What Is Lighting Consultancy and When Is It Needed?
Short answer
Lighting consultancy is a service that plans the lighting of a space in terms of function, standards, energy and budget, and provides independent technical decision support when choosing luminaires and control systems. It is needed in new-build and refurbishment projects, LED conversions, energy-saving targets and complaints of glare or insufficient light.
Lighting is one of the systems in a building that runs the longest and is felt the most; yet in most projects it is the last item to be decided, and in a hurry. Lighting consultancy makes it possible to take this decision on the basis of measurement, calculation and standards.
The scope of lighting consultancy
- Needs analysis: the function of the space, its users, operating hours, architectural and aesthetic expectations.
- Target values: illuminance, uniformity, glare and colour rendering according to standards such as EN 12464-1, EN 1838 (emergency lighting) and EN 13201 (roads).
- Calculation and layout: a layout plan verified with lighting software.
- Product selection and specification: criteria for lm/W, CRI, R9, UGR, IP, lifetime, drivers and warranty.
- Control strategy: DALI, 1-10V, sensor and daylight scenes.
- Energy and cost: installed power, annual consumption and a comparison of alternatives.
- Installation support: mounting details, commissioning and measurement.
When should consultancy be used?
| Situation | Contribution of consultancy |
|---|---|
| New building or major refurbishment | Wiring and control infrastructure are set up correctly from the start |
| Conversion from fluorescent or halogen to LED | Fewer luminaires and more even light by calculation instead of one-for-one replacement |
| Energy-saving target | Measurable savings through installed power and control scenes |
| Staff complaints of eye strain or glare | Measurement of glare and uniformity, identification of problem spots |
| Colour-critical areas such as shops, galleries and jewellers | Matching CRI, R9 and colour temperature to the product |
| Documenting compliance with standards | A calculation report for each area |
The consultancy process
- Site visit and needs meeting, collection of the architectural plan.
- Putting the target values and criteria in writing.
- Illuminance calculation and alternative luminaire solutions.
- Selecting the solution with an energy and cost comparison.
- Delivery of the layout plan, luminaire list and specification.
- Technical support during installation and checks after commissioning.
What to expect from a consultant
- Recommendations backed by a calculation report, not estimates such as "this many luminaires will do".
- Datasheet values (system lumens, CRI, UGR, lifetime) shown clearly when selecting luminaires.
- Compatibility of the control system and drivers planned from the start.
- Energy consumption set out in figures.
Conclusion
Lighting consultancy avoids the cost of buying the wrong luminaires and replacing them later, and years of unnecessary energy consumption. At Harmony ELS we provide design and consultancy together with the luminaires we manufacture ourselves, from a single source; details are on our service page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a lighting consultant do?
Analyses the requirements, sets target values according to the standards, carries out the illuminance calculation, selects luminaires and the control system, prepares energy and cost comparisons and supervises the installation.
Is consultancy needed when converting existing lighting to LED?
It is recommended. Replacing old luminaires one-for-one with the same number of LED luminaires often gives either more light and energy than necessary or uneven illuminance. With measurement and calculation, a better result can be achieved with fewer luminaires.
What is delivered at the end of the consultancy?
A calculation report for each area, a luminaire layout plan, a luminaire list and technical specification, a summary of installed power and energy consumption and, where needed, control scenes.