It is not very clear what guidelines you should abide by when building or installing lighting in a house, or commercial premises in Oklahoma. What are the required lighting levels? What are the exact thresholds? To help clear the air, here are the regulations you are expected to consider during a lighting assessment in Oklahoma.
Legal Regulations
Legal requirements according to the set laws dictate that it is up to the owner of the non-domestic premises or the employer to ensure that the lighting levels meet the pre-set health and safety standards. If it puts the eyesight of the workers in jeopardy by being too bright or inadequate, then you are in violation of the legal lighting limits. The law requires that;
• There’s enough natural lighting inside the premises
• You use enough and suitable lights or lamps
• There should be adequate emergency lighting where necessary
What Is Considered Enough Lighting In An Assessment?
When lighting any non-domestic buildings, how do you know that the lighting levels are adequate? Here are some of the factors to look at;
• You should install suitable lighting for different environments. Do not install lights designed to light the streets outside in an enclosed area and vice versa.
• If you are using different colored lights, they should be within distinguishable levels for the sake of safety.
• Hazards in the area should be easily identifiable and visible.
• Minimize or completely eliminate flickering, glaring or stroboscopic lighting effects especially in an enclosed non-residential building. This is said to create the veiling illusion which can be dangerous especially for people with poor eyesight.
• Use the same level lighting for any adjacent rooms or spaces in the same premises. Do not use different levels of lighting in the same area.
• Lights should be within reach and easily accessible should the need for repairs arise.
• No lights should put anyone’s health and safety at risk.
• Should any complaints from affected individuals arise, they should be taken with utmost seriousness and if possible immediately addressed.
Varying Lighting Requirements for Non-Domestic Premises
The same lighting levels required for a restaurant, for example, is not the same lighting level that can be used inside a factory. The lighting levels allowed for corridors, lorry parks, construction sights, loading bays, bottling and canning plants is set between 20 and 50 average luminance levels. For kitchens, potteries, and factories where there’s more need for visibility, the average illumination levels allowed can go as high as 100.
Above is a brief guide on what you should consider to stay within the accepted thresholds of a lighting assessment in Oklahoma. Staying within the stipulated limits places you on the right side of the law.
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