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When shopping for LED commercial lights, you may encounter a few terms that you may not have before. One such term may be “CCT” CCT is one of the most commonly discussed aspects of commercial lighting. Below, we will take a look at CCT, including what it is and how to incorporate it into different areas.
Definition of CCT
CCT, or colour correlated temperature, is oftentimes simply shortened to colour temperature. It is a way to discuss the perceived warmth or coolness of a light. CCT exists on a spectrum between 1,000 and 10,000K. The higher the number, the cooler the light.
Which CCT Is Best for Different Commercial Areas?
Different CCTs belong in various locations, and certain areas are better suited for certain CCTs. Below, you can get a basic understanding of common commercial locations and the CCT that works best in them.
Hotel Lighting
When it comes to modern hotel lighting design, CCT is crucial. The main purpose of a hotel is to provide a comfortable place for guests to rest and relax, and one type of CCT is conducive to this effect: warm lights.
Warmer tones provide spaces with a more inviting and welcoming atmosphere overall. This makes them ideal for lobbies, guest rooms and restaurants. If your hotel has a spa or business center, cool white light may be preferable. Here is a closer breakdown of CCT in certain areas of the hotel:
- LOBBY AND RECEPTION: Choose warm light between 2700K and 3000K to create a welcoming and luxurious first impression.
- GUEST ROOMS: Choose the same colour temperature as the lobby to create a homey atmosphere in the guest suites.
- RESTAURANTS AND BARS: Choose 2200K to 3000K for a warmer, more intimate feel.
- HALLWAYS AND CORRIDORS: Choose warm white light between 3000K and 3500K for a mix of better visibility and warmth.
- SPA AND WELLNESS: Choose warmer lights around 2700K to 3000K for a calmer feeling.
- FITNESS CENTER AND POOL AREA. Choose cooler white light between 3500K and 4000K to enhance both energy and visibility.
- LANDSCAPING AND PATHWAYS. Choose 2700K to 3000K warm light to reduce glare and avoid overly bright walkways.
- PARKING AND SECURITY LIGHTING. Choose 3000K to 4000K neutral white to enhance visibility without it being too harsh.
When choosing your lights, be sure to avoid:
- using 5000K or higher CCT in guest rooms
- not including any dimming controls
- inconsistent colour temperature throughout the space
Shop and Retail Lighting
Shop lighting is one of the most powerful tools to have at your disposal as a retail owner. Lighting plays a big role in the visibility of your products, which may influence sales.
In boutique and luxury shops, warm lighting is best for creating a cosy, intimate feeling. For general retail, you may find neutral white light works best. Below is a breakdown of specific retail spaces.
- GENERAL RETAIL. General retail LED track lighting and aisle lighting should be around 3500K to 4000K. This gives it a neutral, clean looking environment that is bright and easy to navigate.
- CLOTHING AND APPAREL. For luxury fashion houses, warmer light between 2700K and 3000K is preferred. If you own more of a fast fashion style store, neutral white between 3500K and 4000K is ideal.
- JEWELLERY SHOPS. Choose cooler white light between 4000K and 5000K. This will enhance the sparkle of diamonds and help make the detail of small jewellery better visible.
- CONVENIENCE STORES AND SUPERMARKETS. Opt for cool light between 4000K and 5000K to give bright, cool lighting that is easy for guests to shop by.
Hospital Lighting
Hospitals need to have bright, clear lighting for medical professionals to be able to do their jobs. It should also be optimised for patient comfort in their rooms.
For patient rooms, warm white light is ideal. Cooler white light between 5000K to 6000K is better suited for bright, alert lighting in diagnostic and surgical zones. For a deeper breakdown, keep reading below.
- PATIENT ROOMS. Opt for warm white light between 3000K to 3500K to promote a more relaxing environment.
- PROCEDURE ROOMS AND OPERATING THEATRES. Choose lights between 5000K and 6500K with a high CRI rating. This will provide visibility for more precision and for accurate colour display.
- TRAUMA BAYS AND EMERGENCY ROOMS. Opt for cooler lights between 4500K and 5000K to keep staff feeling alert without it being too harsh.
- NURSE’S STATIONS AND WORK AREAS. Choose lights between 4000K and 5000K lighting to reduce eye strain while promoting productivity.
- MATERNITY AND NEONATAL UNITS. Warm white lights between 2700K and 3500K promote more relaxing areas while protecting the developing eyes of newborns.
Avoid the following mistakes when lighting hospitals, including:
- using ultra cool lighting everywhere, as it can make the place feel sterile
- using low CRI, especially in operating areas
- having flickering lights that can cause eye fatigue
Office Lighting
Office lighting should be bright and visible, while promoting productivity and comfort. Generally speaking, neutral white light should be used in general workspaces, with cooler lights between better for task-intensive areas. Take a closer look at the specifics of office lighting below.
- DESKS AND WORKSTATIONS. Choose cooler light between 4000K and 5000K to boost alertness and lower eye strain.
- CONFERENCE AND MEETING ROOMS. Opt for neutral white light between 3500K and 4000K to keep things comfortable but focused.
- RECEPTION AND LOBBY AREAS. Using 3000K and 3500K lights, you can create a welcoming lobby that is still well-lit and bright.
Keep in mind that light can influence circadian rhythm and adjust it throughout the day. This will help keep employees alert during the workday, especially in office buildings that don’t have a lot of natural light.
