A commercial LED panel light is a flat ceiling luminaire (recessed, surface-mounted or pendant) that replaces fluorescent grille and T5 fittings in offices, schools, retail and healthcare. It is not a video or photo LED panel, and not a red-light therapy panel.
German default spec: 620×620 mm for Odenwald/Rasterdecke (or 595×595 mm in a 600 mm T-bar); 4000 K; UGR ≤19 for ordinary offices and UGR <16 for screen-heavy or precision rooms; DALI-2 as the project control default; ≥120 lm/W on modular families.
For lighting designers, facility managers and electrical contractors specifying a German ceiling, and for distributors who need a 620×620 SKU they can private-label. Send a room schedule for a DIALux check and panel count from OLAMLED’s modular panel light program.
What is a commercial LED panel light?
Inside the luminaire: LED chips or replaceable modules, an optic, an aluminum frame, and a remote or integrated driver converting 220–240 V AC to low-voltage DC. The optic sets glare class. The driver, not the LED board, sets dimming, flicker (Pst LM / SVM), emergency behavior and sensor readiness. OLAMLED PA series panels, for example, can take a Zhaga Book 18 sensor opening. Series datasheets sit on the LED modular panel light hub. A catalog UGR line is not a room result.
| Use | Typical size | Control | Who buys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial ceiling panel | 595×595 / 620×620 mm | DALI-2, 0–10 V, On/Off | Designer, FM, OEM |
| Video / photo panel | 30–150 cm RGB or bi-colour | DMX / app | Content creators |
| Therapy or décor tile | Wellness or wall-tile SKUs | Wellness or app | Consumer |
- LED engine: chips or replaceable modules.
- Optic: opal, microprisma, or modular louver + reflector.
- Aluminum frame and heat path.
- Driver: On/Off, 1–10 V, DALI-2 DT6/DT8, D4i, Casambi. Named partners on request include Tridonic, Philips, Osram, Lifud, Boke.
- Mounting kit: recessed lay-in, surface frame (Aufbaurahmen), or pendant (Seilabhängung).
Which LED panel size fits a German ceiling?
German and Austrian system ceilings (Odenwalddecke, Rasterdecke, 625 mm module) take 620×620 mm. Professional catalogs also list 625×625 mm for the same grid. International and UK T-bar takes a 600×600 module; the luminaire cut is usually ~595×595 mm. Measure the opening, not the brochure. A 595×595 panel drops into a 600 mm grid and rattles or gaps in a 625 mm Odenwald grid.
| Nominal module | Actual cut | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 600×600 | ~595×595 mm | International T-bar; T8 grille replacement |
| 620×620 / 625×625 | 620×620 mm | Odenwald / Rasterdecke DE & AT |
| 300×1200 / 1200×300 | ~295×1195 mm | Corridors, workstation rows (T5 1×4 analogue) |
| 600×1200 | ~595×1195 mm | High-output open plan |
| 300×1500 | ~295×1495 mm | Long corridor runs |
If the ceiling is plasterboard, use a surface frame or recessed springs, not a grid drop-in. PA 595×595 can replace an existing 600×600 T8 grille; quote 620×620 for new German Rasterdecken. Standard and custom cuts: LED module panel light.
Which color temperature for which room?
German offices, schools and surgeries default to 4000 K. Do not specify 2700–3000 K as an “eye-strain” office CCT; that fights EN 12464-1 practice. See 3000 K vs 4000 K for the hospitality exception.
| CCT | Appearance | Best for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 K | Warm white | Reception, hospitality, breakout | All-day VDU offices |
| 4000 K | Neutral white | DE office, school, praxis default | Mood-led hospitality |
| 5000–6500 K | Cool / daylight | Workshops, warehouses | All-day screen work |
| Selectable / DT8 | 2700–6500 K range | Mixed tenancy, WELL-adjacent | Treating RGBW as a project protocol |
CRI in the same decision: Ra ≥80 office floor (EN 12464-1); Ra ≥90 retail, healthcare and art; Ra ≥95 optional on the CD series. State SDCM <5, and <3 where panels share one visual field. Single-use office: fixed 4000 K. Mixed tenancy or distributor stock: dip-switch / Multi Select (3000 / 4000 / 5700-class). WELL-adjacent: DALI-2 DT8 tunable white plus a daylight sensor. RGBW is a retail SKU, not the project story.
