10/15/2019 Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-16).

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Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-16).

JANUARY 14, 2019 5 COMMENTS

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Illumination Requirements per Building & Fire Codes

Lighting Level (Lux) Lighting Level (Lux)

Walking Surface or Area
NFPA 1 & 101 IFC/IBC / ICC
New stairways 10.8 10.8
Floors & other walking surfaces (not
10.8 10.8
stairs)
Assembly areas during performances 2.2 2.2

Illumination Level

Lux Level Work Activity and Function Example of User Area

20 – 80 Public walking Public parks and open-air car parks
Corridors, changing rooms, office
100 – 140 Casual non-visual task
restrooms
Warehouses, stores, plant rooms, lift
150 – 180 Some perception of detail
lobbies
200 – 240 Continuous occupation Entrance halls, dining rooms
250 – 300 Very easy visual task Public toilet, classrooms
300 – 400 Moderately easy visual task Private office, libraries, lecture theatres
500 – 600 Moderately difficult visual task Offices, laboratories, retail outlets
750 – 900 Difficult visual task Supermarkets, technical drawing offices
Operating theatres, polishing and
1000 – 1300 Very difficult visual task
painting plant
1500 – 1800 Extremely difficult visual task Assembly plants, inspection plants
Exceptionally difficult visual
> 2000 Precision assembly, fine work inspection
task

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10/15/2019
Australian Standard AS/NZS 1680.2.2 under Table 3.1
Areas and Activities
Interiors rarely visited where
lighting is only required to aid
movement and orientation
Areas of intermi ent use for
tasks of coarse detail
Areas that are continually used
for tasks of coarse detail
Continuously occupied interiors
used for ordinary tasks with
high contrasts or large detail
Areas where visual tasks are
moderately difficult and include
moderate detail with low
contrast
Areas where visual tasks are
difficult with small detail with
lower contrast
Areas where visual work are
very difficult and involve very
small detail with very low
contrast
Areas where visual work is
extremely difficult with
extremely small detail with very
low contrast
Areas where visual work is
exceptionally difficult with
exceptionally small detail with
very low contrast
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Illumination Level
Examples Illumination (lux)
Pass-though corridors and walkways;
40
cable tunnels; indoor storage tanks
Movement, orientation and tasks of
coarse detail in areas such as change 80
rooms, storage rooms, loading bays etc.
Simple tasks such as occasional reading
of clearly printed documents for short
periods or rough bench or machine 160
work in areas such as waiting rooms
and entrance halls etc.
Food preparation areas; counters for
transactions; school boards; medium 240
woodworking
Routine office tasks such as reading,
typing and writing in office spaces or 320
enquiry desks
Medium level inspection work such as
400
fine woodwork or car assembly
Visually difficult tasks including most
inspection tasks such as proofreading, 600
fine machine work or fine painting
Very difficult tasks such as fine
inspection, paint retouching or fine 800
manufacture
Extremely difficult tasks that may
require visual aids such as graphic arts
1200
inspection; hand tailoring; inspection of
dark goods; extra-fine bench work etc.
Exceptionally difficult tasks where
visual aids would be of advantage such
1600
as the assembly of minute mechanisms
and jewellery and watch making
Illumination Level
2/15
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Illuminance Example
Full moon overhead 1 lux
Family living room 50 lux
Hallway/toilet 80 lux
Very dark overcast day 100 lux
Sunrise or sunset on a clear day. Well lit office area 400 lux
Overcast day, typical TV studio lighting
Full daylight (not direct sun) 10000-25000 lux
Direct sunlight 32000-130,000 lux

Illumination Level

IS 3646 (PART-1) 1992

Types of interior or activity illuminance (lux)

GENERAL BUILDING AREAS
Entrance
Entrance Halls, Lobbies, Waiting Rooms 150-200-300
Inquiry desks 300-500-750
Gatehouses 150-200-300
Circulation Areas
Lifts 50-100-150
Corridors, Passageway, stairs 50-100-150
Escalator, travellators 100-150-200
Medical and First aid Centers
Consulting Rooms, Treatment Rooms 300-500-750
Rest Rooms 100-150-200
Medical stores 100-150-200
Staff Rooms
Changing, locker and cleaner Rooms, Cloakrooms, lavatories 50-100-150
Rest Rooms 100-150-200
Staff Restaurant
Canteens, cafeterias, dining rooms Mess rooms 150-200-300
Servery, vegetable preparation, washing-up area 200-300-500
Food preparation and cooking 300-500-750
Food stores, cellars 100-150-200

