Nuisance provisions of the Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008: guidance

SECTION 7 - COMMERCIAL LIGHTING

BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE ON COMMERICAL LIGHTING

Requirements

The use of artificial lighting to extend the working day is usually justified on economic grounds. Lighting may also be used in glass houses for bringing on commercial horticultural produce such as vegetables, fruits and flowers but can be controlled simply by drawing blinds to mask the light from the outside.

Design Characteristics

The CIBSE lighting guides together recommend a wide range of light levels for specific tasks. Maximum lighting levels depend on potential safety concerns but would not normally be higher that 50 lux. A wide range of lamps and luminaires can be employed for lighting the work place and there are many examples of equipment that can fulfil a specific lighting task with minimum spilled light elsewhere. However, it is important to ensure that the correct lighting equipment is selected for the task in hand and that it is competently installed and maintained thereafter.

Controls

There are economic and environmental benefits to be gained by switching off the lights when they are no longer required. The Health and Safety Executive guides are also important, and it should be noted that a fundamental principle of the Scottish Government's approach is that safety standards (on roads, pathways and external work areas) should be met through the maximum use of (non- lighting) physical measures such as separation of vehicles and pedestrians, so that the minimum use of light is needed.