This article explores how advancements in lighting technology, particularly LED technology, have revolutionized school classroom lighting, offering energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and healthier options that can enhance student learning and protect eyesight.
Table of Contents
A snapshot of classroom lighting
Classroom lighting has evolved into a distinct and specialized field, separate from general lighting.
I .The importance of classroom lighting
Classroom lighting plays a crucial role in student learning and well-being.
Inappropriate artificial lighting can lead to decreased attention, increased anxiety, and reduced student performance.
Conversely, proper lighting can enhance focus and improve academic achievement.
Well-designed lighting not only fosters student-teacher interaction and creates a positive classroom atmosphere but also reduces eye strain and the risk of myopia.
Poor lighting conditions can hinder teaching effectiveness, distract students, and even impair their ability to see the blackboard.
Given the increasing prevalence of myopia among students today, improving classroom lighting is essential.
II. Outdated lighting systems in classrooms
While fluorescent lights remain a dominant force in traditional lighting, they are not the ideal choice for educational settings. More concerning, they can negatively impact both students’ and teachers’ learning and teaching experiences.
A teacher from Texas shared their personal experience with the challenges posed by fluorescent lighting. They detailed how switching to a new lighting system not only alleviated long-term headaches but also enhanced students’ mindfulness and improved their academic performance.
Research from authoritative institutions has confirmed that fluorescent lighting can trigger headaches, migraines, anxiety, and reduced attention span, and prolonged exposure can lead to overall discomfort.
Inadequate lighting in traditional classrooms
Due to insufficient consideration of actual lighting requirements during building design, classrooms often suffer from inadequate lighting and uneven distribution.
Moreover, the widespread use of white light in classrooms, while increasing brightness, does not meet students’ visual comfort needs.
Additionally, the longitudinal and transverse arrangement of fluorescent lamps can cause glare. When students are seated at different angles, strong reflected light can directly enter the pupils, causing discomfort.
III. LED Classroom lighting
LED lighting is highly customizable due to the use of light-emitting diodes.
By adjusting color temperature, brightness, color rendering index, and spectrum, LED lights can simulate natural light and provide optimal illumination for various settings.
The integration of intelligent control and dimming functions makes LED lighting more efficient and convenient, aligning with modern lighting trends.
LED lighting is particularly well-suited for modern schools. Whether it’s classrooms, corridors, libraries, or outdoor sports fields, LEDs can offer tailored lighting solutions to meet the specific needs of different areas.
Core design considerations for classroom lighting
As a professional lighting fixture, we have carefully considered every technical parameter and detail in its selection and design.
I . illuminance
Lighting level requirements for various functional zones
To create a comfortable and visually effective learning environment, classroom lighting should be adjusted based on different zones.
The teaching area should have higher illuminance to enhance visibility and focus, while the student desk areas should maintain moderate illuminance levels to prevent eye fatigue.
Recommended illuminance levels are 160-320 lux for student learning areas and 60-80 lux or above for walls and ceilings.
There are two primary methods for measuring illuminance in classrooms:
- On-site measurement: A handheld illuminance meter can be used to take accurate measurements at various points within the classroom.
- Simulated calculation: The IES file of the luminaire can be imported into lighting design software to simulate the light distribution curve and calculate the theoretical illuminance levels at different points in the classroom.
II. color temperature
The impact of color temperature on classroom learning
A comparative study of 3500K warm white light and 5500K natural daylight has shown that higher color temperatures, such as 5500K, can enhance students’ reading speed and clarity, reducing visual fatigue and glare.
The impact of color temperature on the learning environment is closely related to the spectral characteristics of daylight. Different color temperatures simulate the spectral properties of daylight at different times of the day. For example, 2200K warm light resembles dawn or dusk, 3300K is similar to morning light, 4500K is closer to mid-morning or afternoon light, and 5500K is similar to midday sunlight.
Traditionally, lighting design has tended to mimic warm daylight, neglecting the complexity of the daylight spectrum. Recent studies have shown that the blue light component of the spectrum plays a crucial role in enhancing students’ focus and visual acuity. Higher blue light content leads to more pupil constriction and clearer vision. Research has also found a strong correlation between increased blue light spectra and improved reading ability.
The latest research further reveals that, under the same spectral conditions, increasing illuminance levels can also cause pupil constriction, and increasing blue light content at a fixed illuminance level will also cause pupil constriction. This indicates that both spectrum and illuminance have a significant impact on reading performance. Therefore, to optimize students’ visual experience, it is effective to not only increase illuminance but also choose light sources rich in blue light.
