Illuminance
According to BRE’s The essential guide to retail lighting:
Illuminance is ‘The level of light on a surface; measured in lux (lx). Previously called the illumination value. It can be used as a reference measurement of the performance of a lighting system as related to the activity.'
It is measured in lux (lx), the ‘...SI unit (the International System of Units) of illuminance or amount of light on a surface. One lux is equal to one lumen per square metre (lm/m^2)’ where a lumen (lm) is the ‘...SI unit of luminous flux, describing the quantity of light emitted by a lamp or received at a surface.’
Average illuminance is ‘The illuminance averaged over a specific area. In practice, this may be derived either from an average of the illuminances at a representative number fo points on the surface, or from the total luminous flux falling on the surface divided by the total area of the surface’
Maintained illuminance is ‘Illuminance at the time when maintenance is expected to take place. Most values of illuminance that are quoted as applicable to a store, eg 500-1000 lx, refer to this value. The time taken to reach the maintained illuminance level would depend on the lamp types and application’.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Ballast or control gear.
- Colour appearance.
- Colour Rendering Index CRI.
- Commercial lighting.
- Daylight benefits in healthcare buildings.
- Daylight factor.
- Daylight lighting systems.
- Dichroic reflector.
- Discharge lamp.
- Extra-low voltage lamps.
- General lighting v task lighting.
- Lamps.
- Lamp efficacy.
- Light pollution.
- Lighting.
- Lighting designer.
- Lighting energy numeric indicator LENI.
- Lighting of construction sites.
- Luminaire efficacy.
- Lux.
- Rights to light.
- Uniformity of illuminance.
Featured articles and news
UKCW London to tackle sector’s most pressing issues
AI and skills development, ecology and the environment, policy and planning and more.
Managing building safety risks
Across an existing residential portfolio; a client's perspective.
ECA support for Gate Safe’s Safe School Gates Campaign.
Core construction skills explained
Preparing for a career in construction.
Retrofitting for resilience with the Leicester Resilience Hub
Community-serving facilities, enhanced as support and essential services for climate-related disruptions.
Some of the articles relating to water, here to browse. Any missing?
Recognisable Gothic characters, designed to dramatically spout water away from buildings.
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.























