How to choose LED panel lights for an office

LED panels are now the default ceiling light for offices, clinics and coaching centres. They look alike on a supplier's shelf, but two panels with the same wattage can give very different light, last very different lengths of time and cause very different amounts of eye strain. A little homework before you ask for quotes saves you from redoing the ceiling in two years.

How much light does the room actually need?

Start with the room, not the wattage. A work area where people read and type needs more light than a corridor or a waiting area. Tell the supplier the room size, the ceiling height and what the space is used for, and ask them to suggest how many panels and of what output.

• Lumens, not watts, tell you brightness. Wattage is only power consumed. Ask for the lumen output of each panel and compare lumens per watt between suppliers — a higher figure means a more efficient panel.
• Even light matters more than bright light. A few very bright panels create patches and shadows. More panels at moderate output usually feel better.

Which colour temperature suits an office?

Colour temperature is written in Kelvin (K).

• Cool white (around 6000–6500K) looks bright and bluish; some people find it harsh over a full working day.
• Neutral white (around 4000K) is the usual choice for offices — clear without feeling clinical.
• Warm white (around 3000K) suits reception areas and cabins where you want a softer look.

Whatever you pick, order the same colour temperature for the whole floor. Mixed batches are easy to spot and hard to fix later.

Glare, flicker and the driver

The panel is only as good as its driver — the small unit that converts mains power for the LEDs.

• Ask whether the panel is low-glare or uses a diffuser that hides the individual LEDs.
• Ask about flicker. Cheap drivers can flicker in a way you do not consciously see but feel as fatigue by evening.
• Ask how the driver handles voltage fluctuation, which is common in many buildings. A good supplier will be able to tell you the input voltage range.

Size, fitting and ceiling type

Check what your ceiling is before ordering.

• Recessed panels sit inside a false ceiling grid. Confirm the grid size so the panels drop in cleanly.
• Surface-mounted panels fix directly on a concrete or POP ceiling.
• Ask whether mounting clips, frames or brackets are included, or charged separately.

Warranty and replacements

A warranty is only useful if you can claim it easily.

1. Ask how long the warranty is and whether it covers the driver as well as the LEDs.
2. Ask whether replacement is on-site or whether you must send the panel back.
3. Keep a few spare panels from the same batch — a replacement from a later batch may not match in colour.

What to put in your enquiry

A clear requirement gets you comparable quotes the first time. Include:

• Room size, ceiling height and ceiling type
• Number of panels, or ask the supplier to calculate it
• Size (for example 2×2 feet), wattage range and colour temperature
• Whether you need BIS-certified products and GST invoices
• Delivery location, and whether installation is needed
• When you need the material on site

You can compare lighting suppliers in LED lights and lighting, or post your requirement once and let matching suppliers send you quotes.