Color temperature requirements in various disciplines
The choice of light color can be adjusted according to the specific needs of a classroom and the age of the students. For classrooms requiring high levels of concentration and detailed visual tasks, such as art rooms and science labs, cooler color temperatures, like cool white, can enhance visual contrast and clarity. Conversely, warmer color temperatures, such as warm white or soft yellow, can create a more comfortable and inviting learning environment for younger students or classrooms that require a cozy atmosphere.
Music rooms can benefit from softer tones to inspire creativity, while computer labs can use more vibrant colors like blue to enhance focus. Libraries and reading rooms are best suited with neutral tones for a quiet and calming atmosphere. Teachers’ offices can benefit from natural light to reduce stress. Dance studios can use customizable lighting, such as pink lighting, and a variety of color combinations to complement different dance styles.
III. color rendering index (CRI)
The impact of color rendering index (CRI) on color perception
A higher color rendering index (CRI) ensures more accurate color reproduction, providing a visual experience under artificial light that closely resembles natural light. This can significantly reduce eye strain and improve visual comfort, especially in tasks that require precise color perception, such as art, design, and healthcare. Additionally, a high CRI can create a more natural and calming environment, promoting better focus and reducing stress. When combined with appropriate color temperature and illuminance levels, high CRI lighting can optimize visual performance and overall well-being.
*Opt for RGO-certified products for guaranteed eye protection. RGO is the global standard for safe blue light emissions.
Color rendering index requirements for various subjects
Generally, classrooms should be illuminated with light sources having a color rendering index (CRI) of Ra≥80 to ensure accurate color reproduction. For subjects with demanding color requirements, such as art, science, and medicine, a higher CRI of Ra≥90 is recommended. This is particularly important for tasks that require precise color discrimination, as it can enhance visual acuity, reduce eye strain, and improve overall learning outcomes. For instance, in art classes, high CRI lighting can help students better distinguish between subtle color variations, leading to more accurate and expressive artwork.
IV. glare
The adverse effects of glare on vision
Glare can have a significant negative impact on students’ vision. In static classroom environments, glare often directly strikes students at certain angles, causing eye strain and discomfort. Prolonged exposure to glare can result in blurred vision, eye fatigue, and difficulty seeing the blackboard, forcing students to constantly adjust their posture. This not only hinders learning but also leads to restlessness and irritability. The localized glare is akin to being constantly exposed to high-beam headlights, causing serious damage to vision.
How to avoid glare in classrooms
Constantly rearranging student seating to avoid glare is impractical in large classrooms. LEDBLOC’s innovative honeycomb grille technology addresses this issue by using multiple reflections to soften the light output and prevent direct glare. This creates a more comfortable learning environment, reducing eye strain and improving focus.
Unlike traditional anti-glare solutions, LEDBLOC’s honeycomb grille offers a more effective and sustainable approach to glare prevention.
V. light distribution
The significance of even light distribution
Uniform and scientific light distribution is essential for creating a conducive learning environment. Uneven lighting can lead to dark spots, causing eye strain and reducing student concentration.
LEDBLOC’s innovative suspended linear classroom lights, with both upward and downward illumination, provide a uniform and glare-free lighting solution.
By eliminating dark areas and reducing visual discomfort, these lights can enhance student focus and improve overall learning outcomes. Studies have shown that well-designed lighting can increase student performance by up to 15%.
Luminous intensity distribution of various light sources
- Incandescent lamp: An incandescent lamp works by passing an electric current through a thin filament, which heats up and emits visible light. Incandescent lamps produce a warm and soft light but have high energy consumption.
- Fluorescent lamp: A fluorescent lamp generates ultraviolet light by exciting a gas inside the tube, which is then converted into visible light by a phosphor coating. Fluorescent lamps provide relatively uniform light but often have brighter ends.
- LED luminaire: An LED luminaire uses LED chips as light sources. Through flexible optical design, it can meet various lighting requirements. LED luminaires offer advantages such as energy efficiency, long lifespan, and environmental friendliness.
Design of an LED classroom lighting system
In the following sections, we will delve into and recommend to you all the key factors, details, and common design schemes of LED classroom lighting.
I. Selection of LED light sources
Types of LED chips
LED light sources come in various types, including surface-mount LEDs (such as 3030 and 2835), high-power LEDs, and integrated COB LEDs, to accommodate different lighting applications. Classroom lighting primarily utilizes surface-mount LEDs like 3030 and 2835.
Choosing the right color temperature
Classrooms primarily use light sources with a color temperature of around 5000K, which closely resembles natural daylight.
Selection of the appropriate CRI
A CRI of 80 or above is generally sufficient for classroom lighting, offering a good balance between cost-effectiveness and quality. For classrooms with higher color rendering requirements, a CRI of 90 or above is recommended.
