The following table represents average maintained luminance levels found in various

school applications across the country. Values are based on typical industry practices and
IESNA guidelines. Factors such as speed and accuracy, age and contrast may lower or
increase the necessary luminance. Consult the IESNA Lighting Handbook for details.

Application

Foot-candles

Lux

50 fc

500 lx

Assembly

10 fc

100 lx

Social Activities

5 fc

50 lx

30-50 fc

300-500 lx

Grooming

30 fc

300 lx

Lavatory

15 fc

150 lx

Dining Area

30 fc

300 lx

Kitchen

50 fc

500 lx

Handwritten tasks

50 fc

500 lx

Printed Tasks

50 fc

500 lx

Chalk/white boards

50 fc

500 lx

Keyboards

30 fc

300 lx

Monitors

3 fc

30 lx

Administrative Offices
Most reading tasks
Auditorium

Reading
Bathrooms

Cafeterias

Classroom

Computer Lab

Reading printed material

50 fc

500 lx

75 fc

750 lx

General exercising and recreation

30 fc

300 lx

Basketball college and pro

100 fc

1000 lx

Basketball high school

75 fc

750 lx

30 fc

300 lx

15-30 fc

150-300 lx

30 fc

300 lx

50 fc

500 lx

10 fc

100 lx

30 fc

300 lx

50 fc

500 lx

50 fc

500 lx

Stairwells

15 fc

150 lx

Study Halls

50 fc

500 lx

Drafting Room
Exterior (see table below)
Gymnasium

Hallway
Horizontal
Vertical
Library
Stack lighting, audiovisual, cataloging and
circulation desks
Open study areas
Locker Room
Maintenance Room
Maintenance & wiring areas, gauge
reading
Medical Offices
Medical exam area
Science Lab
Sports (see tables below)

Technology Labs

Rough Bench or machine work

30 fc

300 lx

Medium bench or machine work, rough

grinding, medium buffing and polishing

50 fc

500 lx

Woodworking--rough sawing and bench

work

30 fc

300 lx

Woodworking --fine bench and machine

work, fine sanding and finishing

75 fc

750 lx

30 fc

300 lx

300 - 1,000 fc

3,000 - 10,000 lx

Welding -- orientation
Welding --precision manual arc-welding
Exterior Lighting

Footcandles

Lux

Active Entrances-pedestrian or vehicle

5 fc

50 lx

Inactive Entrances - normally locked

3 fc

30 lx

Vital locations or structures (security)

5 fc

50 lx

Building surroundings

1 fc

10 lx

High Activity

3.6 fc

36 lx

Medium Activity

2.4 fc

24 lx

Low Activity

0.8 fc

8 lx

High Activity

2 fc

20 lx

Medium Activity

1 fc

10 lx

0.5 fc

5 lx

Building Exterior-Site areas adjacent to

Parking Areas

Roadways - Non-dedicated and Private

Low Activity
Signs

Bright surroundings, light surfaces

30 fc

500 lx

Bright surroundings, dark surfaces

50 fc

1000 lx

Dark surroundings, light surfaces

10 fc

200 lx

Dark surroundings, dark surfaces

30 fc

500 lx

10 fc

100 lx

Bedford or buff limestone, smooth buff face brick,

concrete, aluminum

15 fc

150 lx

Smooth or medium gray brick, common tan or dark

field gray brick

20 fc

200 lx

35 fc

350 lx

Buildings (Suburban)
Terra Cotta, light marble, plaster

Brownstone, stained shingles, other dark surfaces

Sports Lighting
Class of Play and Facilities
Class
Facility
College

II

High Schools

Elementary Schools
Class I - Facilities with spectator capacity over 5000
Class II - Facilities for spectators of 5000 or less
Class III - No special provision for spectators
Class IV - Social and recreational, i.e. noncompetitive

III

IV

X
X

Illuminance Criteria for Football & Soccer

Class
of
Play

Horizontal
Footcandles (Lux)

Vertical
Footcandles (Lux)

Uniformity
(Max. to Min.)

100 fc (1000 lx)

80 fc (800 lx)

1.5

II

50 fc (500 lx)

40 fc (400 lx)

2.0

III

30 fc (300 lx)

2.5

IV

20 fc (200 lx)

3.0

Illuminance Criteria for Tennis

Class
of
Play

Horizontal
Footcandles (Lux)
Average

Uniformity
(Maximum to Minimum)

Minimum

Within Lines

Within PPA*

125 fc (1250)

100 fc (1000)

1.2

1.5

II

60 fc (600 lx)

40 fc (400 lx)

1.5

1.7

III

40 fc (400 lx)

30 fc (300 lx )

1.7

2.0

IV

30 fc (300 lx)

20 fc (200 lx)

2.0

2.5

* Within the principal playing area which

is 48 x 96 for a single court (36 x 78).

Illuminance Criteria for Baseball and Softball Fields

Class
of
Play

Horizontal
Footcandles
(Lux)
Infield

Outfield

Vertical
Footcandles
(Lux)
Infield

Outfield

Horizontal
Uniformity
(Max. to Min.)
Infield

Outfield

Vertical
Uniformity
(Max. to Min.)
Infield

Outfield

150 fc
(1500lx)

100 fc
(1000lx)

100 fc
(1000lx)

70 fc
(700lx)

1.5

1.5

1.5

2.0

II

100 fc
(1000lx)

70 fc
(700lx)

70 fc
(700lx)

50 fc
(500lx)

1.5

1.7

1.7

2.5

III

50 fc
(500lx)

50 fc
(500lx)

40 fc
(400lx)

25 fc
(250lx)

2.0

2.5

IV

30 fc
(300lx)

20 fc
(200lx)

25 fc
(250lx)

15 fc
(150lx)

3.0

3.5