How to Figure Lighting for a Shop
The lighting level necessary for a work area such as a shop depends on what kind of activities are to be performed. Lighting level or intensity is measured in foot candles per square foot. The total amount of light needed depends on the intensity desired and the size of the area, measured in lumens. Adequate lighting does more than make people comfortable. Sufficient lighting helps improve productivity and safety in a shop or other workplace.
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Instructions
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Assess the nature of activities to be performed. If the visual component of tasks to be performed is limited, you may need no more than 20 foot-candles per square foot to 30 foot-candles per square foot lighting intensity. However, suppose you want to light a jewelry store or electronics repair shop. These situations involve very small items. You may need lighting intensities up to 300 foot-candles per square foot. For help in determining lighting levels, consult the Illuminating Engineering Society Handbook.
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Find the size of the area to be lighted. Measure the length and the width and multiply the two together to calculate the square footage of the shop. For example, a 25 foot-by-50 foot shop has 1250 square feet.
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Multiply the square footage by the lighting level required to figure the lighting needed in lumens. Suppose you want an intensity of 30 foot-candles per square foot in a 1250-square-foot shop. This works out to 37,500 lumens
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Select lighting fixtures and bulbs or fluorescent lamps adequate to produce the number of lumens required. For example, if you choose fluorescent tubes rated at 2,500 lumens each, you’ll need 15 tubes and fixtures to supply 37,500 lumens.
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Tips & Warnings
In some situations you want lighting in a shop to vary from point to point. For example, a jeweler often maintains a subdued lighting level in the shop and uses lighted display cases to provide the more intense light level needed to closely examine individual items.
