efficiency. The basis for this is Efficient Visual Comfort (EVC)—our strategy for seamlessly connecting sustainable design approaches with innovative product technology. To implement this ambitious task in practice we have formulated five quality criteria.

Qualitative lighting design

The fact that current office planning places employees with their specific tasks and individual needs in the centre requires a new, qualitative approach to lighting design. ERCO has been working with this idea for more than half a century—dividing a space into zones using lighting with good glare control and aligned specifically to individual sets of tasks take this requirement into account. All demands regarding energy efficiency are also simultaneously fulfilled.

Vertical lighting

Vertical lighting determines 80% of people's spatial perception and therefore influences our sensitivity to brightness much more strongly than light on horizontal planes. In areas surrounding office workstations, vertical lighting significantly increases visual comfort by balancing the contrasts between a backlit monitor and its visual surroundings, thus in turn preventing eye fatigue. In prestigious areas of an office building it also sets an inviting, generously-dimensioned spatial impression.

Effective lighting technology

Only high-performance and precise optical systems enable zonal lighting, and ERCO offers specialised light distributions within a luminaire range to illuminate only the surfaces required by people for perception. Designers can select from up to five different characteristics with recessed luminaires as well. As a consequence, lighting with ERCO is especially efficient and effective.

Intelligent control

With in-house developed control gear, ERCO provides interfaces for various control technologies such as DALI. In office applications this enables the use of presence sensors for dimming or switching off the light in unoccupied rooms. Twilight switches or daylight sensors can also be integrated to enable light scenes to be called up in accordance with available daylight levels.

Efficient LED technology

The leading role adopted by ERCO in architectural lighting with LEDs is based on the decision to expand the company's optoelectronics expertise. Due to in-house development ranging from LED PCBs and electronics to thermal management, ERCO always has complete control over the features of all products. In practice this means perfect quality of light for uniform, glare-free office lighting, and lumen maintenance exceeding market standards for maximum durability. The sense of wellbeing is not only achieved by comfortable and ergonomic interiors—light is less obvious but just as relevant. High visual comfort and distribution of brightness according to the activity in the space provides high visual quality and good spatial orientation which in turn leads to concentrated, productive work.