LG17 - Lighting For Retail - PDF

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Lighting Guide 17:
Lighting for the built environment — Lighting Guide 17: Lighting for retail premises
Lighting for retail premises
The Society of Light and Lighting
ISBN 978-1-912034-37-6
Lighting for the

built environment
The Society of Light and Lighting is part of the
The Society of
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers 9 781912 034376 Light and Lighting
This publication is supplied by CIBSE for the sole use of the person making the download. The content remains the copyright property of CIBSE
Lighting Guide 17:
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ISBN 978-1-912034-37-6 (book)

ISBN 978-1-912034-38-3 (pdf)
Printed in England by The Lavenham Press, Lavenham, Suffolk CO10 9RN
Cover illustration: Suspended luminaires combining diffuse and direct lighting

elements (courtesy of Simon Robinson/WSP)
Note from the publisher

This publication is primarily intended to provide guidance to those responsible
for the design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of
building services. It is not intended to be exhaustive or definitive and it will
be necessary for users of the guidance given to exercise their own professional
judgement when deciding whether to abide by or depart from it.
Any commercial products depicted, mentioned or described within this

publication are included for the purposes of illustration only and their inclusion
does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Society.
Preface The Society of Light and Lighting is pleased to be able to add this much
anticipated retail lighting guide to its suite of guidance documents.
Retail outlets, stores, shops, kiosks and showrooms are only a few of the ways to
refer to retail spaces and that in itself shows the diversity within this type of space
in the built environment. Retail offers, by far, the widest range of opportunities
and challenges to the lighting designer. It is perhaps the area where most creative
opportunities arise and close working with interior designers and building
owners from the outset is essential.
It should also be remembered that retail outlets are places of work and the
lighting needs to help in providing a safe and comfortable environment for staff
in line with appropriate regulations.
Section 10 of the Guide provides some practical example of how to approach

different design challenges in a range of retail outlets. We hope readers find this
useful.
Author
Simon Robinson (WSP)
SLL Secretary
Brendan Keely
CIBSE Head of Knowledge

Nicholas Peake
CIBSE Editorial Manager

Ken Butcher
Editor
Ken Butcher
Contents 1 Approach to designing retail lighting............................ 1
1.1 Introduction..............................................................................................1
1.2 The designer.............................................................................................2
1.3 Importance of understanding the retail space............................................2
1.4 Creative design.........................................................................................3
1.5 Scale of illuminance...................................................................................5
1.6 Horizontal or cylindrical illuminance?.........................................................5
1.7 Modelling ratio.........................................................................................6
1.8 Client/user types.......................................................................................6
1.9 Working with known occupiers.................................................................6
1.10 Speculative developments.........................................................................7
1.11 Change of use..........................................................................................7
1.12 Importance of identifying the correct colour of light..................................7
1.13 Coordinating the lighting design...............................................................9
1.14 Portable display screens and touch screen cash registers............................9
1.15 Checkout and pay desk areas....................................................................9
1.16 Shop window lighting...............................................................................9
1.17 Illuminated displays, signage and projected images.................................10
1.18 Sales floor lighting..................................................................................12
1.19 Back of house lighting.............................................................................13
1.20 Accent lighting........................................................................................14
1.21 Re-use of equipment...............................................................................14
1.22 Getting the most out of daylight.............................................................14
1.23 Energy use..............................................................................................15
1.24 Maintenance of the retail space...............................................................15
2 Types of retail outlet..................................................... 16

2.1 Introduction............................................................................................16
2.2 Self-contained retail outlets.....................................................................17
2.3 Mixed developments...............................................................................17
2.4 Smaller shops and stores.........................................................................18
3 Speculative development.............................................. 19
4 Daylighting................................................................... 21
4.1 Introduction............................................................................................21
4.2 Daylight factor........................................................................................22
4.3 Uniformity of daylight.............................................................................22
4.4 Daylight autonomy..................................................................................22
4.5 The importance of early involvement.......................................................22
4.6 Controlling the effects of daylight...........................................................23
4.7 Refurbishment and conversion................................................................23
4.8 New-build...............................................................................................26
5 Electric lighting............................................................. 27
5.1 Introduction............................................................................................27
5.2 The importance of early involvement.......................................................27
5.3 Refurbishment and conversion................................................................28
5.4 New-build...............................................................................................29
5.5 Lighting styles.........................................................................................30
5.6 Providing services to luminaires...............................................................32
5.7 Lighting techniques.................................................................................33
5.8 Designing with localized lighting.............................................................33
5.9 Designing with supplementary task lighting.............................................34
5.10 Designing with direct lighting..................................................................35
5.11 Luminaire layout with direct lighting........................................................37
5.12 Direct lighting and display screens...........................................................37
5.13 Designing with indirect lighting...............................................................40
5.14 Surface reflectance and decor.................................................................40
5.15 Design criteria for indirect lighting...........................................................41
5.16 Luminaire selection for indirect lighting...................................................41
5.17 Designing with direct/indirect lighting.....................................................42
5.18 Luminaire selection for direct/indirect lighting..........................................43
5.19 Designing with a combination of direct light and indirect light................44
6 Energy use.................................................................... 45
6.1 Introduction............................................................................................45
6.2 Things to consider...................................................................................46
6.3 Assessing energy use...............................................................................46
6.4 The energy balance.................................................................................47
6.5 Environmental assessment methods........................................................48
6.6 Legislative requirements..........................................................................48
7 Control of lighting........................................................ 49
7.1 Introduction............................................................................................49
7.2 Control functions....................................................................................50
7.3 Human interaction..................................................................................51
7.4 Control for energy use............................................................................51
7.5 Control for comfort.................................................................................51
7.6 Control for safety....................................................................................52
8 Tablet and touch screen displays.................................. 52

8.1 Introduction............................................................................................52
8.2 Understanding how the space will be used..............................................52
8.3 Personal or business use..........................................................................53
8.4 Desktop touch screens............................................................................54
8.5 Tablets and smartphones.........................................................................54
9 Emergency and standby lighting.................................. 54

9.1 Introduction............................................................................................54
9.2 Siting of essential lighting: initial design..................................................55
9.3 Additional escape lighting.......................................................................56
9.4 High risk task areas.................................................................................56
9.5 Illumination of safety signs......................................................................56
9.6 Lighting levels for escape routes..............................................................57
9.7 Open spaces...........................................................................................57
10 Practical examples of design approaches...................... 58

10.1 Introduction............................................................................................58
10.2 Example 1: small to medium sized general purpose retail space...............58
10.3 Example 2: bus station kiosk selling newspapers and confectionery.........59
10.4 Example 3: warehouse style retail units....................................................60
10.5 Example 4: fully glazed car showroom.....................................................61
10.6 Example 5: high street clothing store.......................................................62
10.7 Example 6: high street jewellers...............................................................63
10.8 Example 7: high street mobile phone store..............................................64
10.9 Example 8: addition of a self-checkout area in a supermarket..................65
10.10 Example 9: high street estate agent.........................................................65
10.11 Example 10: online purchase collection kiosk...........................................66
References and bibliography.................................................... 66

