LED panel lights are a modern-day light fixture that is highly specific for office spaces or places with modular ceilings. Troffer lights have predominantly occupied office spaces due to their compatibility with the ceiling design. In task-oriented spaces, the lighting requirement is quite different from that of normal commercial spaces. The main focus is to facilitate the staff and boost their productivity.
Use of troffer lights in offices
Troffer light fixtures have a design profile that is suited to a modular grid ceiling design. It is further assisted with reflectors and different mounting options for an adequate supply of light. The troffer fixtures contain one or four T8 lamps and in most cases they are retrofittable.
Retrofit T8 fixtures are only compatible with certain specifications and are not a very cost-effective investment in the long run.
Certain compatibility issues which are frequent with the use of retrofit LEDs are incompatible ballasts, frequent maintenance, and replacement costs. In offices, the target is to employ a sustainable infrastructure that has long-term benefits.
How are LED panels the right choice for office spaces?
1. Higher lumen output
LED panel lights are brighter than their counterparts. The nano LED chips are capable of producing brighter light at low wattage. The usual panel light is 10x brighter than an equivalent fixture of the same size. Higher lumen output essentially decreases the total number of fixtures required to reach the optimum illumination level which also results in savings on initial costs of installation.
2. Compatible structure and design
The structure of panel lights mainly consists of thin plates. There are 3 plates:
- Frame
The frame is made up of aluminum as it is a highly malleable metal which allows design incorporation to fit any layout. Most frames are available under two specifications depending on the intensity of the application, i.e aluminum or die-cast aluminum.
The frame provides the initial structure which is highly resistant to all external factors which are potentially harmful to the integrity and function of the fixture. E.g moisture, heat, chemicals.
- Guide plate
LED chips are arranged on the guide plate. It allows several arrangements to suit the layout. The LEDs can be arranged in any pattern to create the desired lighting distribution pattern.
- Reflector plate
The reflector plate is placed right in front of the guide plate as the light from LEDs first hits the reflector plate from where it undergoes total internal reflection. The light then falls on the lens or diffuser plate which evenly distributes it across the panel’s surface.
These plates are arranged simultaneously and each serves a different function. The lens and integrated diffuser plate are placed in front of the reflector plate from where it is directed out of the fixture in a uniformly diffused pattern.
3. Mounting options
LED panel lights are slim and sleek. Their design profile is quite low-key yet impactful due to their integrity. These light fixtures can be mounted in several ways i.e
- Recess mount
- Surface mount
- Suspend mount
In most office spaces, recessed mounting is preferred due to the ceiling design. Although the other mounting options are just as beneficial and are employed in cases where the ceiling height is different or the nature of the task differs from that of usual spaces. All three options are equally benefiting suiting the requirements of any office space.
4. Uniform distribution of light
The light from the panel is evenly distributed along the surface. The LEDs are arranged in such a manner that they do not produce any bright or dark spots. Paired with lenses the light is adjusted evenly for accentuating or general lighting. The beam angle is adjusted for enhanced focus.
5. Glare-free lighting
All panel lights are rated to supply glare-free lighting. It is an essential parameter to judge the precision and effectiveness of the fixture in task-oriented spaces. LED light panels to minimize glare despite being bright which is highly beneficial for people working in the office as cool blue light is reported to have caused migraines and caused refraction off screens which is highly distracting.
6. Energy efficiency
These fixtures are remarkably efficient when it comes to saving energy costs. They operate at a low wattage and produce a brighter light than most traditional fixtures. Not just this, some larger panels which are bound to heat up due to usage have built in heat dissipation systems. The heat production is innately minimal and is effectively dissipated in the surroundings without increasing the temperature of the surroundings or compromising on the function of the fixture.
Most traditional lamps have reported having a delayed startup time for the very reason but LED panel lights start up instantly and have smart lighting controls like dimmability which also helps in saving energy.
7. Low maintenance
Panel lights have built-in LEDs that are guaranteed to last for at least 10 years. The projected life span is longer than any of the traditional lamps. Meanwhile LED lamps do not require any maintenance unless they are not installed properly. The replacement costs are only applicable after the warranty period has expired. This is highly beneficial in setups that require safe, efficient, and cost-effective lighting for a longer period of time.
Conclusion:
LED light panels are in fact the future and have surpassed the basic standards of lighting. There is so much more which can be achieved by replacing troffer lights with LED panels as they provide ambient lighting and a refreshing highly refined outlook. The customers are free to select the correlated color temperature from warm yellow to cool white light. In task-oriented spaces, the selected range falls in between 4000K-5500K as the light is white and bright.
For ease and focus, the distribution pattern is controlled and light is projected in a manner where no amount of light is dispersed and wasted in the surrounding before it hits the point of illumination. Apart from this, the color rendering index is above 80 which renders high-quality texture and original colors of the surroundings, as well as objects in the surrounding, these features, enhance the focus to detail-oriented tasks performed over desks.
