Digital all-round star: The new generation of ERCO Quintessence lighting tools

Lüdenscheid, March 2016. Recessed luminaires are the preferred choice in applications where the lighting tools need to be deliberately toned down in favour of their lighting effect in the architecture. Prime examples here are administration buildings and educational facilities with their diversity of spatial situations and usage requirements. With the new, fully digital generation of Quintessence recessed luminaires, ERCO has launched a system solution designed to satisfy the highest standards of visual comfort and energy performance, with equal focus on efficiency. Perfected in every detail, Quintessence offers optimised photometric, electrical and mechanical features that combine to encapsulate almost five decades of highly refined expertise and passion, setting ERCO apart as a leading specialist in recessed lighting systems.

Whereas the first generation of Quintessence recessed luminaires helped shape the transition from conventional analogue lighting tools to the digital age of LED light, ERCO has now optimised all parameters of the new, fully digital Quintessence generation to feature state-of-the-art optoelectronics. As well as the LED recessed luminaires available as downlights, double-focus downlights, lens wallwashers and directional luminaires, the upgraded range follows its predecessors by embracing surface-mounted and pendant models. With a logical structure across the range, the result allows for differentiated lighting concepts with maximum freedom in design.

Trusted for uncompromising quality, ERCO predominantly uses components developed in-house - from lenses and reflectors to heat sinks with optimised thermal management through to control gear and LED modules - to ensure optimal control of its products, thereby guaranteeing consistent light quality and maximum efficiency in use and maintenance. For enhanced overall efficiency of the lighting concept, the new Quintessence generation delivers further enhancements, such as reduced recess depths, large luminaire spacing and consistently higher light output ratios.

Downlights: The light distribution makes the difference

The ERCO Quintessence downlights are the first to feature innovative digital photometric solutions that allow the luminaires to be spaced up to 50% further apart, thereby minimising the investment, installation and operating costs. The optical system, consisting of diffuser lens and darklight reflector, produces an extra wide flood distribution, resulting in superbly uniform illumination in the horizontal plane, whilst the cylindrical illumination component ensures good facial recognition. A 90° emission angle with 40° cut-off supporting the batwing light distribution guarantees optimal glare control - a sophisticated combination of photometric properties that previously proved elusive. The Quintessence range of downlights offers lumen packages as high as 4,400lm, with a connected load of up to 32W. With all of these parameters, the downlights ensure powerful illumination, particularly in rooms with high ceilings, such as reception halls and reading rooms, whilst the high cut-off angle provides efficient visual comfort. Offering the familiar diversity of mounting details - round or square, covered or flush - Quintessence downlights integrate seamlessly into a wide variety of architectural concepts, with a minimised recess depth of 136mm that facilitates effective lighting solutions in projects with minimal ceiling voids.

Lens wallwashers and directional luminaires for zoned light

The distinct functional design of the Quintessence range reflects ERCO’s approach to light as the fourth dimension of architecture, recognising its value as a design tool in its own right to structure space, create scenic effect, facilitate orientation and draw attention through dynamic accentuation. With vertical illuminance being a key component for efficient visual comfort, it requires special consideration. With this in mind ERCO has redesigned the Quintessence wallwashers to deliver superb uniformity on vertical surfaces for a bright and open spatial impression. The special wallwasher lens with asymmetrical light distribution ensures excellent glare control with an unusually good cut-off angle of 80° on the room side. As a result, Quintessence lens wallwashers can be spaced further apart - up to a formidable 50% in retail applications and around 30% in museums - taking cost-efficiency to a whole new level.

The directional luminaires in the Quintessence range are made for applications where objects on walls or in the room are to be accentuated, combining the flexibility of track spotlights with the formally understated mounting solution of a recessed luminaire. The beams can be tilted up to 30° from the vertical and rotated through 360°. With a lens system consisting of collimating and Spherolit lenses, supported by a darklight reflector, the luminaire sets new standards in precise light guidance with excellent glare control. The three light distributions narrow spot, spot and flood project the light flexibly and without loss onto the target surface - enabling efficient lighting solutions for changing room usage.

From great heights: Double-focus downlights

The almost magical performance of double-focus downlights is refreshed with Quintessence offering a lighting tool designed for ambient lighting in rooms with high ceilings, such as reading rooms, foyers or theatres, managing the balance between powerful light and excellent glare control masterfully. To this end, the new double-focus downlights are equipped with a special lens system, consisting of collimating and Spherolit lenses, that directs the light downwards in a precise beam with flood or wide flood characteristic. The light is optimally shielded by a black cone, which largely restricts the view into the luminaire. For the same degree of glare-free visual comfort in inclined ceilings, ERCO offers a downlight version with an angle of tilt up to 30°.