Index ...........................................................................................68
Approach to designing retail lighting 1
1 Approach to Lighting within the retail environment has to achieve a number of aims. The
obvious and key aim is to highlight merchandise and to use light as a tool to
designing encourage sales. However, it should be remembered that any retail space is also
the workplace for members of staff and appropriate lighting needs to be provided
retail for their safety and comfort as well. Colour is an important part of the retail
experience and both lighting designers and interior designers will need to work
lighting together to provide an environment where colour can be accurately determined.
Daylight is being used more than ever in retail spaces, particularly considering
the need to reduce energy use and its introduction can result in very different
1.1 Introduction lighting effects.
Whilst it is easy to concentrate on the visual effects created in retail lighting, it

must provide a level of illumination on all surfaces that can be demonstrated to
meet particular workplace legislation such as the Workplace (Health, Safety and
Welfare) Regulations 1992, which require workplaces to have suitable and
sufficient lighting. Such surfaces are, typically, sales desks, checkout positions,
self-pay stations and preparation areas.
Lighting is a major user of electrical energy in any retail space and its energy use
should be considered within the guidance of Building Regulations Approved
Document L2 (NBS, 2016a/b) for England and Wales, as well as Section 6 of the
Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook: Non-Domestic (Scottish
Government, 2017a) and the DFPNI Building Regulations Technical Booklet F2
for Northern Ireland (DFPNI, 2012a).
There are many ways to light a retail space: with direct light from above, from
indirect light bounced from the ceiling or from a combination of both. Many
factors will dictate or influence the choice of which technique to use. Low ceiling
heights or exposed building structure may rule out certain methods or dictate
certain layouts. Other building services, such as cooling units or exposed
ductwork, may prevent indirect lighting or provide ideal mounting locations for
certain types of lighting. The client, interior designer or architect may have
strong views on the style of lighting or the lit effect that needs to be created.
Designers of lighting for retail environments need to consider the efficiency of

both the luminaires to be used and the control system in use. The need for well-
designed lighting is as important as ever and, whilst customers will only be in the
space for a relatively short period of time, care should be taken to ensure the long
term impact on the staff of any retail space is not compromised in an effort to
produce a dramatic lighting effect or to reduce energy consumption at the point
of delivery when well-designed and positioned lighting and controls could have
a greater influence.
The design may either be for a known user or a speculative developer and it may
be either a refurbishment or new-build. The following sub-sections outline the
design process for each scenario to ensure that the brief has been defined, the
relevant information compiled, and the needs of the users considered in relation
to the physical constraints of each building type and the needs of the owner or
developer.
Once the building and its constraints on the design are understood, it is then
necessary to select the correct task illuminances for the tasks the staff will carry
out in each area and consider the effects of room décor on the lighting and the
visual appearance of each space. The sections of this Lighting Guide dealing with
designing with daylight and with electric lighting should then be to reviewed.
The retail space under consideration may not be in a large, self-contained

building but rather in a smaller complex or part of a mixed use building including
offices, hotels and residential accommodation, or be a conversion from another
use, such as a dwelling.
The section on building types outlines some of the special considerations for
each of these retail spaces.
2 Lighting Guide 17: Lighting for retail premises
The external lighting and signage on the building can be important in establishing
the client’s building’s presence on the high street or community. Signage,
security, pedestrian access and car park lighting must all be considered in light of
the building’s usage and periods of operation.
The need for emergency lighting has to be assessed for any retail space. This
means standby lighting, safety lighting and escape lighting. The client should be
See section 9 for asked if there is any requirement or particular risk that requires standby lighting
more information so that all or part of the store can continue to function, if only at a reduced level,
during power failures. For example, the tills could have their power backed up by
an alternative source such as an uninterruptible power supply (ups) so that
customers can continue to pay for their purchases. In this situation it would be
worth providing standby lighting to normal operating levels over the tills.
Extra low voltage (elv) lighting control and switching systems are commonplace
in new medium to large buildings and these can incorporate control of safety or
emergency escape lighting. The lighting designer should check that any such
system will allow for a ‘fail safe’ situation in the event of a mains power loss (i.e.
the control system does not require to be powered in order for the emergency
standby or emergency lighting systems to operate).
For those seeking advice on a specific room type there are sections in this
Lighting Guide that give detailed design notes on the individual room types that
are likely to be found in a retail space or building.
Note: this Guide uses the term ‘lamp’; we now regularly talk about ‘led’. However,
led is just another light source, such as fluorescent or high pressure discharge,
which can be collectively referred to as ‘lamps’.
1.2 The designer It is easy to think of the designer of a lighting installation as one person. However,
in truth, the designer can often be a group of people with one person providing
the design direction and others moulding that design with specific requirements.
The interior designer, for example, can influence colour and reflectance, thereby
having a direct effect on the efficiency of a lighting installation. The heating and
ventilation system designer can also have an effect by influencing the temperature
around the luminaires to something other than their optimum operating
temperature.
In some instances, it may be appropriate to have a dedicated lighting designer

providing the design direction.
Clients can have different degrees of influence on the route a design takes and
should be consulted at an early stage. A key part of the designer’s role is to fully
interpret the client’s vision as well as ensuring the design meets statutory
requirements. Retail lighting needs to do its part to promote the sale of goods
but, depending on the type of retail outlet, it may also need to provide safe access
and egress, compliment the interior design, provide good colour rendering and
allow customers to read detail on merchandise.
Control of lighting is an equally important part of the design process and in

complex retail outlets it may be necessary to bring a specialist designer into the
team.
1.3 Importance of The term ‘retail’ is overarching and covers a wide range of premises. Each needs
to be considered individually and therefore generalisations should be avoided. A
understanding small kiosk at a railway station that opens directly onto a platform will need a
the retail space very different approach to a large department store in a major city or a motor
vehicle dealership.
Designers should discuss with the client how the store or shop will be used before
commencing any design work. Some items to include in such a discussion are:
—— Is daylight to be optimised or excluded?

—— What tasks are to be performed by staff?

