GUIDELINES FOR EDUCATION LIGHTING DESIGN

Task and Technology Specific Lighting

Different lighting should be specified for different departments for example, technology classes should use down lights instead of battens, as this will prevent glare on computers but provide enough light to see paperwork.

1. Classroom:

Average illuminance 300LUX at desk height.

Lighting should be at the minimal level of cylindrical illuminance 150 lux at 1.2m so the faces of the students and teachers can be recognised without any disturbing shadows, this also contributes to creating a pleasant atmosphere.

2. Libraries/Study areas:

Bookshelf area 200LUX at desk height.

3. Libraries/Study areas:

Reading area 500LUX at desk height.

4. Science Laboratories:

Double check the IP rating need for the room, could vary from IP44 to IP65.

5. Technology rooms – Cooking, Soft/Hard Materials:

300lux colour warm white 4000k with task lighting 500lux

Suitable number of lux for a classroom would be between 300-500. (Lux measures the amount of light output into a specific area per square metre).

Lighting throughout the classroom should be uniform to reduce eye fatigue in students.

Recessed lighting mainly for suspended ceilings, can be useful however only gives direct light, which means depending on the flooring, you may have glare issues.

Surface mounted lights are suitable for most ceilings – these may give direct light depending on where they are pointed, meaning glare and shadows can be quite heavily reduced.

Max glare index – most rooms used in education are UGR19, apart from special technology classes – Art, Soft Materials rooms.

Reference material: BranzLightingDesignGuide