Versatile design with surface-mounted and pendant luminaires

Giving consideration to the fact that the ceiling in a building or room may not allow for, or accommodate, installations, ERCO has also designed the two Quintessence luminaires as surface-mounted and pendant models. Defined by a cylindrical housing with focus on simplicity, these lighting tools readily become an aesthetic architectural feature in their own right and add visual accents in the room. Following the system design of its range, they offer the same sizes and lumen packages as recessed downlights. With an emission angle of 90° and a 40° cut-off, Quintessence meets the challenges of efficient ambient lighting extremely well, allowing for large luminaire spacing with high visual comfort. The control gear units are integrated in the housing. As well as mounting with canopy, Quintessence pendant luminaires can be fixed to track with a transadapter.

Optimised for enhanced lumen maintenance

The Quintessence range covers lumen packages from 210lm (directional luminaires) through to 4400lm (downlights and wallwashers), with a connected load ranging between 2W and 32W. Light colours include warm white (3000K) and neutral white (4000K). Thanks to significant in-house development and production of components such as the control gear units and LED modules, ERCO is always in control of its digital lighting tools, ensuring maximum longevity. For the new Quintessence generation, this effectively means that 90% of the LEDs in the luminaires still achieve at least 80% of their original luminous flux after 50,000h. The failure rate of individual LEDs - not of the luminaire - after this period is just 0.1%. As well as supporting a long life, ERCO control gear guarantees consistent dimming characteristics. All Quintessence lighting tools can be dimmed down continuously to 1%, with flicker-free digital light that makes it ideal for studio recording. Depending on the model, the luminaire can be dimmed using trailing edge technology or via DALI.

Technical features

ERCO Quintessence recessed luminaires

Light guidance: Downlight: 90° emission angle, extra wide flood diffuser lens made of optical polymer, darklight reflector made of polymer, aluminium vaporised, 40° cut-off;
lens wallwasher: lens system, wallwash and wallwasher reflector made of optical polymer, 80° cut-off;
directional luminaire: Spherolit lens system with collimating lens made of optical polymer, with light distributions narrow spot, spot and flood (0° - 30° tilt, lockable angles of tilt and rotation)
LED module: High-power LEDs on metal-core PCB, light colours: warm white (3000K) or neutral white (4000K), lumen maintenance L80/B10, LED failure rate 0.1% 50,000h
Control gear: Switchable, DALI or phase dimmable
Housing: Cast aluminium, designed as heat sink, 360° rotation

ERCO Quintessence recessed spotlights, floodlights and wallwashers

Light guidance: Spherolit lens system with collimating lens made of optical polymer, with light distributions narrow spot, spot, flood, wide flood, oval flood and wallwash
LED module: High-power LEDs on metal-core PCB,
light colours: warm white (3000K) or neutral white (4000K), lumen maintenance L80/B10, LED failure rate 0.1% 50,000h
Control gear: Switchable, DALI or phase dimmable
Housing: Cast aluminium, designed as heat sink, 360° rotation

ERCO Quintessence double-focus downlights

Light guidance: Spherolit lens system with collimating lens made of optical polymer, with light distributions flood and wide flood,
anti-glare cone made of polymer, black lacquered or anti-glare ring for inclined ceilings made of cast aluminium or polymer, external white, internal black
LED module: High-power LEDs on metal-core PCB,
light colours: warm white (3000K) or neutral white (4000K), lumen maintenance L80/B10, LED failure rate 0.1% 50,000h
Control gear: Switchable, DALI or phase dimmable
Housing: Cast aluminium, designed as heat sink, 360° rotation, for inclined ceilings: 0° - 30° tilt, lockable angle of tilt and rotation

ERCO Quintessence surface-mounted and pendant luminaires

Light guidance: Downlights: 90° emission angle, extra wide flood diffuser lens made of optical polymer, darklight reflector made of polymer, aluminium vaporised, 40° cut-off;
LED module: High-power LEDs on metal-core PCB,
light colours: warm white (3000K) or neutral white (4000K), lumen maintenance L80/B10, LED failure rate 0.1% 50,000h
Control gear: Switchable
Housing: Aluminium, powder-coated, white;
surface-mounted luminaire: ceiling fixture for surface-mounted luminaire made of metal;
pendant luminaire: transadapter or ceiling fixture with canopy, white