II. Selection of lighting fixtures
A variety of lighting fixtures
Considering different classroom environments and lighting needs, the following types of LED lights are commonly chosen for classrooms:
- LED Up-Down Suspension Panel Light: This type of light provides even light distribution and can illuminate a large area, making it suitable for spacious classrooms.
- T5 T8 LED Grid Panel Light: Grid panel lights have good anti-glare properties, protecting students’ eyesight and are often used for the main lighting in classrooms.
- LED Panel Light: Panel lights have a simple design and flexible installation, and can be used for local lighting or as supplementary light sources.
Luminaire installation
Pendant lights can be directly suspended from the ceiling using hanging cords. Panel lights and grid lights are typically installed in a suspended ceiling.
III. Control system
Dimming control system
Most LED classroom lights now come equipped with intelligent dimming features that allow for adjustments in brightness and color temperature to accommodate various teaching needs.
Intelligent control system
Through a building automation system, an intelligent control system centralizes the management and intelligent adjustment of lighting (including brightness and color temperature), air conditioning, and other equipment in a school building, adapting to external environmental changes. Nevertheless, the adoption of such systems remains limited.
IV. Lighting layout design
9+3 layout model A
The layout utilizes 1200x300mm suspended linear panel lights to achieve uniform illumination throughout the classroom and lectern areas, eliminating any dark spots.
9+3 layout model B
This layout employs 600x600mm integrated ceiling panel lights for student areas and linear lights to enhance brightness in the blackboard area, enabling younger students to focus more effectively on the teacher’s instruction.
A 12+3 layout model
The student area is equipped with 12 suspended linear lights to ensure sufficient illumination for large-class teaching in higher grades.
A 6+2 layout model
This layout is ideal for small-class, multi-functional classrooms, such as university classrooms. It incorporates a variety of adjustable lighting features and includes a dedicated control area.
Classroom lighting standards and regulations
Building on the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)’s lighting recommendations since 2002, the British Standards Institution has incorporated these into a series of British Standards (BS) that outline quantitative lighting requirements for various applications. CIBSE’s Lighting Guides draw upon these standards.
The CIBSE Lighting Guide LG5: Lighting for Education offers a detailed overview of lighting requirements for all educational spaces, encompassing classrooms, meeting rooms, specialized facilities like sports halls, art rooms, and dance studios, as well as multipurpose rooms and theaters. The guide covers topics such as sightlines, lighting control systems, and the placement of access doors.
CIBSE Lighting Guide LG5 for Classroom
Adequate illuminance
Provide sufficient lighting, particularly on the faces of teachers and students, to facilitate visual communication.
Prioritize daylight
Maximize the use of daylight in all teaching spaces, common areas, and offices.
Visual comfort
Provide ample views to the outdoors or distance to reduce visual fatigue.
Lighting control
Equip spaces with user-friendly lighting controls.
Daylight management
Implement shading devices to prevent glare, excessive illuminance, and overheating in summer.
External lighting
Provide adequate external lighting to ensure safety at night.
Sports area lighting
Illuminate outdoor sports areas.
Emergency lighting
Provide emergency lighting in accessible areas after dark.
Case study of LED classroom lighting
Below are real-world global customer applications provided by us, with detailed explanations.
Real-World Applications
We present to you several successful case studies demonstrating the practical application of LEDBLOC classroom lighting products for your reference.
University Classrooms
High school classrooms
Primary grades
Elementary Grades
Middle school classrooms
Blackboard Lighting
Dance studio
Laboratory
Art Studio
Classroom meeting rooms
Teacher’s Office
Main conference room
Reading room
Functional classroom
Arena
Interpretation of lighting application schemes
middle school Classroom lighting
As middle school students are in a critical period of physical development and rapid growth in learning ability, they spend a significant amount of time in classrooms each day. Given the relatively high seating density in middle school classrooms, special attention should be paid to classroom lighting. It is recommended to maintain a classroom illuminance of around 300Lux and use light sources with a cooler color temperature to create a lighting environment that is conducive to students’ concentration and improved learning efficiency.
primary school Classroom lighting
To protect the physical and mental health of elementary school students and satisfy their curiosity about the world, the lighting in elementary school classrooms should simulate natural light to create a warm and comfortable learning environment. Considering the importance of protecting children’s eyesight, it is recommended to choose low-blue light and low-illuminance light sources to reduce visual fatigue and provide a healthy and reliable lighting environment.
University Classrooms lighting
University lectures are primarily teacher-centered, creating a relatively relaxed classroom atmosphere. To enhance student focus, it is recommended to install multiple spotlights on or around the lecturer’s podium. This will direct students’ attention to the instructor and minimize distractions.
Art classroom lighting
To help art students observe and use colors more accurately, it is recommended to use light sources with a higher color rendering index in art classrooms.
dance classroom lighting
For instance, contemporary dance might require softer, more ambient lighting, while a high-energy hip-hop routine could benefit from dynamic, colorful spotlights. By carefully selecting and positioning lighting fixtures, dance studios can create customized lighting designs that enhance the performance and captivate the audience.
