Illuminance - Recommended Light Levels Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications! Engineering News Custom Search Search ● Home ● • Acoustics ● • Air Illuminance - Recommended Light Levels Psychrometrics Recommended light levels - illuminance - for some common types of working activities ● • Basics ● • Combustion ● • Drawing Tools ● • Dynamics ● • Economics ● • Electrical ● • Environment ● • Fluid Mechanics ● • Gas and Compressed Air ● • HVAC Systems ● • Hydraulics and Pneumatics ● • Insulation ● • Material PrinterFriendly Sponsored Links • Mathematics ● • Mechanics ● • Miscellaneous ● • Physiology ● • Piping Systems ● • Process Control ● • Pumps ● • Standards BookMark this Page! Light Level or Illuminance, is the total luminous flux incident on a surface, per unit area. The work plane is where the most important tasks in the room or space are performed. Measuring Units Light Level - Illuminance Illumenance is measured in foot candles (ftcd, fc, fcd) foot candle is actually one lumen , one lux square foot . square meter ● ● ● is one lumen per (or lux of light density per • Steam and Condensate ● • Thermodynamics ● • Water Systems in the metric SI system). A 1 lux = 0.0929 foot candle = 1 lumen /sq meter = 0.0001 phot 1 ftcd = 1 lux / 10.752 1 lumen/sq ft = 1 foot candle = 4 1x10 lux = 1 phot Common Light Levels Outdoor Common light levels outdoor at day and night can be found in the table below: Organizations ● Link to this Page! BookMarkThe Engineering ToolBox! Properties ● ToolBox ShortList • Add this Page! Condition Illumination (ftcd) (lux) Sunlight 10,000 107,527 Full Daylight 1,000 10,752 Overcast Day 100 1,075 http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/light-level-rooms-d_708.html (1 of 5) [2/10/2011 9:50:05 PM] Illuminance - Recommended Light Levels ToolBox ShortList • Add this Page! Search the ToolBox! Translate this Page!! About Us! Temperature 0 Very Dark Day 10 107 Twilight 1 10.8 Deep Twilight .1 1.08 Full Moon .01 .108 Quarter Moon .001 .0108 Starlight .0001 .0011 Overcast Night .00001 .0001 Common and Recommended Light Levels Indoor The outdoor light level is approximately 10,000 lux on a clear day. In the building, in the area closest to windows, the light level . In the middle area its may be as low as 25 - 50 may be reduced to approximately 1,000 lux . Additional lighting equipment is often necessary to compensate the low levels. lux Earlier it was common with light levels in the range 100 - 300 lux more common in the range 500 - 1000 lux may even approach 1500 - 2000 lux o C o F . for normal activities. Today the light level is - depending on activity. For precision and detailed works, the light level Diesel Progress International Edition The table below is a guidance for recommended light level in different work spaces: Convert ! Activity Length 1 m km in ft yards miles nautical miles Convert ! Illumination 2 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 1 m (lux, lumen/m Public areas with dark surroundings Volume 3 liters http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/light-level-rooms-d_708.html (2 of 5) [2/10/2011 9:50:05 PM] Free Industry Magazines ) CircuiTree E&P (Hart's E&P) Sponsored Links Illuminance - Recommended Light Levels in 3 ft 3 Related Topics ● us Physiology - Human physiology, air quality and comfort temperatures, activity and metabolic rates, health effects of carbon monoxide and more gal Sponsored Links Convert ! 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Please contact us by email Flow ● editor.engineeringtoolbox@gmail.com 1 if You find any faults, inaccuracies, or otherwise unacceptable information. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/light-level-rooms-d_708.html (3 of 5) [2/10/2011 9:50:05 PM] Illuminance - Recommended Light Levels m 3 / m 3 / s The content in The Engineering ToolBox is copyrighted but can be used with NO WARRANTY or LIABILITY. Important information should always be double checked with alternative sources. All applicable national and local regulations and practices concerning this aspects must be strictly followed and adhered to. h US gpm Advertise in the ToolBox cfm If you want to promote your products or services in this site - please follow this link. Convert ! Unit Converter Scientific Calculator Free Industry Magazines Diesel Progress International Edition CircuiTree http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/light-level-rooms-d_708.html (4 of 5) [2/10/2011 9:50:05 PM] Illuminance - Recommended Light Levels E&P (Hart's E&P) http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/light-level-rooms-d_708.html (5 of 5) [2/10/2011 9:50:05 PM]
