What is the circadian cycle?
The circadian cycle is first and foremost a biological rhythm lasting approximately 24 hours. It corresponds to the sleep-wake rhythm that marks our daily life. It is a sort of internal clock of the human body, influenced by certain external elements such as light! This explains why we are more inclined to sleep at night than during the day.
What about lighting ?
Circadian lighting reproduces sunlight according to the time of day, the season and the location of the luminaires by varying the intensity and colour temperature of the light.
In an office :
It boosts employee productivity and well-being! In a place where employees are likely to spend a lot of time, the lighting must be sufficient without being aggressive and without flickering that could disturb their concentration. It must be adjusted accordingly and adapted to the requirements of the respective visual tasks.
At the same time, in the industrial sector where night work is required with an increased risk of accidents, the level of lighting must be high and effective. Due to the high level of melatonin at night, metabolism, attention and performance are reduced. Thus, satisfactory brightness during this period with low blue levels allows good vision and avoids fatigue.
In a school :
It optimises the concentration of pupils. Indeed, university studies have shown an increase in memorization capacity and a decrease in the error rate in classrooms that have used circadian lighting. As it replicates natural lighting, it therefore has an effect on visual comfort and on the level of sleepiness of schoolchildren.
In health :
Many illnesses have symptoms of circadian cycle disorders, and the action of this type of lighting can contribute to the well-being of patients and make their stay more pleasant. In addition, it not only promotes the healing of patients, but also optimises their sleep and wake-up phases, i.e. their general comfort.