Lighting reception desks - Light studies - Planning light

General lighting with recessed luminaires

The reception desk is an important contact point between the customer and the office but also a place of work for the receptionist. Lighting should have both a prestigious and functional character. Relevant for the customer is the uniform distribution of brightness from cylindrical lighting on the employee's face and for the receptionist, the horizontal illumination of the reception desk. This is achieved among other factors by recessed luminaires.
Added value of recessed luminaires:
- a calm ceiling appearance
- attention due to specific lighting of the counter via various light distributions
- efficient illumination with specific light distributions such as oval flood

Rule of thumb for arranging recessed luminaires

With linear arrangements, e.g. using oval flood distribution, 1.5 times the height (h) of the luminaire above the working plane can be used as the approximate luminaire distance (d) between two downlights to achieve uniform lighting.

Arrangement: d ≤ 1.5 x h

Tip for luminaire selection:
Recessed luminaires have a particularly discreet appearance with low room heights because of their almost completely concealed light source.

General lighting with pendant luminaires

At reception desks, pendant luminaires work as focal points and define the office reception area. They therefore support orientation in the reception area. The low height of the light source creates a more private atmosphere between customer and receptionist. Wide light distributions with good glare control achieve uniform illumination of the reception desk and good facial illumination at the same time.
Added value of pendant luminaires:
- creation of a private zone due to low height of light source
- good orientation due focal point.

Rule of thumb for arranging pendant luminaires

For good general lighting, 1.25 times the height (h) of the luminaire above the working plane can be used as the approximate luminaire distance (d) between two Starpoint pendant downlights.

Arrangement: d ≤ 1.25 x h

Half the spacing between luminaires can be used as the distance to adjacent walls (a).

Arrangement: a = d / 2

Tip for luminaire selection:
The light source height should be above head-height for a good visual relationship between discussion partners.

General lighting with light structures

Indirect illumination can be achieved using light structures having light components directed towards the ceiling. The bright ceiling in the area of the reception defines this zone in the room to support orientation. Track mounted spotlights with oval flood distribution directed downwards efficiently illuminate the reception desk.

Rule of thumb for arranging light structures

The light from a light structure radiating towards the ceiling emphasises the position of the reception desk in the room. The ideal distance (h) of the light structure to the ceiling is at least 0.5 metres.

Arrangement: h1 > 0.5m

Tip for luminaire selection:
The light source height should be above head-height to achieve a good visual relationship between discussion partners.