Does lighting in schools deserve more attention?

Standards for lighting in schools

Lighting in schools today is subject to certain standards. The European standard NBM EN 12464-1, which was completely revised in 2021 and is also referred to in legislations, contains tables with the lighting requirements for all possible work situations. Since there must be sufficient light in a school to carry out tasks, activities and work, this standard therefore applies there too.

In addition, a codex on well-being at work is in force from Belgian legislation. This sets certain requirements for indoor lighting - although, according to sector organization Groen Licht Vlaanderen, these are far from adequate. "We see that those requirements have remained unchanged within the legislation for more than 20 years," says Catherine Lootens, cluster manager at Groen Licht Vlaanderen and researcher at the Laboratory for Lighting Technology at KU Leuven.

Moreover, little consideration is given to factors such as glare levels, light uniformity and color rendering, even though these all have a significant impact on teacher comfort and student well-being.

 

Impact on well-being

So there is a big gap between the kind of lighting that is becoming mandatory today and the lighting that actually has a positive impact on attendees. Standards and legislation provide the basics: is there enough light in the workplace? Can everyone work in a safe manner without suffering headaches or other physical ailments?

 

Human Centric Lighting

Those who want to go a step further also consider the concrete impact of light. With "Human Centric Lighting (HCL) - also called human-centered or integrative lighting - the physiological and emotional effects of light on people are already taken into account when designing lighting systems. Our rhythm of day and night is established by hormones such as melatonin and cortisol, which cause changes in our brain and body.

By simulating natural daylight as realistically as possible, sleep-wake rhythms are naturally restored, positively impacting the health, productivity and general well-being of facility users.

In the case of schools, for example, adolescents deserve specific "lighting” attention. It has been scientifically proven that they have a harder time being active in the morning. Therefore, to get a kind of 'reset' of their biological clock, they need sufficient light 'on their eyes' as soon as classes begin. Conversely, it is important to use less intense light in the evening.

 

Smart control

And that variation is best controlled with smart control. Lighting control systems are rarely found in school buildings today, but that will surely change in the future. The absolute basis of smart lighting in schools is motion detection. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the subsidies offered by Fluvius is therefore required to install smart motion sensors.

 

dynamic lighting

One step further is (bio)dynamic lighting. This involves changing the light intensity throughout the day to create a positive effect on the well-being of those who are present, as discussed earlier. For example, a lot of light can be used automatically in the morning, and can be systematically dimmed by noon.

A lighting control system, additionally, can also be used according to the activity taking place. A music, religion or moral studies class may require a different atmosphere of lighting than a math class. Then again, if the same lesson is scheduled on a Friday afternoon, it may be a good idea to boost alertness with a higher lighting intensity. Also, the school building of the future will not only be used for daytime classes. A school board planning to re-light, must ask itself whether that lighting will be adequate for other activities or forms of education that will take place in the building.

For example, the welfare codex requires a minimum lighting level of 300 lux in classrooms. However, for adult education, this is often not adequate and an illuminance of 500 lux is often used.

Since 2021, the NBN standard also recommends 500 lux both for secondary education and adult education. The choice is up to the schools themselves, but they must be able to rely on the expert advice of the electrical installer.

 

Integration with other building technologies

It is therefore worth taking a good look at the overall picture in large re-lighting projects. Buildings will become smarter and smarter in the future, which means that all building technologies must be well coordinated - and that includes lighting. School buildings that are newly built or undergoing an energy renovation are also subject to EPB. The more economical the lighting, the more positive the impact on the E level. A well-designed lighting system and smart use of control systems will also provide an advantage in the calculations.

 

Price as a priority

A side note to all this are the economic laws. Are the energy savings and improvements in well-being achieved with control and new fixtures sufficiently worth the cost of the installation?
Because school budgets are often quite small, the cheapest solution is quickly chosen. However, Groen Licht Vlaanderen recommends a more conscious approach to lighting projects in school buildings.

 

Installer as consultant

"I think it is interesting for both school boards and installers to look further, and to consider all the technologies and possibilities that exist," says Catherine Lootens. "In any case, the role of consultant is becoming more and more important for installers: there are so many options today that it is important to be able to clarify this with clients."

"Price is obviously very important, but perhaps don't always allow it to take priority. For example, there is a lot going on today about ADHD - people are often to quick to take medications. We know from research that the right lighting can help manage those symptoms.
"The right light has a big impact on alertness and behavior on other students as well. But this obviously requires a different, more holistic approach from school principals and technical teams. So we want to make sure that the people who have to make those choices are already well informed about what is possible."

 

Roadmap re-lighting

Anyone who is asked by a school board to consider relighting, would do the right thing to first identify what lighting is already in place. For installation companies without their own study department, there is also a lot of advice to be obtained from wholesalers and manufacturers. They are normally well informed about the current legislation and requirements.

The design of the lighting system should certainly take into account the specific needs of different classrooms, depending on the educational level and type of class.

For example, a chemistry classroom must be designed completely differently compared to a classroom where Dutch classes are being held. Communication between installer and remodeler is therefore crucial.

In any case, make sure there is a separate switch to switch between "light for the classic board" and "no light for the projector or smart board," regardless of the classroom. This does not require an (expensive) control system.

An essential aspect after installation is commissioning, a detailed check after a month to six months to ensure that the lighting control system is performing optimally. Do all the settings match practical use? Do certain things need to be adjusted?

 

Intergrator

Because lighting and other building technologies are also becoming increasingly digitalized, large renovation projects may also involve an integrator. He needs the expert advice of the electrical installer to ensure that all the techniques work well together.

 

Cooperation

What is safe to say is that cooperation and knowledge sharing between different companies will become increasingly important to bring large projects to a successful conclusion. In addition, there will probably also be another way to earn money from these projects, such as with 'Lighting as a Service'.

The client does not buy any lighting equipment, but rather a service: the guarantee that the building will always be (properly) illuminated. Such a ( earning) model requires a very different way of thinking, but it does offer long-term income. The installer needs to think about the role he can play in this, so he can remain relevant in the evolving world of building technologies.