Nowhere is good lighting needed than in educational institutions. It not only improves the concentration of the students, but it also enhances safety for all the people in the institution. Research has shown that lighting can have a negative or a positive impact on concentration. Lighting also impacts mood, engagement, energy, and alertness. Task-appropriate lighting can have a significant effect on the classroom.

It is therefore crucial to choose good lighting fixtures that will create an environment that is conducive to learning. Color temperature is also very important in school and college lighting. Cool white light, like the one emitted by LEDs, is recommended as it makes students more focused and improves their performance. For institutions with small children, warmer light may be needed where children engage in calmer activities.

This guide will recommend the type and amount of light for different learning environments.

 

Overhead Electrical High Voltage Wires

Recommended Foot Candles for Different Sections of Educational Institutions

  • Staircases and corridors: 9-10 foot candles
  • Entrance halls, cafeterias, and foyers: 18.5-20 foot candles
  • Classrooms, computer rooms, libraries, gyms, sports halls, and lecture halls: 28-30 foot candles
  • Kitchens, labs, and study halls: 46-50 foot candles
  • Technical drawing rooms: 70 foot candles
  • Gymnasiums: 30-90 foot candles, depending on the level of sport at the school
 

Lighting Recommendations for Different Areas in Learning Institutions

Classrooms

Classrooms are arenas for many activities – like writing, reading, playing, acting, taking tests, and making presentations. Modern schools have different classroom layouts, depending on the activities and requirements. A good lighting system supports all activities by providing uniform brightness throughout the classroom. However, certain areas may need specialized lighting.

Studies have shown that tunable white luminaires can impact learning positively. Luminaires with a changing color temperature can have a positive effect on a student’s ability to focus and perform better on tests. It can also reduce hyperactivity. Classrooms should not have light with a glare as it affects concentration.

Entrance Halls and Foyers

In modern school buildings, entrance halls are places where students and staff communicate, visitors get information about the school, assemblies are held, and exhibitions are displayed. Entrance halls are multi-functional spaces, and their lighting must be flexible enough to cater to various activities.

Entrance hall lighting is mostly switched on during the day because of different events. LED lighting, coupled with light sensors, can help reduce energy consumption in entrance halls. Dimmers can also decrease the light output.

Entrance halls and foyers are potentially hazardous as students mostly run in and out. 20 foot candles are needed in these spaces as the activity level is high. Since these are transition areas from outdoor to indoor light, the higher luminance allows the eyes to comfortably switch from daylight to artificial light.

Corridors and Staircases

School corridors and staircases are multipurpose spaces that host a range of activities. They have very little access to daylight and require artificial lighting. Installing lights with sensors can help lower energy usage as these spaces usually have a varying presence of people.

Corridors provide escape routes, so a reliable lighting system is important. It is recommended that these lights have an independent energy source that can automatically switch them on if there is a power outage. Exit sign luminaires and emergency lights can lead students to escape routes and safety equipment. A bright light that does not cause harsh shadows or glare is essential for staircases, corridors, and other circulation areas.

Cafeterias

School cafeterias are places for eating, relaxation, breaks, and meetings. The lighting should be relaxing and inviting but also illuminate all the various activities taking place. Because of the high level of activity in cafeterias, more light is needed than in adjacent areas like corridors.

The lighting fixtures used in cafeterias will depend on the available natural light, the ceiling height, and the size of the space. Sometimes large pendants are used in dining halls. In modern cafeterias with low ceilings, recessed LED panels or downlights are used.

Gymnasiums

No one wants to play or watch sports in an underlit gymnasium. Providing a powerful, well-lit gym that’s balanced and glare free will provide a good experience for students, athletes, and spectators alike. UFO High Bays are the preferred fixture and have a compact, impact-resistant structure that will provide years of high-quality lighting.

Does the gym double as auditorium space? Being able to dim the lights is paramount. Adding lights that can be dimmed will ensure the venue can function as a sports and assembly venue.

Exterior Spaces

Areas outside a school – like play areas, classroom exteriors, pathways, and car parks – should be well-illuminated for teachers, pupils, and parents to boost safety and security. Teachers who go to work early must be able to walk safely into the school during the colder months when daylight hours are shorter. Educational institutions must also be well-illuminated in the evenings – for meetings and after-school clubs.

LED outdoor lighting can illuminate school exteriors beautifully. Lights that are wet-rated are perfect for exteriors as they are safe from moisture and water.

Libraries and Study Halls

In libraries, navigation is key. Good lighting helps students to find the right shelves and educational materials. Additionally, the light uniformity must be good enough that the books on the bottom shelves are equally visible as the books on the top shelves. The light fixtures used in these spaces must have a Color Rendering Index of 80 and above. Asymmetric luminaires can be mounted on top of each shelf or on the wall to provide even light.

