lichtnormen

Lichtnormen, or lighting standards, are standardized guidelines that specify how lighting should be planned, installed, measured, and evaluated in built environments. They cover quantitative targets such as illuminance and luminance, as well as qualitative aspects like glare control, color rendering, and energy efficiency, with the goal of ensuring visual comfort, safety, and accessibility.

These standards are issued by national, regional, and international bodies. Internationally, organizations such as the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and ISO publish core documents, while in Europe European standardization bodies like CEN issue EN standards and national bodies such as DIN translate and adopt them. In other regions, industry associations such as IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) and ANSI in the United States publish supplementary guidelines.

Topics covered by lichtnormen include recommended illuminance levels for various tasks, glare limitation, luminance uniformity, daylight integration, rendering quality (CRI and color temperature), flicker control, and maintenance factors. They also address environmental aspects and energy performance, encouraging efficient luminaires and systems.

Notable standards commonly cited in design practice include ISO/CIE 8995-1 (Lighting of indoor work places), EN 12464-1 (Indoor work places in Europe), and EN 13201 (Road lighting). These standards are used in building codes, procurement specifications, and performance simulations to ensure consistent safety, comfort, and energy use.

Lichtnormen thus function as a framework for lighting design, affecting product development, architectural decisions, and energy policies. They are updated as technology and understanding of human lighting requirements evolve.