Task Lighting

Often task lighting refers to office lighting, where the task light is used to increase illuminance on the reading area. However, the illuminance level is not the only factor governing visibility. Contrast is also important, and a poorly positioned light source may cause contrast reduction, resulting in loss of visibility. Therefore, it can be argued that the most important purpose of task lighting in the office is not increasing illuminance, but improving contrast.

Different strategies for office task lighting exist. The three main approaches are:

• Localised average lighting, where a lamp supplies both ambient light and task light
• Freely adjustable task light
• Asymmetric task light, where the lamp is placed at the side of the work area

There are also other approaches to office task lighting, for example under-shelf luminaires.

Other instances of task lighting are in machinery, where a specific work area needs illumination, and in workshops, where a task light may illuminate the actual working area. Special instances of task lighting are examination and operation lights for medicine and surgery, as well as the dentist's lamp. The actual task may range from very small up to about as far as you may reach with your hands or available tools. Lighting of larger areas is beyond the scope of task lighting.