Backlit, edgelit or modular optics?
Commodity catalogs split backlit vs edgelit. German offices need a third column: modular louver/reflector. Sealed opal panels are economical, with potential UGR issues, which is why a replaceable engine plus a controlled optic exists. Selection criteria: how to select low-glare LED panel lights.
| Backlit | Edgelit | Modular louver / reflector | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED position | Array behind diffuser | Edge-fired into LGP | Replaceable engine + lens/reflector or louver |
| Typical thickness | ~32 mm | ~9 mm | Series-dependent, serviceable |
| lm/W band | Up to ~150 lm/W on quality SKUs | Slightly lower (LGP losses) | Typically 120–160 lm/W at 80Ra (less at 90Ra; check datasheet) |
| Glare control | Microprisma can reach UGR<19 | Often higher UGR unless microprisma | UGR<19 std; UGR<16 (PG-2/PA); UGR<15 (CD) |
| Serviceability | Sealed; driver sometimes replaceable | Sealed LGP | Replaceable module + driver (SKD) |
| Best for | Cost-efficient offices | Thin residential / design ceilings | DE offices, schools, OEM programs |
- Commodity UGR<19 = microprismatic diffuser on a sealed panel.
- UGR<16 = tighter optic: modular lens + reflector (PG-2 series / PA option) or louver (CD series UGR<15).
- Opal / high UGR = corridors and stockrooms, not VDU desks.
Pay up for CAD/precision, healthcare examination, and classrooms where tablets are used all day.
Do German offices need UGR ≤19 or UGR <16?
Indoor workplaces in Germany are planned to DIN EN 12464-1 and ASR A3.4. UGR ≤19 is the office floor for writing, typing and data processing. UGR <16is the upgrade for drawing, precision and all-day screens. OLAMLED: UGR<19 as that floor; UGR<16 modular as the screen-heavy upgrade; UGR<15 CD for premium. A “UGR<19 panel” sticker does not guarantee UGR 19 in the room. See glare vs anti-glare LED lights.
| Task | Ēm (lx) | UGRL | Uo | Ra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing, typing, data processing | 500 | 19 | 0.60 | 80 |
| Technical drawing | 750 | 16 | 0.70 | 80 |
| CAD workstations | 500 | 19 | 0.60 | 80 |
| Classroom (day) | 300 | 19 | 0.60 | 80 |
| Evening / adult education | 500 | 19 | 0.60 | 80 |
| Whiteboard (vertical) | 500 vertical | – | – | 80 |
UGR is a room calculation
CIE 117 / ZVEI tabular method: UGR depends on room size, reflectances, arrangement and observer. Request (1) LDT (and IES if you also run AGi32); (2) a UGR table for a stated reference room (e.g. 4H × 8H, ρ 70/50/20); (3) DIALux/Relux with observers at desk eye-height; (4) Pst LM / SVM; (5) luminance at γ = 65°. Send ceiling type plus room schedule; confirm current DIALux turnaround on the RFQ.
German VDU tenders add a luminance criterion alongside UGR: average luminaire luminance at elevation ≥65° from nadir ≤3000 cd/m² for positive-polarity office screens (EN 12464-1 Case A / BAP65). Negative-polarity CAD is tighter (~1500 cd/m²). This does not replace UGR. Use the local term Bildschirmarbeitsplatz in the tender. Application notes: why choose low-glare LED panel lights for offices.
How many lumens do you need?
Required lumens ≈ area (m²) × target lux. Then add 30–50% for light-loss factor (depreciation, dirt, utilization). Compare lm/W, not watts: commodity ~90–110; compact/pro 120–140; OLAMLED modular typically 130–160 lm/W at 80Ra (less at 90Ra; check the datasheet). Typical DE office ceiling: 2.7–3.0 m.
Worked example: 20 m² office at 500 lx
Rule of thumb, not a lighting design: 20 m² × 500 lx = 10,000 lm utilization. × 1.4 ≈ 14,000 lm installed. Four 30 W modular panels at ~140 lm/W ≈ 4 × 4,200 lm = 16,800 lm (covers reserve). Four commodity 36 W at ~100 lm/W need more watts for similar flux. “4,200 lm at 30 W” is PA-class typical; verify the current datasheet. Uniformity Uo 0.60 and UGR still need DIALux.