—— Will staff be located in set positions or mobile?
—— How critical is good colour representation of merchandise?
—— Will merchandise have small text that needs to be read by customers?
—— How important is the vertical surface? For example, it is key in a
bookstore but perhaps not so much in a bakery.
See section 5 for
more information —— Is the store adjacent to a highly lit space such as a shopping mall.
—— How flexible does the lighting need to be? Is the sales floor likely to
be reorganised regularly?
—— Will staff be using tablets?
—— Will a self-checkout system be used?
—— Are checkouts or pay desks in fixed locations?
—— What are the hours of operation and do they vary?
—— What will the décor and furniture colours and textures be?
—— Is the interior design key to attracting customers?
—— Can lighting be used to enhance the interior design?
—— Will a dedicated interior designer be involved?
—— Is there a fixed furniture and fittings arrangement or will the space
need to be fully flexible?
—— If part of a chain, will a ‘corporate look’ be required?
—— Is there any unusual contrast with adjacent spaces?
—— Are there any heritage issues that need to be considered?
—— Are there any particular occupational health requirements to
accommodate?
—— Who will be controlling the lighting and is automation required?
—— Will emergency lighting be required and what type is preferred?
—— Will standby lighting be required so the store or shop can continue
to operate if the power fails?
Designers will encounter situations where the occupier of the retail space is
unknown, such as in a speculative development. In the situation where the client
is a developer, it may not be possible to determine the final type of retail offer.
Usually speculative retail space is left as a ‘shell’ meaning that only basic services
are provided such as a power, gas and water supply if appropriate. Some basic
emergency or access lighting can be provided if the space is large and complex,
but usually nothing else.
1.4 Creative design Lighting in retail establishments can take many forms ranging from the
functional to the dramatic but, in most cases, the lighting will have an effect on
the customers — how they feel and behave in the space as well as how likely they
are to spend money.
Retail spaces give lighting designers an opportunity to express their artistic side
and this can lead to working closely with an interior designer, particularly where
the client is a retail chain.
More common though will be the situation where a shop owner relies on the
lighting designer alone to provide some guidance and assistance in developing an
inviting interior.
The creative elements of a design will need to draw heavily from the intended use
of the retail space and the owners’ aspirations for their business. Trends in
shopping habits and interior design can be strong influences and lead to customers
expecting a particular ‘look’ to a space, even though the shop owner may prefer
something else.
A good example is the trend in fashion and beauty stores towards high contrast
lighting, which uses display lighting almost exclusively. The popularity of this
approach with customers means an expectation develops and similar shops may
need to follow the design ideas even if the shop owner is not a fan of the ‘look’.
Figure 1.1 A high contrast interior

(courtesy of Michael
Grubb Studio)
Where a bespoke approach is acceptable or favoured, the lighting designer will

still need to be mindful of certain requirements such as the need to provide a safe
and comfortable workspace for staff and customers.
Shop owners may have their own, sometimes very clear ideas about what they
want the space to look like. Interpreting these ideas and reflecting them in the
design can sometimes be challenging for both parties. If possible, a mock-up of
the design should be constructed or the shop owner taken to view a lighting
installation that the designer feels is similar to that being asked for.
Where a truly bespoke design is required, the lighting designer will be presented
with a significant opportunity to make a statement. This opportunity should be
viewed alongside the responsibility to help maximise customer satisfaction and,
once again, a mock-up of the designer’s ideas would be a good idea to gauge the
owner’s opinion before fully committing to the design.
Whilst the ‘rules’ in lighting design, such as complimenting colours, is not

something that has to be adhered to specifically, using inappropriate colour can
have a detrimental effect. While most retail spaces will generally use a neutral
white light, the colour of the wall surfaces and merchandise can create a colour
cast. Using warmer or cooler versions of white light can change the feel of a space
but may be detrimental to the customer’s relationship with the merchandise and
even each other. See section 1.12 for more information on colour in lighting.

1.5 Scale of The SLL Code for Lighting (SLL, 2012) describes the scale of illuminance in
accordance with BS EN 12665: Light and lighting. Basic terns and criteria for
illuminance specifying lighting requirements (BSI, 2011a). The scale sets out the levels between
which a perceptual change in illumination levels can generally be observed.
These levels are used to define maintained average illumination levels in this
Guide and are recognised as benchmarks in lighting design.
Scale of illuminance (lux):
20–30–50–75–100–150–200–300–500–750–1000–1500–2000–3000–5000
Typically, lighting design for task areas such as checkouts or pay desks on shop
floors will be 500 lux.
Areas adjacent to the task area can be illuminated to an immediately lower level
in accordance with the scale of illumination.
Sales floor lighting will usually be made up of general lighting and accent lighting
to highlight chosen areas of a display or a particular item. This could range from
a small arrangement of merchandise adjacent to a sales desk up to a single large
item such as a car. In order for customers to notice the highlighted item, the
accent lighting illuminating it should be at least one level higher on the scale of
illuminance, compared to the lighting around it, but probably more depending
on the environment, colours, daylight contribution or borrowed lighting contri
bution from external sources or adjacent accent or display lighting.
1.6 Horizontal The lighting of vertical surfaces is perhaps more important in retail than in any
other environment. Merchandise is often arranged vertically and customers will
or cylindrical need to interact with staff, usually at a pay desk but increasingly anywhere in a
illuminance? retail space.
Whilst illumination of vertical surfaces such as magazine racks in a newsagent

has been understood for a long time, the calculation of illumination levels on the
faces of staff and customers, whether sitting or standing in undefined spaces
within a retail store, is more complex.
The need to address the illumination of a person’s face is important and BS EN

12464-1 (BSI, 2011b) introduced the need to consider the vertical element,
particularly at face height, be that a normal sitting (1.2 m) or standing (1.6 m)
position. The preferred reference being the cylindrical illuminance measurement.
Cylindrical illuminance can be thought of as the illumination on a vertical object

(or person) averaged to take account of light falling on the surface of an imaginary
cylinder surrounding that object or person. Clearly people are not stationary and
could move their head in any direction. It is important to understand how much
illumination there will be on their face when looking in any direction.
It is also important to understand if their location in a room is limited to a

particular area or if they will move around. Providing an acceptable level of task-
related cylindrical illuminance across an entire retail space is less energy efficient
that concentrating on areas where occupants are expected to be working. Good
cylindrical illuminance is therefore important at locations such as pay desks but
also at customer service desks, bank teller positions in high street banks, and
across sales desks in car showrooms to name a few. It may not be as important,
however, on a general sales floor where all the merchandise is at low level and
staff interaction with customers is relatively low, such as in a self service store.
Figure 1.2 Application of cylindrical

illuminance
1200 to 1600 mm zone above floor level where mean
cylindrical illuminance should be > 150 lux with Uo > 0.1
Task area illumination

300 to 500 lux
Modelling ratio
between task
area illuminance
and cylindrical
illuminance
0.3 to 0.6
1.7 Modelling ratio Modelling is a term used to refer to the balance between diffuse and direct light.
Completely diffuse lighting, such as an uplit-only lighting scheme, can look
bland. Conversely, a direct lighting scheme with no diffused element can produce
strong contrast. Having a mixture of the two types will help define shapes, colours
and textures.
The modelling ratio is a comparison of the cylindrical illuminace value with the
horizontal illuminance value and is expressed as the difference with unity or as a
percentage.
0.3 to 0.6 (or 30% to 60% of the horizontal illuminance value) is considered an
acceptable modelling ratio for task areas such as sales desks and checkouts.
1.8 Client/user types The number of combinations of actual client and eventual end user are numerous
and all affect the design process in different ways. A client wanting a new retail
space built with the specific knowledge of how their business operates in existing
premises will have a slightly different perspective to an entrepreneur wanting a
retail space created for a new venture, where the layout and operating structure is
yet to be formed. A speculative developer may not have a clear idea of the sort of
tenant that will eventually occupy the building.
1.9 Working Where the designer is involved with new retail space for a specific client then it
is important that they liaise with the client to determine the types of tasks that
with known will be carried out and the shopping experience intended in each area of the
occupiers building. The needs of a national chain of sandwich shops, for example, where
people quickly buy something and leave, is very different to a high-end fashion
retailer where people are encouraged to take their time.
Often the best way to get a feel for the way a company operates is to visit the
user’s existing premises. This usually provides valuable insights into the tasks,
equipment and working practices of the departments, the staff in them and the
customer experience being sought. If, however, the user is a new start-up company
or is moving into a new area of retail, they may not have similar existing retail
space. In this case it may be possible to find premises where similar tasks,
equipment or operating methods are used.
It is also important to establish with the user the type of interior décor that they
prefer or are likely to choose. This will ensure that likely surface reflectance can
be taken into account in preliminary lighting calculations. It is often easier with
a known user to confirm what window-screening techniques are to be used and
to confirm that retail spaces are compatible with the intended lighting solution.
With a specific end user of a retail space it is usually easier to define any non task

