- Colour temperatures from 2700K to 4000K are now available
- High CRI (>90)
- Gives users the security of being able to use the parameters of light colour and colour rendering to design creatively, accurately, and with consistency.
- ‘ERCO individual‘ service clarifies on request whether specific light colour needs can be realised with ERCO products according to the project.
Lüdenscheid, August 2020. The colour temperature of a luminaire defines whether the white tone of its light has a neutral character, tends towards bluish cool or else is reddish warm. This fundamental quality of light is a major influence in how we perceive rooms and objects. As with colour rendering, it results from the spectral properties of the LEDs used. At ERCO, six different white light spectra with colour temperatures from 2700K to 4000K are now available. This gives users the security of being able to use the parameters of light colour and colour rendering to design creatively, accurately and with consistency.
When it comes to selecting the right light colour for a particular room situation, lighting designers and users can confidently rely on their intuition. We usually prefer warm-toned light whenever comfort and relaxation are important: in restaurants, hotel lounges and living spaces for example. Where on the other hand light should stimulate, e.g. at places of work or in buildings for circulation, neutral white or even daylightlike, slightly bluish light is frequently used. Wherever the focus is on the accurate evaluation and differentiation of the colours of objects, for example in museums or in the fashion and textile trade, the quality of the colour rendering becomes important along with the right light colour: the colour rendering index Ra specifies how nuanced and natural object colours are displayed in comparison with a corresponding reference light source.
So that the spotlight matches the downlight
Independently of whether lighting designers aim to work with a consistent light colour matched to the use, atmosphere and materials of their project or whether they deliberately use contrasting light colours in a single room situation: they need luminaires with a practice-oriented selection of defined light spectra for the purpose. The lighting design process becomes simpler and more reliable if a manufacturer like ERCO, which offers a comprehensive range of luminaires for indoor and outdoor applications, relies on a logical and consistent system in terms of light spectra. ERCO now provides six defined light spectra for all luminaires with High-power LEDs to ensure for example that a warm-white spotlight ideally matches a warmwhite downlight, or that the neutral white of path lighting is precisely continued in the atrium of a building. With colour temperatures ranging from 2700K to 4000K these optimally meet the requirements of typical applications. Strictly selected LED components minimise deviations in colour consistency across all product groups and ensure colour constancy across the service life of the luminaire.
From picture gallery to pedestrian bridge
As the warmest light colour, ERCO offers 2700K with Ra 92 – a white tone particularly suitable for illuminating warm-toned materials and creating cosy atmospheres in restaurants, hotels and lounges. The universally functional warm white with 3000K is available with Ra 92 for optimised luminous efficacy or with Ra 97 for extremely colour-critical applications, e.g. in museums and galleries. Light colour 3500K with Ra 92 is perfect for shops, combining an attractive colour impression from neutral to warm with very good colour rendering. Two variants are available with 4000K neutral white: the spectrum with Ra 82 is especially energy-efficient thanks to its high luminous efficacy and is suitable for outdoor spaces, for objects with cool colours and for illuminating workplaces. The second variant is a spectrum with Ra 92 that harmonises very well with daylight or, in the food retail sector that displays fresh merchandise with cool colour tones in a subtle manner.
Reliable standards and individual fine tuning
ERCO‘s many years of practical experience with LED lighting concepts as well as state of the art developments from LED suppliers flowed into the definition of these six light colours, enabling lighting designers to gain maximum benefit from a userfriendly and future-proof system of standard light spectra. And even if this system should reach its limits in special applications, ERCO offers solutions tailored to the situation: for example with its tunable white technology featured in many product ranges allowing stepless modification of the colour temperature from 2700K to 6500K. In addition, some product ranges such as the new Eclipse spotlights offer the option of using colour correction filters to achieve additional spectral fine-tuning, and the ‘ERCO individual‘ service clarifies on request whether specific light colour needs can be realised with ERCO products according to the project.
About ERCO
The ERCO Light Factory in the German town of Lüdenscheid is a leading international specialist in architectural lighting using LED technology. The family business, founded in 1934, now operates as a global player with independent sales organisations and partners in 55 countries worldwide. Since 2015, ERCO’s portfolio has been 100% LED. With this in mind, ERCO in Lüdenscheid develops, designs and produces digital luminaires with focus on photometrics, electronics and design. Working closely with architects, lighting designers and engineers, ERCO develops lighting tools used primarily for applications in the following fields: Work, Shop, Culture, Community, Hospitality, Living, Public and Contemplation. ERCO understands digital light as the fourth dimension of architecture – providing highly precise and efficient lighting solutions to support creative designers in turning their visions into reality. If you require any further information on ERCO or image material, please visit us at www.erco.com/service/press-release. We can also provide you with material on projects worldwide for your media coverage.