How it works
The engineer digitally "builds" your building within the program. It puts in the walls, windows, ceiling height, even furniture, wall colors and materials (so the program can calculate reflections).
Lighting study with Dialux: What you should ask your engineer before building your business space
So far we've seen the theory: We've learned about Lumens, Glare (UGR), Color Rendering (CRI) and Beam Angles. But when the time comes to invest tens of thousands of euros for the construction or renovation of your business, theory and "estimates by eye" are not enough.
In the past, the electrician would look at the ceiling, do an empirical calculation and say, "We'll put 20 panels in here and see." Today, this approach is considered impermissible, especially in business areas where lighting affects sales, productivity and is subject to strict controls (e.g. by the Labor Inspectorate).
To go from guesswork to absolute mathematical certainty, engineers and lighting designers use specialized software. The global industry standard in this area is DIALux. Let's take a look at exactly what this study is, what it should include, and why it's the most important document you'll get your hands on before buying even a single lamp.
1. What is DIALux software? (The Digital Twin)
DIALux is an advanced three-dimensional (3D) simulation photography program.
The result is that you see the final result and know the exact light levels (in Lux) BEFORE the first brick is dropped on the building site.
The Magic of Photometric Files
Then the engineer does not put "random" lights. He imports into the program the digital files (known as LDT or IES) of the actual fixtures he intends to use, straight from the manufacturer's factory. The program knows exactly how the beam of each light in the room behaves.
2. Why pay for a Photographic Study? (The 3 Financial Benefits)
A proper DIALux study is not an "unnecessary expense", but the ultimate money-saving tool.
A. No Oversizing (Don't Buy More Than You Need)
Many contractors, to be "sure" that the building will have enough light, fill the ceiling with unnecessary lamps. DIALux calculates exactly the minimum number of luminaires required to reach the legislation target (e.g. 500 Lux in the office). Thus, you save huge amounts on the purchase of the equipment (CapEx) and on the future electricity bill (OpEx).
B. Visual Comfort Guarantee (UGR)
Remember the UGR < 19 glare index we saw in offices? DIALux doesn't just tell you whether you will have light, it produces an analytical table that mathematically proves that in no workplace (in any office chair) the UGR will not exceed 19. You protect your employees from headaches.
C. Uniformity Check (U0)
In a warehouse or supermarket, you don't want to have "dark holes" between aisles. The software calculates the so-called Uniformity. It ensures that the illuminance difference between the brightest and darkest part of the room is within the permissible limits.
3. The Study Issue: What the Engineer should deliver to you
When the engineer finishes his work, it is not enough to show you a beautiful 3D image (Render) on the screen. He must deliver to you an official Photographic Study Issue (usually in PDF format).
Check that the issue must include the following 4 items:
- Room Summary: A page that clearly states the average illuminance (eg E_m = 520 Lux), uniformity (eg U0 = 0.65) and UGR for each room. This is your proof of control.
- Isolines / False Colors: They are plans of your space colored like a "meteorological map". The red points show where there is too much light and the blue where there is darkness. It helps you immediately understand how the light "spreads".
- Installation Plans: Exact drawings (usually also given in AutoCAD/DWG format) showing the electrician exactly where, to the nearest centimeter, each lamp should be screwed.
- Bill of Materials (BOM): The exact list for the order. It must state the codes of the luminaires, their wattage, Kelvins, beam angles (optical) and pieces. If they give you a study without the list of specific fixtures, the study is practically useless.
4. Is DIALux also needed for residences?
Historically, DIALux was used exclusively for professional and industrial projects (offices, roads, tunnels, warehouses, stadiums). However, now top architects are using it in luxury homes as well. It is the only way to show the owner exactly how the hidden lighting will look in the plasterboard, how the wall-washing will highlight the stone in the living room and how the garden will look at night (Night Renders), before the owner approves the budget.
Summarizing
Don't leave your business lighting up to chance or the "experience" of the installer. Ask your engineer or lighting supplier for a complete DIALux Study. It is your contract that the space will meet specifications, that you will not have glare problems, and that the materials you will order are the bare essentials, without compromising on quality and without unnecessary excess.
Next Step: Having ensured that the light is abundant and restful, there is a new technology that takes professional lighting to another level: it does not just illuminate, but... imitates nature. We continue to the last article in this category: Human Centric Lighting (HCL) Systems: How lighting that mimics the sun improves productivity in the office.
Related Articles
Unified Glare Rating (UGR): Why it's critical in offices and how to ensure UGR < 19 for restful work DALI Protocol (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface): The ultimate guide to intelligent control of professional lighting Industrial Lighting (High-Bay) for Warehouses: Calculation of Lumens per square meter for high bays Retail Lighting & Color Rendering Index (CRI): How the Right Lighting Increases Sales
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