Looking for lighting standards for each environment? Check them out now:

There are several points about lighting standards to be checked when choosing for different environments. One of them is the amount of lumens (lm), which is the unit of measurement of the luminous flux or the amount of light emitted by the source. The other parameter is the illuminance or lux (lx) that each area needs per square meter to have adequate brightness.

In this post, we will talk about the ideal LED lighting type, suitable for each type of location and explain what lighting standards need to be followed in each situation. We will also show how SX Lighting assists managers in solving various lighting-related issues and details on current legislation and the advantages of following legal determinations.

Would you like to know more about the ideal lighting for each environment? Then, keep reading!

See what to check when choosing lighting for each type of environment

According to João Pedro Freire, engineer and commercial director of SX Lighting, uniformity is very important. The more constant or uniform the LED lighting is, the better it will be for the environments in general, especially for tunnels. In parking lots, for example, the degree of illuminance interferes with the clarity of the environment. If there is less illuminance than necessary, the environment becomes darker and causes insecurity.

The color temperature indicates the color of the emitted light. The temperature is measured in Kelvin (K), with yellowish colors considered warm and bluish ones being cold. All colors are considered white, that is, warm white and cold white. For each application performed, a specific color temperature is required.

Color temperatures with 5,000 K are ideal for the current commercial, industrial, and public lighting market. In some cases, 3,000K or 4,000K may be applied. The color rendering index (CRI) is related to the visibility of the real color of products, as the luminaire interferes with the colors of objects with the incidence of light. With a high color rendering index, the color of an object is enhanced.

LED lighting with 5,000K and high CRI produces ideal brightness for warehouses and larger areas. The neutral white color temperatures of the light-emitting diodes do not interfere with the color of objects and equipment accommodated in these industrial environments. In locations with depreciated lighting levels, work accidents may occur due to a lack of visibility.

Discover what lighting standards are available

Inmetro’s Portaria nº 20 points out the appropriate characteristics for the quality and durability of luminaires or LED luminaires and the requirements for standardizing components.

However, the main professional lighting standards are available on the website of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). Check out some details about these standards below.

ABNT NBR 5461:1991

ABNT NBR 5461:1991 deals with terminologies such as colorimetry, radiometric and photometric measurements, actinic effects of optical radiation, among others. It defines the meaning of terms related to radiation, color reproduction, units, quantities, light sources, auxiliary devices, etc.

ABNT NBR 8837:1985

ABNT NBR 8837:1985 dealt with sports lighting and set the level of illuminance in indoor and outdoor areas of the courts used for sports. This standard was canceled, and currently, the rules contained in NBR 8995-1:2013 mentioned below are respected.

ABNT NBR ISO/CIE 8995-1:2013

ABNT NBR ISO/CIE 8995-1:2013 is the Brazilian Regulatory Standard that deals with industrial lighting and workplace environments in general. It is cited in NR No. 17 and applied to various types of industries, such as cement, ceramics, rubber, plastic, chemical, electrical, food, casting, leather, metallurgical, steel, paper and cellulose, textile, furniture, automotive, among others.

On the other hand, it also provides for mandatory lighting requirements for agriculture, buildings in general, bakeries, laundries, printing, restaurants, retail, supermarkets, public parking lots, substations, ports, airports, hospitals, educational buildings, libraries, offices, among others. The objective of this lighting standard is to offer safety, comfort, and efficiency to workers.

This standard specifies the parameters that must be observed in any activity: Average Lux (adequate illumination level – EM), UGR (maximum permissible glare index), Ra (minimum permissible color rendering index). Each environment has an ideal level of lighting. For example, in a foundry, each department requires a level of brightness, glare, and color rendering.

To verify if the environment lighting is adequate, it is necessary to check the standard and measure the illuminance at 0.75 meters from the floor or work station. It can be measured at a height above or below, but for legal and labor purposes, the height in the standard will be considered. This NBR is used to check if the luminosity is in accordance with the rules and to determine its ideal level.

ABNT NBR 5101:2018

ABNT NBR 5101:2018 refers to street lighting, also roadway/street LED luminaires, and imposes requirements for illuminating public roads so that vehicles and pedestrians have safety in traffic. This standard demonstrates the appropriate level of lighting for each type of road that has automobile movement, which is represented by V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5.

Pedestrian roads are represented by P1, P2, P3, and P4. The main parameters presented in this standard are uniformity (U) and Average Lux. This standard is related to the Brazilian Traffic Code, Law No. 9,503/1997. Photometry refers to how light is distributed in space from the luminaire. It is not defined by degrees, but by types that range from Type 1 to Type 5.

The characteristics of types of public luminaire distribution define how the brightness will be according to the point of installation of the light source. Type 5 lighting throws light on all sides, as if it were a roundabout. However, in Brazil, Type 2 lighting is the most relevant because it is appropriate to the shapes of streets, location of poles, and shapes of national buildings.

ABNT NBR 5181:2013

ABNT NBR 5181:2013 establishes the requirements for the lighting of road tunnels, emergency lighting to prevent and protect against accidents in urban areas, private or public heritage, carrying loads, railways, roads, and underwater areas.

The standard presents the correct lighting for each part of the tunnel. At the tunnel entrance, a high level of illumination is observed because the human vision needs to adapt to the amount of light. If the driver enters the tunnel with little visibility, they may have momentary blindness due to the formation of the black hole.

Each area of the tunnel must have a certain amount of lighting to achieve the necessary variation for eye adaptation. Therefore, the tunnel is divided into areas: the entrance zone has high illumination, which gradually decreases inside, and near the exit zone, the illuminance is increased again to facilitate visibility.

Understand the advantage of using SX Lighting services

SX Lighting is a reliable company that offers LED lighting solutions, such as highly effective lighting projects that generate energy savings and return on investment in the medium and long term. It offers LED luminaires and LED floodlights for industries, gyms, sports courts, public roads, condominiums, airports, gas stations, warehouses, churches, among others.

The expert professionals guide customers in choosing the correct products that meet their needs. They perform a lighting calculation and study to verify the energy efficiency and measure the gains to be obtained by using new LED luminaires. The company offers quality products, support, and consultative service.

Now that you know the necessary care to obtain ideal lighting for each type of location, count on SX Lighting as a partner to install LED luminaires and floodlights that will significantly reduce your company’s electricity costs. Moreover, in addition to increasing the safety of environments, lighting projects increase the profitability of establishments.

Now that you know about lighting standards and are convinced that SX Lighting will provide you with the best project, click here and request assistance from our specialists