Glamorous or Practical: The Design Flexibility of Linear Light Fixtures
Linear lighting fixtures have come a long way in the last century. What was once a simple suspended fluorescent tube evolved into an alternative to rectangular recessed troffers and is now a favorite fixture style for lighting designers in architectural and commercial designs. Linear LED fixtures are nearly ubiquitous in commercial, retail, hospitality, and academic spaces due to their flexibility. Linear lights can be the focal point of a high-end design or simply blend into the architecture, providing necessary ambient illumination.
The Versatile Design and Functionality of Linear Luminaires
Linear fixture design is based on a straightforward concept of using quantities of packaged LEDs in an array in a long, narrow extrusion to create a linear light strip. Linear luminaires are available with optional modifications such as optical lenses and internal reflectors that modify illumination patterns and provide the glare control required by the lighting practitioner. Linear extrusions are available in an array of shapes, lengths, and finishes. Luminaire installation methods blend with any architectural element in the space. This innovative LED lighting fixture design is interchangeable in interior and exterior installations.
LED Technology and Linear Lighting
The last twenty years have included vast improvements in LED technology. Small form factors, color rendering (CRI), color correlated temperature (CCT) from 2200K through 6000K, and improved energy savings with efficiencies of over 110 Lumens per watt are all benefits that ever-improving LED technology provides for linear light fixtures.
Illumination engineers and designers on the manufacturing side have taken linear lighting luminaires and created shapes that bend and even meander with invisible couplings, illuminated corners, and unlimited inclinations from ceilings to wall to floor. With this ability, lighting fabricators can create original designs to meet the demanding requirements of lighting practitioners. Enhancing the architectural environment is limitless regarding shape, finishes, and unlimited light distribution patterns. Manufacturers have designed linear luminaires with fully illuminated light patterns, including corners and various angled connections. These improvements give the luminaires unlimited pattern and design abilities. Multi-dimensional custom shapes and design patterns can provide a unique look for the illuminated environment. The adaptability of linear LED luminaires assures a pristine and contemporary appearance that blends with any architectural elements in the illuminated space.
Linear Lighting Designs in the Home
Residential spaces have given LED linear lighting a functional and inspirational appeal for homeowners. Linear lighting in ceiling coves adds the visual appearance of height to the space, even illumination when required, and the ability to create moods with control flexibility for lumen intensity and optional color changing. Linear units with dedicated optics create wall-washing techniques by flattening or enhancing wall textures such as stone, stucco, and wood moldings. Artwork and photography located on walls experience no damaging UV illumination from LEDs and, with optional lensing, can reduce significant reflected glare from the artwork back to the observer. Used as lighting under kitchen cabinets, linear lighting can evenly illuminate countertops and task workspaces and enhance countertop materials such as marble, granite, and solid surface materials. Linear direct/indirect lighting pendants over tables and island areas meet task lighting needs. Then, they can control general lighting with optional uplighting for a glare-free ambient lighting source. For grooming, linear lighting in mirrored areas can eliminate shadows, making shaving, hair styling, and applying make-up easier. Using the correct (CCT) LED can ensure that applied personal make-up looks correct as the person transitions from home to the office, an evening out with associates, or to a place for fine dining or a social reception.
Linear Lighting Applications in Commercial Settings
In office, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and educational spaces with lofty ceilings, linear lighting’s illumination flexibility can produce even lighting when reflecting off ceiling surfaces and provide additional downlighting capabilities for direct task lighting below. CCT LED Linear luminaires are specified to range from 2200K to 5000K to meet the ideal color-correlated temperature for the required illumination solution. Units designed with wall-washing optics create walls with even illumination. Integrating luminaires with occupancy sensors and dimming controls tied in with natural light can save energy costs and reduce eye strain during the workday. As an indirect illumination source, reducing direct glare on computer monitors and screens will improve visual acuity and comfort. LED Linear lighting blends effortlessly into any space and keeps the illumination focus precisely where you want while maintaining the comfort and productivity of those using the space. LED linear luminaire mounting options include suspended, ceiling-mounted, recessed, and wall-mounted, giving the lighting designer all the tools required to design and create an energizing environment that flows with the space’s architecture. Commercial spaces may also require sound and noise reduction, so acoustic linear fixtures are designed to reduce noise reflections and reverberations in a space using sound-absorbing materials, such as foam or fiber.