First Lighting Guidance Document for Facilities Managers Published

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27 January 2021 | Updated 13 April 2021

The Society of Light and Lighting has published its first guidance document designed specifically to address the key lighting tasks required of facilities managers.

According to the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL), a building’s lighting is absolutely critical to providing a safe and productive working environment and much of the management required to procure, maintain and optimise lighting systems falls to facilities managers. 

The SLL Lighting Guide (LG) 20 sets out a logical approach for non-specialists to identify and undertake the tasks required in order to “provide the right amount of light in the right place for the right amount of time.”

Lighting is a central part of building design and is also a big wellbeing consideration for employees. Alongside being warm, comfortable, and having access to properly ventilated rooms, access to adequate lighting is essential for any workspace.

"As the construction industry aligns with the increasing drive to net zero carbon by 2050, one of the methods being considered to reduce embedded carbon within a buildings’ fabric is to refurbish existing buildings where possible, rather than demolish and re-build."

Sophie Parry FSLL, Vice-Chair of the SLL Technical and Publications committee

Key Aspects to Optimising Lighting Systems for FMs 

The guidance states that there are three critical aspects to meeting this objective. First is the quality of light: lighting levels, uniformity; unified glare rating (UGR) and colour rendering. Second is the quantity of light: watts and lumens, colour temperature and fidelity; useful life expectancy of LED light sources. Third is timing: lighting controls.

 LG20 includes guidance on energy consumption and assessing the maintainability of existing lighting installations. This information is often required in relation to service level agreement, or can create a compelling argument for upgrading lighting systems, in terms of investment in energy savings, reduced carbon footprint and increased reliability.

The guide includes three case studies, providing practical examples and context. These look at lighting for a data centre; upgrading emergency lighting in a six-storey building; and the circular economy and repurposing luminaires. There is a growing interest and need for a circular economy approach, meaning that future lighting installations may be made up of refurbished or even leased products.

Written by Sophie Parry FSLL, Vice-Chair of the SLL Technical and Publications committee in conjunction with the CIBSE Facilities Management (FM) group, LG20 is designed to be supportive of facilities managers with knowledge of electrical services, but whose work may occasionally involve lighting or related decision making.

Carbon Reduction Goals

Regarding the aims of this guide and in developing communication between related disciplines, Parry commented; "As the construction industry aligns with the increasing drive to net zero carbon by 2050, one of the methods being considered to reduce embedded carbon within a buildings’ fabric is to refurbish existing buildings where possible, rather than demolish and re-build. 

“The refurbishment scope and complexity will vary on a project-by-project basis, but in many instances will require local knowledge and input from the incumbent facilities manager. It is therefore imperative that facilities managers have the correct knowledge level/access to knowledge of many construction disciplines to add value to such projects."

Picture: a photograph of a reception office area, with a front desk and several ceiling-mounted lamps

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 27 January 2021

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