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Communications
Switchboard rooms 200-300-500
Telephone apparatus room 100-150-200
Telex room, post room 300-500-750
Reprographic room 200-300-500
Building Services
Boiler houses General 50-100-150
Boiler front 100-150-200
Boiler control room 200-300-500
Control rooms 200-300-500
Mechanical plant room 100-150-200
Electrical power supply and distribution Room 100-150-200
Store rooms 50-100-150
Car Parks
Floors 5 to 20
Ramps and Corners 30
Entrances and Exits 50-100-150
Control Booths 150-200-300
Outdoor Car Parks 5-20 5 to 20
TRANSPORT
Airports
Ticket counters, checking, desks And Information desks 300-500-750
Departure lounges, other waiting Areas 150-200-300
Baggage reclaim 150-200-300
Baggage handling 50-100-150
Customers and immigration halls 300-500-750
Concourse 150-200-300
Railway Stations
Ticket office 300-500-750
Information Office 300-500-750
Parcels office, left Luggage Office General 50-100-150
Counter 150-200-300
Waiting rooms 150-200-300
Concourse 150-200-300
Time table 150-200-300
Ticket Barriers 150-200-300
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Platforms (covered) 30-50-100

Platforms (open) 20
Ticket offices 300-500-750
Information offices 300-500-750
Concourse 150-200-300
Loading Areas 100-150-200
EDUCATION
Assembly Halls
General 200-300-500 3
Teaching Spaces
General 200-300-500
Lecture Theatres
General 200-300-500
Demonstration benches 300-500-750
Seminar Rooms 300-500-750
Art Rooms 300-500-750
Needlework Rooms 300-500-750
Laboratories 300-500-750
Libraries 200-300-500
Music rooms 200-300-500
Sport halls 200-300-500
Workshops 200-300-500
PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
Public rooms, Village Halls, Worship Halls 200-300-500
Concert Halls, Cinemas and theatres
Foyer 150-200-300
Booking Office 200-300-500
Auditorium 50-100-150
Dressing Rooms 200-300-500
Projection Rooms 100-150-200
Churches
Body of church 100-150-200
Pulpit, Lectern 200-300-500
Choir Stalls 200-300-500
Alter, communion table, cancel 100-150-200
Vestries 100-150-200
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Organ 200-300-500
Hospitals
Anesthetic Rooms-General 200-300-500
Anesthetic Rooms-Local 750-1000-1500
Consulting Area- General 200-300-500
Consulting Area-Examination 750-1000-1500
Corridors-General 100-150-200
Ward corridors-Day, screened from bays 150-200-300
Ward corridors- Day, open to natural light 150-200-300
Ward corridors- Morning/evening 100-150-200
Ward corridors- Night 5 to 10
Cubicles- General 200-300-500
Cubicles-Treatment 750-1000-1500
Examination- General 200-300-500
Examination- Local inspection 750-1000-1500
Intensive therapy-Bad head 30-50
Intensive therapy- Circulation between bed ends 50-100-150
Intensive therapy- Observation 200-300-500
Intensive therapy- Local observation 750-1000-1500
Intensive therapy- Staff base(day) 200-300-500
Intensive therapy- Staff base(night) 30
Laboratories-General 200-300-500
Laboratories-Examination 300-500-750
Nurses stations- Morning/day/evening 200-300-500
Nurses stations- Night desks 30
Nurses stations-Night, medical trolleys 50-100-150
Operating theatres- General 300-500-750
Operating theatres-Local 10000 to 50000
Pathology department- General 200-300-500
Pathology department-Examination 300-500-750
Pathology department- Pharmacies 200-300-500
Pathology department-Reception/ inquiry 200-300-500
Pathology department-Recovery rooms 200-300-500
Ward circulation-Day 50-100-150
Ward circulation-Morning/evening 50-100-150
Ward circulation-Night 3 to 5
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Ward bed head-Morning/Evening 30-50