Student laboratory lighting
To enhance student engagement in scientific experiments, it is recommended to use cool white light sources in student laboratories. Cool white lighting can create a focused and efficient experimental atmosphere, stimulating students’ curiosity and thirst for knowledge, and thus encouraging them to be more actively involved in scientific exploration.
teacher's office lighting
A teacher’s office serves as both a workspace and a temporary resting place. To cater to the diverse needs of teachers, it is recommended to use adjustable multi-color lighting fixtures to create a flexible and comfortable office environment.
meeting room lighting
School meeting rooms are used for various activities such as faculty meetings, student presentations, and performances. To create a more relaxed atmosphere, it is recommended to use warm-toned, low-intensity lighting, which can help participants feel more at ease and improve meeting productivity.
Library Reading Room lighting
To create a more comfortable reading environment, the lighting design of a student reading room can be diversified. For instance, warm-colored light sources can be added to the bookshelf area to create a warm and knowledgeable atmosphere, while blue light sources can be added to the reading area to help concentrate and improve reading efficiency.
calligraphy classroom lighting
To enhance the calligraphy learning experience, the lighting design in these rooms should adhere to optical principles such as avoiding glare, ensuring uniform illuminance, and selecting appropriate color temperature. Natural light, combined with artificial light sources, can provide a comfortable and professional learning environment by focusing illumination on the calligraphy desks.
indoor sports field lighting
Indoor sports arenas typically use glare-free white light as their primary lighting source. This enhances visual clarity for athletes and helps reduce the risk of sports injuries.
Maintenance and upkeep of classroom lighting
Regular maintenance is crucial for ensuring optimal performance and longevity of classroom lighting systems.
Maintenance of lighting systems
Routine check
Regularly inspect the lighting quality of fixtures, including luminous flux decay, color temperature shift, and lampshade degradation.
Cleaning and care
After the semester ends, the lighting fixtures should be regularly cleaned and maintained. If any fixture is damaged, the light source, power supply, or other relevant components should be replaced promptly.
Energy management
Energy efficiency measures
To maximize energy efficiency, we recommend using high-efficiency lighting fixtures with a luminous efficacy of at least 100lm/W.
Lighting energy monitoring
By installing a dedicated meter for the lighting system, we can more precisely monitor the energy consumption of lighting equipment and establish a detailed long-term energy usage data profile, providing data support for energy conservation and reduction.
Emerging trends
Driven by market demands and technological advancements, the education lighting industry is experiencing continuous growth and innovation, leading to a surge of new trends.
Intelligent lighting
AI-driven lighting solutions
The rapid development of artificial intelligence has brought new opportunities to the lighting industry. Through big data analysis, lighting systems can achieve more intelligent and accurate control. However, the application of artificial intelligence in the lighting field is still in the development stage, and its effectiveness needs further verification.
Smart lighting system
Human-computer interaction in smart lighting has become relatively mature, such as voice control, remote control, and computer control.
Healthy lighting
Circadian dynamic lighting
The concept of circadian rhythm lighting is very popular, but its application is more widespread in plant factories and animal husbandry.
Human-centric lighting
The concept of human-centric lighting has been widely adopted in home environments and has shown significant benefits. However, the application of this concept in educational settings, such as schools, is still in its infancy and has great potential for development.
Sustainability
Eco-friendly lighting
LED lighting is an eco-friendly lighting solution that is recyclable and poses no environmental hazards.
Energy-saving lighting
With its exceptional energy efficiency, LED lighting has become the premier choice for both current and future energy-saving illumination.
Conclusion
LED classroom lighting is crucial for students’ healthy growth and improved learning outcomes. Modern schools should select high-quality LED lighting products based on their specific needs to create healthier and more efficient learning environments. As the preferred choice for modern lighting, LED lighting offers numerous advantages such as energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and long lifespan, making it the ideal solution for classrooms.
Classroom lighting manufacturer
By choosing a reliable LED lighting supplier, your school can benefit from professional lighting solutions and ensure the smooth implementation of your lighting project.
A professional LED lighting manufacturing plant
LEDBLOC’s modern indoor lighting factory, with its mature management system and robust production capacity, is capable of meeting diverse customer needs and ensuring timely order delivery.
High quality assurance
LEDBLOC ensures the stable and reliable quality of its products through a rigorous lighting quality management system and advanced equipment. High product consistency and a zero-defect goal are achieved.
Win-win cooperation
By partnering with LEDBLOC, you gain a long-term, stable partner. We are committed to providing you with continuous high-quality service and supporting the success of your projects.