Space classifications for lighting controls
According to the Non-domestic building services compliance guide, 2013 edition, published by HM Government, the space classifications for lighting control purposes are:
- Owned space: A space such as a small room for one or two people who control the lighting such as a cellular office or consulting room.
- Share space: A multi-occupied area such as an open-plan office or factory production area.
- Temporarily owned space: A space where people are expected to operate the lighting controls while they are there such as a hotel room or meeting room.
- Occasionally visited space: A space where people generally stay for a relatively short period of time such as a storeroom or toilet.
- Unowned space: A space where individual users require lighting but are not expected to operate the lighting controls such as a corridor or atrium.
- Managed space: A space where lighting is under the control of a responsible person such as a hotel lounge, restaurant or shop.
NB: More detail can be found in BRE Information Part IP6/96 People and lighting controls and BRE Digest 498 Selecting lighting controls.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Daylight lighting systems.
- Fused spur.
- General lighting v task lighting.
- Health and wellbeing impacts of natural and artificial lighting.
- Lighting.
- Lighting and energy efficiency.
- Lighting energy numeric indicator.
- Non-domestic building services compliance guide.
- Pattress.
- Specialist process lighting.
- The impact of lighting in retail design.
Featured articles and news
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Why talking about prostate cancer matters in construction.
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help 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.