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Lux level Standards in Industry

Lux level Standards in Industry are recommendations from IS for sufficient light at workplace to maintain wellbeing, safety of workers and productive work environment.

Considering increasing industrial activities in India, where many people have to work with attention to details throughout day and night. With all different visual task’s conditions, lighting should be suitable for adequate visibility in any industrial processes.

Physical hazards can be prevented if sufficient lighting is available in workplace area. Lighting condition not only contributes to the safety but also make workplace more comforting and productive.

Unit of illumination

The standard unit to measure the intensity level of light is known as LUX. It is also called as Illuminance or illumination.

What is Lux?

Lux is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of visible light that falls on a surface. It represents the intensity of illumination and is calculated by measuring the amount of light received per unit area.

Lux level standards in industry - Perfect Pollucon Services

Quantity of Illumination in industry

Ideally a lighting system should be designed in such way that it provides uniform distribution of light over entire workplace.

And adequacy of lighting is necessary to avoid occupational eye-strain and accidents due to poor lighting. Adequate lighting also creates aggregable illuminous work environment.

Read more about Effect of Poor lighting at workplace

Depending on the type of activity demand of degree of illumination differs. For e.g.

If you are reading, drawing then it is better to maintain LUX levels around 200
To maintain standard LUX level for office, where people work on computers, laptops it is better to increase illumination to 400-500 LUX
In Shops, showrooms lex levels should be maintained at 500 LUX
At Workshops lux level should be maintained at 600-700 LUX
And for critical works like operation theatre in hospitals it is required to maintain LUX levels at 1000

Quality of Illumination in industry

Here Quality of illumination industry is referring to distribution of brightness in workplace area. It expects uniform brightness throughout the industrial area. Reduction in glares play major role in maintaining quality of illumination. Reflected glares can be minimized of eliminated using light source of low luminance or increasing the angle from line of vision. There should not be any harsh shadows in industry.

Placement of light source - Lux level standards in industry - Perfect Pollucon Services

Illumination Standards as per Factory Act, 1948 (Section 17 – Lighting)

As per factory act, 1948 section 17 there are few rules and regulations to be followed by all industries in India. Few important points from factory act for lighting are mentioned below:

All part of the factory where employees are working or passing should have sufficient lighting either by natural or artificial source
In every factory all glazed windows and skylights used for the lighting of the workroom shall be kept clean on both the sides and so far as agreement with the requirements of any rules made under sub-section (3) of section 13 will allow, free from obstruction.
In all factories, there should not be any glares from directly any light source or indirectly polished surface
In all factories, there should not be any shadows which limits the visibility of the employees which can cause accidents or eye strain
The State Government may prescribe standards of adequate and appropriate illumination for factories or for any class or account of workshops or for any industrial process.

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LUX Level in Industry as per Indian Standard (IS 6665)

Keeping this in mind Indian Burau of Indian Standards had come up with standards to be followed for Industrial lighting in IS:3646 (I – 1966), IS:3646 (II – 1966), IS:3646 (III – 1968).

They have updated those Illumination lux level standards for different industries in 1972 as IS:6665. Please find below recommended Illumination lux level standards for industrial buildings and processes.

Workplace LUX Level Standards in Industry

Lux Level standards for General factory areas:

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Canteens	150	–
Cloakrooms	100	–
Entrances, corridors, stairs	100	–

Lux Level standards for Factory outdoor Areas

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Stockyards, main entrances, exit roads, car parking, internal factory roads	20	–

Aircraft factory

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Stock parts production	450	25
Drilling, riveting, screw fastening, wing sections, welding, assembly, sub-assembly, inspection area	300	25
Maintenance and repair (hangers)	300	25

Illumination levels at Assembly shops

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Rough work like frame assembly.	150	28
Medium work like machine parts, engine assembly, vehicle body assembly.	300	25
Fine work like radio and telephone assembly.	700	22
Very fine work like assembly of very small instruments	1500*	19

Boiler houses

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Coal and Ash handling	100	–
Boiler front and operating areas	100	–
Others area	20 to 25	–
Catwalks	20	–
Platforms	50	–

Boot and Shoes Manufacturing factories

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Sorting and grading	1000*	19
Clicking and closing, preparatory operations	700	22
Bottom stock preparation, lasting and bottoming	700	22
Cutting table and presses, stitching	1000	22
Shoe rooms	700	22

Brewers and Distillers

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
General working areas	150	25
Brewhouse, bottling and canning plants	200	25
Bottle inspection	Special lighting	–

