Lighting Guide

Recommended Light Levels

Cibse & SLL

Cibse is the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers

The SLL is the Society of Light & Lighting

As proud members of both organisations when we approach a lighting project we have full access to all of the Cibse Lighting Guides to ensure that your project is compliant to the relevant standards & recommendations.

 

For external lighting calculations for public spaces we also observe the correct classification of lighting for roadways, pathways and public realm areas. 

Below is a general guide which you may find helpful in evaluating your next project. 

Please note that these are guidelines and recommendations, a competent survey and analysis of the requirements should also ways be carried out to evaluate the scope prior to project commencement. 

For more information about recommended lighting levels please contact our lighting design consultant: leonard@domusproject.ie  

Offices 

General Office 

400-500 lux

Computer Work Stations

300-500 lux

Drawing Boards

750 lux

Printing & Filing

250-300 lux

 

Circulation Areas 

Entrances

200-300 lux

Lifts

100 lux

Corridors & Stairs

100-150 lux

 

 

Engineering

Tool Shops 

300-750 lux

Welding

Arc 300 lux / Precision 500-1000lx

Assembly

300-500 lux

Inspection

500-1000 lux

Churches 

Seating Areas 

200-300 lux

Walkways

300 lux

Alter

500-750 lux

Artwork*

300-750 lux (Survey Required)

 

 

Retail

Supermarkets 

750-1000 lux

Convenience Stores

500-750 lux

DIY / Specialist Stores

1000 lux

Home / Garden Stores

500 lux

 

Kitchens – Commercial

Food Preparation 

500 – 750lux

Wash & Cleaning Stations

300 lux

Serve Overs

300-500 lux

Stores

150-300 lux

 

Domestic

General Lighting – 120 lux

Kitchen 250 lux

Bedrooms 120 lux

Sewing room 500 lux

Bathroom 250 lux

Dining room 500 lux

Retail

Supermarkets 

750-1000 lux

Convenience Stores

500-750 lux

DIY / Specialist Stores

1000 lux

Home / Garden Stores

500 lux

Education

Classroom,Tutorial rooms 300 lux

Lecture hall 500 lux

Technical drawing rooms 750 lux

Practical rooms & laboratories 500 lux

Computer practice rooms 300 lux

Entrance halls 200 lux

Circulation areas & corridors 100 lux

Stairs 150 lux 

Sports halls, gymnasiums & pools 400 lux

School canteens 300 lux

Car Parks

Parking bays (multi storey/underground) 75 lux

Access lanes (M-S/UG) 75 lux

Ramps (M-S/UG) 150 lux

Intersections (M-S/UG) 150 lux 

Multi storey roof level 30 lux

Entrance / exit zones (M-S/UG) day time 300 lux

Entrance / exit zones (M-S/UG) night time 75 lux

pedestrian areas (M-S/UG) 100 lux

Stairs & lifts (M-S/UG) 100 lux

Corners (M-S/UG) 150 lux

Public Houses 

Cashier desk, till 300 lux

Kitchen 500 lux

General lighting 250 lux

Hotels & Restaurants

Reception & Porters desk 300 lux

Kitchen 500 lux 

Self-service restaurant 300 lux

Buffet 300 lux

Conference rooms 500 lux

Corridors 100 lux

Bathroom (hotel suite) 150 lux

Toilets (hotel suite) 100 lux 

Foyers 200 lux

Dining room 250 lux 

Halls 120 lux

Bathrooms (general) 250  lux

Nursing Homes

Entrance lobbies 200 lux

Lounges (communal) 300 lux

Kitchens 300 lux 

Bathrooms 150 lux

Toilets 100 lux

Corridors 100 lux

Staircases 100 lux

Quiet / rest rooms 100 lux

Dining rooms 200 lux 

Stores 100 lux

 

Exhibitions & Libraries

General lighting 250 lux

Very illuminated 500 lux

Offices

Filing, copying etc… 300 lux

Writing, typing, reading, processing 500 lux

Technical drawing 750 lux

CAD workstations 500 lux

Conference & meeting rooms 500 lux

Reception area 300 lux

Archives 200 lux

Design office 1000 lux

Toilets 250 lux

General lighting 120 lux

Precision assembly 1500 lux

Hospitals

Waiting rooms 200 lux

Corridors (during day) 200 lux

Corridors (during night) 50 lux

Day rooms 200 lux

Staff office 400 lux

Staff rooms 300 lux

Simple examination room 300 lux

Operating theatre 1000 lux

Bathroom & toilets for outpatients 200 lux