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ILLUMINANCE 101

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What is 'illuminance'?
Illuminance, or light level, is the total amount of visible light that falls on a surface. 

What are 'lumens'?
Lumens are a measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a source.

What is a 'lux'?
In the metric system, illuminance is measured in lux, where 1 lux = 1 lumen per m²

How to calculate illumination:
lumens per lamp * utilization coefficient * light loss factor 
area per lamp (m²)

Recommended illumination in different work spaces

Activity

Illumination (in lux)

Public areas with dark surroundings

Simple orientation for short visits

Working areas where visual tasks are only occasionally performed

Warehouses, Homes, Theaters, Archives

Easy Office Work, Classes

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

Supermarkets, Mechanical Workshops, Office Landscapes

Normal Drawing Work, Detailed Mechanical Workshops, Operation Theatres

Detailed Drawing Work, Very Detailed Mechanical Works

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

Performance of very prolonged and exacting visual tasks 

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

20 - 50

50 - 100

100 - 150

150

250

500

750

1000

1500 - 2000

2000 - 5000

5000 - 10000

10000 - 20000

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