In study halls, an effective reading light is needed. The lighting should have very high uniformity and no glare. Direct and indirect luminaires can be used to generate uniform light that enhances the study environment. A task light for each reading station is recommended to cater to individual needs.

Switching to LED

Modern schools are filled with interactive whiteboards, flexible furniture, and electronic gadgets that promote advancements in education. Students can even control the pace of learning to some extent. But when it comes to lighting, most learning institutions still use outdated fluorescent lights that flicker, hum, contain mercury, and have poor color quality and short lamp life.

Learning in schools has drastically changed, and so has lighting. LED technology is the way to go as it is energy-efficient, environmentally safe, recyclable, and has a long lifespan. A lighting upgrade can favorably impact a school’s budget as LEDs and lighting controls can significantly lower energy costs. LED lighting not only creates a great learning environment but also lowers maintenance costs and complies with lighting codes.

8 Common Questions Asked About Lighting for Schools

Educational institutions fulfill a unique role in society. They are places of learning, interaction, and community cohesion.
Cost-effective LED lighting can improve the learning environment in any institution, help students feel safe, and boost a school’s brand and reputation.

With that said, some decision-makers in learning institutions put off switching to LED technology because they have many questions and no ready answers. Today, we are answering 8 of the most common questions on LED lighting for schools.

1.  LEDs Cost More than Traditional Lighting Systems – are They Worth the Money?

Absolutely. LEDs may cost a little more than conventional lighting technologies, but they consume very little electricity and can lower energy consumption by up to 75%. This means that the payback period will be much shorter than for traditional lighting.

LEDs have the longest lifespan of all lighting systems (10 times longer than conventional options) and decrease maintenance costs.

2. Are all LEDs Created Equal? Do I Go for the Cheapest Quote?

The LEDs sold on the market are as different as night and day. Since the invention of LED technology, many manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon. They create both low-quality and high-quality LEDs and price them differently.

Because there are so many LED products on the market, it can be difficult to pick the right ones for your application. If you happen to choose the wrong LEDs, you may get shortchanged in terms of quality, light output, lamp life, and light color.

High-quality LEDs have a high luminous efficacy, an even light distribution, low glare, excellent color, lengthy warranties (5 years and above), and an average lifespan of 50,000 hours.

3.  Can I Expect LED Lighting to Lower Light Maintenance Costs?

Yes. Traditional lighting systems have high maintenance costs because they have short lifespans. If these lights are installed in places with high ceilings (like gymnasiums), changing them out can be a labor-intensive, costly process.

LEDs have long lifespans and retain 70% of their brightness for their entire lifetime. They are virtually maintenance-free and drastically decrease the costs associated with light maintenance.

4.  Don’t LEDs Generate a Cold Light Color?

No. LEDs have the best light color range of all lights and different color options to suit any space – warm white, natural white, cool white, and daylight, among others. We have installed LED lighting in numerous schools and know the best color temperatures for different spaces – classrooms, cafeterias, offices, sports halls, and so on.

5.  I Have Heard That LEDs Cause More Glare than Conventional Lights. Is this True?

Low-quality LEDs can cause glare. This is mainly because LEDs produce light differently from conventional lights and each chip’s intensity can make glare a serious problem.

High-quality LEDs incorporate lenses that are made of silicone or clear acrylic. The biggest benefit of lenses is that they cover the light source, reducing the harsh glare.

6. The price of LEDs Continues to Go Down, Should I Delay Buying Them a Little Longer?

Sure, their price has gone down significantly since they were introduced. And as the technology becomes more advanced, small reductions and technological upgrades are introduced. This doesn’t mean you should wait to upgrade to LED.

As you wait, you will still have to spend a lot of money on electricity, and you may have to replace your traditional lights several times (because of their short lifespans). If you install LEDs right away, they will immediately lower energy consumption and help you to save money. In addition, utility companies keep on reducing their rebate values as the cost of LEDs keeps going down. If you decide to wait, you may fail to get a good rebate check.

7.  Are LEDs as Bright as Fluorescent Lamps?

LEDs are brighter than fluorescent lamps. The brightness of LEDs is usually measured in lumens. Lumens help you to know how bright a bulb is as they measure the total visible light produced. The good thing about LEDs is that they need very few watts to produce a lot of lumens – unlike fluorescents and other traditional lights. Lumens can also tell you which LEDs will make perfect replacements for older lights.

8.  Do We Have to Change the Lighting Infrastructure when We Install LEDs?

No. you don’t. Retrofit fixtures can directly replace older lighting systems. These fixtures come in a variety of designs and can replace any traditional lights – from indoor to outdoor.

Dwayne Kula

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About the Author

Dwayne Kula is President of LED Lighting Supply. On any given day, Dwayne is writing content for the site and helps manage the marketing initiatives that are on-going. He has a Software Engineering degree and still dabbles in writing software for the company as needed. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, working out, playing the occasional game of golf and exploring New England.

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