LED lighting design in the workplace
Lux Level in Commercial Applications

What is Lux and how is it measured?

The simplest answer is that Lux is a measure of how well a given area is illuminated and can be measured by a light or lux meter.

A more scientific approach to this would be to look at Lux as an SI unit that measures luminous flux per unit area. 1 Lux= 1 Lumen per square metre. If there are more lumens in that square metre, then in essence the lux levels are higher.

LED Lighting Design and LUX levels

Each project will have individual requirements when it comes to lighting design. At The LED Specialist, we first consider what Lux levels are appropriate for each location and then go about working on how to achieve them.

We provide a service using guidelines provided by The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) for suitable lux levels for a variety of domestic and commercial applications.

INDUSTRY

BUSINESS

RECOMMENDED LUX LEVEL

Retail

Newsagents

Service Areas 200-300 Lux

Product Shelves 300-500 Lux

 

Green Grocers

Service Areas 200-300 Lux

Product Shelves 300-500 Lux

 

Bakeries

Service Areas 200-300 Lux

Product Shelves 300-500 Lux

 

Florists

Service Areas 200-300 Lux

Product Shelves 300-500 Lux

 

Charity Shops

Service Areas 200-300 Lux

Product Shelves 300-500 Lux

 

Boutiques

Task Lighting 300-500 Lux

Accent Lighting 750-1000 Lux

 

Wholesalers

Service Areas 200-300 Lux

Product Aisles 750-1000 Lux

Hospitality

Cafes

Entrances 100 Lux

Food Storage150 Lux

Dining/Eating 150 Lux

Washing Section 300 Lux

Cooking Section 500 Lux

 

Restaurants

Entrances 100 Lux

Food Storage150 Lux

Dining/Eating 150 Lux

Washing Section 300 Lux

Cooking Section 500 Lux

 

Bars

Entrance/ Receptions 100 Lux

General Areas 150 Lux

Back of House 200-300 Lux

 

Coffee Shops

Entrances 100 Lux

Food Storage150 Lux

Dining/Eating 150 Lux

Washing Section 300 Lux

Cooking Section 500 Lux

 

Estate Agents

Entrance 100 Lux

Waiting Areas 200 Lux

Reception Desktop 200 Lux

Screen-Based Tasks 300 Lux

Paper-Based Tasks 500 Lux

 

Architects

CAD Design Areas 300-500 Lux

Drawing office 500 Lux

Drawing Boards 750 Lux

Medical

GP Surgeries

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 1000 Lux

 

Dentists Surgeries

General Clinic 500 Lux

Medical Examination 1000 Lux

Operation Chair 10,000 Lux

 

Physiotherapists

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 1000 Lux

 

Orthodontists

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 1000 Lux

 

Chiropodists

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 1000 Lux

 

Masseuse

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 750 Lux

 

Chiropractors

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 1000 Lux

 

Osteopaths

General Lighting 100 Lux

Waiting rooms 300 Lux

Examination/ Treatment Rooms 1000 Lux

Studios

Graphic Designers

CAD Design Areas 300-500 Lux

Drawing Office 500 Lux

Drawing Boards 750 Lux

 

Photography

Variable

Event

Wedding Venues

Reception/ Entrances 150 Lux

Dining Area 150-300 Lux

 

Social Clubs

Entrance 100 Lux

Dining Areas 200 Lux

Service Areas 300 Lux

 

Community Centre

Entrance 100 Lux

Dining Areas 200 Lux

Service Areas 300 Lux

 

Exhibition Halls

Public Areas 300 Lux

 

Art Galleries

Works on paper 50-80 Lux

Oil Paintings 200-250 Lux

Painted Sculpture 80-250 Lux

Natural Sculpture up to 800Lux

Other

Barbers

500 Lux

 

Hairdressers/ Salons

500 Lux

 

Nail Bars

500-750 Lux

 

Garages

Office/ Reception 300 Lux

Assembly 300 Lux

Inspection & Testing 500-2000 Lux

 

Workshops

Office/ Reception 300 Lux

Assembly 300 Lux

Inspection & Testing 500-2000 Lux

Sports

Tennis Courts

Amateur (Class I) 300 Lux

Club (Class II) 500 Lux

Professional (Class III) 750 Lux

 

Running Track

Amateur (Class I) 100 Lux

Club (Class II) 300 Lux

Professional (Class III) 500 Lux

 

Outdoor Sports Fields

Amateur (Class I) 75-200 Lux

Club (Class II) 200 Lux

Professional (Class III) 500 Lux

 

Golf Clubs

Amateur (Class I) 100-300 Lux

Club (Class II) 500-800 Lux

Professional (Class III) 1000-2000 Lux

 

Squash courts

Amateur (Class I) 300 Lux

Club (Class II) 500 Lux

Professional (Class III) 750 Lux

 

Gyms

Changing Rooms 150 Lux

Training Areas 200-300 Lux

Lux Levels for Residential Applications.

When it comes to residential settings there are no recommendations set in stone but generally, anything between 150-200 Lux is considered adequate for most day-to-day household tasks. Lighting in the home is down to personal taste and the required ambience.  Dimmable LED light bulbs will change the Lux value for that area when they are dimmed down or put on full power.

Where task lighting is required 400 Lux is the recommended value in the workplace as well as in residential settings. Task lighting in the home can be kitchen worktops, dressing tables, bathroom mirrors or simply where the children do their homework. The options are flexible allowing you to light up that area with a higher Lux value only when required, for example having LED linear lights above the bathroom mirror for shaving or a desk lamp in your home office.

The new SUN@Home range from Ledvance will mimic the sunlight with a Tuneable White colour temperature ranging from 2200K-5000K. These provide a brighter light when concentration is needed the most and provide a warmer white to relax and prepare for a relaxing night’s sleep. These Human Centric Lights support the natural biological rhythm and increase visual comfort thanks to the low blue light component.