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HOW TO MEASURE LIGHT AND LUX LEVELS

Its vitally important to know how to measure light & lux levels in the workpla ce; bad lighting can be hugely

detrimental to your business. Not enough light (or low lux levels) may cause fatigue, muscle strain, and costly

mistakes in work, particularly if an employee or colleague is exposed to insufficient lighting over long periods

of time. The same is true for excessive light (or lux) levels. Glare and reflected light can distract an individual

and impair his or her vision, which is particularly dangerous when a job requires the workers full attention,

such as working with machinery or hazardous chemicals. Using a light orlux meterto measure light levels in

your workplace can help you in avoiding such issues.

Appropriate lighting should be ensured at all times through testing and regular maintenance. Under the Health

& Safety at Work Act of 1974, an employer has a duty to ensure the health & safety of employees. The Act

includes a duty to provide lighting to ensure that work can be done safely, and that employees health or

eyesight are not jeopardised. Regulation no.8 of the Workplace Regulations Act 1992 states that employers

must ensure that:

Every workplace has suitable & sufficient lighting

This should be natural light, so far as is reasonably practicable

Suitable & sufficient emergency lighting shall be provided where needed

To test, and maintain a required lighting level, its standard industry practise to use a light level meter. These

instruments will typically provide a luminance reading based on either lux or foot-candles. Lux is a unit of

illumination of one square metre, which is one metre away from a uniform light source. It is also a European

standard of measurement. Foot-Candles (FC) is a unit of illumination of one square foot, which is one foot away

from a uniform light source. It is a U.S measurement standard.

1 Lux = 0.0929 FC

1 FC = 10.76 Lux

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The amount of light (or lux) required to suit your workplace depends on the type of work being done, but the

list below gives an indication of the light (or lux levels) required for different types of working environments.

Environment Required Light Level

Storage Area / Plant Room (minimal movement of people) 150200 Lux

Construction Areas & Loading Bays (minimal perception of detail) 300500 Lux

Factories & Kitchens (higher perception of detail) 500750 Lux

Inspection, Welding & Machinery (demanding work) 7501000 Lux

Electronics & Textile Production (repetitive work) 1000

1500 Lux

Technical Offices (accurate detail) 15003000 Lux

Jewellers & Goldsmiths (precision detail) 3000+ Lux

Interior light / lux levels are much lower than outdoor natural light / lux levels. Some typical light/ lux levels

are:

Environment Light / Lux Level

Very Bright Summer Day Up to 100,000 Lux

Overcast Summer Day 30,00040,000 Lux

Floodlit Football Match 70016,000 Lux

Shady Room in Daylight 250

300 Lux

Night Light on a Building 60 Lux

Nighttime Urban Street 10 Lux

Nighttime Car Park 1 Lux

When youre choosing a light meter, its important to understand its associated lux (or FC) measurement range,

resolution, accuracy, and the maintenance required to achieve repeatable measurements. Youll also need to

consider the environment in which the light meter is used. Consider the tables above, taking measurements

outdoors will require a much higher lux (or FC) measurement range, and in a professional environment, the

accuracy of your reading will ultimately affect the credibility of your future measurements, and organisation as

a whole.

So, its also a good idea to have your light meter calibratedbefore taking a measurement. In todays market,

more light meters are used without firstly being checked for traceable accuracy, or suitability of purpose, yet

the accuracy and suitability of your light meter to its intended application could be the difference between

passing and failing a health & safety audit, wasting a whole industrial process, or being correct the first time.

Also, if your company is ISO accredited, then having all instruments used as a controlling element calibrated on

a regular basis is a mandatory part of the auditable procedure.

Taking a reading is relatively straight forward, simply expose the light meter sensor to your desiredenvironment, and log the reading displayed on the display. If youd like to submit regular readings to

management, auditors, or work colleagues, you may like to consider a data logging light meter. These

instruments allow continuous Lux (or FC) measurements to be displayed in real-time, or downloaded and

stored to PCs or Laptop computers. The recorded measurements can then be attached to emails or reports, and

is great for traceability in critical environments.

Click here for a video demonstration of a typical light meters size, functionality, features, and workplace

applications.

ATP Instrumentationhas a wide range of light meters available designed to suit your individual requirements.If you have a technical query, please call us now on 01530 566800, and well refer you to our instrument

technical team.

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