or decorative lighting required. This can be lighting for merchandise as well as

general, feature lighting or external lighting of the building.
Whilst retail outlets tend to have a relatively short term reorganisation cycle,
some retailers have very static furniture layouts over time and fairly fixed ideas
about customer flow. Large supermarkets tend to leave the arrangement of the
main body of the sales floor the same for lengthy periods. This means a fixed
layout of lighting, either general or localised, can be effective.
The lighting design may be for a known user intending to fit-out a space within
a speculative retail space or building. The building may have been left with just
central power supplies to the retail spaces or may provide lighting to circulation
areas where they cannot be associated with a specific retailer. The designer of the
lighting for the fit-out will need to liaise with the designers of the landlord’s
services to establish what provision has been left for the fit-out.
1.10 Speculative Lighting does not tend to be installed for speculative retail spaces. If the space is
complex, however, with internal rooms or areas extending some way from the
developments exit, it may be beneficial to install some temporary access lighting and some
emergency lighting. There may be the occasion where a building owner is clear
about how the space will be used and asks for lighting to be installed. Such spaces
would typically be for short term or seasonal rental and used, for example, by a
See section 3 for shop set up to sell Christmas cards or decorations in November and December.
more information Generally though, by the very nature of the concept, a speculative space will have
no firm information on occupier use to base any design upon.
1.11 Change of use General lighting installations can be installed for many years without any need
for anything other than regular maintenance and lamp replacement. During that
time, the space they illuminate can change considerably and some can move to
being retail spaces. Typically this could be a room within an office building or
hospital that becomes a small general store selling newspapers, confectionary and
perhaps sandwiches. Consideration should be given to the appropriateness of the
lighting in such an event. For example, where food is being prepared, a wholesale
change may be required for hygiene reasons.
Premises previously used for industrial applications will usually have a lighting
design centred on providing localised lighting where it is required. Such a
situation may require extensive modifications to the position and type of lighting
in the space to make it suitable for retail use, particularly if the space is large
enough to accommodate many people. Where a space is changing use to form a
retail outlet, it is important to understand all of the factors affecting the lighting.
It may be that in a small shop conversion part of the solution to providing a
suitable lighting design is actually achieved by placing the pay desk and sales
shelving to match the existing lighting positions, rather than altering the lighting
to suit a preferred shop layout. The effect on customers and sales would have to
form the major part of such a discussion, however.
1.12 Importance Whether the lighting design involves a new scheme entirely or alterations to an
existing installation, it is important that the correct type of luminaire and lamp
of identifying are used. Lighting in retail spaces can have a significant effect on the customers
the correct and can either promote sales if done well or reduce sales if customers cannot see
colour of light merchandise properly, cannot determine colours correctly or simply cannot read
the prices.
The colour rendering index (cri) is an established standard against which the
ability of a lighting source is capable of showing colours in a natural and true to
life way. It is expressed as a figure between 0 and 100 Ra, where 100 is the
equivalent of daylight and anything lower moves progressively away from this.
The cri has its shortcomings though, primarily in that it considers the accurate
rendition of colour but not the level of saturation of that colour. The comparison
below (Figure 1.3) shows the same image at two different saturation levels
although the subject has the same colour rendition in both images.
Figure 1.3 The same colour rendition

at different saturation
levels (courtesy of Simon
Robinson/WSP)
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has introduced an alternative

method to the cri known as TM-30-15 (IES, 2015). This approach considers both
the rendition and saturation of colour under a light source.
The colour of the light can also have an effect on the user of the space. Warmer
colours such as 2700 K (warm white) will be more relaxing whilst 4000 K (cool
white) generally makes people feel more alert.
Extremely cold light sources nearer to 6000 K or 7000 K can appear cold and
uninviting if used in the wrong environment, so it is important to match the
colour of light with the type of store.
Highlighting specific merchandise with a colour otherwise not used in the space
can have a significant effect in drawing a customer’s attention. Subtle shifts in
colour away from that of the general lighting can be most effective. Colours
should be matched, however, to the colour of the merchandise being illuminated.
High colour rendering is obviously important in stores where colour is a key part
of the shopping experience. Clothing and home furnishing shops, for example,
will need lighting that doesn’t result in a surprise for the customers when they
get home.
Ra > 90 should be acceptable for clothing or home furnishing stores, compared

to Ra >80 for general use.
Strong specific colours are best avoided unless they are used as part of a specific
theme where they would not look out of place.
In some instances, it may be worth conducting research with those who will
occupy the space into preferences over the colour of the lighting source.
Mixing lamp colours should be avoided within the same space unless it is done
for artistic effect.
Figure 1.4 Good use of colour to

illuminate a fish counter
(courtesy of LAMP)

1.13 Coordinating Lighting, particularly electric lighting, can only be effective when considered
alongside the type of merchandise, decorative finishes (including any indication
the lighting of temporary finishes for sales promotions), textures and layout of a retail space.
design Discussion with the architect or interior designer is crucial to understand what
the reflective surfaces of the space will be like. Lighting that is to be recessed into
a ceiling void will have to be coordinated with other services such as cable
containment, pipework, ductwork and sprinkler systems, as well as structural
elements of the building. If these items are not coordinated, the position and
orientation of luminaires may be compromised.
Figure 1.5 Decorative spot lighting

located too close to a wall
resulting in excessive glare
and poor uniformity across
the vertical surface (courtesy
of Simon Robinson/WSP)
1.14 Portable display Both touch screen cash registers and tablet computers are commonplace in retail
environments. As the screen position in relation to lighting sources can constantly
screens and change, particularly with tablets used for sales floor tasks such as stock re-
touch screen ordering or dealing with customer enquiries, it is extremely difficult to provide a
cash registers lighting design that can reduce reflections and glare at all times. Where a building
owner has indicated that they use such devices, it may be worth establishing the
usage pattern, in particular where the devices are mostly used. For example, if
tablet use is predominantly in one area of a store, then a lighting scheme sensitive
to their use with a high diffuse element may be appropriate.
1.15 Checkout and Checkout and pay desk areas along with teller positions in banks and sales desks
in showrooms are the areas where the most interaction will occur on a sales floor.
pay desk areas Such areas need to be well lit with a mix of diffuse and direct lighting. It should
be borne in mind that whilst these areas will only be occupied for a short period
by customers, they represent the working environment for the staff and so
lighting should be provided that recognises this approach. Lighting should be
provided in line with the recommendations of SLL Lighting Guide 7: Offices
(SLL, 2015a) and section 5 of this Lighting Guide.
1.16 Shop window Lighting the traditional shop window introduces a number of challenges. Its
primary function is to attract potential customers into the shop and so needs to
lighting be eye catching and appealing. Shop windows are usually relatively small areas.
However, they can present a number of challenges and the appropriate approach
needs to be discussed with the shop owner.
Often overlooked is the orientation of the shop window. If it faces north, then the
daylight entering the window will be diffuse and on overcast winter days could
be relatively insignificant. A south facing window, however, will have a much
greater range of daylight scenarios, from direct light on a bright summers day to
diffuse light from an overcast sky in winter. In addition, adjacent buildings can
cause heavy shadowing and care needs to be taken to account for this. Therefore
electric lighting designs for shop windows present a number of challenges aside
from the decorative aspects. If merchandise is to stand out in bright conditions,
a significant amount of lighting will be required.
Figure 1.6 Shop window lighting

