IES METHOD - Table 1

IES ILLUMINANCE CATEGORIES and VALUES - for GENERIC INDOOR ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY

CTGRY

LUX

FOOTCANDLES

Public Spaces with dark surroundings

20-30-50

2-3-5

Simple orientation for short temporary visits

50-75-100

5-7.5-10

Working spaces where visual tasks are only occasionally performed

100-150-200

10-15-20

Performance of visual tasks of high contrast or large size

200-300-500

20-30-50

Performance of visual tasks of medium contrast or small size

500-750-1000

50-75-100

Performance of visual tasks of low contrast or very small size

1000-1500-2000

100-150-200

Performance of visual tasks of low contrast or very small size over a

prolonged period

2000-3000-5000

200-300-500

Performance of very prolonged and exacting visual tasks

5000-7500-10000

500-750-1000

Performance of very special visual tasks of extremely low contrast

10000-15000-20000

1000-1500-2000

A-C for illuminances over a large area (ie lobby space)

D-F for localized tasks
G-I for extremely difficult visual tasks
Table - 1a - (for Categories A-C)
Room and Occupant Characteristics

Weighting Factor
-1

Occupant ages
Average room surface reflectances

+1

under 40

40-55

over 55

more than 70%

30-70%

less than 30%

Table - 1b - (for Categories D-I)

Room and Occupant Characteristics

Weighting Factor
-1

+1

Occupant ages

under 40

40-55

over 55

Importance of speed and/or accuracy

not important

important

critical

Average room surface reflectances

more than 70%

30-70%

less than 30%

Point Source Method

L cos

i=

r
i = point source illuminance
L = lumens
= angle offset from 90
r = distance to surface

FC = .0929(LUX)
LUX = 10.76 (10.76)
50 FC = 538 LUX

FC=

Candela
d (ft.)

Lumen Method

E=

n N F UF LLF

FC=

Area

E = average illuminance over the horizontal working plane

n = number of lamps in each luminaire
N = number of luminaire
F = lighting design lumens per lamp, i.e. initial bare lamp luminous flux
UF = utilization factor for the horizontal working plane
LLF = light loss factor
A = area of the horizontal working plane

LUX=

LUX=

Lamp Lumens
Area (ft)

Lamp Lumens
Area (m)

Candela
d (m)

Room Index
L+W

k=

Hwp (L+W)

Utilization Factor

Fixture efficiency

Ceiling[%]

70

Walls[%]

50

Floor[%]

Room
Index

50

30

10

50

30

30

10

50

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

30

10

0.60

.27

.26

.22

.22

.19

.19

.26

.24

.22

.21

.19

.18

.26

.25

.21

.21

.19

.18

0.80

.33

.31

.28

.27

.23

.23

.32

.30

.27

.26

.24

.23

.31

.30

.27

.26

.23

.23

1.00

.38

.36

.32

.30

.28

.28

.36

.35

.32

.31

.29

.27

.35

.34

.31

.30

.28

.27

1.25

.43

.40

.37

.35

.33

.32

.41

.39

.36

.35

.33

.32

.39

.37

.35

.34

.32

.31

1.50

.47

.43

.41

.39

.37

.35

.44

.42

.40

.37

.36

.35

.42

.40

.39

.37

.36

.35

2.00

.52

.47

.47

.44

.43

.41

.49

.46

.45

.43

.42

.40

.47

.45

.44

.42

.41

.40

2.50

.58

.50

.51

.47

.48

.44

.53

.49

.49

.46

.46

.44

.50

.48

.47

.45

.45

.43

3.00

.59

.52

.55

.49

.51

.47

.55

.52

.52

.48

.49

.46

.52

.50

.50

.48

.47

.46

4.00

.62

.55

.59

.52

.56

.51

.58

.53

.56

.52

.53

.50

.55

.52

.53

.51

.51

.49

5.00

.64

.56

.62

.55

.59

.53

.60

.55

.58

.53

.56

52

.57

.54

.55

.52

.52

.51

white, off-white, gray, lights tints of blue or brown

75-90%

medium green, yellow, brown or gray

30-60%

dark gray, medium blue

10-20%

dark blue, brown, dark green, and many wood finishes

5-10%

white acoustical tile ceiling

70-80%

carpeting

15-30%

high quality white paint or reflective aluminum

90-95
M.S. Rae Method - Table 2

TASK CATEGORIES AND REFERENCE ILLUMINANCE LEVELS

CTGRY

Difficulty of Visual Task

Importance of Speed & Accuracy

non-critical

critical

Movement through public spaces

50
5

Lux
FC

75
7

Infrequent Reading or Writing

High contrast & large size

100
9

Lux
FC

150
14

Frequent & Easy Reading or Writing

High contrast & large size

200
19

Lux
FC

300
28

Moderately Difficult Reading or Writing

300
28

Lux
FC

450
42

Difficult Reading or Writing

500
46

Lux
FC

750
70

Table 2A
ADJUSTMENTS TO REFERENCE ILLUMINANCES
(for different task background reflectances and worker ages)
Age (A, in years)
> 30
Task Background
Reflectance
(R)

30-40

40-50

50-60

60+

R > 0.8

1.0

1.2

1.5

2.0

3.1

0.8 - 0.6

1.2

1.5

1.9

2.6

3.9

0.6 - 0.4

1.7

2.0

2.5

3.4

5.2

0.4 - 0.2

2.5

3.0

3.8

5.1

7.8

0.2 or less

5.0

6.0

7.6

10.2

15.6