IES Recommended Lighting Levels: Everything You Need To Know February 3, 2023 – Posted in: Lighting Information, Commercial Lighting, General Info

Introduction to IES Lighting Levels & Applications

IES Lighting recommendations are standards set by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and they provide guidelines on how much light should fall on each object or surface in order to achieve satisfactory lighting conditions.

There are several IES standards which apply to: the quantity of light, as well as its perception (brightness/contrast) and color quality. Properly applied, IES Recommended Lighting Levels help to ensure optimally lit spaces for a variety of applications such as outdoor safety, indoor comfort, and office productivity.

Furthermore, compliance with IES Lighting Standards have become increasingly important for energy conservation, since larger numbers of lumens can result in considerably higher electricity bills. The IES provides guidance based on the type of space and use so that users can make informed decisions about their needs.

There are lighting IES standards for commercial, industrial, health care, residential, and many other settings. Lighting designers often refer to these standards to make decisions on luminaires purchases.

Recommended Light Levels For Commercial Spaces

Industry	Application	Foot Candles
Airplane Manufacturing	Drilling, riveting, screw fastening	75
Airplane Manufacturing	Final assembly, hangar	100
Airplane Manufacturing	Inspection	50-200
Airplane Manufacturing	Welding	50
Assembly	Rough easy seeing	20-50
Assembly	Rough difficult seeing	50-100
Assembly	Medium	100-200
Auditoriums	Social Activities	5-10
Auditoriums	Assembly Only	10-20
Auditoriums	Exhibitions	15-25
Automotive Manufacturing	Frame Assembly	50
Automotive Manufacturing	Body & chassis assembly	100
Automotive Manufacturing	Body parts assembly	100
Automotive Manufacturing	Final Assembly, finishing, inspecting	200
Banks	Lobby General	10-50
Banks	Writing Areas	20-70
Banks	Teller Stations, Posting & Keypunch	50-150
Barber Shop	Beauty Parlors	50-100
Chemical Works	Chemical Works	30
Clothing Manufacturer	Receiving, storing, shipping, winding, measuring	20-50
Clothing Manufacturer	Pattern making, trimming	50-100
Clothing Manufacturer	Shops, Marking	50-200
Clothing Manufacturer	Cutting, Pressing	100-500
Clothing Manufacturer	Sewing, Inspection	200-500
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	Impregnating	20-50
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	Insulating coil winding, testing	50-100
Food Service Facility	Dining areas, cashier	20-50
Food Service Facility	Cleaning	10-20
Food Service Facility	Dining	5-20
Food Service Facility	Food Displays	30-100
Food Service Facility	Kitchen	50-100
Foundries	Annealing Furnaces	20-50
Foundries	Cleaning	20-50
Foundries	Core Making	50-200
Foundries	Inspection Fine	100-200
Foundries	Inspection Medium	50-100
Foundries	Molding	50-200
Foundries	Pouring, Sorting	50-100
Garages-Motor Vehicles	Storage	5
Garages-Motor Vehicles	Parking Garage	10
Garages-Motor Vehicles	Service Garage	10-20
Garages-Motor Vehicles	Entrances	50
Garages-Motor Vehicles	Repair Area	50-100
Gymnasiums	Assemblies	10
Gymnasiums	General Exercise & Recreation	30
Gymnasiums	Exhibitions, Matches	50
Hospitals	Rooms	10-30
Hospitals	Corridors	5-30
Hospitals	Emergency Rooms	50-100
Hospitals	Operating Rooms	100-200
Hotels	Bathrooms	20-50
Hotels	Bedrooms for Reading	10-20
Hotels	Corridors, elevators and stairs	10-20
Hotels	Front Desk	50-100
Hotels	Linen Room: Sewing	100-200
Hotels	Linen Room: General	10-20
Hotels	Lobby: General Lighting	10-20
Hotels	Lobby: Reading and working areas	20-50
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Stock, hot top, checker, cellar, calcining	10-30
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Building, slag pits, Stripping yard	20
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Control platform, repairs, mixer building	30
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Rolling mills	30-50
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Shearing	50
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Tin Plate	50
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Motor Room, Machine Room	30
Iron & Steel Manufacturing	Inspection	100
Library	Ordinary Reading, Stacks	20-50
Library	Book Repair and Binding	20-50
Library	Study & Notes, Cataloging	20-100
Library	Card Files, Check Desk	20-100
Laundries	Washing	20-50
Laundries	Ironing	20-100
Machine Shops	Rough Bench	20-50
Machine Shops	Medium Bench, Rough Grinding, Buffing	50-100
Machine Shops	Fine Bench and Work	200-500
Materials Handling	Loading Trucking	10-20
Materials Handling	Picking Stock Classifying	20-50
Materials Handling	Wrapping, Packing, Labeling	20-50
Offices	Accounting	50-100
Offices	Audio-Visual Areas	20-50
Offices	Conference Areas	20-70
Offices	Corridors, Stairways	20
Offices	Drafting	50-200
Offices	General and Private Offices	50-100
Offices	Lobbies, Lounges, & Reception Areas	5-20
Offices	Mail Sorting	50-100
Offices	Off-set printing & duplicating areas	20-50
Offices	Spaces with VDT’s	75
Paint Shop	Spraying, Rubbing	20-50
Paint Shop	Hand Art, Stencil	20-50
Paint Shop	Fine Hand Painting & Finishing	50-100
Paper Manufacturing	Beaters, Grinding	20-50
Paper Manufacturing	Finishing, Cutting	50-100
Paper Manufacturing	Hand Counting	50-100
Paper Manufacturing	Paper machine reel, Inspection	100-200
Paper Manufacturing	Rewinder	100-200
Printing	Welding	50
Printing	Color Inspecting	100-200
Printing	Presses	50-100
Printing	Proofreading	100-200
Printing	Composing Room	50-100
Schools	Reading	20-100
Schools	Typing	20-100
Schools	Demonstrations	100-200
Schools	Sewing	20-100
Sheet Metal Works	General	100
Sheet Metal Works	Tin Plate Inspection	100-200
Sheet Metal Works	Galvanizing, Scribing	100-200
Stores	Circulation Area Stockroom	10-30
Stores	Merchandising, Servicing	30-100
Stores	Merchandising, Self-Servicing	200
Textile Mills	Cotton Picking, Carding, Roving, Spinning	50
Textile Mills	Beaming & Slashing	150
Textile Mills	Drawing	200
Textile Mills	Others	100
Warehouse & Storage	Inactive	5-10
Warehouse & Storage	Active Rough Bulky	10-20
Warehouse & Storage	Active Medium	20
Warehouse & Storage	Active Fine	20-50
Welding	General	20-50
Woodworking	Sizing, planning, rough sanding, medium quality machine and bench work, gluing, veneering, cooperage	20-50
Woodworking	Fine bench and machine work, fine sanding and finishing	50-100
Woodworking	Rough sawing and bench work	20-50

