Lighting and health FB 74
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
Lighting and health (FB 74) was written by Cosmin Ticleanu, Stephanie King, Paul Littlefair and Gareth Howlett, BRE, Feride ener Yilmaz, Istanbul Technical University, and Marielle Aarts and Jüliette van Duijnhoven, Eindhoven University of Technology. It was published by BRE on 7 August 2015.
Lighting can affect the health of people in buildings. This goes beyond the safety aspects of providing enough illumination to see by; lighting affects mood and human circadian rhythms. Poor lighting can cause glare, headaches, eyestrain, skin conditions and various types of sight loss. It is important for designers, building owners and occupants to be aware of these issues.
A substantial amount of research has been carried out in this area, and this 64-page report reviews that research, asking easy-to-understand questions such as: Can LEDs keep you awake at night and damage your brain? Can special lighting help people with dementia? and so on.
The report concludes with guidance for lighting designers, building occupants and building managers, helping them maximise the health benefits of lighting and minimise the health risks.
The contents of the report are:
- Acronyms.
- Executive summary.
- Safe, healthy lighting for tasks.
- Circadian and seasonal rhythms.
- Optical hazards.
- Light exposure to skin.
- Indirect impacts.
- Special types of lighting.
- Recommendations.
- References.
- Further reading.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 7 ways better lighting can improve your health.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- BRE Expert Collection 6 Daylight and shading.
- BREEAM External lighting.
- BREEAM Internal and external lighting.
- BREEAM Reduction of night time light pollution.
- BREEAM Visual comfort Daylighting.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Circadian rhythms.
- Daylight benefits in healthcare buildings.
- Health and wellbeing impacts of natural and artificial lighting.
- Lighting and health infographic.
- Lighting for circadian rhythms.
- Use of lighting to improve health and wellbeing.
Featured articles and news
Editor's broadbrush view on forms of electrical heating in context.
The pace of heating change; BSRIA market intelligence
Electric Dreams, Boiler Realities.
New President of ECA announced
Ruth Devine MBE becomes the 112th President of the Electrical Contractors Association.
New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.
Designing Buildings reaches 20,000 articles
We take a look back at some of the stranger contributions.
Lessons learned from other industries.
The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
Conserving places with climate resilience in mind.
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.