Lighting Safety Requirements and Efficiency Standards

OSHA Standard 1926.56 on illumination offers minimum lighting values in foot candles for specific construction applications including general construction, offices, manufacturing plants, warehouses and many others. One foot candle will saturate one square foot with one lumen of light. For example, for general construction area lighting, OSHA requires at least 3 foot candles of lighting. For first aid stations, infirmaries and offices, OSHA requires 30 foot candles of light intensity. The following recommendations from The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) offers more guidance on how to achieve optimum lighting levels for common areas using foot candles.
 
The California Energy Commission has set forth efficiency regulations that apply to appliances as well as lighting. California Title 20 (CA Title 20) is the portion of this regulation that applies to lighting and lighting fixture products with the overall goal to reduce energy use. Lighting products comply with CA Title 20 efficiency standards when they meet specific performance standards such as rated life and lumens per watt.

Once you have considered the safety requirements, efficiency standards, lighting color temperature, and how the environment will be used, you can start to narrow down what type of light bulbs, lamps and fixtures you will need. Here’s a breakdown of some common lamps and light bulbs available and suggestions for how to match the right light to the environment. 

Light Bulbs and Lamps

Linear – These straight, tube-shaped bulbs are used to provide everyday lighting to large open spaces like office environments and factories. 

Standard & Decorative – Standard lamps have a wide range of uses, and are used in work environments and homes. Standard lamps typically have a screw-in base and are manufactured to fit a wide variety of fixtures. 

Spot, Reflector & Flood Lights – These lamps use a reflective surface on the interior to direct light outward and increase brightness. Spotlights direct light to shine on a smaller area, while flood lights illuminate wider areas. 

High Output HID & LED HID-Replacement – These long-lasting bulbs and lamps are most often used for lighting large, open areas like stadiums, warehouses and other places with high ceilings, as well as parking lots. 

Plug-in CFL & LEDs – These are often used in commercial and multifamily residential settings for general applications, task and security lighting. These lamps have a pin base that fits matching sockets on compatible fixtures.

U-Bend – These lamps work the same way as linear lamps but are bent into a U-shape to fit fixtures in tighter spaces. 

Circular Light Bulbs & Lamps — Circular lamps, also known as circline, are designed for specific fixtures and are bent into a circular shape to provide more even light distribution. 

Miniature – Sometimes called indicator lights, these lamps are used in automotive applications and can be found in equipment such as flashlights and projectors. 

There are many factors to consider when choosing lighting for new or existing environments. One of the most important is making sure you have matched the correct lighting color value to the space. Safety is also critical if you’re lighting any kind of work environment or public spaces such as in the hospitality industry. If you’re lighting a large space such as a warehouse or distribution center, it’s important to consider energy efficiency, devices that can help reduce energy consumption and extend lamp life, and how often lighting may need to be replaced.