IES Recommended Light Levels For Residential Spaces

Room	Foot-candles
Living Room	10-20
Bedrooms	20-50
Kitchen – General	20-50
Kitchen – Preparing / Cooking	50-100
Dining Room	10-20
Rooms for Difficult Reading & Writing	50-100
Bathrooms	20-50
Hallways	5-10
Basement / Garage Workshop	20-75
Basement – Laundry	20-100
Basement – Exercise and Recreation	30

How to Achieve the IES Recommended Lighting Levels

Achieving the recommended levels can be done by using various tactics such as utilizing natural daylight, installing more energy efficient light fixtures such as LED lights, and using layered lighting. Natural daylight is one of the most important elements in creating a well-lit environment as it provides visual comfort and is also a key factor in boosting productivity.

Energy efficient solutions such as LED bulbs provide focused directional light while consuming fewer watts, which can help reduce energy costs while still providing sufficient illumination. Layered lighting combines multiple types of light sources (ambient, task and accent) to create an even distribution of balanced light that focuses on comfort, productivity and aesthetics.

The Benefits of Achieving the IES Recommended Lighting Levels

Achieving the Illuminating Engineering Society’s (IES) recommended levels can produce numerous benefits, both for a home and commercial environment. Not only does it help improve overall visibility and make occupants feel more comfortable, but it can also reduce energy consumption and help protect the environment.

A well-lit space is much easier to navigate, reducing accidents and therefore liability for the building owner. The improved design also increases productivity & efficiency due to fewer errors that might occur when people are in a dark environment or one with inadequate illumination. Finally, achieving IES-recommended standards can increase safety due to better ability to detect hazards such as slippery surfaces or items on the floor.

How Light Is Measured (Lux vs Foot Candles)

Understanding the differences between lux (lx) and foot candles (fc) measurement of light is paramount in ensuring that the lighting requirements of any given space are met. Lux measures how much light is spread over an area, while foot candles measure how much light is present in a single spot in an area.

For example; a 10-foot square room illuminated by ten 1W LED bulbs might have 500 lux however, it will only have 50 foot candles since each bulb only illuminates one spot at a time. Knowing which type of measurement to use for your environment is crucial when determining the illumination levels best suited for your location and application.  The PDF below has an extensive list of spaces and applications with recommended foot candles taken straight from the IES Lighting Handbook. 

IES Lighting Standards PDF

Frequently Asked Questions