Ward bed head- Reading 100-150-200
Night- Adult 0.1-1
Night-Pediatric 1 to 5
Night-Psychiatric 5
X-ray Areas-General 150-200-300
X-ray Areas-Diagnostic 150-200-300
X-ray Areas-Operative 200-300-500
X-ray Areas- Process dark room 50
Surgeries-General 200-300-500
Surgeries-Waiting rooms 100-150-200
Dental Surgeries- Chair Special lighting Special lighting
Dental Surgeries-Laboratories 300-500-750
Consulting rooms- General 200-300-500
Consulting rooms- Desk 300-500-750
Consulting rooms-Examination 300-500-750
Consulting rooms-Ophthalmic wall & nearvision 300-500-750
Hotels
Entrance Halls 50-100-150
Reception, cashiers and porters Desks 200-300-500
Bars, coffee base, dinning rooms, grill, rooms, restaurants, lounges 50-200
Cloak room 50-100-150 3
Bed room 30-50-100
Bathroom 50-100-150
Libraries
General 200-300-500 1
Counters 300-500-750
Bookshelves 100-150-200
Reading rooms 200-300-500
Reading tables 200-300-500
Catalogues- Card 100-150-200
Catalogues- Microfiche/visual display units 100-150-200
Reference libraries- General 200-300-500
Reference libraries-Counters 300-500-750
Reference libraries- Bookshelves 100-150-200
Reference libraries- Study tables, carrels 300-500-750
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Reference libraries- Map room 200-300-500

Display and exhibition- Exhibits insensitive to light 200-300-500
Library workrooms- Book repair and binding 300-500-750
Library workrooms- Catalogue and sorting 300-500-750
Library workrooms- Remote book stores 100-150-200
Museums and Art Galleries- Exhibits insensitive to light 200-300-500
Museums and Art Galleries- Light sensitive exhibits, for e.g., oil and
150
temper paints, undyed leather, bone, Ivory, wood, etc
Museums and Art Galleries- Extremely light sensitive exhibits ,For
e.g., textiles, water colors, prints and drawing, skins, botanical 50
specimens, etc
Museums and Art Galleries- Conservation studies and workshops 300-500-750
Museums and Art Galleries- Multi-purpose sports hall 300-750
AGRICULTURE AND HORICULTURE
Inspection of farm products where Color is important 300-500-750
Other important tasks 200-300-500
Farm workshops
General 50-100-150
Workbench or machine 200-300-500
Milk premises 50-100-150
Sick Animal Pets, Calf Nurseries 30-50-100
Other Firm and Horticulture Building 20-30-50
ELECTRICITY GENERATION TRANSMISSION AND
DISTRIBUTION
General plant
Turbine houses (operating floor) 150-200-300
Boiler and turbine house basements 50-100-150
Boiler house, platforms, areas around Burners 50-100-150
Switch rooms, meter rooms, oil plant Rooms, HV substations (indoor) 100-150-200
Control room 200-300-500
Relay and telecommunication rooms 200-300-500
Diesel generator & compressor rooms 100-150-200
Pump houses, water treatment plant Houses 100-150-200
Ba ery rooms, charges, rectifiers 50-100-150
Precipitator chambers, platforms, etc 50-100-150
Cable tunnels & basements, Circulating Water culverts & screen
30-50-100
chamber

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Coal Plant-Conveyors, gantries, junction towers, Unloading hoppers,