(courtesy of LAMP)

Illuminated shop windows can cause problems though. If illuminated throughout

the hours of darkness, they can be the source of wasted energy. They can also
contribute to light pollution and in mixed retail and residential developments
could be an unwelcome source of light if bedroom windows are opposite.
It may be worth discussing with the shop owner, controlling the window lighting
so it turns off after a pre-determined time.
1.17 Illuminated Most retail outlets have some form of signage which is often illuminated. There
are three common ways of illuminating signage and designers will need to deal
displays, signage with each in different ways.
and projected
images Externally lit signage is perhaps the most popular. Lighting is provided either to
the side, above or below the sign and effectively ‘washes’ the sign in light. Usually
the most cost effective means of illuminating a sign, this approach can, however,
1.17.1 Externally lit signage lead to some issues if not carefully planned. Because the lighting has to be to one
side of the sign, so as not to obscure it, the uniformity of the illumination can be
affected. Care needs to be taken to ensure the lighting is not reflected from the
sign and become a source of glare to passers-by and motorists. Typically,
luminaires with asymmetric distribution would be chosen to help improve the
uniformity and to reduce the risk of unwanted overspill light.
Figure 1.7 Externally illuminated sign

(courtesy of Hoare Lea)

1.17.2 Backlit signage Backlit signs use a mixture of translucent and non-translucent materials for the
sign itself and a light source is mounted behind to provide the illumination. In
this type of sign, the lamps are usually very close to the back of the sign in order
to reduce the sign’s overall depth and this can create problems with uniformity of
illumination. A traditional method of resolving this has been to install fluorescent
lamps close together. Whilst this approach addresses the uniformity problem, it
introduces a high energy load which is often wasteful, particularly if the sign is
made up of large areas of non-translucent colours. led is now being used much
more efficiently by shaping the lighting to allow only the translucent parts of the
sign to be backlit.
Figure 1.8 Backlit retail sign (courtesy

of Iguzzini Illuminazione
UK Ltd; photography by
Didier Boy de la Tour)
1.17.3 Self illuminated This type of signage is made up of the actual light source itself and is probably
signage most recognised as cold cathode sculptured tubes or ‘neon signs’. Developments
in lcd and led displays, however, have resulted in such displays being used
directly as retail signage.
Figure 14.4 Cold cathode ‘neon’

sign (courtesy of Simon
Robinson/WSP)
1.17.4 Projected signage Image projectors can be a useful way of introducing complex or dynamic lighting
effects and sales information to either a shop interior or exterior. However, they
cannot be considered as sources of lighting and should not be confused with any
luminaire described as being a projector.
The illuminance of the projected image can be low and therefore if such devices
are to be used in stores, care will need to be taken over the lighting in the local
vicinity so as not to overpower the projected image or lose it in background
lighting.
1.18 Sales floor Sales floors can be quite diverse and cover large open spaces with little or no
natural daylight such as in a supermarket, or areas which are really large shop
lighting windows, e.g. car showrooms. Electric lighting for sales floors needs to be
appropriate to the situation and designers will need to consider and discuss a
number of issues with the owner such as:
—— What type of merchandise will be present?

—— Will there be any strong colour preference or will the lighting have
to deal with colours changing on a regular basis?
—— Is daylight something to utilise or actively exclude?
—— Is a corporate theme to be applied?
—— What kind of flexibility is required in luminaire placement?
—— Is merchandise sensitive to temperature?
—— Is merchandise sensitive to ultraviolet light?
—— Will concessions provide their own lighting?
—— Does the client have any particular requirements that would not be
readily identifiable?
The illumination levels appropriate to particular retail environments are given in

section 10. However, it should be borne in mind that different illumination levels
and colours may apply to retail premises targeting a particular type of customer.
For example, an opticians’ sales area may need to have a higher illumination in
some areas to help those with poor eyesight. Such a lighting scheme may also
need to include a high proportion of diffuse light to allow customers to see the
appearance of glasses when worn. Having a high level of diffuse light though
could lead to problems in providing accent lighting (using reasonable energy
levels) to displays so that they stand out.
Large sales areas with high ceilings, such as supermarkets, should naturally have
a high diffuse element to their electric lighting by virtue of the large space and its
contents providing plenty of opportunity for light to be refracted. Accent lighting
where high ceilings are present would use a lot of energy to make an impact if
ceiling mounted and suspension some distance below the ceiling should be
considered. This will reduce the energy required and can allow much more
flexibility to move accent lighting to suit changing merchandise displays in the
future.

Figure 1.10 Suspended accent lighting

(courtesy of Hoare Lea)

1.19 Back of house The term ‘back of house’ refers to any areas within a retail space or building that
are not accessible to customers. Typically these areas include storage, access
lighting corridors, staff-only stair cores, offices, welfare facilities and plant rooms. Back of
house areas need to be functional and provide adequate lighting to allow staff to
work safely and productively but often will not be required to go beyond a
minimum standard.
Lighting to office accommodation task areas should provide an illumination

level of 300 lux where mainly screen based tasks are undertaken or 500 lux where
predominantly paper based tasks are carried out. SLL Lighting Guide 7 (SLL,
2015a)provides more information on lighting for offices.
Lighting to back of house areas will be particularly sensitive to energy use and so
efficiency over aesthetics is usually a driving factor. Discussions should take
place with the building owner and the interior designer over finishes to encourage
the use of highly reflective finishes throughout. This approach should have the
greatest impact on reducing the energy used, provided the occupants are diligent
in turning lights off, or there is some form of automatic control that can perform
this task.
Figure 1.11 Typical back of house

