It is important to ascertain that the lighting at commercial and industrial building spaces are at adequate and acceptable levels.
A quick check with a lux level meter will promptly tell you how well-lit a user space is and if any additional lighting is required to bring it up to comfortable and functional level. This can be determined by referring to a table of lux level requirements for common user space as given below.
“Use a Lux Level Meter (left) to determine the illuminance levels at areas of interest. As the models come in a variety of reading range, be sure to buy the suitable one for your task. Ensure that they are calibrated over time, and that readings are taken with the correct method, such as holding the sensor end at arm’s length from the body, to prevent stray light from reflecting off your body onto the sensor, which would yield an inaccurate reading…”
An Overview
In the following table, we take a look at general acceptable lux levels for various work functions and typical user space. Hover over each row for easier line viewing.
| Lux Level | Work Activity and Function | Example of User Area |
|---|---|---|
| 20 – 80 | Public walking | Public parks and open-air carparks |
| 100 – 140 | Casual non-visual task | Corridors, changing rooms, office restrooms |
| 150 – 180 | Some perception of detail | Warehouses, stores, plant rooms, lift lobbies |
| 200 – 240 | Continuous occupation | Entrance halls, dining rooms |
| 250 – 300 | Very easy visual task | Public toilet, classrooms |
| 300 – 400 | Moderately easy visual task | Private office, libraries, lecture theatres |
| 500 – 600 | Moderately difficult visual task | Offices, laboratories, retail outlets |
| 750 – 900 | Difficult visual task | Supermarkets, technical drawing offices |
| 1000 – 1300 | Very difficult visual task | Operating theatres, polishing and painting plant |
| 1500 – 1800 | Extremely difficult visual task | Assembly plants, inspection plants |
| > 2000 | Exceptionally difficult visual task | Precision assembly, fine work inspection |
Recommended Lux Level Requirements by the Industry
Going into more specific industries, the following is a list of working spaces and their recommended lux levels:
Educational Buildings
School and College
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Computer Room | 300 |
| Classroom and Tuition Centre | 350 |
| Technical Drawing Room | 750 |
Museum and Science Centre
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| General Area and Corridor | 150 |
| Common Toilet and Restroom | 200 |
| Special Lighting for Paintings | 300 |
| Special Lighting for Sculptures | 750 |
Commercial Buildings
Retail Shop and Outlet
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Sales Area and Premises | 400 |
| Gift Wrap Station | 450 |
| Cash Register Counter | 500 |
Commercial Space and Office
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Lift Lobby | 200 |
| Corridor | 300 |
| Toilet and Restroom | 150 |
| Cafeteria | 350 |
| Plant Room (AHU, Genset etc.) | 150 |
| Store Room | 180 |
Special Buildings
Hospital
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Lift Lobby | 200 |
| Corridor | 250 |
| Waiting Area and Lobby | 300 |
| Common Toilet and Restroom | 250 |
| Counselling Room | 200 |
| Breast-Feeding Room | 200 |
| Intensive Care Unit | 300 |
| High Dependency Unit | 300 |
| Isolation Room | 300 |
| Isolation Room – Ante Room | 300 |
| Delivery Suite – Labour Room | 300 |
| Operating Theatre | 500 |
| Operating Theatre – Air-Lock | 300 |
| CSSD/TSSU – Sterilisation Area | 300 |
| CSSD/TSSU – Packing Area | 500 |
| Patient Ward – Room | 300 |
| Patient Ward – Toilet | 150 |
| Conference Room | 400 |
| Catering Dept – Main Kitchen | 400 |
| Catering Dept – Beverage Kitchen | 300 |
| Catering Dept – Refuse Holding | 150 |
Hotel and Restaurant
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Lift Lobby | 150 |
| Corridor | 150 |
| Common Toilet and Restroom | 150 |
| Bar | 150 |
| Bedroom | 200 |
| Conference Room | 400 |
| Exhibition Hall | 500 |
Cinema, Concert Hall and Theatre
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Entrance Foyer | 200 |
| Auditorium | 150 |
| Toilet and Restroom | 200 |
| Dress Change | 300 |
| Make-Up Room | 400 |
Residential Buildings
House, Apartments, Condominium and Residences
| Area and User Space | Recommended Lux Level |
|---|---|
| Living Room | 200 |
| Dining Room | 250 |
| Kitchen | 250 |
| Bedroom | 180 |
| Bathroom | 150 |
Please note that some of the figures given above for certain areas may deviate slightly from what is commonly accepted, and as such are my own interpretation of what constitutes comfortable lighting levels which takes into account interior design considerations, mood ambiance and other factors. For the purpose of design and calculations, this will be featured in another article.
Australian Standard – Recommended Lux Level Requirements
As a comparison, the recommended MINIMUM lux levels for various user space is given by the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1680.2.2 under Table 3.1 – Interior and Workspace Lighting. Kindly note that the following is a summary of the guideline for minimum illumination to suit the required task and purpose, and may be increased where deemed fit, subject to energy conservation requirements and other decision and design criteria:
| Characteristics of Areas and Activities | Examples | Recommended Minimum Illumination (lux) |
|---|---|---|
| Interiors rarely visited where lighting is only required to aid movement and orientation | Pass-though corridors and walkways; cable tunnels; indoor storage tanks | 40 |
| Areas of intermittent use for tasks of coarse detail | Movement, orientation and tasks of coarse detail in areas such as change rooms, storage rooms, loading bays etc. | 80 |
| Areas that are continually used for tasks of coarse detail | Simple tasks such as occasional reading of clearly printed documents for short periods or rough bench or machine work in areas such as waiting rooms and entrance halls etc. | 160 |
| Continuously occupied interiors used for ordinary tasks with high contrasts or large detail | Food preparation areas; counters for transactions; school boards; medium woodworking | 240 |
| Areas where visual tasks are moderately difficult and include moderate detail (5 – 10 min arc or tolerances to 123µm) with low contrast | Routine office tasks such as reading, typing and writing in office spaces or enquiry desks | 320 |
| Medium level inspection work such as fine woodwork or car assembly | 400 | |
| Areas where visual tasks are difficult with small detail (3 – 5 min arc or tolerances to 25µm) with lower contrast | Visually difficult tasks including most inspection tasks such as proofreading, fine machine work or fine painting | 600 |
| Areas where visual work are very difficult and involve very small detail (2 – 3 min arc) with very low contrast | Very difficult tasks such as fine inspection, paint retouching or fine manufacture | 800 |
| Areas where visual work is extremely difficult with extremely small detail (1 – 2 min arc or tolerances below 25µm) with very low contrast | Extremely difficult tasks that may require visual aids such as graphic arts inspection; hand tailoring; inspection of dark goods; extra-fine bench work etc. | 1200 |
| Areas where visual work is exceptionally difficult with exceptionally small detail (<1 min arc) with very low contrast | Exceptionally difficult tasks where visual aids would be of advantage such as the assembly of minute mechanisms and jewellery and watchmaking | 1600 |
For specific lighting applications on educational and training facilities, you may also refer in greater detail to the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1680.2.3 (2008). Attention is drawn to Table D1 on Page 27. Click here to view or download a copy in pdf format.
Malaysia Standard – Any lux levels req?