50-100-150
ash handling plants, Se ing pits, dust hoppers
Coal Plant-Other areas where operators may be A endance 100-150-200
Nuclear Plants-Gas circulation bays, reactor area, boiler Platform,
100-150-200
reactor charges and discharge
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Structural steel Fabrication-General 200-300-500
Structural steel Fabrication-Marking off 300-500-750
Sheet Metal Works- Pressing, punching, shearing, stamping, spinning,
300-500-750
folding
Bench work, scribing, inspection 500-750-1000
Machine and tool shops-Rough bench and machine work 200-300-500
Machine and tool shops- Medium bench and machine work 300-500-750
Machine and tool shops-Fine bench and machine work 500-750-1000
Machine and tool shops- Gauge rooms 750-1000-1500
Die Sinking Shops-General 300-500-750
Die Sinking Shops-Fine Works 1000-1500-2000
Welding and soldering shops-Gas and arc welding, rough spot
200-300-500
welding
Welding and soldering shops-Medium soldering, brazing, spot
300-500-750
welding
Welding and soldering shops- Fine soldering , fine spot welding 750-1000-1500
Assembly Shops- Rough work for example, frame and heavy machine
200-300-500
assembly
Medium work, for example , office Machinery assembly 300-500-750
Fine work, for example, office machinery assembly 500-750-1000
Very fine work, for example, instrument assembly 750-1000-1500
Minute work for example, watch making 1000-1500-2000
Inspection and Testing Shops
Coarse Work, for example, using go/on go gauge, inspection of large
300-500-750
sub-assembly
Medium work for example, inspection of painted surfaces 500-750-1000
Fine work, for example, using calibrated scales, inspection of precision
750-1000-1500
mechanism
Very fine work, for example, inspection of small intricate parts 1000-1500-2000
Minute work, for example, inspection of very small instruments 2000
Points Shops and Spray Booths- Dipping, rough spraying 00 200-300-5

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Points Shops and Spray Booths-Preparation, ordinary painting,

200-500-750
spraying & finishing
Fine painting,. Spraying and finishing 500-750-1000
Inspection, retouching and matching 750-1000-1500
Plating shops-Vats and baths 200-300-500
Plating shops- Buffing, polishing burnishing 300-500-750
Plating shops- Final buffing and polishing 500-750-1000
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGG.
Electrical Equipment manufacture
Manufacture of cables & insulated wires, winding, varnishing &
200-300-500
immersion of coils, assembly of large machines, simple assembly work
Medium assembly , for example Telephones, small motors 300-500-750
Assembly of precision components for e.g., telecommunication
750-1000-1500
equipment ,adjustment, inspection and calibration
Assembly of high precision parts 1000-1500-2000
Electronic Equipment Manufacture
Printed Circuit Board
Silk Screening 300-500-75
Hand insertion of components, soldering 500-750-1000
Inspection 750-1000-1500
Assembly of wiring harness, clearing Harness , testing and calibration 500-750-1000
Chassis assembly 750-1000-1500
Inspection and testing
Soak test 150-200-300
Safety and functional tests 200-300-500
FOOD, DRINKS AND TOBACCO
Slaughter houses
General 200-300-500
Inspection 300-500-750
Canning, Preserving and Freezing 500-750-1000
Grading and sorting of raw materials Preparation 300-500-750
Canned and bo led goods Retorts 200-300-500
Automatic processes 150-200-300
Labeling and packaging 200-300-500 3
Frozen labeling
Process area 200-300-500
Packaging and storage 200-300-500
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Bo ling, Brewing & Distilling

Keg washing and handling, bo le Washing 150-200-300
Keg inspection 200-300-500
Process area 200-300-500
Bo le filling 500-750-1000
Edible oils and Fats Processing
Refining and Blending 200-300-500
Production 300-500-750
Mills-milling, Filtering and Packing 200-300-500
Bakeries
General 200-300-500
Hand decorating, icing 300-500-75
Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturer
General 200-300-500
Automatic processes 150-200-300
Hand decoration, inspection, wrapping and packing 300-500-750
Tobacco Processing
Material preparation, making and packing 300-500-750
Hand processes 500-750-1000
LEATHER INDUSTRY
Leather Manufacture-Cleaning, tanning and stretching, vats, cu ing,
200-300-500
fleshing, stuffing
Finishing, scarfing 300-500-750
Leather Work General 200-300-500
Pressing, glazing 300-500-750
Cu ing, spli ing, scarfing, sewing 500-750-1000
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
Clothing Manufacture
Preparation of cloth 200-300-500
Cu ing 500-750-1000
Matching 500-750-1000
Sewing 750-1000-1500
Pressing 300-500-750
Inspection 1000-1500-2000
Hand tailoring 1000-1500-2000
Hosiery and Knitwear Manufacture

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Flat bed kni ing machines 300-500-750

