Overview of BS EN 12464-1
BS EN 12464-1 is the primary British and European standard governing the lighting of indoor workplaces. Its main purpose is to define the requirements for lighting solutions that ensure visual comfort and performance for people with normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
Key Objectives and Scope
- Visual Performance and Comfort: The standard establishes criteria for both the quantity and quality of illumination to support efficient and accurate visual tasks.
- Applicability: It covers most indoor workplaces and their associated areas, including tasks involving Display Screen Equipment (DSE).
- Best Practice: Beyond mandatory requirements, it provides recommendations for good lighting practice, including both visual and non-visual (biological/emotional) lighting needs.
Core Metrics
Lighting designs under this standard are typically evaluated based on:
- Illuminance (Lux): The amount of light falling on a surface, ensuring sufficient brightness for the specific task.
- Glare Control (UGR): The Unified Glare Rating, which measures discomfort glare from luminaires to ensure visual comfort.
- Colour Rendering (CRI/Ra): The ability of the light source to accurately reveal the colours of objects.
- Luminance Distribution: Recommendations for balancing brightness across walls, ceilings, and working areas to improve room perception and visual communication.
Current Version
The current version is BS EN 12464-1:2021, which superseded the 2011 version. The 2021 update brought the standard up to date with modern technological developments (such as LED lighting) and refined requirements for room brightness, wall/ceiling lighting, and cylindrical illuminance (important for recognizing faces and objects in a space).
Who is it for?
The standard is a vital reference for lighting designers and specifiers, architects and interior designers, engineers and electricians, and facility managers responsible for maintaining healthy, productive work environments.