A guide to Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)

LED technology has improved significantly in recent years, and with advancement in technology, LED has been made widely available and cheaper as compared when it was first introduced. The benefits of LED are apparent and wide, such as energy-efficient, longer lifespan and does not contain any harmful gas like mercury, but the one question that has left many scratching their head over, is which color temperature should I install. In this article, we help to alleviate the queries that you have longed for, and with this we hope it would allow you to make the right decisions when it comes to selecting color temperature.

Brief history of Color Temperature

Measuring the hue of light started in the late 1800s when British physicist William Kelvin discovered the color change that occurred when he heated a block of carbon. Starting from a dim red, through shades of yellow and up to a ight blue at the hottest temperature. This discovery resulted in a scale named after Kelvin that measures the color of the light in relationship to the centigrade degrees that produces the color.

What is color temperature?

Color temperature is used to denote how warm (orangey) or cool (bluish) the color of light emitted from a light bulb. It is measured in Kelvin (K) and it commonly ranges from 3000K to 6500K.

Which color temperature to select?

A warm light typically between 2700K – 3000K, emits light in the red, orange, yellow spectrum, producing a glow similar to the sun, during dusk and dawn.

It exudes a cozy, intimate and inviting atmosphere, perfect for relaxing in the living room / bedroom after a long day at work. It also encourages individuals to reduce their pace of life to enjoy the moment, such as dining in a restaurant with your loved ones.

A cool light will have a rating of 4000K and above, the light emitted feature more light in the blue range, akin to the light we typically see in school or hospitals.

Cool light is generally better for work spaces and jobs requiring high mental and visual concentration, it is also ideal for outdoor and security lighting installation. Studies have shown that cooler lighting improves alertness and increase productivity.

Last but not least, in recent years there is a new technology called changeable color temperature (CCT) or tunable lighting.

It offers users flexibility and ease of control in changing luminaire’s color temperature, such luminaire can be switched from warm to cool at the flick of a wall switch or wireless control.

Luminaire contains both warm and cool color LEDs – with only the warm white working, you get a warm white lighting and vice-versa.

What atmosphere are you creating?

Do you want to create an intimate setting? Creating an engaging setting for your guests? Keep employees and student alert? A clean and clinical environment?

Before setting out to select a color temperature, plan ahead with a lighting designer, to avoid any costly mistakes.

Guide to selecting color temperature

Application

Recommended color temperature

Outdoor / Car Parks

Car parks / Security lighting

Color temperature for such application are typically between 4000K and 6500K range, as it exudes calm, secure and safe feeling for users. And it is typically harder for potential criminals to commit acts of crime.

School / Office / Hospital

School

Students studying require cool color (4000K – 6500K) temperature to promote an energetic atmosphere and alertness

Office

(Reception area, General working area, Meeting room, Pantry, Rest & Relax area and etc…)

Warm color temperature (< 4000K), creates a cozy and inviting ambience, which can be installed in reception area, pantry and R&R area.

Cool color (4000K – 6500K) temperature increases work performance by supporting mental acuity, vitality and alertness while reducing fatigue and daytime sleepiness.

Hospital

(Patients’ Ward, Operating theatre, Triage, Consultation room and etc….)

Lighting in hospital should meet two basic needs: Patient comfort and adequate visibility for medical staff.

Warm color (3000K – 4000K) temperature helps to increase patient comfort, by keeping them calm and relax.

Cool color (>5000K) temperature and high CRI (>90), enables medical staff to carry out surgical procedures and administering the correct medication, proper lighting also helps to reduce human error in a high-stress environment.

Shopping malls and retail stores

Retail store

(High-end apparel, department store, supermarket, outlet store and etc…)

Retailers generally will select lighting with color temperature between (3000K – 5000K) and a high CRI (>90).

Color temperature generally depends on the type of merchandise the retailer is selling and the ambience that they want to achieve.

A high CRI will accentuate the truest color of a product, in return attracting customers’ attention and potentially getting them to spend more.

Lighting will also reflect a and’s image and attract its desired clientele.

Food & Beverage Establishment

Fast food restaurant

As the name suggest, it serves food in a fast and efficient manner, and customers usually are looking to get a cheap and quick meal.

As such, a higher level of lighting (>5000K) can help to create faster turnover rate and allow customers to flow in and out more quickly.

High-end restaurant

(Fine dining establishment)

Individuals who visit such restaurant are usually reserved for date night, birthday celeation, celeating anniversary and etc…

Hence a warm and cosy (<3000K) lighting, helps to evoke a sense of intimacy and romance.

Residential Building

Common walkway (Corridor)

A neutral color (4200K) temperature would be recommended, as it is cosy enough yet ight and lively enough to stop potential crimes from happening.

Hotel

Hotel Lobby

Similar to retail stores, hotel lighting can vary for based on hotel chain and, clientele and location.

But in general a color temperature of between 3000K – 5000K would be recommended.

Walk way and common areas

Generally, lighting throughout the hotel should follow its and guideline, as such it would be recommended to match hotel lobby’s color temperature.

Hotel rooms

A hotel room is now more than a place for humans to rest and relax. With rapid economic growth, people are travelling more than often on work related trips.

Therefore, it’s important to have different color temperature installed, so that travelers are able to work in the comfort of their hotel room.

We recommend lights with CCT capabilities, offering different flexibility for users. As color temperature can be toggled simply with the wall switch.

We hope this compilation will allow you to understand more on the different functio