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Light Levels do I need for Different Situations

What Light Levels do I need for Different Situations?

Light required for different Situations

What Light Levels do I need for Different Situations?

Using the sophisticated Relux Lighting program we can send you a 3D representation of how the lighting we supply will look in your new or refurb project. Contact us with L x W x H and preferably some images if possible, plus a description of what each room will be used for.

Outside on a sunny clear day the Lux level is around 10,000 lux. However, inside even close to a window the level may be reduced to as little as 1,000 lux. Further inside it may be as low as 25 - 50 lux.

50 years ago 100 - 300 lux would have been considered acceptable for normal activities. However, nowadays acceptable light levels are more commonly found in the range 500 - 1000 lux - depending on activity. For close up and very detailed work 1500 - 2000 lux will be required.

In the table below we give generally accepted levels for various different situations.

 

Activity

Illumination
(lux, lumen/m2)

Public areas with dark surroundings

20 - 50

Simple orientation for short visits

50 - 100

Working areas where visual tasks are only occasionally performed

100 - 150

Warehouses, Homes, Theaters, Archives

150

Easy Office Work, Classes

250

Normal Office Work, PC Work, Study Library, Groceries, Show Rooms, Laboratories

500

Supermarkets, Mechanical Workshops, Office Landscapes

750

Normal Drawing Work, Detailed Mechanical Workshops, Operation Theatres

1,000

Detailed Drawing Work, Very Detailed Mechanical Works

1500 - 2000

Performance of visual tasks of low contrast  and very small size for prolonged periods of time

2000 - 5000

Performance of very prolonged and exacting visual tasks 

5000 - 10000

Performance of very special visual tasks of extremely low contrast and small size

10000 - 20000

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