News Article

Sound, sight and the business bottom line
Nov 18, 2009

LIGHTING

As with acoustics, by involving FMs in lighting specification at stage one ensures the right infrastructure is set in place to fulfil long term maintenance requirements, says Carol Prince, RWN Trading.

“From experience, leaving technology and lighting requirements to be considered as secondary leaves room for cost cutting and poor decision making. This, of course, often leads to costly quick fixes or alternative products having to be chosen.”

Steve Jardine, Acoulite’s senior lighting account manager, agrees, adding: “We find lighting maintenance and replacement a bit of a lottery as it’s the last fixture to go into a project also leading to sub-standard fittings and redundant operations manuals. This then becomes the FM’s headache down the line, and of course you have the safety aspect of cheap and dubious light fittings.”

COST SAVINGS

Prince has found that by working with FM companies to educate developers about the latest technologies, in particular smart home automation, wireless switches and remote controls that efficiently manage energy output, reductions in power consumption of between 10 and 25 percent have been readily achieved.

“We have seen a lot of interest in smart lighting technology, particularly since the UAE government’s drive to encourage saving energy in the workplace and at home,” says Prince. “For us, working with FM companies we are able to put these measures in place from the outset, and it is naturally a positive to be helping the environment. With FM support we are able to show clients that energy solutions are simple to use and, most importantly, cost effective as well.” As for the role lighting plays in employee productivity, Jardine says it is critical, especially for those continually at a PC. Headaches, eye strain and attendant neck and back pain are common symptoms of poor lighting.

“Some architects and designers take no account of building occupants. I have been to retro-fit sites which resemble aircraft hangers rather than office space. The lighting applications are some 30 foot above employees, and obviously doesn’t penetrate the floor space and work stations effectively.” The result, the employer installing desk mounted lamps. A solution admits Jardine, but an unnecessary cost that could have been avoided at the design stage. “We all know that appropriate lighting can greatly impact the way people feel about and interact in their offices. Companies have to adhere to the desire to be cost effective and energy efficient, yet create a productive working environment,” explains Prince.

“The effective use of light can help create a space of ambiance and understated elegance, encouraging the right atmosphere for staff and clients, and therefore the business bottom line,” she says.

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