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Posted By N Hennessy
Can somebody help me to identify the correct lux levels that are required to be provided in open plan office areas. Current I believe it to be 300 - 500 lux, however there is a concern that this only relates to artificial lighting. All advice and help appreciated.
Also, can you identify the guidance document that references the lux levels?
Many thanks...
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Posted By kaza
Hi there, if you look at "Lighting at Work", HSG38 that will give you some assistance. It does state that the average lux for work requiring perception to detail is 200 (eg offices, sheet metal work, book binding) and an average of 500 for work requiring perception of fine detail (eg drawing offices, factories assembling electronic components etc).
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
The CIBSE lighting guides provide more information than HSG38; number 7 deals with offices. You may be able to read them if you have access to Technical Indexes or Barbour information systems.
Paul
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Posted By kaza
N
I have a copy of the CIBSE, section 7 if you want me to email it to you direct?
K
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Posted By N Hennessy
Thanks for all the advice so far, however can anybody indicate if there is a difference between natural and artifical lighting levels in an office - or is it all calculated as lux (together)?
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Posted By G. Romano
With regard to legal requirements, then Health Safety & Welfare Regs covers this, but is not very helpful in that there is only a requirement for "suitable and sufficient" lighting, should be natural "so far as is reasonably practicable". However, the regs do not define "suitable and sufficient", but ACoP saya lighting shouls be sufficient to enable people to work and move about safely. Obviously depends on tasks undertaken and hazards present. Where natural light is used, then windows and skylights should be regularly cleaned (but should be shaed to avoid glare and heat).HSE guidance gives some help on lighting levels for different tasks being 100 lux for work requiring limited detailed perception, 200 lux for work requiring detailed perception and 500 lux for work needing fine perception of detail. For comparison a shady room in daylight has typical light level of 100 lux and an overcast sunny day 30-40 thousand lux! Can be seen that outdoor lighting considerably better than artificial indoor light. If your office has a lot of artificial light then glare can be a problem especially for DSE work.
So a figure between 200-500 lux should be adequate but be aware of glare problems, assess the tasks being undertaken and use a few simple measures to reduce glare such as raising lights (if suspended), fitting diffusers, reducing number of reflective surfaces, resite working positions to reduce glare from windows, avoid heavy contrasts in decor (e.g. between windows and dark walls, ceilings and light fittings), fit shades to windows, provide task lighting (e.g. desk lamps).
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Posted By Tabs
There is no difference between natural and artificial light to be considered beyond quality (tone).
Natural light tends to be better but rather unreliable here in the UK. You can choose artificial light to be cool, warm, or 'natural'. But in terms of lux, it's all the same really.
Since HSG38 was published, the trend in modern offices is towards 400-500 lux for general areas because the quality of lamps has improved since the early days of fluorescent strips, and people tend to prefer it bright.
The human eye is incredible - we can usually navigate stairs by 1 lux, yet we are not blinded by 100,000 lux outside on a sunny day.
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Posted By jackie
Does anyone know what the lighting level (lux) should be for stair cases in buildings?
Many thanks,
Jackie
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Posted By Robert.
Lighting levels are calculated and consider room index, wall colours, lamp temeprature (colour), maintenance, height.
A major part of lux levels at a work plane depends, in offices, where or how the glare cut off levels are on louvre type fitting typically cat 3 and also where desks workstations are located. Some design calculations do consider natural daylight, typically the smart systems which adjust the luminaire lighting level to an acceptable set point.
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Posted By Paul Bellis
I was taught on conducting a lighting assessment - that you should only conduct the assessment taking account of artificial lighting only - excluding all natural light, by drawing blinds etc. Then calculate your room index and assessment points etc.
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