lighting: (left) corridor
(courtesy of Rob Bramhill/
WSP), (right) stair (courtesy
1.20 Accent lighting Retail lighting generally needs to address two key objectives: to provide general
lighting to allow customers to move around easily and safely, and to provide
lighting that will enhance a sales area and highlight particular merchandise.
Accent or display lighting is used to achieve the second objective and can be
provided in a variety of ways. Most people would think of a spotlight as being the
archetypal accent or display lighting and in many cases such an approach will be
more than adequate.
Accent lighting differs from general lighting in that it usually has a direct
component only, with no diffuse element. Direct lighting alone can produce
strong contrast and result in dramatic effects, whereas diffuse lighting such as
that provided by a linear fluorescent lamp will give a lower contrast, more ‘even’
light across a space. led in particular, being a point source, can provide very
effective direct light and so is ideal for accent lighting where well controlled
beams are required.
Accent lighting will need to ‘cut through’ the general lighting and any daylighting
component in play if it is to be effective. The level of general lighting will
obviously influence how intense the accent lighting needs to be, so both should
be considered at the same time.
An alternative to adding more lighting for creative effect is to take some away.
This can be done in a number of ways. For example, the general lighting on a
sales floor can be dimmed in areas to allow accent lighting to have a greater effect
without the need to use excessive amounts of energy. In some situations, it may
be possible to turn off the general lighting if the nature of the space contains
sufficient specular surfaces or the accent lighting has sufficient spill light to allow
safe movement of customers. Care should be taken, however, with narrow beam
spotlights. Ironically, the more efficient a spotlight is in controlling its beam, the
less suitable it is for use in this scenario.
Another alternative is to omit lights from a sequence in order to create a break

that draws the eye. This approach can be effective in creating a highlight without
using any additional lighting. For example, if a row of 10 equally spaced wall
washers are illuminating a wall, dimming or turning off numbers 4 and 6 will
draw the eye to something illuminated by number 5.
Whichever approach is taken to providing accent lighting, designers should

remember that customers need to read price labels, which often use small print.
Some diffuse light will always be a benefit in this situation. It should also be
remembered that colour rendition is a key part of the buying experience for
customers, particularly in clothing shops. No one wants to buy a yellow jumper,
only to find that when they look at it in daylight, it turns out to be green.
1.21 Re-use of Luminaires consist of active and passive components. The active parts, such as
lamps and control gear, will have a working life usually dependant on how well
equipment they have been maintained and how much waste energy, in the form of heat, they
have been subjected to. The passive parts, such as the case and controller
(provided they have adequate ultraviolet stability), could last significantly longer
than the active components.
Designers should discuss with building owners the benefits of reusing relatively
new existing equipment in any refurbishment programme. Where the active
components of a luminaire are less efficient than those provided by current
technology or have reached the end of their working life, it may be worth
exploring the possibility of retrofitting new equipment into the existing case.
1.22 Getting the most Lighting design can be considered in two broad forms, those being the use of
daylighting and electric lighting in the design process. Daylighting is a passive
out of daylight form in that it requires no external energy input to deliver lighting into a space.
Depending on a number of factors, such as the use, shape and form of a building,
the amount of daylight that can be utilised will differ. Retail premises are perhaps
unique in that many exclude daylight intentionally from the sales area and then

optimise its use in shop window displays. Often, retail premises are located deep
within other building types such as shopping malls, airports, hospitals etc. and
there is no opportunity to use daylight.
Where daylight can be used to illuminate a sales floor or area, its use will depend
on a number of factors including:
—— the size, shape and height of the sales area

—— the importance of accent and display lighting
—— the colour of light required in the sales area
—— the required ambiance of the space
—— the energy target set for the building
—— the hours of operation.
In addition, the introduction of daylight could bring with it the issue of solar
gain so any decision to optimise daylight will need to be discussed with the
building owner and building services engineer.
Considering these elements in depth before commencing on any electric lighting

design can sometimes have a significant effect on the energy consumption of a
building, particularly when linked to a well-designed control system.
1.23 Energy use Electric lighting in buildings is a major user of energy and any new retail lighting
design needs to take into consideration how much energy it will use and how to
get the most out of the electrical energy that is input for a given output in lighting
terms. Energy reduction, however, should not be the prime driving force.
Lighting should be well designed and deliver a comfortable and well illuminated
environment for its occupants.
See section 6 for
more information Shops tend to be used in different ways depending on the activities being
undertaken. For example the lighting levels required when the shop is open to
the public, may be different to when it is being cleaned or re-stocked. At night-
time, there may be a desire to have limited lighting on through the shop,
particularly if it has a large front window so people can see the merchandise to
some degree when the shop is closed. These scenarios can have very different
energy use patterns and the investment in switching or controls to allow it could
prove beneficial.
1.24 Maintenance of Maintenance factor

the retail space The amount of light emanating from a luminaire depends on a number of factors,
each of which will affect the ability of the light source/luminaire combination in
an installation to deliver its optimum output and effectively act to de-rate the
design. This is done to make sure the installation is still delivering the intended
illumination level immediately prior to maintenance being carried out. As the
light output falls between maintenance activities, it follows that the illumination
when the installation is new or has just been maintained may be higher than the
design intended unless suitable controls are used. Luminaires, based on both
fluorescent lamp and led technologies, are available that can limit the output in
the early life of the installation or after maintenance has been carried out and
increase that output as the installation ages. The use of such luminaires should
be carefully considered, particularly where they can also reduce energy con
sumption during the early phase of the life of an led module or lamp.
The way in which the light source/luminaire combination is utilised can be

determined by reference to manufacturers’ data along with the reflectances of the
room surfaces, the dimensions of the room and the height of its working plane.
This is known as the utilisation factor (uf) and, once determined at the design
stage, should remain constant providing the room dimensions and surface
colours do not change. More information on determining a suitable utilisation

factor can be found in the SLL Code for Lighting (SLL, 2012).
Whilst the utilisation factor can be determined as a constant during the design of
the lighting installation, the way in which the installation is maintained through
its life can have a significant effect on its ability to deliver the illumination levels
intended during its design. Traditionally, the lighting designer will consider four
factors when deciding how best to address this effective de-rating of the design.
The factors to be considered are:
—— the lamp survival factor (lsf)

—— the lamp lumen maintenance factor (llmf)
—— the luminaire maintenance factor (lmf)
—— the room surface maintenance factor (rsmf).
More information on maintenance factors including a detailed description of the

above can be found in the SLL Code for Lighting (SLL, 2012). However as an
overview, the four factors multiply together to give an overall maintenance factor
(or de-rating factor to take into account the frequency of maintenance being
applied). The lsf considers how long the light source will last on average before
failing and takes account of how many hours the lighting will be in use per year.
The llmf considers how the lighting output from individual light sources will
degrade over time. Again, hours of use are a consideration. The lmf considers
how often the luminaire housing the light source will be cleaned and the rsmf
considers how often the reflective surfaces of the room will be cleaned. Both of
these factors consider the cleanliness of the environment in which the lighting is
installed.
It should be noted that non-constant light output leds may have a worse llmf
than other lighting sources and designs will need to reflect this. Manufacturers’
data should be checked.
It is obvious that the longer the period between lamps being changed or cleaned,
the worse the degradation of lighting output will become and in order to
accommodate the building owner’s requirements to minimise maintenance
events (and associated cost), lighting installations in the past have sometimes
been over-designed to compensate for the long maintenance intervals through
the application of maintenance factors.
It is important to discuss with the building owner, the maintenance regime they
intend to put in place. The effects on energy use of over designed lighting
installations due to extended maintenance must be considered within the overall
design, installation and lifetime operation of the lighting. It may also be
appropriate to discuss with the building owner the concept of monitoring the
lighting levels and changing lamps, cleaning luminaires etc. when the levels drop
below an acceptable minimum. Such an approach will allow the building user to
better match maintenance intervals and cost to the changing use of the space in
which the lighting is installed.
2 Types of Retail spaces are perhaps the most varied of commercial spaces after offices,
ranging from small kiosks through local convenience stores to national or
retail outlet international chains and onto supermarkets and large diy stores. Clearly each
type has common criteria to meet. However, it would be impractical to treat the
design of each in the same way.
2.1 Introduction
Compromise is much more likely to occur in small spaces where there are
constraints such as furniture positions and any window location is fixed,
particularly with regard to daylight and the balance between providing adequate
daylight and controlling glare.

