Table top surface appraisal by school children under different lighting conditions tested in the Senselab

To find out whether a surface finishing was preferred under different lighting conditions by school children, in the light test chamber of the SenseLab, 335 children from previous studied schools were asked to assess a desk surface during different light conditions. A two-way randomized design was used to test children’s assessments for six school desks table tops (brown, yellow and grey wood, and, normal, matt and reflective white), under three different light conditions: energizing, calming, and focusing. A statistically relevant relationship was found for the three wooden surfaces, but none for the white ones. Such results may be due to the fact that better contrast between the participants’ form and the surface appeared with the wooden-like surfaces, as opposed to that with the white surfaces. Similarly, white surfaces’ characteristics seemed to be more difficult to assess (mattness, reflectiveness, opacity) as opposed to those for the wooden-like surfaces (colour yellow, brown, grey).


Introduction
In a recent field study of 54 classrooms of 21 primary schools in the Netherlands, was observed that desk finishing and lighting tend to be standard. Generally, desktops are of light wood laminate and lights were fluorescent with standard lighting [l]. Additionally, from the inspection of the classrooms was found that the colours of the floors had the most variation, while walls and ceilings were generally white. From studies with adults it is known that different colours can directly affect an individual's impression of environmental parameters [2]. Also, the colour/light combinations of indoor environmental surfaces seem to have an effect on perceptual performance of school children ( e.g. colour of walls [3]) and their behaviour and mood [4]. Additionally, there is proof that light affects school children's concentration and comfort [l, 2, 5], but little is known about how a colour of the desktop affects comfort and whether the colour interacts with the effects of the lighting conditions. The objective of this study was to study the effect of a surface finishing under different lighting conditions as assessed by school children.
In the light test chamber of the SenseLab [6], children from the previous studied schools [l] were asked to assess a desk surface during three different lighting conditions: energizing (6501x; 12000K), calming (3001x; 2900K), and focusing (1 00Olx Interchangeable surfaces comprised of white matte, white reflective, grey wood, brown wood, yellow wood. The SenseLab comprises of four test chambers ( one for each IEQ factor: air, light, acoustics and thermal aspects) and the Experience room (a room for integral perception) [6].
Past studies have suggested that correlated colour temperature (CCT) can have an effect on both subjective comfort and preferences for the light itself [8]. Few studies have shown the appraisal of environmental characteristics based on the light conditions. A study did show that subjects in classrooms tend to perceive environmental spaces brighter when CCT is higher, even when illuminance levels are the same [9].

Study design
This study was part of a series of tests performed with children from the previous studied schools, in the SenseLab [6]. A two-way randomized design was used to test the preferences of children for a range of six table top surfaces and the effects of the light conditions on such preferences.

Facilities
During the SenseLab studies the light test chamber of the SenseLab was used (see Fi gu re 1 ). The light chamber was equipped with four student desks arranged facing a e . estmg sc eme.