Quick Answer: Building Bulletin 90 (BB90) was a key guidance document from the Department for Education detailing how to optimize lighting in schools to enhance learning. While BB90 set the foundation for utilizing natural daylight and efficient electric lighting, it is now considered archived. Modern school lighting projects should primarily adhere to the latest CIBSE Lighting Guide 5 (LG5) and current DfE output specifications.
What is Building Bulletin 90 (BB90)?
Published by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE), Building Bulletin 90 provided architects and engineers with comprehensive recommendations for lighting educational environments. Its primary goal was to ensure lighting designs were not merely functional but actively conducive to student well-being and academic performance.
The guidance emphasized a synthesis of natural and artificial light, ensuring that classrooms remained bright, stimulating, and energy-efficient throughout the school day.
What Were the Key Principles of BB90?
BB90 laid down several foundational principles that continue to influence modern school design:
- Daylight Integration: Prioritizing natural daylight as the primary light source to improve student mood and reduce energy consumption.
- Task-Specific Illumination: Tailoring lighting levels to specific activities, differentiating between standard classrooms, science laboratories, art rooms, and sports halls.
- Glare Reduction: Implementing measures to minimize discomfort glare, particularly crucial in environments utilizing whiteboards or early computer screens.
- Inclusivity: Providing specific considerations for pupils with visual impairments, ensuring lighting supported all learners.
How Do I Design Compliant School Lighting Today?
Because BB90 is archived, educational facilities upgrading their lighting infrastructure must look to current standards to ensure compliance and secure funding (such as Devolved Formula Capital).
1. Adopt CIBSE Lighting Guide 5 (LG5)
CIBSE LG5 is the modern, definitive guide for lighting in education. It provides updated recommendations on lux levels, uniformity, and the Unified Glare Rating (UGR), specifically addressing modern teaching methods involving interactive flat panels and tablets.
2. Comply with BS EN 12464-1
The European standard for lighting indoor workplaces (BS EN 12464-1) mandates specific maintained illuminance levels for educational premises. For example, standard classrooms typically require 300 lux, while art rooms or technical drawing spaces demand 500 to 750 lux for detailed visual tasks.
3. Review DfE Output Specifications
Always cross-reference your design with the latest Department for Education (DfE) Employer's Requirements and Output Specifications, which dictate the mandatory performance criteria for new builds and major refurbishments in the UK.