How to reduce indoor glare from lamps in the strong light environment of the Middle East?

Due to the intense sunlight throughout the year and extremely high outdoor light levels in the Middle East, people have unique and strict demands for indoor lighting. In a strong light environment, indoor lighting fixtures, while coexisting with bright natural light, are highly likely to cause glare problems if not properly designed. This kind of glare not only affects visual comfort but also causes eye fatigue and distraction, especially in places such as offices, educational institutions and medical institutions, where the impact is particularly significant. Therefore, scientifically controlling the glare caused by lighting fixtures is the key in the design of indoor lighting environments in the Middle East.

1. Understand the relationship between "glare" and the special light environment in the Middle East

In light environment design, Glare is usually divided into two categories:

Direct glare: The brightness of the lamp is too high or the light shines directly into the eyes;

Reflective glare: Light is reflected into the line of sight on highly reflective surfaces such as bright desktops, glass, and tiles.

The unique challenges in the Middle East include:

The contrast in light intensity between indoors and outdoors is large: After intense sunlight from outdoors enters the room, visual adaptation is poor.

High-gloss finishes and strong glass reflection: Commonly used materials such as tiles, metals, and stainless steel are prone to generating reflective glare.

Overlapping natural light with lamps during the day: especially in commercial Spaces or public places such as mosques.

2. Lamp selection: Choose products with anti-glare design

Choosing the right type of lighting fixture is the first step to prevent glare.

Low UGR luminaires (Uniform Glare Value)

The lower the UGR (Unified Glare Rating) value is, the less likely the lamps are to produce glare. It is recommended to choose lamps with a UGR of less than 19, especially in visually sensitive areas such as offices, schools and hospitals.

Grille lamp

It adopts black honeycomb grilles or light-blocking corner designs, which can effectively block the direct view of light sources and prevent direct sunlight from entering the field of vision.

Deeply hidden light source downlight

In the design of downlights, the light source is embedded inside the lamp body, allowing the light to only exit through a narrow light outlet and reducing the area of glare.

Diffuse reflection panel lamp

The diffusion plate is used to evenly distribute the light, which is suitable for large lighting areas such as meeting rooms and shopping malls.

Adjustable Angle spotlights

In display or key lighting scenarios, use angle-adjustable lamps to control the direction of the light beam and avoid shining on the human eye.

3. Control the layout and installation Angle of the lamps

Avoid direct exposure to light sources

When installing lamps, they should be kept away from common line of sight, such as directly in front of the desk or in the direction of watching the TV.

Reasonable installation height

Installing chandeliers or downlights too low will increase the risk of direct glare. It should be ensured that the lamps are outside the comfortable viewing Angle.

Avoid lighting on highly reflective materials

If the tabletop is made of glass, stone, etc., it is necessary to control the light from directly shining on the surface. You can add a table cushion or use a matte finish as an alternative.

4. It adopts intelligent dimming and color temperature control

The dimming lamps are linked with the light sensing system

The level of natural light in the room is detected by a light sensor, and the brightness of artificial lighting is automatically adjusted to avoid excessive light intensity.

Color temperature adjustment

During the day, the color temperature of natural light is relatively high. If the color temperature of indoor lighting fixtures is too low (such as warm light 2700K), it is easy to cause color temperature conflicts and induce visual discomfort. It is recommended to use 4000K-5000K neutral light during the day to coordinate with natural light.

5. Reduce reflected glare in coordination with interior materials and layout

Use matte or semi-matte finish materials

Ceiling materials, walls and furniture surfaces should avoid high-gloss and mirror-like treatments as much as possible.

Avoid having lamps shine on mirrors, glass or screens

Especially in Spaces such as bathrooms, living rooms, and exhibition halls where a large amount of mirror materials are used, it is necessary to adjust the direction of the light or use a light shield.

Use local lighting in key line-of-sight areas

Such as reading lamps, wall lamps, etc., to avoid the overall glare caused by high-brightness lighting throughout the space.

6. Suggestions for anti-glare strategies in specific places

Office space: Prioritize the use of panel lights with UGR<19 and linear grille lights. The computer screen should face away from the window or the direction of the lighting fixtures.

Residential space: The living room uses dimmable ceiling lamps or zoned lighting design. The main light in the bedroom should not directly face the head of the bed.

Religious and cultural sites: Emphasize the coexistence of aesthetic and practical lighting. Soft light chandeliers or recessed light sources are preferred to avoid visual interference.

Commercial retail Spaces: Key lighting should clearly point to the goods to avoid direct confrontation between the customer's line of sight and the light.

7. Conclusion

In the strong light environment of the Middle East, controlling the glare of indoor lighting fixtures is not merely about "dimming the lights", but rather a systematic project involving multiple dimensions such as the type of lighting fixtures, installation layout, material reflection and intelligent control. Through scientific selection and comprehensive design, not only can visual comfort and work efficiency be enhanced, but also a healthier, more efficient and aesthetically pleasing lighting environment can be created.

Truly high-quality lighting is one that enables people to "feel the light" rather than "see the lamp". Doing a good job in anti-glare design in a strong light environment is an important step towards achieving this goal.