Natural forms of lighting and work safety are directly related aspects. Including,There are ABNT standards that regulate the need for adequate lighting in corporate environments, like the NR-17and the the second being more focused on industrial projects. The focus is onmaintaining the health and well-being of employees, what NBR 8995/1453, also incompany income.
To adapt to standards, companies have invested insmart lighting solutions, which favor the entry of sunlight and, consequently, reduce spending onelectrical energy. So that you understand this process in depth, we have prepared this post that explains the importance of natural light in industries, how to make the best use of it and what solutions are available on the market. Check it out!
How important is lighting for workplace safety?
Before starting to understand the importance of lighting for workplace safety in factories, some elements are fundamental about how a lighting system works. THEnatural light, for example, needs to be used to the fullest to guarantee the functionality of this system, making the environment more pleasant and preventing visual discomfort during activities.
We call natural light all that comes from the sun, whether directly or indirectly – when it is reflected in some way. In other words, natural light has the complete light spectrum, that is, it comprises all the colors visible to the human eye. This is precisely why it presents the best color reproduction among all light sources.
When we talk aboutlighting systemsIn addition to energy consumption, another important aspect to take into consideration is the system's ability to illuminate the environment. There are several factors present in light that can be measured:brightness, illuminance or illumination, luminous flux and luminous intensity.
Understanding the behavior of light beams according to these characteristics will be fundamental in your lighting project to ensure compliance with technical standards and work safety within your factory.
How to measure the illuminance level in the environment
To design a good natural lighting project, it is necessary to know thebrightness levelspresent in that particular area. This is done by measuring the illuminance of the room, the lux. From one candela – which is the standard measure of luminous intensity – we have the lumen, which is the luminous flux generated by one candela within a certain radius. Finally, lighting is determined by the lumens that fall on one square meter.
According to the International System of Units, this measurement is thelux, which therefore deals with the luminous flux present in 1m² of surface. To get a better idea, let's look at the ideal illuminance levels determined by NBR 541/82, depending on the environment and the activity carried out in it:
We can note that environments that require a more meticulous observation capacity require lighting above 2,000 lux, while environments where only a minimum of visibility is required, with short stays, work with values below 200 lux.
Concerninglighting in industries, ideal conditions must be sought both in terms of visual comfort and in obtaining the necessary functionality to carry out the work properly. Especially because lighting and workplace safety are determining factors in the well-being of employees and the performance of their duties.
A good lighting project is one that prioritizes the protection of workers against direct sunlight and adequately illuminates surfaces, in addition to avoiding glare and irregularities.
How to handle the lux meter
The lux meter is the tool that allows you to know how many lux are present in the environment. This measure guides the projection of the natural lighting system, in order to guarantee work safety and the comfort of users in that environment. Minimum lighting requirements will depend on the activity to be carried out in the space and the length of time people tend to stay there.
The lux meter is essential equipment when preparing the project, as it allows you to check the lighting levels present in the location and compare the results according to the modifications that will be made, aiming to obtain maximum performance of the solution. To make an accurate measurement when handle the lux meter, consider the following criteria:
- take into account the light at the point where tasks are performed, whether horizontally, vertically or at any angle;
- keep the sensor parallel to the surface to be measured;
- pay attention to the leveling of the photocell when it is in the user's hand, as small changes can give big differences in results;
- avoid any shadow being projected on the photocell, unless this characterizes the conditions of the workstation;
- try to measure the environment without people and also with them, in their respective working positions, as this allows you to correct any layout flaws;
- leave the device exposed to ambient light for around five minutes before the first reading, and avoid exposing it to intense sources of light, such as sunlight;
- If the height of the work surface is not known, take the measurement 75cm from the floor.
What are the results achieved in practice
In this example, we have the lighting measures taken from an establishment when it used incandescent lights and after the installation ofMB Group Linealight Prismatic Domes. The result obtained was asix times greater illumination using natural light, which reduced electricity consumption to zero during the day.
This significant gain is due to the nature of the material used in the domus. THEprismatic polycarbonate ensures optimal use of sunlight, allowing natural lighting to be expanded to strategic points in the workplace, that is, without directly affecting employees and equipment, once again uniting lighting and workplace safety.
How to further optimize the installation
To make the natural lighting system even more efficient, Grupo MB launched an innovative solution: theMB Smart. It is an intelligent control unit that allows the domes to be integrated with dimmable LEDs, thus balancing the brightness levels of the internal lamps according to the incidence of natural light in the environment.This optimizes the use of electrical resources, reduces costs and makes the place more pleasant.
In addition to dimming, the MB Smart control unit can also be programmed to automatically turn on and off the lamps in the factory, which increases the useful life of the LEDs and prevents employees from forgetting to have the lamps on during or after work. Flows can also be customized according to the type of work performed in each sector.
Like this,the energy consumed there will only be that necessary to maintain the functionality of operations, the visual comfort of employees and the safety of work in that location. It is also worth highlighting that control of the center is practical and quick, with remote access via computer, tablet or smartphone. All this to make life easier for managers and keep the team focused on what matters most: the quality of the service.
Did you like the idea and want to invest in a smart natural lighting system?Talk to someone who understands the subject and guarantee the cost-benefit of the installation!