Types of retail outlet 17
2.2 Self-contained This type of building is typically a detached outlet and can be anything from a
car showroom to a diy store. Smaller outlets will tend to have a proportionally
retail outlets higher window area than larger outlets.
Often the self-contained retail outlet is built to impress with high quality
entrance, reception and lift areas. The lighting design and the resulting visual
environment need to help this goal to be achieved. The quality of the luminaires
themselves, in terms of build quality and surface finish, needs to be considered.
Feature luminaires may be required in entrance halls and lobbies. Special lighting
effects such as colour washes, fixed or moving logos and the framing or
highlighting of artwork or special features may be required.
Figure 2.1 Typical high street

self-contained retail
unit (courtesy of Simon
Robinson/WSP)
2.3 Mixed In order to provide a good mix of use and make sure developments are used
throughout the day, planning authorities encourage developers of large projects
developments such as high rise towers to incorporate other types of use within their development
and this can typically include retail outlets.
An example would be a retail mall beneath an office complex such as those found
in Canary Wharf, London. Other examples include retail outlets in airports, rail
stations and hospitals.
Figure 2.2 Mixed use development

(courtesy of Hoare Lea;
photography by Redshift)
As mixed use developments will have different operating times for the various
businesses present, consideration needs to be given to lighting to and from any
retail outlets. Will the access, for example, be via an area that may not normally
be illuminated outside of core commercial hours? In such a situation, discussion
will be needed with adjacent occupiers to ensure that lighting for a safe means of
access and egress can be maintained.
2.4 Smaller shops Whilst it is easy to think of retail outlets as large shopping malls or supermarkets,
given their popularity over the past 30 years, the majority of retail spaces are
and stores small shops and stores, often in buildings converted from other uses.
Many historic buildings are used as retail outlets or contain them. Often in city
centres such as Bath, Edinburgh, York or Chester, historic buildings will house a
variety of functions with retail outlets usually on the ground floor. Many
Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian houses in city centres have been converted
for such use. This includes Grade 1 listed properties in prominent positions as
well as many older properties that have no historic or architectural importance.
For most of these, where the interiors have been fitted out to modern standards,
the lighting can also be in fairly straightforward modern styles. Sometimes there
will be the need to take into account unusual ceiling heights or make allowances
for careful routing of wiring through the building.
With many listed properties, not only must the interior lighting fit with the
interior style of the house but it must also not spoil the view into the property
from the outside. Looking up at a grand Victorian façade and seeing fluorescent
lights on chain suspensions or brightly coloured luminaires inside may, in some
people’s eyes, be somewhat disconcerting.
In some circumstances it would be more appropriate to specify chandeliers with

compact fluorescent or led equivalents to incandescent lamps for, say, the
principal first floor rooms of a listed Georgian house. These will be visible from
the street and would appear correct for such grand rooms. It is likely that task
lighting would be needed to provide the necessary lighting on cash desks but this
can be discreetly done.
Gift shops are popular in tourist attractions so they can be found in buildings
such as stately homes, museums, sports stadiums etc. Often they are fitted into
spaces that are not ideal and can present unique problems for the lighting
designer. There may be a need in such situations to work closely with the sales
floor designer and influence the location of merchandise to best suit any lighting
restrictions.
It is likely that the majority of shops around the world are single storey, two- or
three-room arrangements, and no more than 50 m2 of floor area. These shops can
have an almost unimaginable number of uses. However, they all share two things
with regard to lighting:
—— the space must be adequately lit for the safety of staff and customers
—— the lighting must work with the shop layout to maximise the impact
of merchandise.
A mix of diffuse and direct lighting is required for general movement and to draw
shoppers’ attention to highlighted merchandise. Large retail stores will have
Figure 2.3 A tourist gift shop (courtesy sufficiently different reflective surfaces, in both colour and texture, to create a
of Simon Robinson/WSP) certain amount of diffuse light from direct sources, even before adding any
supplementary sources. Small shops, however, are unlikely to benefit from this
effect and so it is important to consider both elements when designing the
lighting.
Many small shops will have an eye to cost when considering the lighting design
and it is often the case that luminaires that give adequate diffuse and direct light
outputs are used, such as surface mounted, diffuser controlled luminaires.
Speculative development 19
3 Speculative For designers of speculative retail spaces, where the sales areas are flexible and
not designed for specific purposes, a more general lighting approach is needed.
development
Designers should discuss with developers how they intend to market the
speculative development and what flexibility needs to be applied to the design.
Very often, layouts are unknown; however, if such information can be obtained,
a much more appropriate and energy efficient lighting design could be achieved.
If targeted at a corporate or national chain of stores, then it is likely a specific

lighting design will be required and any equipment installed at the shell and core
stage will be removed.
Balancing the need to provide an adequate level of illumination with sufficient

relative surface illuminance is always going to be challenging in a building for
which the final occupier is unknown.
The lighting design provided for speculative retail outlets will most likely be a
compromise based on the following constraints:
—— the need to provide a lighting installation which will appeal and

show any prospective tenant or owner what can be achieved in the
space
—— the need to work within a budget aimed at a bare minimum
requirement
—— the need to provide flexibility for any prospective tenant or owner
—— the need to provide a design that is marketable to prospective
tenants
—— the need to provide a design and installation that can readily be
used without modification should the tenant or owner choose to
do so.
Of these five points, the need to provide a design and installation that can readily
be used is the key point and this should serve as a basis for achieving the rest.
See section 1 for
more information It is clear that a space needs to provide more than just lighting to highlight
merchandise; this Guide provides recommendations for the relative surface
illuminances on walls, ceilings etc. (see section 1). To achieve the recommended
guidance in a space that may change almost as soon as the developer completes
the installation, could result in wasted equipment and the associated energy and
cost involved with that installation. It is important, therefore, that a discussion
takes place with the developer about what is expected of the lighting before the
building is let/sold and what tenants or future owners will be expected to provide.
In some instances, it may be appropriate to provide only a limited amount of

background illumination if, for example, the future tenant is known and has
agreed to cover fit-out costs separately.
The end-users could be selling almost anything from the space; however, most
retail spaces need to accommodate a sales desk or space for commercial activities.
These spaces usually involve the use of computers and can be considered working
areas which should be treated as such. SLL Lighting Guide 7: Offices (SLL,
2015a) has more information on the illumination of working areas. For this
reason the exact nature of the lighting and decor to be provided must be
established with the building’s owner or developer.
Designers should bear in mind that a general approach is likely to have an impact
on energy use above that of specific requirements. Again, this should be discussed
with the building’s owner or developer in case it has an impact on the energy
performance of the building.
Figure 3.1 Speculative retail

