Adequate lighting
For the purposes of the Home Quality Mark, ‘adequate lighting’ refers to:
- Internal lighting that provides an illuminance (lux) level appropriate to the tasks undertaken. This can be demonstrated through a lighting design strategy that provides illuminance levels in accordance with the SLL Code for Lighting 2012 and any other relevant industry standard.
- External lighting that is designed to provide illuminance levels that enable users to perform outdoor visual tasks efficiently and accurately, especially during the night. To demonstrate this, external lighting provided is specified in accordance with BS5489-1:2013 Lighting of roads and public amenity areas.
The lighting must be controlled to avoid operation during daylight hours, where there is sufficient daylight in or around the facility.
Ref Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Access consultant.
- Accessibility in the built environment.
- Accessible.
- Approved document M.
- Artificial lighting.
- BRE articles.
- BREEAM Internal and external lighting.
- BREEAM.
- Health and wellbeing impacts of natural and artificial lighting.
- Home Quality Mark.
- Human-centric lighting.
- Illuminance.
- Lighting and health infographic.
- Lighting.
- People-friendly lighting controls.
- Use of lighting to improve health and wellbeing.
Featured articles and news
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help the homebuilding sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.
























