UK & EU Lighting Design Guidance

1. General Indoor Lighting Standards

When planning interior spaces, adhering to UK and EU lighting design guidelines isn’t just about compliance—it’s fundamental to creating environments that enhance wellbeing, productivity, and visual comfort.

These standards provide architects, designers, and building professionals with essential parameters for illuminance levels, glare control, colour rendering, and maintenance requirements across different applications.

The BS EN 12464-1 (2021) serves as the cornerstone document for indoor workplace lighting, addressing everything from office environments to industrial settings with specific metrics that ensure optimal visibility while minimizing eye strain.

Meanwhile, complementary standards like EN 12665 establish the foundational terminology and measurement techniques that enable consistent implementation across projects.

What makes these lighting guidelines particularly valuable is their evidence-based approach to human-centric design.

By following these established best practices, designers can create lighting schemes that not only meet regulatory requirements but truly enhance the functionality and comfort of interior environments.

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
BSI	BS EN 12464-1	2021	Indoor workplace lighting: illuminance, glare, color rendering, maintenance, visual comfort63.
BSI	BS EN 12464-2	2014	Outdoor workplaces: roads, railways, airports, docks, industrial sites36.
CEN	EN 12665	2016	Basic terms and criteria for lighting, definitions, and measurement6.
CIBSE/SLL	SLL Code for Lighting	2022	Comprehensive best practice for all lighting design, including visual comfort, illuminance, glare, and energy.
CIBSE	LG7: Office Lighting	2015	Best practice for office lighting, daylight integration, controls.
CIBSE	LG5: Lighting for Education	2011	Lighting for schools, colleges, and universities.
CIBSE	LG6: The Healthcare Environment	2016	Lighting for hospitals, clinics, and care homes.
CIBSE	LG9: Communal Residential Buildings	2017	Lighting for multi-occupancy dwellings, corridors, and communal spaces.

2. Outdoor, Roadway, and Public Space Lighting

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
BSI	BS 5489-1	2020	Road and public outdoor lighting: lighting classes, safety, adaptive lighting, compliance with EN 13201-276.
CEN	EN 13201 (Parts 1-5)	2015–2021	Road lighting: performance, measurement, energy performance, maintenance67.
ILP	GN01: Reduction of Obtrusive Light	2021	Limits for light trespass, sky glow, glare; best practices for minimizing environmental impact.
ILP	PLG04: Environmental Lighting Impact Assessments	2013	How to assess and mitigate environmental impact of lighting.
Local Authorities (e.g., Westminster City Council)	Local Lighting Design Guidance	2023	Application of national standards, environmental zones, biodiversity, dark sky protection, LED color temperature (e.g., 3000K), adaptive lighting, circular economy (CIBSE TM66), and compliance with EU/UK regulations7.

3. Building Regulations & National Compliance

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
UK Government	Building Regulations Approved Document L (Conservation of Fuel and Power)	2013/2021	Minimum efficacy for lighting in new/existing buildings, LENI calculation, display lighting, controls. At least 75% of interior light fittings must be low energy (≥45 lm/W), with specific rules for external lighting and switching1.
UK Government	Building Regulations Approved Document M (Access to and Use of Buildings)	2015	Lighting to aid accessibility, visual contrast, and emergency lighting.
Scotland	Building (Scottish) Regulations 2004, Technical Handbook – Domestic Section 6	2015	Energy efficiency for lighting in Scottish homes1.
Wales	Building Regulations 2010, Approved Document L1A	2014	Energy efficiency for lighting in Welsh homes1.
Northern Ireland	Building Regulations 2012, Technical Booklet F	2012	Energy efficiency for lighting in NI homes1.
NHBC Foundation	The Right Light	2011	Practical guidance for domestic lighting compliance with Part L1A, including lamp efficacy, switching, and external lighting controls1.

4. Energy Efficiency, Ecodesign, and Product Compliance

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
UK Government	Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Lighting Products) Regulations	2021/2023	Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for light sources; phase-out of inefficient products; labelling511.
European Commission	EU SLR (Single Lighting Regulation) 2019/2020	2021	Ecodesign requirements for light sources and control gear; replaceability, hazardous substances, exemptions for stage/entertainment lighting5 810.
European Commission	EU ELR (Energy Labelling Regulation) 2019/2015	2021	Energy labelling for light sources, efficiency classes, and consumer info810.
LightingEurope	Ecodesign & Energy Labelling Guidelines (v4)	2021	Guidance for compliance with EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling, including definitions, declarations, and pictograms for replaceability8.
LIA	EU Directives and Regulations for Lighting Products	2024	Overview of all directives and regulations: Safety, EMC, Ecodesign (ERP), Energy Labelling, CE/UKCA marking, and applicability by product type11.
BSI	BS EN 60598-1	2021	General requirements and tests for luminaires.
BSI	BS EN 13032 (Parts 1–4)	2012–2015	Measurement and presentation of photometric data for lamps and luminaires, including LED-specific requirements6.
ENEC	European Norms Electrical Certification	Ongoing	Certification mark for compliance with European safety standards for lighting9.

