Artificial Lighting
Research/Standards for Artificial Lighting.
Artificial Lighting1:
1. New Zealand standards are defined by the building code handbook approved documents and for lighting New Zealand Standards Association Code of Practice for Interior Lighting Design NZS 6703:1984. This like the DfEE bulletin also recommends a level of 300 lux at the working plane for general teaching spaces including lecture theatres, workshops, music practice rooms and a gymnasium (page 52). It specifies levels of 500 lux for chalkboards, demonstration benches, art rooms (easel), fabrics work and laboratory benches. The Standards Association have indicated while this standard is still a valuable document it is in the process of being replaced by a combined Australian and NZ standard, AS/NZS 1680.
2. The Ministry's Design Standards published 2001 recommends that schools follow AS 1680.2.4 1997 in conjunction with AS 1680.1. The specification for relocatable classrooms requires 300 lux at desk level, 300 lux for computer use and 500 lux for libraries and laboratories
3. DfEE has recommended design framework criteria to be satisfied, not all criteria have equal weight. These are:
- Task/activity lighting
- Lighting for visual amenity
- Lighting and architectural integration
- Lighting and energy efficiency
- Lighting maintenance
- Lighting cost
4. 5DfEE Building Bulletin 87 states "a space is likely to be considered well lit if the average daylight factor is 4-5%. For daylight to be adequate for the task, it will be necessary to achieve a level of 300 lux and for particularly demanding tasks not less than 500 lux. When this cannot be achieved the daylight will need to be supplemented by electric lighting".
5. A UK study indicated 14% of the population were susceptible to eyestrain and headaches caused by 50Hz fluorescent lamps.
1 See the following sources for more details. School Business Affairs (USA) December 2003, DFE (UK) Building Bulletin 79 "Passive Solar Schools", DfEE Building Bulletin 87 Guidelines for Environmental Design in Schools, Building Bulletin 90 Lighting Design for Schools.