Which dimming protocol?
Match the driver to the building bus. Never mix a TRIAC wall dimmer with a driver that is not phase-cut rated; that is the most common flicker complaint after handover. DALI-2 is the German project default. Casambi is the renovation path when there is no new bus. Protocol notes: how to select dimmable LED panel lights.
| Protocol | Signal | Typical DE use | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On/Off | Mains | Storerooms | Lowest cost | No scenes / harvesting |
| TRIAC / phase-cut | Leading/trailing edge | Small retrofit | Existing wall dimmers | Flicker if driver not TRIAC-rated |
| 0–10 V / 1–10 V | Analogue pair | Simple commercial | Cheap, familiar | No addressing; polarity/load |
| DALI-2 DT6 | Digital bus | Project default | Addressable + sensors | Needs DALI-2 gear + commissioning |
| DALI-2 DT8 | Digital (color) | Tunable white | One address for CCT | Specify DT8, not RGBW |
| D4i | DALI-2 + data | Zhaga sensor-ready | Sensor brand not locked | Ecosystem still maturing |
| Casambi / Bluetooth | Mesh | Renovation, no bus | Occupied-office retrofit | Radio planning; not a DALI substitute |
New commercial fit-out → DALI-2. Existing 1–10 V → match the bus. No bus, occupied office → Casambi.
Ask for Pst LM ≤1.0 and SVM ≤0.4 on the driver datasheet; that is the pair EU professional brands already print. Do not invent a fixture flicker number; request the report. Cheap drivers that pass at 100% output often flicker when an occupancy sensor or DALI scene cycles them. That is the headache complaint after handover, not “LEDs are bad.” Specify flicker-free dimming over the used range (e.g. 10–100%), not as a slogan.
Recessed, surface or pendant?
German catalogs sell one engine with three kits. Rasterdecke → lay-in recessed. Solid concrete → surface frame (Aufbaurahmen). Plasterboard → recessed springs / plaster kit. High or exposed ceiling → pendant / Seilabhängung (optional up/down).
| Ceiling | Kit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rasterdecke / T-bar | Recessed lay-in | Measure 620 vs 595 |
| Concrete | Surface frame (Aufbau) | Frame is a separate SKU |
| Plasterboard | Spring / plaster kit | Not a grid drop-in |
| High / exposed | Pendant (Seil) | Up/down option |
Electrical connection in Germany must be done by a certified electrician (Elektrofachkraft). Dropping the chassis into a grid is mechanically simple; wiring is not.
Which LED panel for offices, schools, retail and healthcare?
Typical specification language, not named case studies.
| Sector | Target lux | UGR | CCT | CRI | Construction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office VDU | 500 lx | ≤19 (≤16 CAD) | 4000 K | Ra ≥80 | Modular or microprisma | DALI-2; BAP65 |
| School classroom | 300–500 lx | ≤19 (≤16 if tablets all day) | 4000 K | Ra ≥80 | Low-glare, low flicker | Whiteboard 500 lx vertical |
| Retail | Task-dependent | ≤22 typical | 3000 K or tunable | Ra ≥90 | High CRI | Vertical lux on merchandise |
| Healthcare exam | Task-dependent | ≤16 | 4000–5000 K | Ra ≥90 | Tight optic, cleanable | Not a medical device |
| Corridor | 100–150 lx | 25 class | 4000 K | Ra ≥80 | 300×1200 linear | T5 replacement |
Cheap UGR22 opal panels fail at monitors (reflected glare) even at 500 lx horizontal. Harshness and headaches after handover are optic and flicker problems, not a shortage of watts. Upgrade: PG-2 UGR<16 / CD UGR<15. Classrooms: why use anti-glare LED panel lights in schools.
Copy-paste tender line. Size 620×620 mm (Odenwald) or 595×595 mm (600 mm grid). 4000 K; Ra ≥80; SDCM <5 (<3 in one visual field). UGR ≤19 in DIALux for the stated room; UGR <16 for CAD / all-day screens. Luminance ≤3000 cd/m² at γ = 65° (Bildschirmarbeitsplatz / BAP65). DALI-2; Pst LM ≤1.0 / SVM ≤0.4 (request on the driver datasheet). L70/L80 + 5-year warranty. CE / RoHS; ENEC / TÜV if the SKU carries them.
