News›11/15/2022

Safe working conditions in professional kitchens require optimal lighting

Optimal lighting in professional kitchens is essential for occupational safety and employee comfort, governed by international standard EN 12464.

Lighting plays a vital role in professional kitchen safety and worker well-being. The international indoor lighting standard EN 12464 establishes threshold values for glare, color reproduction, and lighting adequacy. These requirements shaped the development of OptiLumo, Climecon's specialized luminaire designed for kitchen environments. Effective illumination is critical when staff handle sharp tools and hot equipment. Beyond adequate brightness, uniform light distribution and glare-free output reduce eye strain during extended shifts. OptiLumo integrates into hood roofs or ventilation ceiling components, using advanced optics to spread light evenly across work surfaces. The fixture achieves a UGR glare index of 22, provides 750 lux task lighting, maintains 0.6 uniformity (Emin/Em), and delivers 500 lux of direct illumination. Color rendering significantly impacts both food presentation and worker comfort. Professional kitchens require lighting that reproduces authentic colors accurately, essential for dish plating and food quality assessment while minimizing visual fatigue. Climecon offers DiaLUX lighting simulations as part of their professional kitchen design services, enabling precise verification of compliance and working conditions for large-scale projects.