I always found that when using fluorescent lighting as workarea (supplimental task)lighting, that the best position seemed to be to hang them at a height of 8' from the ground to the reflector, at a position that is directly above the operators.

This way as operators tend to lean forward as they work, the light was basically coming from slightly behind them reducing the glare.

Remember...
"If you don't use your head, your going to have to use your feet."

The best solution for controlling glare is "indirect lighting". Use suspended fluorescent fixtures with two or three T8 or T5 lamps hung 18" to 24" from the ceiling. The type of fixture that I recommend is 90% uplight - 10% down light. Foloowing is one of the manufactureres:

www.ledalite.com

I was recently sucessful with reducing glare by sticking tape to the edge of the flourescent fitting to allow light to shine down and not out on the cieling. This is simlar to specifying or useing louvres to direct light and reduce angles. Try also to place the work desk directly below and in line with a light. Lastly it is better to face work desks away from windows with light comming from behind.

Indirect lighting is best but most expensive and least energy efficient.

1/2" paracube grilles are very effective but are very inefficient and make the ceiling look dark (and kind of early 80's retro).

3" parabolic louvers are standard in lots of offices and do a reasonably good job while being relatively efficient.

"Indirect troffers" look cool but generally don't help glare much.

Placing the lighting over the user is a good idea for any of the fixtures.  Doesn't work too well in open office areas, though.

There are anti-glare filters that can be placed over the CRT's that can help.  Visors to shade the CRT may be useful too.

Don't forget dimming or switching.  Decreasing the light output from the fixtures will help reduce the glare.  If this is a very computer intensive area, you might decide to go with very low light levels, perhaps 20fc, and supplement with task lighting (desk lights).

I saw a low budget solution,  The company simply hug the ceiling tile 12" below the fixtures with a 6" horizontal overlap.  This however was for smaller offices.

Best Regards,

Ray Micallef, P. Eng.
Power Generation/Utility Industry

The new flat screen computer monitors have a much lower glare than the old CRT types and seem to please our opperators plus take up less desk space, so lighting is not the only way.

Try replacing the luminaires directly around the workstations with "Optimax" luminaires by Lithonia Lighting, they are specifically engineered to prevent VDT glare, visit their site at www.lithonia.com

Although this is an old posting of sorts, I thought I'd add my 2¢ worth:

typically, most fluorescent lighting I've been accustomed to uses the "cool white" bulbs -- which drive my eyes nuts and have routinely given me headaches (I even tried the eyeglass tinting recommended for fluorescents -- to no avail)

I tried the "daylight" bulbs which give off a bluer light and are not as glaring or harsh and provided the relief I needed -- as a result, I have also implemented installing these lamps in the control rooms at our power plants...

initially some employees have made fun of the "blue" light (it's only significantly noticable when the "cool white" lights are near), but almost all seem to prefer these type bulbs after working under them -- they have been a little pricier than "cool white" but can be a direct replacement rather than fixture changeouts, etc...