Which standard governs workplace lighting?

DIN EN 12464-1:2021 governs interior workplace lighting. It defines minimum illuminance, uniformity (U₀), colour rendering (Ra) and glare limitation (UGR) for each visual task.

What is the difference between UGR 19 and UGR 22?

Lower UGR values mean less glare. UGR 19 is the standard for offices and visual inspection with high visual comfort, UGR 22 suffices for general industrial work, UGR 25 for subordinate tasks (e.g. warehousing).

Which colour temperature is best for visual inspection?

For demanding visual inspection 5,000–6,500 K (daylight white) is optimal — highest colour fidelity and strongest contrast. For comfort zones and break rooms rather 3,000–4,000 K. Very warm white (≤ 3,000 K) is not suitable for accurate colour judgement.

Is high colour rendering Ra required everywhere?

For visual inspection, colour matching and printed matter Ra ≥ 90 is recommended. For general industrial workstations and assembly Ra ≥ 80 suffices. Warehousing and traffic areas accept Ra ≥ 60. Modern industrial LEDs typically achieve Ra ≥ 80.

← Back to overview Lighting Knowledge

Workplace

Lighting concepts for ergonomic and productive industrial workplaces according to EN 12464.

Ergonomic LED Lighting & UGR – Safe, Low-Glare Work Environments

Comfortable and low-glare lighting for workstations: Insights into ergonomic LED illumination, uniform light distribution, high color rendering and UGR glare rating. Ideal for production areas, assembly stations and tech

Read full article →

Frequently asked questions

Which standard governs workplace lighting?

DIN EN 12464-1:2021 governs interior workplace lighting. It defines minimum illuminance, uniformity (U₀), colour rendering (Ra) and glare limitation (UGR) for each visual task.
What is the difference between UGR 19 and UGR 22?

Lower UGR values mean less glare. UGR 19 is the standard for offices and visual inspection with high visual comfort, UGR 22 suffices for general industrial work, UGR 25 for subordinate tasks (e.g. warehousing).
Which colour temperature is best for visual inspection?

For demanding visual inspection 5,000–6,500 K (daylight white) is optimal — highest colour fidelity and strongest contrast. For comfort zones and break rooms rather 3,000–4,000 K. Very warm white (≤ 3,000 K) is not suitable for accurate colour judgement.
Is high colour rendering Ra required everywhere?

For visual inspection, colour matching and printed matter Ra ≥ 90 is recommended. For general industrial workstations and assembly Ra ≥ 80 suffices. Warehousing and traffic areas accept Ra ≥ 60. Modern industrial LEDs typically achieve Ra ≥ 80.