Canning and preserving Factories

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Inspection of beans, rice, barley, etc	450	22
Preparation: Kettle areas, mechanical cleaning, dicing, trimming	300	25
Canned and bottled goods: Retorts	200	25
High speed labelling lines	300	25
Can inspection	450	–

Lux Level standards for Carpet Factory

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Winding, beaming	200	25
Designing, jacquard card cutting, setting pattern, tufting, topping, cutting, hemming, fringing	450	22
Weaving, mending, inspection	450	22

Lux Level standards for Chemical manufacturing Factories:

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Hand furnaces, boiling tanks, stationery driers, stationery or gravity crystallizers, mechanical driers, evaporators, filtration plants, mechanical crystallizing bleaching, extractors, percolators, nitrators, electrolytic cells	150	28
Controls, gauged, values; etc	100	–

Lux level Standards in Industry : Clothing Manufacturing Factories

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Cutting, sewing	300-700	22-20
Inspection	450-100	19
Hand Tailoring	450-1500	19

Lux Level standards for Electricity Generating Station

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Turbine halls	200	25
Auxiliary equipment; battery rooms, blowers, auxiliary generators, switchgear and transformer chambers	100	–
Boiler houses (including operating floors) platforms, coal conveyors, pulverisers, feeders, precipitators, soot and slag blowers	70-100	–
Boiler house and turbine house	100	–
Basements	70	–
Conveyor houses, conveyor genets, junction towers	70-100	–
Control rooms	200-300	19
Nuclear reactors and steam raising plants	150-200	25

Electricity Generating Stations: Outdoor Locations

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Coal unloading areas	20	–
Coal storage areas	20	–
Conveyors	50	–
Fuel oil delivery headers	50	–
Oil storage tanks	50	–
Catwalks	50	–
Platforms, boiler and turbine decks	50	–
Transformers and outdoor switchgear	100	–

Lux level Standards in Industry: Engineering

	Average LUX Level	Limiting Glare Index
Hand	1000	19
Machine	–	–

Foam Building

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Boiler houses	50	–
Milk room	150	25
Washing and sterilizing rooms	150	25
Stables	50	–
Milking parlours	150	25

Flour Mills

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Roller, purifier, silks and packing floors	150	25
Wetting tables	300	25

Lux Level standards for Foundries

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Charging floors; tumbling cleaning, pouring, shaking out, rough molding and rough core making	150	28
Fine moulding and core making, inspection	300	25

Lux Level standards for Garages

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Parking areas (interior)	70	28
Washing and polishing, greasing, general servicing, pits	150	28
Repairs	300	25

Gas Work

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Retort houses, oil gas plants, Water gas plants, coke handling plant	30 to 50	28
Governor, meter, booster	100	25

Open type plants

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Catwalks	20	–
Platforms	50	–
Gauge and Tool Rooms	700	19

Glass Works and Processes

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Furnace rooms, bending, annealing	100	28
Mixing rooms, forming (blowing, drawing, pressing, rolling)	150	28
Cutting to size, grinding, polishing, toughening	200	25
Finishing (bevelling, decorating, etching, silvering)	300	22
Brilliant cutting	700	19
Inspection (General and fine)	200 and 700	19

Inspection shops (Engineering)

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Rough work, for example, counting, rough	150	28
Medium work, for example, ‘Go’ and ‘No-go’ gauges, sub-assemble	300	25
Fine work, for example, radio and telecommunication equipment, calibrated scales, precision mechanisms, instruments	700	22
Very fine work, for example, gauging and inspection- of small intricate parts	1500	19
Minute work, for example, very small instruments	3000	10

Lux Level standards for Iron and steelworks

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Mars-balling and outdoor stockyards	10-20	–
Stain, gangways, basements, quarries, loading docks	100	–
Slab yards, melting shops! ingot stripping soaking pits, blast furnace working areas, picking and cleaning lines, mechanical plants, pump houses	100	28
Mould preparation; rolling and wire mills, mill motor rooms, power and blower houses	150	28
Slab inspection and conditioning, cold strip mills, sheet and plate finishing, tinning, galvanizing, machine and roll shops	200	28
Plate inspection	300	–
Tinplate inspection	Special lighting

Motor Vehicle Plants

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
General sub-assemblies, chassis assembly, car assembly	300	25
Final inspection	450	25
Trim shops, body sub-assembly, body assembly	300	25
Spray booths	450	–

