FOOTCANDLE LIGHT GUIDE - Lighting Design Lab

1 FO OT C ANDLE LIGHT GuideFOOTCANDLE LIGHT GUIDEF ootcandles are the most common unit of measure used by Lighting professionals to calculate LIGHT levels in businesses and outdoor spaces. A FOOTCANDLE is de ned as the illuminance on a one square foot surface from a uniform source of LIGHT . The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommends the following FOOTCANDLE levels to ensure adequate illumination and safety for occupants. Below is a guideline for common areas to assist in achieving appropriate LIGHT levels with the greatest energy-e Area & Task A ver age Maintained Footcandles (Horizontal) (FC)Range of Maintained Footcandles (Horizontal) (FC)Aver age Maintained Footcandles (V er tical) (FC)Range of Maintained Footcandles (V er tical) (FC)CommentsWAREHOUSING & STORAGEB ulky Items Large Labels105 Small Items Small Labels3015 Cold Storage2010 - 30105 - 15 Open War ehouse2010 - 30 War ehouse w/Aisles2010 - 30105 - 15 COMMERCIAL OFFICEOpen Office4030 - 50@30 Above Finished Floor (AFF)Privat e Office4030 - 50@30 AFFC onfer ence Room30 Matte surface reflectance for the table 40% - 30 Lunch & Break Room155 - 20 EDUCATIONAL (SCHOOLS)Classr oom4030 - 50@30 AFFG ymnasiumClass I (Pro or Div.)

2 1 College)12530 Class II (Div. 2 or 3 College)8020 Class III (High School) 50150 Class IV (Elementary) - - 10 Corridor2510 - 40 This GUIDE is a collaborative e ort of Energy Trust of Oregon and the Lighting Design Lab, Seattle, Area & TaskAver age Maintained Footcandles (Horizontal) (FC)Range of Maintained Footcandles (Horizontal) (FC)Aver age Maintained Footcandles (V er tical) (FC)Range of Maintained Footcandles (V er tical) (FC)CommentsINDUSTRIAL/MANUFACTURINGA ssemblySimple (Large Item)3015 - 603015 - 60 Difficult (fine)10050 - 20010050 - 200 Component ManufacturingLarge3015 - 603015 - 60 Medium5025 - 1005025 - 100 EXTERIORP arking (Cover ed)51FC min, 10:1 Max to Min UniformityParking (Open) (Medium Activity) Lighting Zone 3 (Urban) - - Zone 2 (suburban) - - Station - 15 Safet y (Building Exterior) - 2If security is an issue raise average level to 3 RETAILG eneral Retail (Ambient)50 Department Store4020 - - 30 Perimeter7535 - 150 Accent Lighting (Displays)3 - 10 times greater than ambient LIGHT levelsAUTOMOTIVES howroom5025 - 100105 - 20 Service Area5025 - 1003015 - 30 Sales Lot (Exterior) Lighting Zone 3 (Urban)2010 - 402010 - 40 Lighting Zone 2 (Suburban) - - 30 GROCERY Cir culation2010 - - 15 General Retail5025 - 1002010-40 Perimeter5025-100 BANKINGATM2010-4015 Ver tical at face of ATM NOTES: This GUIDE is based on information gathered fr om the IES T he Lighting Handbook 10th Edition.

3 It is highly recommended that all Lighting prof essionals ref er to the full IES GUIDE when specifying Lighting projects. At least half of users ar e in the 25 - 65 age range Horizontal horizontal plane that aver age maintained foot-c andles ar e measured Ver tical ver tical plane the aver age maintained foot-c andles ar e measured It is the responsibility of the to determine and provide appropriate Lighting levels for each spaceEnergy Trust of Oregon 421 SW Oak St., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97204 fax Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit fr om saving energy and tapping renewable resources. Our services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power , NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas save on energy costs. Our work helps keep energy costs as lo w as possible, cr eates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future.

4 Printed with vegetable-based inks on paper that contains 100% post-c onsumer waste. 7/13 Rev .07/2013