What's the best way to soften/darken harsh office LED lights?

[EdTheNed]

Not an electrical question, but hopefully someone can help... I work full-time in a small office, where the LED lighting is horrible.

It's three overhead square fittings (each 21" x 21" or thereabouts). They can't be dimmed and the light is intensely cold/harsh/eye-strain-inducing.

I'm looking for an (ideally cheap) solution, which I imagine looks something like an acrylic sheet to block some of the brightness and soften what gets through. The only way I can think to attach such a thing is with sellotape/duct tape.

I found a couple of things on Amazon ("GlareShade" fluorescent light filters, attached with magnets but the wrong shape and don't seem to soften the light much) and "Rosco e-colour+" acrylic stuff, which seems mostly to be used in film studios.

Does anyone know of a straightforward solution to my problem? I just need to find the right material really, which I can cut to size and just sellotape on to the light fitting. There must be millions of folk working in offices with horrible lights so I thought there would be something pretty cheap and easy to avoid all those headaches!

Any help much appreciated.

 

[snowhead]

Something like this, probably cheaper elsewhere.
Your lights will be 600mm x 600m units minus the border.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PTCGTX9/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B08PTCGTX9&pd_rd_w=aCvO3&content-id=amzn1.sym.8d91a06c-52c8-441e-afa4-963e53268566&pf_rd_p=8d91a06c-52c8-441e-afa4-963e53268566&pf_rd_r=HEK0W8KB3A74YZVNC8XY&pd_rd_wg=sejGt&pd_rd_r=40004362-f6e8-4000-a51c-415542c8992d&s=lighting&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&smid=A334O4NQTC2Q9F

 

[str1ke]

If it’s in a suspended ceiling grid u can just buy one of these - it will sit under the panel itself and hopefully make the light a bit more bareable:

600mm Prismatic Ceiling Light Diffusers | Shop Online

Cut glare and reduce staff eye strain and headaches: add low cost prismatic ceiling light diffusers to your suspended ceiling lighting. Order online today.

www.judge-ceilings.co.uk

To fit just push the lighting panel up and slide in. It sits on top of the grid.

 

[EdTheNed]

Something like this, probably cheaper elsewhere.
Your lights will be 600mm x 600m units minus the border.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PTCGTX9/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B08PTCGTX9&pd_rd_w=aCvO3&content-id=amzn1.sym.8d91a06c-52c8-441e-afa4-963e53268566&pf_rd_p=8d91a06c-52c8-441e-afa4-963e53268566&pf_rd_r=HEK0W8KB3A74YZVNC8XY&pd_rd_wg=sejGt&pd_rd_r=40004362-f6e8-4000-a51c-415542c8992d&s=lighting&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&smid=A334O4NQTC2Q9F

Thanks snowhead! Will prob end up going for something like this. Now looking into the stuff you put on your window, but trying to find one that's not total blackout - or like the stuff you tint car windows with.

 

[James]

You should not be changing the lighting in your place of work with aftermarket filters.

lighting should have been designed to give good lighting for the task at hand.

white, cool white or even daylight colour temperatures are often used in offices or work areas where detailed work is done.

speak with or write to your manager if you think the lighting is not suitable

 

[EdTheNed]

You should not be changing the lighting in your place of work with aftermarket filters.

lighting should have been designed to give good lighting for the task at hand.

white, cool white or even daylight colour temperatures are often used in offices or work areas where detailed work is done.

speak with or write to your manager if you think the lighting is not suitable

Thanks James - unfortunately I'm the manager (team of 3 in whole company, answering to non-profit directors) and we rent the office from an industrial estate landlord, so consideration to our comfort is minimal at best. One long-standing employee doesn't consider it an issue, but the other two (mainly me) do.

I'm just looking for the simplest way to soften the brutal lights. If the property owner has a problem with how I achieve that, I'll deal with it separately

 

[EdTheNed]

If it’s in a suspended ceiling grid u can just buy one of these - it will sit under the panel itself and hopefully make the light a bit more bareable:

600mm Prismatic Ceiling Light Diffusers | Shop Online

Cut glare and reduce staff eye strain and headaches: add low cost prismatic ceiling light diffusers to your suspended ceiling lighting. Order online today.

www.judge-ceilings.co.uk

To fit just push the lighting panel up and slide in. It sits on top of the grid.

This looks good, thanks! Looking for something that reduces the light altogether if possible tho

 

[James]

This might be usefull

https://members.299lighting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Lighting-Regulations-1.pdf

you should be looking for 300 to 500 lumens.

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

Bearing in mind the advice above about lighting levels and making alterations to what has been installed...

To lower the light levels, you need a neutral density or ND filter:

209 0.3 Neutral Density Lighting Gel

Rosco E-Colour+ 209 0.3 Neutral Density Lighting Gel from Rosco's comprehensive system of colour filters for film, theatre and video production.

stagedepot.co.uk

0.3 refers to the amount of light reduction. Other typical values are 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2, each getting progressively stronger.


Snowhead linked to some diffusion gel above.

If you're looking to warm the light up, you'll need some colour temperature or CT gel. CTO will warm the light and again, various strengths are available - 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, Full. This will also have the effect of reducing light output too.

Is there an option to have task lighting around the office and switch the overhead lighting off, whilst still maintaining safety, DSE requirements, and all that?

 

[LukeD]

Cant stand shops/interiors with anything more than 4000k gives me a headache !

 

[Vortigern]

There is a requirement to supply lights in offices that meet the COP for LED lights. The glare factor has to be less than 19 if these do not comply then you could ask the landlord to change them. I always buy UGR (I think it is!) <19 as it is required when fitting new lights. There are specific filters and a lux level also required at the desk level. You may consider moving the light(s) to another ceiling panel so that it is not directly above, or move your desk?

 

[davesparks]

I used to have issues with bright lighting, computer screens etc etc, but I found the perfect solution.

I had an eye test, I got a pair of glasses with the prescribed lenses, I no longer have any issue with bright lights or computer screens.