Lighting for Office Green Walls: Preparing the Project Specification

In an office, a living green wall must fit into a space used every day. Its lighting concerns the plants, but also the people seated nearby, the maintenance team and the contractors responsible for installation.

A shared specification makes it possible to discuss these constraints before choosing the luminaires. It also helps compare proposals that may seem equivalent at first, even though they do not address the same needs.

Describe the location precisely

Start with a dimensioned plan of the wall and its surroundings. Include its width, height and expected foliage depth. Add ceiling heights, possible fixing points and any obstacles.

Mark windows and solar shading. Specify whether the project is for a reception area, circulation space, meeting room or workstation. Occupant positions and operating hours will help assess luminaire orientation.

A photograph can supplement the plan. It does not replace the dimensions needed to choose the layout.

Separate plant requirements from visual comfort

Ask the planting project manager for a list of the planned species or plant groups. Lighting objectives should be defined for this composition and the conditions on site. Avoid using wattage per square metre as the sole measure of success.

Also describe the desired result in the office: the plants’ appearance, how the luminaires should fit in, and any visual discomfort to avoid. An installation may look pleasant while distributing light unevenly across the wall. Conversely, lighting suited to the plants must remain compatible with how the room is used.

The page on lighting for living green walls outlines the main types of solution. The final choice should take the whole project into account.

Plan the mounting, power supply and controls

The project documents should specify available supports, possible cable routes and access to power supplies. The qualified contractor will check the electrical installation and mounting conditions against the equipment, its environment and the requirements that apply to the project.

If the wall has an irrigation system, describe it and identify any risk of the equipment being exposed to water. An IP rating alone is not enough to validate every installation situation. Review the product instructions and actual site conditions.

Finally, define who can change schedules and settings. Horticultural lighting should not depend solely on whether occupants are present. Plan for operation during weekends and office closures.

Request comparable documentation

Each proposal should identify the luminaire models, optics, proposed settings and positions on a plan. Ask for the selected electrical power, control method and available information about light distribution.

For a simulation or measurement map, ask for the assumptions, units, plan studied and any contribution from natural light. A map without this information is difficult to compare with another proposal.

Also specify what is included in supply, installation, initial adjustment and follow-up. These services may be handled by different contractors.

Plan the handover

Define the inspection points before installation. The guide to lighting distance and layout suggests a method for checking several areas of the wall.

At handover, check the installed models, orientations and schedule. Record the agreed measurements and the conditions under which they were taken. Also check visual comfort from occupied seating positions, then document any adjustments.

A dated photograph and a settings sheet will help explain later changes. The aim is to distinguish a lighting change from changes to irrigation, planting or maintenance.

Prepare for maintenance

Identify who is responsible for cleaning, pruning, checking schedules and replacing equipment. Make sure these tasks will still be possible once the furniture is in place.

Schedule a follow-up after installation and whenever there is a major seasonal or layout change. Initial settings provide a documented reference; they do not guarantee that all conditions will remain the same.

Information to provide to get started

Prepare a dimensioned plan, photographs, the planned plants, operating hours, mounting constraints and a division of responsibilities. Download the project preparation checklist in CSV format.

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