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.
With over 25 years of experience in environmental monitoring services in India, Perfect Pollucon Services has worked with industries across sectors to ensure optimal lighting conditions that meet regulatory and operational efficiency requirements. Proper lux levels are critical for workplace safety, productivity, and compliance with standards like BIS and OSHA.
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.
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
Over the years, Perfect Pollucon Services has observed that many industries struggle with achieving the right lux levels. Some workplaces suffer from under-illumination, causing eye strain and reduced efficiency, while others face over-illumination, leading to glare and unnecessary energy consumption.
A leading manufacturing plant we worked with had excessively bright lighting in inspection areas, resulting in worker fatigue and increased errors. After a lux level audit, adjusting the brightness and optimizing fixture placement improved worker comfort and reduced mistakes.
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.
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.
Lux Level Standards for Different Industries
Perfect Pollucon Services has helped industries align with BIS, OSHA, and CPCB lighting standards through precise monitoring and expert recommendations.
Based on our extensive experience, many industries unknowingly violate lux level requirements due to outdated lighting or improper fixture placement. Our audits frequently reveal:
- Emergency and safety lighting is overlooked, causing compliance issues.
- Lux levels vary significantly across different workstations, leading to inconsistent working conditions.
- Energy inefficiency due to overuse of high-power lighting in areas that require softer illumination.
Implementing optimized lux level strategies not only ensures compliance but also improves overall workplace productivity.
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
Read more about Illumination Survey or Lighting assessment
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 |
Read more about Environmental Monitoring at Warehouse
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 |
Standard Lux Level Chart
Lux is the unit of measurement for illuminance, which represents the amount of light per square meter. Proper lighting is essential for safety, productivity, and visual comfort in different environments such as offices, industries, residential areas, and healthcare facilities. Workspaces, schools, and hospitals require higher lux levels to reduce eye strain and enhance efficiency, whereas outdoor areas like streets and parking lots need lower lux levels for visibility and security.
The table below provides the recommended lux levels for various spaces as per standard guidelines.
| Area / Activity | Recommended Lux Level (lx) |
|---|---|
| Residential Areas | |
| Living Room | 100 – 300 lx |
| Kitchen | 200 – 500 lx |
| Bedroom | 50 – 200 lx |
| Bathroom | 200 – 300 lx |
| Study Room / Reading | 300 – 750 lx |
| Offices & Workspaces | |
| General Office Work | 300 – 500 lx |
| Conference Rooms | 300 – 700 lx |
| Drawing / Technical Work | 750 – 1000 lx |
| Computer Workstations | 300 – 500 lx |
| Industrial & Manufacturing | |
| Factories / Assembly Lines | 300 – 750 lx |
| Precision Manufacturing | 1000 – 2000 lx |
| Heavy Industry Workspaces | 150 – 300 lx |
| Warehouses | 100 – 300 lx |
| Educational Institutions | |
| Classrooms | 300 – 500 lx |
| Laboratories | 500 – 750 lx |
| Libraries | 300 – 750 lx |
| Healthcare Facilities | |
| Hospital Wards | 200 – 500 lx |
| Operating Theaters | 1000 – 2000 lx |
| Examination Rooms | 500 – 1000 lx |
| Retail & Commercial Spaces | |
| Supermarkets | 500 – 1000 lx |
| Showrooms | 750 – 1500 lx |
| General Retail Stores | 300 – 750 lx |
| Outdoor Areas | |
| Street Lighting (Main Roads) | 10 – 30 lx |
| Street Lighting (Residential) | 5 – 15 lx |
| Parking Lots | 50 – 100 lx |
| Sports Stadiums | 500 – 2000 lx |
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.
Common Mistakes Industries Make in Lux Level Monitoring
Over the past 25 years, we have identified key mistakes industries make in maintaining proper lux levels:
- Over-illumination leads to higher energy costs and glare. Many industries assume “brighter is better,” but excessive lighting can cause discomfort and increased electricity bills.
- Ignoring age-related lighting needs. Workers above 40 may need more lighting than younger employees, but uniform lighting often fails to account for this.
- Relying on outdated fixtures. Many facilities still use inefficient halogen or fluorescent bulbs instead of modern LED lighting, which provides better control over lux levels.
- Skipping periodic audits. Lighting levels degrade over time, and without regular assessments, workplaces may unknowingly operate below the required standards.
- Incorrect positioning of light sources. Shadows and uneven lighting create visibility issues, especially in manufacturing and laboratory environments.
Perfect Pollucon Services has helped organizations correct these issues through systematic lux level assessments and customized lighting recommendations.
Maintaining proper lux levels in an industrial setting is not just a regulatory requirement but a key factor in workplace safety, productivity, and efficiency.
With over 25 years of expertise in environmental monitoring, Perfect Pollucon Services has helped industries across India achieve compliance and optimize workplace lighting. If your organization needs a professional lux level assessment, our expert team is ready to help.
👉 Contact us today for a detailed compliance check and lighting optimization tailored to your industry.
Anil Shelke is the Executive Director at Perfect Pollucon Services with 30+ years of expertise in pollution control, environmental audits, hazardous waste management, and ISO 14001 implementation. He specializes in helping industries align with CPCB/SPCB regulations.
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.
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.
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.
For warehouses, it is recommended to have LUX level around 150 at floor level and 200 LUX at rack level.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.