Recommended Lighting Levels/Standards
Proper lighting is essential in creating safe, productive, and visually appealing environments across various settings. Whether in offices, schools, retail spaces, or industrial facilities, ensuring the correct lighting levels can enhance functionality, reduce accidents, and improve overall well-being. Additionally, many workplaces must meet specific illumination levels to comply with safety and operational standards, making proper lighting design essential for both functionality and regulatory compliance. This article discusses recommended lighting levels for common and specialized applications.
It’s important to note that this article is meant to be an informative guide. We recommend consulting with our professional lighting engineers to perform a photometric analysis for precise results tailored to your unique space.
Understanding “Foot-Candles”
Lighting levels are measured in “foot-candles,” a standard unit that quantifies the amount of light hitting a surface. The one-foot candle is equivalent to the illumination provided by a single candle from one foot away. This measurement helps professionals evaluate and implement lighting solutions tailored to specific tasks and environments. Horizontal foot-candles refer to light measured on a flat surface, like a desk or floor, while vertical foot-candles measure the light on vertical surfaces, such as walls or objects at eye level.
Understanding and adhering to recommended foot-candle levels is crucial for optimizing visibility, meeting safety standards, and ensuring energy-efficient lighting in commercial and industrial applications. In this guide, we will explore recommended lighting levels for various settings to help you choose the best LED lighting solutions for your needs.
Basic Lighting Levels
This section discusses common lighting recommendations for everyday areas. Proper illumination in spaces such as corridors, restrooms, and lunchrooms ensures safety and comfort for all users. Lighting recommendations for common indoor areas include,
Corridors: Horizontal average of 5-foot candles, with a range of 2.5-10-foot candles.
Restrooms: Horizontal average of 15-foot candles, with a range of 7.5-30-foot candles. Vanity areas may require higher levels of up to 20 foot-candles.
Lunch and Break Rooms: Horizontal average of 10-foot candles, with a range of 5-20 foot candles.
Lighting Levels for Commercial Offices
In office environments, appropriate lighting contributes to productivity and reduces eye strain. Recommendations for commercial office lighting include:
Open Office Areas (Desks): Horizontal average of 40-foot candles, measured at desk height.
Conference Rooms (Tables): Horizontal average of 30-foot candles, with a range of 15-60 foot-candles.
Private Offices: Horizontal average of 40-foot candles, ensuring adequate visibility for focused tasks.
Whiteboards: For reading, 15 foot-candles; for presenting, 30 foot-candles.
By tailoring lighting levels to specific tasks, office spaces can achieve a balance between comfort and efficiency.
Lighting Levels for School & Educational Facilities
Educational spaces require lighting that supports learning and minimizes eye strain for students and educators. Recommendations for educational lighting include,
Classrooms (Typical Applications): Horizontal average of 50 foot-candles, measured at desk height, ensuring sufficient illumination for reading and writing.
Classrooms (Challenging Applications): Horizontal average of 75 foot-candles for tasks like arts, blueprints, or lab work.
Auditoriums (AV and Notes): Horizontal average of 20 foot-candles, with reduced levels for areas requiring minimal glare.
Gymnasiums (Competition and Recreation): Horizontal average ranges from 30 to 50 foot-candles, depending on the level of activity and spectator needs.
Lighting Levels for Parking Lots
Adequate parking lot lighting ensures safety and security for pedestrians and drivers. Recommendations for common parking lot lighting needs include,
Covered Parking: Horizontal average of 1.5 foot-candles, with a range of 0.5-2 foot-candles. For enhanced security, consider increasing levels to 3 foot-candles.
Uncovered Parking (Suburban): Horizontal average of 1 foot-candle, with a range of 0.5-2 foot-candles.
Uncovered Parking (Urban): Horizontal average of 2 foot-candles, with a range of 1-3 foot-candles. Uniformity is key to reducing shadows and enhancing visibility.
Please note, that these numbers may vary based on the type of parking lot.
Outdoor Lighting Levels
Outdoor spaces require effective lighting to ensure visibility, safety, and security during nighttime operations. Key recommendations for outdoor lighting levels include:
Walkways and Pathways: Horizontal average of 1-2 foot-candles, ensuring safe navigation for pedestrians.
Building Exteriors (Safety): Horizontal average of 5 foot-candles, with a minimum of 1 foot-candle to enhance security.
Gas Station Canopies: Horizontal average of 20-foot candles to provide clear visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
Sports Fields (Amateur/Community): Horizontal average of 30-50 foot-candles, depending on the level of competition.
Industrial Lighting Levels
Industrial facilities demand robust lighting solutions to ensure precision, safety, and efficiency. Recommendations for common industrial lighting needs include:
Assembly & Inspection (Simple Tasks): Horizontal average of 30-foot candles, with a range of 15-60 foot-candles.
Assembly & Inspection (Difficult Tasks): Horizontal average of 50 foot-candles, with a range of 25-100 foot-candles.
Manufacturing (Large Components): Horizontal average of 30 candles, supporting visibility for handling sizable parts.
Manufacturing (Fine Components): Horizontal average of 100 foot-candles, with a range of 50-200 foot-candles to ensure accuracy in detailed work.
By implementing these lighting levels, industrial spaces can achieve optimal performance while adhering to safety standards.
Retail Store Lighting Levels
Retail environments require dynamic lighting to enhance the shopping experience and highlight merchandise effectively. Recommendations for common retail store lighting needs include:
General Retail Areas: Horizontal average of 50 foot-candles, providing ample lighting for product browsing.
Perimeter Areas: Horizontal average of 20 foot-candles, with a range of 10-40 foot-candles to accentuate displays.
Accent Lighting (Displays): Typically 3-10 times brighter than ambient lighting, ensuring featured products stand out.
Grocery Store Lighting Levels
Grocery stores need well-distributed and focused lighting to create a comfortable shopping environment while showcasing products. Recommendations for common grocery store lighting applications include,
- Circulation Areas: Horizontal average of 30 foot-candles, ensuring visibility in walkways.
- Perimeter Areas: Horizontal average of 20 foot-candles, enhancing visibility for shelf browsing.
- Product Displays: Horizontal average of 50 foot-candles, highlighting fresh produce and packaged goods.
Warehouse Lighting Levels
Warehouses require functional lighting to support logistics and operational efficiency. Recommendations for common warehouse lighting applications include,
- Bulky Items (Large Labels): Horizontal average of 30 foot-candles, ensuring visibility for larger packages.
- Small Items (Small Labels): Horizontal average of 50 foot-candles, facilitating precise identification.
- Receiving and Staging Areas: Horizontal average of 20 foot-candles, with a range of 10-40 foot-candles to ensure safe handling and sorting of goods.
