Integrated Solution for Human Centric Lighting (HCL) / Integrative Lighting Assessment
Our partner Gigahertz-Optik GmbH, Germany (EU), is the only manufacturer of precise lighting measuring equipment that provides an integrated hardware and software solution to streamline the assessment of Human Centric Lighting (HCL) / Integrative Lighting, from design and prototyping, to commissioning in real-life spaces (offices, schools, healthcare facilities, industry, hospitality etc.).
The solution can also assist with “Performance Verification (PV)” of the “WELL Building Standard” Light Concept, UL DG 24480 “Design Guideline for Promoting Circadian Entrainment with Light for Day-Active People” , and it is compliant with CIE S026/E:2018 “ClE System for Metrology of Optical Radiation for ipRGC-Influenced Responses to Light” reporting.
Furthermore, it can provide precise real-time assessment of the Eh/Evmel performance metric.
As a result of the collaboration of Gigahertz-Optik with Dr. Octavio L. Perez, Ph.D, WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP), independent expert consultant in HCL, and adjunct researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, NY, Gigahertz-Optik provides an integrated solution for Human Centric Lighting (HCL) / Integrative Lightingassessment where horizontal and vertical measurements can be taken simultaneously, at the same time.
Up to now, assessing Human Centric Lighting (HCL) / Integrative Lighting has been a challenging process for researchers, lighting fixtures manufacturers, architects, engineers, facilities managers, lighting designers and end-users. The typicalworkflow consisted in measuring light and lighting conditions with spectrometers and proprietary software, saving the different (horizontal and vertical) spectral measurements (SPD) in excel-readable files (typically CSV, comma separated values), and then doing calculations, first in the Lucas et al. 2014 workbook, and lately in the CIE S026/E:2018 Toolbox. Reporting was next. Certainly, a cumbersome, time-consuming and error prone process. Now, with the single push of a button you can get all the measurements and reports for HCL / Integrative Lighting (WELL Building Standard, UL DG 24480, CIE S026/E:2018) in a timesaving and error-free way.
The “WELL Building Standard” Light Concept provides different lighting requirement specifications for the built environment, in the photopic (visual), and in the circadian (non-visual) domains. The lighting system and the environment have to be assessed for compliance with several lighting quality parameters such as light levels for visual acuity (illuminance), electric light quality (color rendering -CRI and IES-TM3018- and flicker/TLA) , and circadian lighting (equivalent melanopic lux -EML- and/or CIE melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance -MEDI D65-). The software can provide reporting and mission planning for assessment and Performance Verification (PV) for the “WELL Building Standard” Light Concept, and it is compliant with CIE S026/E:2018 “ClE System for Metrology of Optical Radiation for ipRGC-Influenced Responses to Light” reporting.
According to the “WELL Performance Verification Guidebook (Q1-2020)”, all these parameters must be calculated from illuminance and spectral measurements performed with calibrated meters (calibrated as per manufacturer specifications in an ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Calibration Laboratory and/or with NIST/USA traceable calibration).
Gigahertz-Optik is a well stablished and recognized German manufacturer of precise light and lighting measurement devices. All the devices are calibrated upon delivery and can be regularly calibrated per ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Calibration Laboratories and/or NIST traceable facilities (upon request). The recommended laboratory and field spectral light meters for HCL / Integrative Lighting are the following:
– MSC15 precise entry-level handheld stand-alone spectrophotometer with display, battery and USB for photometric and spectral measurements and calculations.
– CSS-45 sensor for photometric and spectral measurements with USB (available with optional display CSS-D).
– BTS256-EF advanced handheld stand-alone spectrophotometer with display, battery and USB, for photometric, spectral, and flicker/TLA (Temporal Light Artifacts) measurement and calculations.
The operation of these three families of devices can also be automated through the use of different software solutions. Gigahertz-Optik also provides single device software and SDK DLLs (software development kits) to perform and automate lighting measurements (available in the Microsoft Windows operating system platform).
