Lighting Standards Library
A structured reference for the values we design to: lux levels, colour temperatures, CRI and R9, UGR, beam angles and fixture rules. Drawn from EN 12464-1, IS 3646, CIBSE Lighting Guides, IES RP and over a decade of project work.
Recommended Lux Levels
Maintained illuminance levels we design to, based on EN 12464-1, IS 3646, CIBSE LG and project experience across India.
| Space | Recommended Lux | Reference Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Living room (general) | 100 - 200 lx | CIBSE / Practice |
| Living room (reading) | 300 - 500 lx | CIBSE LG9 |
| Bedroom (ambient) | 50 - 150 lx | Practice |
| Bedroom (reading) | 300 - 500 lx | CIBSE LG9 |
| Kitchen (general) | 300 lx | EN 12464-1 |
| Kitchen (counter / task) | 500 - 750 lx | EN 12464-1 |
| Dining table | 150 - 300 lx | Practice |
| Bathroom (general) | 150 - 200 lx | CIBSE |
| Bathroom mirror (vertical) | 300 - 500 lx vertical | Practice |
| Pooja room | 150 - 250 lx | Practice |
| Wardrobe interior | 300 - 500 lx | Practice |
| Office (open plan) | 500 lx | EN 12464-1, IS 3646 |
| Office (drawing / detailed) | 750 lx | EN 12464-1 |
| Conference room | 300 - 500 lx (dimmable) | EN 12464-1 |
| Reception / lobby | 200 - 300 lx | EN 12464-1 |
| Retail (general sales) | 300 - 500 lx | CIBSE LG1 |
| Retail (feature display) | 750 - 1500 lx | CIBSE LG1 |
| Jewellery display | 1500 - 3000 lx | Practice |
| Hotel lobby (ambient) | 100 - 200 lx | CIBSE LG7 |
| Hotel guest room (general) | 50 - 150 lx (dimmable) | Practice |
| Restaurant (dining) | 50 - 150 lx | CIBSE LG7 |
| Fine dining | 20 - 50 lx (with accent) | Practice |
| Bar | 20 - 50 lx | Practice |
| Hotel corridor | 100 - 150 lx | Practice |
| Pathway / garden walk | 5 - 20 lx | IES RP-33 |
| Driveway | 10 - 30 lx | IES RP-33 |
| Pool surround | 50 - 100 lx | Practice |
Colour Temperature (CCT) Guidance
Correlated colour temperatures we specify for different typologies and moods.
| Application | CCT | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Premium residential interiors | 2700K | Warmest familiar feel, flatters skin and material |
| Standard residential interiors | 3000K | Warm but neutral, broadly liked |
| Hospitality (rooms, F&B, lobby) | 2700K - 3000K | Relaxed, intimate, evening-friendly |
| Bar / fine dining | 2200K - 2700K | Candlelight feel, low CCT + low lux |
| Retail (fashion / lifestyle) | 3000K | Warm and flattering for skin and fabric |
| Retail (technology / supermarket) | 4000K | Crisp, clean, alert |
| Offices / workspaces | 4000K | Alert, neutral, daylight-aligned |
| Hospitals / labs | 4000K - 5000K | High visual acuity |
| Facade lighting (warm stone / terracotta) | 2700K - 3000K | Enhances natural warmth |
| Facade lighting (concrete / glass) | 3000K - 4000K | Reads cleaner against neutral materials |
| Landscape (planting, trees) | 2700K - 3000K | Natural, moonlight-like |
Note: Avoid mixing CCTs within a single visual field unless intentional. A 200K shift is visible.
CRI & R9 Targets
Minimum Colour Rendering Index values we specify by application.
| Application | CRI (Ra) | R9 (reds) |
|---|---|---|
| Premium residential | CRI ≥ 90 | R9 ≥ 50 |
| Hospitality interiors | CRI ≥ 90 | R9 ≥ 50 |
| Retail (fashion / cosmetics) | CRI ≥ 95 | R9 ≥ 70 |
| Art galleries / museums | CRI ≥ 95 | R9 ≥ 90 |
| Standard offices | CRI ≥ 80 | R9 ≥ 0 |
| Industrial / back-of-house | CRI ≥ 70 | - |
| Hospitals / clinical | CRI ≥ 90 | R9 ≥ 50 |
Note: CRI alone is not enough. Always check R9 for skin tones, red food, fabric and timber.
UGR (Unified Glare Rating) Targets
Maximum acceptable UGR values per EN 12464-1.
| Space | UGR Limit |
|---|---|
| Drawing / detailed visual work | ≤ 16 |
| Open-plan offices, classrooms, control rooms | ≤ 19 |
| Reception, archive, circulation | ≤ 22 |
| Industrial general work | ≤ 25 |
| Premium hospitality interiors | ≤ 16 (target) |
Beam Angle Guidelines
Beam angles we use for downlighting and accent lighting at common mounting heights.
| Use | Beam Angle | Typical Mount |
|---|---|---|
| General downlight (residential) | 36° - 60° | 2.7 - 3.0 m |
| General downlight (commercial) | 60° - 90° | 2.7 - 3.5 m |
| Wall wash | 60° - 110° (asymmetric preferred) | 0.3 - 0.6 m from wall |
| Wall graze | 10° - 24° | 0.05 - 0.15 m from wall |
| Accent on art / object | 10° - 24° | 2.7 - 4.5 m |
| High-ceiling accent | 6° - 15° | 4.5 m and above |
| Tree uplighting (medium tree) | 24° - 38° | Ground |
| Tree uplighting (tall tree, narrow canopy) | 10° - 15° | Ground |
| Facade wash (storey scale) | 30° - 60° asymmetric | Ground or string |
Fixture Selection Guidelines
Quick rules we apply when shortlisting fixtures for a project.
| Decision | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Driver quality | Tier-1 driver (Tridonic, Philips Xitanium, Osram). Avoid generic. |
| Flicker | < 5% flicker percent at full and dimmed output |
| Glare control | Deep recess, honeycomb louvre, or anti-glare baffle. UGR data on cut sheet. |
| Dimming | 0-10V, DALI-2 or phase-cut, matched to control system. Avoid mixed protocols. |
| IP rating (outdoor) | IP65 minimum. IP67 for pool/in-ground. |
| IK rating (public) | IK07+ for floor and reachable fittings |
| Binning | Single-bin (MacAdam SDCM ≤ 3) across the project |
| Photometric data | IES/LDT file available from manufacturer (no file = no specify) |
| Warranty | 5-year minimum for indoor, 3-year for outdoor |
Need these values applied to your project?
We translate standards into a specific lighting design for your space, with lux calculations, fixture schedules and a tested control strategy.