Circular kni ing machines 500-750-1000
Lock stitch and over locking machine 750-1000-1500
Linking or running on 750-1000-1500
Mending, hand finishing 1000-1500-3000
Inspection 1000-1500-2000
Glove Manufacture
Sorting & grading 500-750-1000
Pressing, kni ing, cu ing 300-500-750
Sewing 500-750-1000
Inspection 1000-1500-2000
Hat Manufacture
Stiffening, braiding, refining, forming, Sizing, pounding, ironing 200-300-500
Cleaning, flanging, finishing 300-500-750
Sewing 500-750-1000
Inspection 1000-1500-2000 –
Boot and Shoe Manufacture Leather and Synthetics
Sorting and Grading 750-1000-1500
Clicking, closing 750-1000-1500
Preparatory Operations 750-1000-1500
Cu ing tables and pressure 1000-1500-2000
Bo om stock preparation, lasting, Bo oming finishing, show rooms 750-1000-1500
Rubber
Washing, compounding, coating, drying Varnishing, vulcanizing 200-300-500
Lining, making and finishing 300-500-750
DISTRIBUITION AND STORAGE
Work stores 100-150-200
Unpacking, sorting 150-200-300
Large item storage 50-100-150
Small item rack storage 200-300-500
Issue counter, records, storemans desk 300-500-750
Warehouses and bulk stores
Storage of goods where identification requires only limited
50-100-150
preparation of details
Storage of goods where identification 100-150-200
Automatic high bay rack stores Gangway 20

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Control station 150-200-300

Packing and dispatch 200-300-500
Loading bays 100-150-200
Cold stores
General 200-300-500
Breakdown, make-up and dispatch 200-300-500
Loading bays 100-150-200
COMMERCE
General Offices 300-500-750
Deep plan General offices 500-750-1000
Offices Computer Work station 300-500-750
Offices- Conference Rooms, Executive Offices 300-500-750
Computer and data preparation Rooms 300-500-750
Filling rooms 200-300-500
Drawing Offices-General 300-500-750
Drawing Offices- Drawing Board 500-750-1000
Print rooms 200-300-500
Counter, office area 300-500-750
Banks and building societies- Public area 200-300-500
SERVICES Workshop Garages
(Garages)Interior parking areas 20-30-50
(Garages) General repairs, servicing, washing, polishing 200-300-500
(Garages) Workbench 300-500-750
(Garages) Spray Booths 300-500-750
External apron-General 30-50-100
Pump area (retail details ) 200-300-500
Workshop- General 200-300-500
Workshop- Workbench 300-500-750
Workshop-Counter 200-300-500
Workshop- Stores 200-300-500
Commercial laundries- Receiving, sorting, washing, drying, Ironing,
200-300-500
dispatch, dry-cleaning, bulk Machine work
Commercial laundries-Head ironing, pressing, mending, spo ing,
300-500-750
inspection
Commercial laundries-Laundere es 200-300-500
Commercial laundries-Walkways 30-50-100

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Commercial laundries-Process areas 50-100-150

RETAILING
Small Shops with Counters 300-500-750
Small Self Service shops with island displays 300-500-750
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)General 300-500-750
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)Checkout 300-500-750
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)Showroom for large objects, for e.g.
300-500-75
Cars, furniture
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)Shopping precincts and arcades 100-150-200
FILED UNDER UNCATEGORIZED

About Jignesh.Parmar
Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E(Electrical). He is member of
Institution of Engineers (MIE) and CEng,India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more than 16
years experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detection-Electrical
Maintenance-Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He
is Presently associate with one of the leading business group as a Deputy Manager at
Ahmedabad,India. He has published numbers of Technical Articles in “Electrical Mirror”, “Electrical
India”, “Lighting India”,”Smart Energy”, “Industrial Electrix”(Australian Power Publications)
Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base Electrical
Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and Familiar with English, Hindi,
Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and help technical
enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.

5 Responses to Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-16).

Muhammad Mohsin Ansari says:

January 14, 2019 at 8:30 am
Can you send me selection of various types of Invert-er (Part-1)
fabulous knowledge
Thanking you,

Best Regards,
Dr. Engr. M.Mohsin Ansari

Reply
shantilal parmar says:
January 14, 2019 at 8:48 am
Dear Sir I am waiting for your reply to my question

Reply
AZIZ PATHAN says:
January 14, 2019 at 9:24 am
Thanks …. Very Importance note & information electrical field …

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