Shop and Office Fit-Out Lighting: What Sunshine Coast Businesses Need to Know
Good fit-out lighting does three jobs: it gives staff the right light level for their work (set out in the AS/NZS 1680 series), it makes products and spaces look their best, and it keeps running costs low. Plan it with your fit-out builder before the ceiling grid goes in, and include controls, emergency lighting and compliance from the start.
What the standards say
The Australian and New Zealand interior lighting standards, the AS/NZS 1680 series, set recommended light levels for different tasks, measured in lux on the working surface. They're maintained levels, meaning the lighting should still achieve them after the fittings have aged and collected dust, so a new installation is designed a little above them.
As a guide, general office and computer work is typically lit to around 320 lux. Simpler tasks, circulation spaces and storage need less; detailed work needs more. Retail spaces often use a moderate base level with accent lighting on products well above it. A lighting designer or electrician checks the layout against the standard for each space in your fit-out. For a summary of the recommended levels, see this AS 1680 lux level reference.
Office lighting
A well-lit office is comfortable for a full day of screen work.
- Low-glare fittings. LED panels, linear pendants or recessed linear fittings with good glare control, so screens don't reflect bright spots.
- Even light at desks. Around the recommended level on work surfaces, without dark patches between rows.
- Daylight and occupancy sensors. Lights dim near windows when there's plenty of daylight and switch off in empty rooms.
- Meeting rooms with dimming. For presentations and video calls.
- Colour temperature. Neutral white around 4000K for work areas; warmer around 3000K for reception, breakout and client-facing spaces.
Retail and shop lighting
In a shop, lighting sells. It pulls people in from the street, guides them through the space and makes products look their best.
- General light. An even base level so the store feels open and easy to navigate.
- Accent lighting on product. Track spotlights or adjustable downlights aimed at displays, feature walls and hero products. Track systems let you re-aim and move lights as merchandising changes.
- Feature lighting. At the counter, fitting rooms and brand walls.
- Window displays. Bright enough to stand out from the street during the day and to glow at night.
- High colour rendering. CRI 90 or more, so clothing, food, homewares and cosmetics look true to colour.
Colour temperature should suit the brand: warmer for fashion, homewares and hospitality-style retail; neutral for pharmacies, tech and hardware.
Clinics and service businesses
Clinics, salons and studios need clear, accurate light in treatment and work areas, with a calmer, warmer feel in waiting and reception. Colour rendering matters wherever skin, hair or colour work is involved.
Planning a fit-out?
We'll walk the site with you and your builder. Book a site walk-through.
Controls and running costs
Businesses with long hours get the most from efficient lighting.
- LED throughout. Far lower power use and maintenance than fluorescent or halogen.
- Sensors and timers. Occupancy sensors in storerooms, bathrooms and meeting rooms; timers for signage and windows.
- Lighting control. For larger fit-outs, a DALI or similar control system can group, dim and schedule lighting across the tenancy. Our guide to smart lighting systems explains the options.
Emergency and exit lighting
Commercial premises need emergency and exit lighting that meets Australian standards, and it must be tested and maintained on a regular schedule. Build it into the fit-out scope from the start so positions, circuits and testing are planned rather than squeezed in at the end.
A typical fit-out timeline
| Stage | Lighting tasks |
|---|---|
| Lease and design | Lighting concept, check existing switchboard capacity and lighting |
| Landlord approval | Lighting drawings included in the fit-out submission |
| Ceiling and rough-in | Cabling, fitting positions, sensors, emergency lighting circuits |
| Joinery | Recesses and cable paths for counter, shelf and display lighting |
| Fit-off | Fittings installed, aimed and programmed |
| Certification | Testing, compliance certificates, emergency lighting records |
| Opening | Final aiming of accent lights with stock in place |
Getting the lighting into the design early avoids the most common problems: fittings that clash with the ceiling grid, switchboards without capacity, and display lighting added after the joinery is finished.
Working with Luxe on a fit-out
We work with business owners and fit-out builders on shops, offices, clinics and hospitality venues across the Sunshine Coast. See our shop fit-out LED lighting, office LED lighting on the Sunshine Coast, office lighting in Buderim and commercial LED lighting pages. For cafés, bars and restaurants, read our guide to bar and restaurant lighting.
Frequently asked questions
How much light does an office need?
The AS/NZS 1680 series sets recommended light levels by task. General office and computer work is typically lit to around 320 lux on the work surface, with more for detailed tasks and less for circulation and storage areas. A lighting designer or electrician checks the layout against these levels.
What is the best lighting for a retail shop?
Layered lighting: even general light, adjustable spotlights or track lighting on products, and feature lighting at the counter and in window displays. Use high colour rendering (CRI 90+) so products look true to colour, and warm or neutral white to suit the brand.
Should office lighting be warm or cool white?
Neutral white around 4000K suits most work areas because it feels bright and alert. Warmer light around 3000K works well in reception, breakout and meeting spaces where you want a more welcoming feel.
When should lighting be planned in a fit-out?
At design stage, before the ceiling grid and rough-in. That's when light positions, circuits, sensors, emergency lighting and switchboard capacity are set. Changes after the ceiling is in are slower and more expensive, and can delay opening.
Is upgrading to LED worth it for a business?
Usually, yes. LED fittings use far less power than fluorescent or halogen, last much longer and need less maintenance. Combined with sensors and timers, an LED upgrade often pays for itself through lower power bills, especially for businesses with long trading hours.
Talk to Luxe about your fit-out.
Call 0411 212 528 or request a quote. Licensed electrical contractor #90549.