How Does the CCT You Choose Affect Customer Experience and Productivity?
CCT is known to have the ability to psychologically influence people. Therefore, the kind of colour temperature you have in various areas really matters.
Warm Light
Warm white light between 2700K and 3500K promotes relaxation and comfort by triggering melatonin production. It is best for encouraging customers and patrons to linger in retail shops and cafes. It can also lessen stress in waiting rooms in healthcare environments.
This light temperature can similarly encourage browsing and impulse purchases in retail environments. It can also visually enhance the shop by making luxury goods, leather and wood look richer.
In restaurants, it promotes a more intimate feeling, which is great for couples going on dates. Similarly, warm white light promotes a welcoming atmosphere in hotels that invites guests to stay and relax.
Neutral and Cool Light
Neutral white light between 3500K and 4500K mimics the colour of natural daylight, which helps keep people alert without being overstimulated. It can also enhance accuracy of colours, ideal for offices and retail.
Cool white light between 5000K and 6000K is best for boosting concentration in work areas. It suppresses the production of melatonin, keeping minds sharp and focused. Cooler light is ideal for hospitals, factories and medical labs.
In restaurants, it can be used to increase turnover which helps free up more seating for other customers to sit and eat. It can also make areas like gyms feel brighter and increase energetic feelings.
In the workplace, you may increase employee productivity by installing lights with a 5000K to 6000K colour temperature. It may help reduce eye strain and fatigue, while keeping employees alert and focused.
Common Mistakes You Can Make With Choosing the CCT
When choosing the CCT for your commercial downlights, there are a few mistakes you should look out for.
Using the Same Colour Temperature Everywhere
While it is true that you should not mix colour temperatures in a single space, you should also not use the exact same one throughout a building. Doing so can create a flat, monotonous feeling that might make people anxious.
Mix it up by using cool lights in areas that require concentration or attention to detail, such as for LED office lighting and cabinet display lighting. Conversely, use warmer lights for reception areas and lounges.
Ignoring Natural Light
Natural light has its own colour temperature that tends to be around 4000K to 5000K. Keep that in mind when installing your lights, as you don’t want to create visual discord for employees, especially those sitting near windows.
Overlighting with Cool Light
Don’t assume that brighter is always better. Too much light can make a space feel clinical and sterile, like in a warehouse or a hospital. Use 4000K lighting or lower in areas where customers will be.
Forgetting CRI
CRI, or colour rendering index, indicates how well a light shows the colours of the item it shines upon. Choosing LEDs with low CRI ratings, especially in retail environments, can harm your ambiance efforts. Instead, opt for higher CRI ratings of 80 and above when possible.
Poorly Layered Lights
Installing only commercial LED downlights and nothing else can cause unwanted shadows and make a space look flat. It also fails to provide accentuation to certain areas, like artwork, merchandise and work spaces. Be sure to layer your lights with ambient, task and even accent lighting for best results.
Neglecting Dimmable Lighting Controls
Dimmable commercial lights can help you stay in control of the general lighting in a given area. Without dimmable lighting, restaurants, for instance, may struggle to shift from lunch to dinner atmosphere. Similarly, office workers may feel too overstimulated by constant bright lights as the day gets darker.
Why You Should Not Mix CCT in a Commercial Application
One of the most important things to remember is to never mix CCTs in a small area. When you mix warm, neutral and cool light all in one place, it can cause eye strain and fatigue, as well as uneven lighting. Instead, have one dominant light colour in each zone.
Mixed lighting can also make a space look unplanned and unprofessional. Even outdoor commercial lighting should have a more uniform design to ensure the space looks its best from the inside out. Otherwise, you also run the risk of disrupting the branding and company personality by not setting a decisive mood with your lighting.
On the employee side of things, it could hurt productivity. Too many conflicting colour temperatures may cause eye fatigue, or it may confuse the worker’s circadian rhythm and stimulate melatonin release prematurely. Avoid this by keeping lights within the same CCT range, especially in areas where people are working.
In retail environments, mixed colour temperatures may negatively affect the perception of colour. This is a critical flaw when done in jewellery stores or other retail environments that need to show clear, visible details accurately. Opt for a uniform CCT with a high CRI of 90 or above to remedy this.
How the Colour of Walls Can Change the CCT Perception
It is true that light colours reflect lighting, while darker colours absorb it. Because of this, it’s important to keep in mind how light colours interact with paint colours.
Warm coloured walls, such as browns, reds, and oranges, will absorb cooler lighting. This makes neutral and cool CCTs look warmer than they really are.
Cool coloured walls, such as greens, greys, and blues, will absorb warm lights, making neutral and warm CCTs look cooler.
Black or otherwise dark walls absorb a lot of light in general, making everything look dimmer throughout. White walls, however, provide the best CCT representation.
To avoid bad clashing of cool and warm colours, follow these tips:
- for warm walls, choose a CCT that is 500K cooler than the wall colour; for cool walls, choose a CCT that is 500K warmer
- opt for glossy finishes to reflect more light, or matte to absorb and diffuse it
- layer lights with the right colour temperature to stay in control of the intensity and absorption rates
Conclusion
CCT is a massive part of commercial lighting design, whether interior or exterior. In this article, we’ve explained the importance of well-planned CCT in a variety of locations to help you with your own lighting design.