Office IP20–40; hygiene/parking IP54/65. Do not oversell indoor panels as wet-rated. Emergency lighting is a system (EN 1838 + local code), not a panel sticker: specify a self-contained 3 h pack or a central-battery connection as an option, not a code-compliance guarantee.
Need a factory RFQ or SKD kit?
If you are private-labelling or assembling locally, keep the RFQ to the same spec line plus named driver, LDT + UGR table, replaceable module and driver (Ecodesign), sampling, and SKD vs assembled. OLAMLED states 1 pc / small-batch on the modular LP; confirm on the RFQ. Kit and EU-assembly notes: SKD LED panel light supplier.
LED panel light FAQs
What is a LED panel light?
A commercial LED panel light is a flat ceiling luminaire that spreads even, low-glare light across offices, schools, retail and healthcare. LEDs sit behind an optic (opal, microprismatic or modular louver/reflector) with a remote or integrated driver. It replaces fluorescent grille/T5 fittings, not a video/photo or therapy panel.
Do LED light panels work?
Yes, when specified as a system: correct grid size (620×620 vs 595×595), UGR modelled in the room, driver matched to the control bus, and install by an electrician. Failures after handover are usually the wrong optic, TRIAC mismatch, or a 600 mm panel in a 625 mm Odenwald grid.
Which LED panel light is best?
For German offices, the panel that hits the tender: 4000 K, Ra ≥80, UGR ≤19 in DIALux (UGR <16 for screen-heavy rooms), DALI-2, and the matching 620 or 595 cut. OLAMLED PA / PG-2 / CD step up to UGR<16/<15, replaceable engines and OEM/private label.
What is a LED panel called?
Tenders also say LED panel luminaire, LED ceiling panel, Rasterleuchte replacement, grille/CAT2 replacement, or LED Einbaupanel. In Germany 62×62 / 620×620 / 625×625 all point at Odenwald panels. Confirm ceiling vs camera: consumer “LED light panel” often means a video light.
Do LED panels use a lot of electricity?
Not relative to fluorescent grille fittings. Compare lm/W, not watts: a 30 W modular panel at ~140 lm/W can replace a higher-watt T5/T8 cell at equal flux. DALI-2 plus occupancy/daylight harvesting cuts hours of full output. Request L70 and driver standby rather than an unsourced “up to 75%” claim.
What is the difference between an LED downlight and an LED panel light?
A downlight is a small-aperture point source (spots, corridors, accents). A panel is a large luminous surface for even ambient light on a grid or plaster ceiling. Offices and classrooms are almost always panels (or linear trunking). Downlights supplement EN 12464-1 task lighting; they do not replace it.
What are the negatives of LED lights?
For panels the real negatives are specification errors: opal optics on a VDU desk (glare), driver/dimmer/sensor mismatch (flicker), Ra 70 in retail, or a 595 mm panel in a 625 mm grid. Modelled UGR, Pst LM/SVM and a replaceable driver avoid those.
Which is better, a COB light or a panel light?
Different tools. COB downlights and high-bays concentrate flux in a beam (spots, high ceilings, industrial). A panel is a low-luminance area source for desks and classrooms. For German offices, specify UGR-controlled panels; use COB only for accent or high-bay zones.
What are the different types of LED panels?
Construction: edgelit, backlit, modular louver/reflector. Control: On/Off, 0–10 V, DALI-2, Casambi. Glare: UGR<22 general, UGR<19 office, UGR<16/<15 precision. Mount: recessed, surface, pendant. Market: 600×600 international vs 620×620 German Odenwald. Video RGB panels are a different entity.
Are LED panel lights easy to install?
Drop-in on a Rasterdecke is mechanically simple. Electrical connection in Germany must be done by a certified electrician (Elektrofachkraft). Surface and plasterboard kits need the matching frame. Test dimming and DALI addressing before the ceiling is closed.
Request a DIALux check and panel schedule on the modular panel light LP, or send a private-label / SKD RFQ. OLAMLED has 17 years in LED luminaire design and production; we do not invent a UGR number for a room we have not modelled.
