CIBSE Recommended Lux Levels

Advice on light levels for different applications

CIBSE, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, acts as a professional body for lighting in the UK and produces a series of guides giving optimum lighting requirements for a wide range of environments. The following table, compiled from information found in CIBSE's Society of Light and Lighting and other relevant publications, aims to give recommended light levels for commonly found conditions. These are recommendations only; careful consideration must go into every unique area.

How we can help: get in touch with our experienced team. Our aim is to always provide the best-value lighting solution to meet a project's individual needs; we probably have a product designed specifically for your application and budget, giving all parties reassurance in their investment. Alternatively, you can navigate to individual sector pages for additional design recommendations, including glare, lux levels, uniformity, colour rendering, and more.

Industrial

View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Factories
Factories
Drying 50 Lux
Preparation/Machine Work 300 Lux
Pressing, Rolling, Glazing 300 Lux
Engraving, Polishing 750 Lux
Hand Finishing 750 Lux
Precision Work 1000 Lux
Jewellery Manufacture 1500 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Aircraft Hangars
Aircraft Hangars
Maintenance Facilities (Minimum) 500-750 Lux
Maintenance Facilities (Recommended) 1000-1500 Lux
Task Lighting 1000 Lux
Inspection 2000-5000 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Cold Stores
Cold Stores
Cold Store Aisles 100-200 Lux
Cold Store Open Areas 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Distribution Centres
Distribution Centres
Main (Forklift) Aisles 100 Lux
Pedestrian Aisles 200 Lux
Packing & Despatch 300 Lux
Unpacking & Sorting 200 Lux
Loading Bay 500 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Food Production
Food Production
Food Storage 200 Lux
Food Sorting/Preparation 300 Lux
Critical Zones 500 Lux
Food Production 500 Lux
Inspection 500 Lux
Colour Inspection 1000 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Freezers
Freezers
Freezer Aisles 100-300 Lux
Freezer Open Areas 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Warehousing
Warehousing
Main (Forklift) Aisles 100-200 Lux
Pedestrian Aisles 200 Lux
Loading Bay 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Workshops
Workshops
Cable/Wire Manufacture 300 Lux
Galvanising 300 Lux
Rough Assembly 300 Lux
Medium Assembly 500 Lux
Fine Assembly 750 Lux
Precision Assembly 1000 Lux
Testing Area 1500 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Agriculture
Agriculture
Livestock Buildings 50 Lux
Loading/Unloading 200 Lux
Sick Pens 200 Lux
Calving Stalls 200 Lux
Feed Preparation 200 Lux
Dairy 200 Lux

Sports

View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Athletics
Athletics
Class 1 - Professional 500 Lux
Class 2 - Club 200 Lux
Class 3 - Amateur 100 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Badminton
Badminton
Class 1 - International 1000 Lux
Class 2 - Club 500 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 300 Lux
County 750 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Equestrian
Equestrian
Class 1 - Professional 500 Lux
Class 2 - Club 200 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 100 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Fencing
Fencing
Class 1 - International 750 Lux
Class 2 - Regional 500 Lux
Class 3 - Training 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Field Hockey
Field Hockey
Class 1 - Professional 750 Lux
Class 2 - Club 500 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Football
Football
Class 1 - International 500 Lux
Class 2 - Regional 200 Lux
Class 3 - Local 75 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey
Class 1 - International 750 Lux
Class 2 - Regional 500 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Rugby
Rugby
Class 1 - Premiership 500 Lux
Class 2 - Regional 200 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 75 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Sports Hall
Sports Hall
Class 1 - Regional 750 Lux
Class 2 - Club 500 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 200 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Swimming Pools
Swimming Pools
Class 1 - Competition 500 Lux
Class 2 - Club 300 Lux
Class 3 - Recreational 200 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Tennis
Tennis
Class 1 - International 750 Lux
Class 2 - Regional 500 Lux
Class 3 - Club 300 Lux

Hazardous Areas

View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Inspection Pits
Inspection Pits
Pit Floor 100 Lux
Welding 300 Lux
Assembly 500 Lux
Painting 750 lux
Painting (Touch Up) 1000 Lux
Inspection Pit - Rolling Stock and Vehicle Inspection 500 Lux
Maintenance Pit - Rolling Stock and Vehicle Maintenance 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Oil Refinery
Oil Refinery
Manual Tasks 20 Lux
Walkways 50 Lux
Filing Area 50 Lux
Fuel Station 100 Lux
Maintenance 200 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Tank Farms
Tank Farms
Processing Areas 300 Lux
High-Risk Filling Areas 300 Lux
Low-Risk Filling Areas 100 Lux
Walkways 100 Lux
Stairs and Landings 100 Lux
Sludge Chambers 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Oil Rigs
Oil Rigs
Sea Surface 30 Lux
Helideck 100 Lux
Derrick 100 Lux
Treatment Areas 100 Lux
Pipe Rack Area 150 Lux
Test Station, Shale Shaker, Wellhead 200 Lux
Pumps 200 Lux
Life Boat Areas 200 Lux
Drill Floor/Monkey Board 300 Lux
Mud Room, Sampling 300 Lux
Crude Oil Pumps 300 Lux
Plant Areas 300 Lux
Rotary Table 500 Lux
Drill Floors 300 Lux
Drill Towers 100 Lux
Walkways 100 Lux
Stairs and Landings 100 Lux
Test Stations 200 Lux
Facility Areas 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Grain Processing and Storage
Grain Processing and Storage
Storage 100 Lux
Loading Area 100 Lux
Emergency 15 Lux
Work Stations 200 Lux
Sorting, Washing Milling, Mixing & Packing 300 Lux
Critical Zone 500 Lux
Inspection 500 Lux
Colour Inspection 1000 Lux

