About lux values
The table below shows recommended lux values for general situations. In this table the following is assumed:
- Work surfaces at 0,8 meter
- Ceiling height of 2,8 meter
- Even fixture spread
- Reflective values: 70% ceiling, 50% walls and 30% floor
- Depreciation factor: 0,55
| Application | Recommended lux value |
| Hotels – Restaurants: | |
| Entrance | 100 |
| Reception | 200 |
| Dining area | 150 – 200 |
| Kitchen | 700 |
| Conference room | 300 – 400 |
| Service- and sales areas | |
| Exhibitions | 300 |
| Grocery stores | 700 |
| Boutiques | 450 – 500 |
| Retailers | 700 |
| Optician / watchmaker | 1500 |
| Beauty Salons | 750 |
| Registers | 500 |
| Shop windows | 800 – 1000 |
| Offices | |
| Open office area | 450 – 500 |
| Technical office | 750 |
| Conference room | 300 – 500 |
| Movie theaters | |
| Entrance / stairs | 450 – 500 |
| Church | |
| Congregation area | 50 – 100 – 150 |
| Sporting centres | |
| Gym | 300 – 500 |
| Pool | 300 – 500 |
| Hospitals | |
| Stairs | 200 |
| Offices | 300 – 500 |
| Patient rooms | 500 |
| Schools | |
| Class rooms | 300 – 500 |
| Lecturing halls | 300 – 500 – 750 |
| Residential areas | |
| Bathroom | 100 |
| Bedroom | 300 |
| Kitchen | 300 |
| Hallway | 200 – 300 – 500 |
| Parking facilities | |
| Outdoors | 80 – 100 |
Illuminance ranges
The illuminance that is recommended for a specific activity will partially depend on both the nature of that activity as the design of the particular area (especially the brightness).
The table shows the recommended illuminance for different kinds of areas and activities, based on the beforementioned specified scale. The values are averages of minimal illuminance levels required by the specific task. Because of this reason levels of illuminance must never be below these values.
| Recommended illuminance levels (lux) | Type of activity |
30 | Walkways and outdoor work activities |
100 | Walkways, simple orientation or short visits |
150 | Rooms that are not constantly used for professional means |
300 | Visually simple tasks |
500 | Visually average tasks |
750 | Visually demanding tasks |
1000 | Extremely visually demanding tasks |
1500 | Tasks with special visual demands |
2000 | Strenuous visual tasks |
The values are applicable for normal visual circumstances, taking the next factors in to account:
- Demands for visual tasks
- Security
- Psycho-physiological aspects, like visual comfort and wellbeing
- Sustainability
- Experience
Illuminance should be elevated when:
- There is an unusually low amount of reflective surface present in the room
- Visual performance is paramount
- Mistakes are expensive to correct
- Precision or a higher productivity is of great importance
- Visual capacities of the worker are below average
Lower levels of illuminance are permissable:
- There is an unusually high amount of reflective surface present in the room
- Speed or precision is not important
- The task is only executed rarely
About lux values
The table below shows recommended lux values for general situations. In this table the following is assumed:
- Work surfaces at 0,8 meter
- Ceiling height of 2,8 meter
- Even fixture spread
- Reflective values: 70% ceiling, 50% walls and 30% floor
- Depreciation factor: 0,55
| Application | Recommended lux value |
| Hotels – Restaurants: | |
| Entrance | 100 |
| Reception | 200 |
| Dining area | 150 – 200 |
| Kitchen | 700 |
| Conferentieruimte | 300 – 400 |
| Service- and sales areas | |
| Exhibitions | 300 |
| Grocery stores | 700 |
| Boutiques | 450 – 500 |
| Retailers | 700 |
| Optician / watchmaker | 1500 |
| Beauty Salons | 750 |
| Registers | 500 |
| Shop windows | 800 – 1000 |
| Offices | |
| Open office area | 450 – 500 |
| Technical office | 750 |
| Conference room | 300 – 500 |
| Movie theaters | |
| Entrance / stairs | 450 – 500 |
| Church | |
| Congregation area | 50 – 100 – 150 |
| Sporting centres | |
| Gym | 300 – 500 |
| Pool | 300 – 500 |
| Hospitals | |
| Stairs | 200 |
| Offices | 300 – 500 |
| Patient rooms | 500 |
| Schools | |
| Class rooms | 300 – 500 |
| Lecturing halls | 300 – 500 – 750 |
| Residential areas | |
| Bathroom | 100 |
| Bedroom | 300 |
| Kitchen | 300 |
| Hallway | 200 – 300 – 500 |
| Parking facilities | |
| Outdoors | 80 – 100 |
Illuminance ranges
The illuminance that is recommended for a specific activity will partially depend on both the nature of that activity as the design of the particular area (especially the brightness).
The table shows the recommended illuminance for different kinds of areas and activities, based on the beforementioned specified scale. The values are averages of minimal illuminance levels required by the specific task. Because of this reason levels of illuminance must never be below these values.
| Recommended illuminance levels (lux) | Type of activity |
30 | Walkways and outdoor work activities |
100 | Walkways, simple orientation or short visits |
150 | Rooms that are not constantly used for professional means |
300 | Visually simple tasks |
500 | Visually average tasks |
750 | Visually demanding tasks |
1000 | Extremely visually demanding tasks |
1500 | Tasks with special visual demands |
2000 | Strenuous visual tasks |
The values are applicable for normal visual circumstances, taking the next factors in to account:
- Demands for visual tasks
- Security
- Psycho-physiological aspects, like visual comfort and wellbeing
- Sustainability
- Experience
Illuminance should be elevated when:
- There is an unusually low amount of reflective surface present in the room
- Visual performance is paramount
- Mistakes are expensive to correct
- Precision or a higher productivity is of great importance
- Visual capacities of the worker are below average
Lower levels of illuminance are permissable:
- There is an unusually high amount of reflective surface present in the room
- Speed or precision is not important
- The task is only executed rarely
