External Car Park Lighting Levels

Exterior car parks have three levels of lighting depending on usage and range from low medium and high.

External car park lighting levels.

Recommended lighting levels for exterior lighting the illuminating engineering society of north america iesna or ies gives in current ies publications quite a number of recommended illumination levels for outdoor lighting. Additional lighting equipment is often necessary. Fortunately this image is rapidly changing as indoor parking areas become more upscale. In the building in the area closest to windows the light level may be reduced to approximately 1 000 lux.

Architects owners and designers are beginning to realize that a better looking area with quality lighting will reassure the users attract more customers and also improve the environment. In the middle area its may be as low as 25 50 lux. More light does not equal better quality. Recommended light levels common and recommended light levels indoors the outdoor light level is approximately 10 000 lux on a clear day.

The car park lighting designer or lighting consultant would undertake a risk assessment based on the anticipated vehicle pedestrian crime and type of use to determine the lighting category. Garages and multi storey car parks are often considered dark dirty narrow and unsafe areas. These figures are from the lighting industry federation they are now incorporated into bs 5489 part 9. We summarize some of these recommendations below and in some cases the original tables have been simplified.