Recommended lighting levels according
To each area and activity
The recommended lighting levels are related to the type of activity that takes place in each space and in each situation. For this reason, to be able to carry out certain activities in an appropriate and safe way for our eyes, it is essential to have adequate lighting levels for each circumstance.
What are light levels?
The amount of light in a given space is called light levels. This amount of light, or light level, is measured in a unit called lux (lx), which is what allows us to calculate light levels concretely and objectively.
Why are light levels important?
The importance of light levels lies in the fact that, depending on the amount of light available, certain tasks can be done correctly or not. In fact, beyond the visual comfort of doing each task with the amount of light according to that task, it must be taken into account that it is also a matter of health and safety.
Carrying out tasks in an insufficient amount of light (or excessive, such as when there is a sudden increase in light intensity) involves eye fatigue and, in the long term, can compromise the proper visual health of our eyes. In addition, working in spaces without the sufficient amount of light can also lead to accidents.
For all this, taking light levels into account is essential to guarantee comfort and visual health, as well as people’s physical safety.
What lighting levels are recommended in each case?
Recommended lighting levels vary depending on the space in question. In general, the recommended lighting levels are determined based on the space since, according to each space, the activities that take place there are of one type or another.
In this way, we can distinguish the following recommendations for light levels based on each of the following spaces:
- General lighting of a kitchen: 300 lx
- Lighting of a kitchen counter: 500-600 lx
- General bathroom lighting: 200 lx
- Bathroom mirror lighting: 300-500 lx
- General lighting of a bedroom: 100-200 lx
- Lighting of a bedroom if reading in bed: 500 lx
- General lighting of a living room: 100 lx
- Lighting for watching TV: 50-70 lx
- Lighting of a desk or reading area: 500 lx
- Lighting of stairs or corridor: 100-300 lx
- General lighting of a commercial premises: 300-600 lx
- Lighting from the outside of a showcase: 1000-3000 lx
- Lighting of the interior of a showcase: 1000 lx
- General lighting of an educational center: 350-1,000 lx
- General lighting in a gym: 250-500 lx
- Illumination of a blackboard: 300-700 lx
- Lighting of the waiting room of a health center: 300-600 lx
- Lighting of the consultation room of a health center: 400-1,000 lx
- Operating table lighting in an operating room: 3000-8000 lx
- General lighting in the dining room of a restaurant: 100-600 lx
- General lighting of a hotel: 100-400 lx
- General lighting of an office: 400-700 lx
- Lighting for a drawing or design table: 600-1-500 lx
As you can see, the need for lighting levels vary considerably from one space to another and according to the type of activity that is being carried out at any given time. To create a comfortable and visually safe space, it is essential to take these elements into account and adapt the lighting to each specific circumstance. In this way, we will take care of our eyes and our health in general.