5. Emergency, Security & Safety Lighting

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
BSI	BS 5266-1	2016	Emergency lighting and safety lighting for buildings: design, installation, maintenance.
BSI	BS EN 1838	2013	Emergency lighting applications, including escape and standby lighting6.
BSI	BS EN 60598-2-22	2014	Requirements for emergency luminaires.

6. Health, Wellbeing, and Inclusive Lighting

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
BSI	BS 8300-2	2018	Inclusive design, wayfinding, visual contrast, and lighting for accessibility.
CIBSE	LG9: Communal Residential Buildings	2017	Lighting for corridors, stairs, shared spaces in multi-occupancy dwellings.
UK Government	Building Regulations Approved Document M	2015	Lighting for accessibility, visual contrast, and emergency provision.

7. Controls, Smart Lighting & Adaptive Systems

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
CIBSE	LG7, LG12, LG14	Various	Integration of lighting controls, daylighting, occupancy sensors, adaptive systems.
ILP	PLG08: Application of Adaptive Lighting	2015	Use of adaptive lighting systems for energy savings and environmental benefit.
BSI	BS EN 15193-1	2017	Energy performance of buildings – Energy requirements for lighting, including controls and automation.

8. Environmental Impact, Planning, and Dark Sky

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
ILP	GN01: Reduction of Obtrusive Light	2021	Limits for light trespass, sky glow, glare, and best practices for minimizing environmental impact.
ILP	PLG04: Environmental Lighting Impact Assessments	2013	How to assess and mitigate environmental impact of lighting.
Local Authorities (e.g., Westminster City Council)	Lighting Design Guidance	2023	Environmental zones, biodiversity, dark sky protection, adaptive lighting, and compliance with EU/UK regulations7.
Dark Sky Groups (e.g., International Dark-Sky Association)	Dark Sky Guidance	Ongoing	Best practice for minimizing light pollution: justification, targeting, zero upward light, low color temperature (≤3000K), controls, and appropriate lux levels.

9. Specialist Applications

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
CIBSE	LG4: Sports Lighting	2006	Lighting for sports facilities, indoor and outdoor.
CIBSE	LG8: Museums and Galleries	2015	Lighting for display, conservation, and visitor comfort.
CIBSE	LG13: Places of Worship	2018	Lighting design for churches, mosques, synagogues, temples.
NHS	Health Technical Memorandum 06-02: Lighting	2017	NHS-specific lighting requirements for patient safety and wellbeing.
National Highways	TD 501 Road Lighting Design	2020	Road lighting, tunnels, bridges, environmental and safety requirements.

10. Product Testing, Certification & Market Surveillance

Source	Document/Standard	Year	Scope & Key Points
UK Government	CE/UKCA Marking Requirements	2021/2024	Product conformity, market access, transition from CE to UKCA marking.
ENEC	European Norms Electrical Certification	Ongoing	Certification for compliance with European safety standards9.
National Market Surveillance Authorities (EU/UK)	Market Surveillance	Ongoing	Enforcement of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling compliance9.

11. Summary Table

Category	Key Documents/Guides	Main Authorities
General Indoor	BS EN 12464-1/2, EN 12665, SLL Code, CIBSE LGs	BSI, CEN, CIBSE, SLL
Outdoor/Public	BS 5489-1, EN 13201, ILP GN01/PLG, LA Guides	BSI, CEN, ILP, Local Authorities
Building Regs	Part L/M (UK, Scotland, Wales, NI), NHBC	UK Gov, NHBC
Energy/Ecodesign	UK Ecodesign Regs, EU SLR/ELR, LightingEurope, LIA	UK Gov, EU, LightingEurope, LIA
Emergency/Safety	BS 5266-1, BS EN 1838, BS EN 60598-2-22	BSI
Health/Accessibility	BS 8300-2, CIBSE LG9, Part M	BSI, CIBSE, UK Gov
Controls/Smart	CIBSE LGs, ILP PLG08, BS EN 15193-1	CIBSE, ILP, BSI
Environmental	ILP GN01/PLG, LA Guides, Dark Sky	ILP, Local Authorities, Dark Sky Groups
Specialist	CIBSE LG4/8/13, NHS HTM 06-02, TD 501	CIBSE, NHS, National Highways
Product Compliance	CE/UKCA, ENEC, LIA, Market Surveillance	UK Gov, ENEC, LIA, EU/UK Authorities

This table provides a comprehensive, categorized overview of all major, official, and independent lighting design standards and guidance relevant to the UK and EU as of 2025, strictly from regulatory and standards-setting bodies.