External

View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Car Park
Car Park
Light Traffic 5 Lux
Medium Traffic 10 Lux
Heavy Traffic 20 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Docks
Docks
Quayside 50 Lux
Alleyways 20 Lux
Stacks 20 Lux
Roads 20 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Multi-Storey Car Park
Multi-Storey Car Park
Entrances & Exits 250 Lux
Parking Bays 75 Lux
Driving Lanes and Ramps 75 Lux
Roof-Level 20 Lux
Ticket Machine Area 300 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Railway Yards
Railway Yards
Rail Yard - Parking of Rolling Stock 10 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Security
Security
Storage 5 Lux
Coal Field 5 Lux
Timber Storage 5 Lux
Harbours 10 Lux
Sawmills 10 Lux
Vehicle Storage 20 Lux
Oil Stores 20 Lux
Shipyard/Docks 20 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Street Lighting
Street Lighting
ME1 - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 20 Lux
ME2 - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 15 Lux
ME3A - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 10 Lux
ME3B - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 10 Lux
ME3C - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 10 Lux
ME4A - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 7.5 Lux
ME4B - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 7.5 Lux
ME5 - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 5 Lux
ME6 - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 3 Lux
MEW1D - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 20 Lux
MEW1W - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 20 Lux
MEW2D - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 15 Lux
MEW2W - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 15 Lux
MEW3D - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 10 Lux
MEW3W - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 10 Lux
MEW4D - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 7.5 Lux
MEW5W - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 7.5 Lux
MEW5D - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 5 Lux
MEW5W - Motorised Vehicles (Traffic) 5 Lux
CE0 - Motorised Vehicles (Conflict Areas) 50 Lux
CE1 - Motorised Vehicles (Conflict Areas) 30 Lux
CE2 - Motorised Vehicles (Conflict Areas) 20 Lux
CE3 - Motorised Vehicles (Conflict Areas) 15 Lux
CE5 - Motorised Vehicles (Conflict Areas) 7.5 Lux
S1 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 15 Lux
S2 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 10 Lux
S3 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 7.5 Lux
S4 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 5 Lux
S5 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 3 Lux
S6 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 2 Lux
A1 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 5 Lux
A2 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 3 Lux
A3 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 2 Lux
A4 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 1.5 Lux
A5 - Cyclists & Pedestrian 1 Lux
ES1 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 10 Lux
ES2 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 7.5 Lux
ES3 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 5 Lux
ES4 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 3 Lux
ES5 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 2 Lux
ES6 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 1.5 Lux
ES7 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 1 Lux
ES8 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 0.75 Lux
ES9 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Increased Safety) 0.5 Lux
EV1 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Vertical Objects) 50 Lux
EV2 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Vertical Objects) 30 Lux
EV3 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Vertical Objects) 10 Lux
EV4 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Vertical Objects) 7.5 Lux
EV5 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Vertical Objects) 5 Lux
EV6 - Cyclists & Pedestrian (Vertical Objects) 0.5 Lux

Commercial

View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Education
Education
Store Rooms 150 Lux
Circulation Areas 100 Lux
Stairs 150 Lux
Entrance Hall 200 Lux
Waiting Room 200 Lux
Common Room 200 Lux
Assembly Hall 200 Lux
Play Room 300 Lux
Nursery 300 Lux
Craft Room 300 Lux
Classroom (Children) 300 Lux
Classroom (Adult) 500 Lux
Music Practice Room 300 Lux
IT Room 300 Lux
Language Laboratory 300 Lux
Staff Room/Office 300 Lux
Library (Reading Area) 500 Lux
Lecture Theatre/Auditorium 500 Lux
Art Room 500 Lux
Practical Rooms 500 Lux
Art Schools 750 Lux
Technical Drawing Rooms 750 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Healthcare
Healthcare
Changing & Wash Room 100/150 Lux
Ward Walls 150
Ward Corridors (Day/Night) 200/10 Lux
Toilets 200 Lux
Dayrooms, Play Areas, Staff Room 200 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Hotels
Hotels
Kitchen 500 Lux
Office 500 Lux
Conference Rooms 500 Lux
Reception 300 Lux
Restaurant, Dining Room, Function Room 300 Lux
Self-Service Restaurant 200 Lux
Bedroom 200 Lux
Bathroom 150 Lux
Toilet 100 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Offices
Offices
Printer Room 300 Lux
General Office 500 Lux
Technical Drawing Area 750 Lux
CAD Workstation 500 Lux
Conference Room 500 Lux
Reception Desk 300 Lux
Archives 200 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Retail
Retail
Sales Area 300 Lux
Till Area 500 Lux
Wrapper Table 500 Lux
View more detailed lighting design recommendations for Supermarket
Supermarket
General Lighting (No Accent Lighting) 500-1000 Lux
General Lighting (With Accent Lighting) 100-200 Lux

All units given are in Lux, equalling one lumen per square meter.

How CAN Kellwood HELP?

Using a vast range of high quality Lighting Products, here at Kellwood Lighting, our lighting design team will work to standards set by CIBSE and governing bodies to ensure that each installation is in line with best practice. Contact us to discuss your project.

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