Rubber Processing

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Fabric preparation creels	200	25
Dipping, moulding, compounding calendars	150	25
Tyre and tube making	200	25

Sheet Metal Works

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Benchwork, scribing, pressing, punching, shearing, stamping, spinning, folding	200	25
Sheet inspection	Special lighting	–

Warehouses and Bulk Stores

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Large material, loading bays	100	28
Small material, racks	150	25
Packing and dispatch	150	25

Lux Level standards for Welding and Soldering

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Gas and arc welding, rough spot welding	150	28
Medium soldering, brazing, and spot welding, for example, domestic hardware	300	25
Fine soldering and spot welding, for example, instruments, radio set assembly	700	22
Very fine soldering and spot welding, for example, radio valves	150	19

Woodworking Shops

	Average Illumination LUX Level Standards	Limiting Glare Index
Rough sawing, and bench work	150	22
Sizing, planning, rough sanding, medium machine and bench work, gluing, veneering, cooperage	200	22
Fine bench and machine work, fine sanding and finishing	300	22

Lux level standards in Textile Industry

In the textile industry, recommended lux level standards typically vary based on specific work tasks and areas. However, general guidelines suggest that areas involved in detailed inspection or fine stitching might require higher lux levels, around 500-1000 lux, while general production and assembly areas could aim for 300-500 lux for adequate lighting conditions.

Lux level standards in Pharma Industry

In the pharmaceutical industry, appropriate lux level standards depend on the nature of activities within different areas. Cleanrooms and laboratories often require higher lux levels, around 500-1000 lux, to ensure accurate and safe work conditions, while administrative and circulation areas might maintain lux levels of 200-300 lux for general tasks.

Perfect Pollucon Services offers Illumination Survey or LUX Level monitoring / testing and provide LUX Monitoring report for our clients. Feel free to contact our Environmental executive for more information.

What are recommended lux levels for an office?

In general, Offices are required to have LUX level at 500. In case of screen based devices such as Computers / laptops LUX levels can vary from 300-500.

What is the minimum illumination or Lux level is required in workplace i.e. working area?

The minimum level of illumination recommended for work in general offices is 200 lux. it is assumed that tasks like reading in general offices. in case of any detailed work is done then minimum illumination level needs to be around 500 LUX.

What is Standard lux level for residential?

At homes recommended illumination levels is often 150 lux. The living and dining rooms may work pretty well with about 25 to 50 lux. If you are doing tasks like reading then Lux level needs to be around 200.

What is the recommended lux level for a warehouse?

For warehouses, it is recommended to have LUX level around 150 at floor level and 200 LUX at rack level.

What are the Lux level standards for visual inspection?

For normal activities in any office should be 200 Lux, but for the work which requires scrutiny and detailing i.e. visual inspection lux level should be at least 500. Along with Lux level periodic rest is also required to the person who is performing inspection to avoid fatigue.

What are minimum lux level for construction sites?

At construction site where only movement of people, machinery and raw materials are involved then lux level 50 is more than sufficient. In case of any detailed work is being done then it is recommended to maintain lux levels minimum at 200 Lux at construction site at all the time.

What is lux level calculation?

The LUX level in a room is calculated from the following formula
E(LUX) = F(lm) x UF x MF / A
Where
lm is required lumens
E is the the LUX level achieved
UF is utilization factor
MF Maintenance factor
F is the average lumens value form the light source

Which activity requires the highest level of illumination?

Activities which involve detailed work, demand the highest level of illumination. Those activities can be operation theatre in hospitals, color inspection on paper or fabric, Autopsy table and dissecting table, etc.

What are standard lux level for bedrooms?

It is recommended that generally bedroom needs to have lux levels between 100 to 300 Lux. Incase of any activities like reading or painting LUX level should be more than 500 Lux.

What is 200 Lux level?

A lux level of 200 signifies a moderate level of illumination. It’s often considered suitable for general indoor activities like offices, hallways, and classrooms, providing adequate lighting for tasks without excessive glare or brightness.

What is 100 Lux of light?

A light level of 100 lux indicates a low level of illumination. It’s commonly associated with settings where minimal lighting is required, such as movie theaters during screenings or nighttime outdoor environments.

What is 150 Lux light level?

A light level of 150 lux represents a moderate but not overly bright level of illumination. It’s often found in spaces such as hotel lobbies, conference rooms, or retail stores, providing comfortable lighting for various activities.