scope:

This European Standard specifies lighting requirements for humans in indoor work places, which meet the needs for visual comfort and performance of people having normal ophthalmic (visual) capacity. All usual visual tasks are considered, including Display Screen Equipment (DSE).

This European Standard specifies requirements for lighting solutions for most indoor work places and their associated areas in terms of quantity and quality of illumination. In addition recommendations are given for good lighting practice.

This European Standard does not specify lighting requirements with respect to the safety and health of people at work and has not been prepared in the field of application of Article 153 of the EC treaty, although the lighting requirements, as specified in this European Standard, usually fulfil safety needs. Lighting requirements with respect to the safety and health of workers at work can be contained in Directives based on Article 153 of the EC treaty, in national legislation of member states implementing these directives or in other national legislation of member states.

This European Standard neither provides specific solutions, nor restricts the designers´ freedom from exploring new techniques nor restricts the use of innovative equipment. The illumination can be provided by daylight, artificial lighting or a combination of both.

This European Standard is not applicable for the lighting of outdoor work places and underground mining or emergency lighting. For outdoor work places, see EN 12464-2 and for emergency lighting, see EN 1838 and EN 13032-3.