space (courtesy of Simon
Robinson/WSP)
For almost all speculative buildings the owner is likely to require the design of all
shared building lighting such as that in help desks, stairs, lobbies, etc. In some
buildings the landlord’s lighting may be extended to primary circulation spaces
on each floor, such as in shopping centres The tenant is often just provided with
central power supplies up to distribution boards in risers on each floor for their
future lighting. The designer needs to consider how far to go in allowing flexibility
for future tenants’ lighting. To provide too much flexibility in distribution board
size or control provision may incur unnecessary costs for the landlord. To provide
too little flexibility may make the building less desirable to potential tenants.
There are a number of standard terms for the degree of provision within a
speculative building.
A ‘shell and core’ retail space includes finishes and fit-out to landlord areas only,
with services capped-off within the riser at each floor, and retail areas left as a
structural shell.
‘Category A fit-out’ extends finishes and services into retail areas to create usable
open plan space. ‘Category B fit-out’ provides all services to the tenant’s
requirements.
Figure 3.2 Typical Cat A fit-out

(courtesy of Simon
Robinson/WSP)

Daylighting 21
Before starting the design process for any tenanted floor space, it is important to
establish with the building owners, and possibly the letting agent, the types of
user to whom the space will be marketed. Whilst speculative retail space provides
a blank canvas to potential tenants, it is likely the building owner or developer
will have a particular type of tenant in mind.
The space planning flexibility also needs to be established. Some large open plan
units will be partitioned to provide back-of-house storage or to partly separate
different departments or sales areas. Establishing this will help determine the
likely effect of partitioning options on both the illuminance levels and the cut-off
given by the partitions to long views of luminaires across the space. Most
speculative space is marketed as totally open-plan with likely partitioning options
indicated. The lighting design will need to take into account these possible
partition arrangements
The design of the lighting can have a positive or negative effect on potential
tenants. For example, some may see a general background level of illumination as
the ideal starting point from which they can provide localised lighting as
appropriate. Others may view the same background level of illumination as
something that will incur cost to bring up to a satisfactory level or need replacing
entirely.
The first group may appreciate that a general background level of illumination,
particularly at the low end of recommended illumination levels for retail space,
has a direct impact on the energy that the installation will consume from the
start. They may see the addition of local lighting and its impact on the energy
footprint of a building as something over which they want control.
It may therefore be acceptable to provide a lighting design that delivers a

consistent average illuminance across a space. The level of that illuminance can
be determined with the building owner or developer depending on the tenant
target group and how the space will be marketed.
A major component of any successful lighting design is the control system and in
particular its flexibility to adapt to inevitable future changes in sales floor layout.
Flexibility is an important factor in the success of speculative retail space and a
lighting design that lends itself to a number of control options may be something
that appeals to a building owner or developer, particularly if it improves the
lettable value of the space.
It is important to liaise with the architect or interior designer on finishes, window

types and their screening. Once these points and the possible partition layouts
See section 5 for are established, lighting design principles can be established that will allow the
more information correct degree of flexibility in letting options. However, not all possibilities can
be catered for. For example, it is possible that what was intended as a small
collection of shops selling local products from start-up units may end up being let
to a retail chain such as a supermarket operator.
Installing lighting that can cope with too wide a range of possible users may be
either very expensive or be a poor compromise for all. Adaptable design options,
and their costs, should be explored with the building owner.
4 Daylighting The importance of daylighting in a retail space, both for the benefits in energy
reduction and the health and well-being of the occupants, cannot be overstated.
Traditionally, many retail spaces have excluded daylight, other than for display
windows. However, as we continue to reduce the energy we use in our daily lives,
4.1 Introduction the use of this notionally free and zero energy source of illumination should be
maximised. (‘Notionally free’ because more daylight means more solar gains,
which will require the use of energy to control any associated heat gains)
The daylight illumination of a retail space depends on the size and position of the
windows and the size and proportions of the room as well as the internal room
surface reflectances. It will also depend on any obstructions, both internal and
external. Privacy can also be a problem and should be considered, as well as solar
penetration in terms of glare, both direct and reflected; blinds or some other sun
See SLL LG10 for screening device may be necessary.
more information
More information on daylighting can be found in SLL Lighting Guide 10:
Daylighting: A guide for designers (2014).
4.2 Daylight factor The daylight contribution to the illumination of a retail space is determined in a
different way to that for electric lighting since sunlight, and therefore daylight, is
variable in quantity throughout the day and year.
Daylight factor is a tool for the prediction of relative daylight quantity in a space,
and is the ratio of available illuminance in a space with the illuminance outside
under an overcast sky.
BS 8206-2: Lighting for buildings. Code of practice for daylighting (BSI, 2008a) states
that an average daylight factor of greater than 2% across a space should result in
a space appearing to be predominantly daylit.
An average daylight factor greater than 5% indicates that electric lighting will not
normally be required during the daytime.
It should be noted, however, that there are limitations to the daylight factor
approach. For example, the building’s location or its orientation are not
considered. The issues of glare and visual comfort are also absent from the
daylight factor approach.
Daylight modelling software is now available which can include these factors.
More information on daylight factors and how to calculate them can be found in
SLL Lighting Guide 10: Daylighting — a guide for designers (SLL, 2014) and BS
8206-2 (BSI, 2008a).
4.3 Uniformity Whilst an appropriate daylight factor is important, consideration should also be
given to the uniformity of daylight. A satisfactory level of uniformity should
of daylight normally be achieved if more than 80% of the task area has an unbroken view of
the sky and if the room is not too deep. This may be important if the sales desk
or checkout position is located within the range of 6 to 8 metres from the nearest
window wall. Rooms with windows on at least two walls usually have better
uniformity of daylight. More information on uniformity of daylight can be found
in SLL Lighting Guide 10: Daylighting — a guide for designers (SLL, 2014).
4.4 Daylight In addition to the daylight factor and the uniformity of daylight, daylight
autonomy should be considered. Daylight autonomy is a way of showing for how
autonomy long a given amount of light is available. It is represented as a percentage of the
annual daylight hours that a particular point in a space (such as a task area, e.g. a
checkout desk) has sufficient daylight to allow the artificial lighting to be switched
off.
Often decisions about window space, size and location within a building’s
4.5 The importance envelope are made to suit a particular architectural theme as well as to meet
of early statutory requirements such as the Building Regulations requirements on
involvement minimum window-to-floor ratios. Poor window design can impact on a number
of performance and energy objectives. Typically:
—— solar gain
—— daylighting
—— glare
—— thermal performance
—— convection of cold air
—— views in and out.

Daylighting 23
Clearly, there are a number of factors to take into account when design teams
design the windows in a building. Early discussion is therefore key to making
sure that daylighting is kept as a high priority in the balancing of the various and
sometimes conflicting requirements. For instance, solar gain is usually controlled
via external shading or soft coat low emissivity glazing (with a low solar
transmittance and high visible daylight transmittance), whereas glare control is
usually controlled by the occupants through internal blinds.
4.6 Controlling Whilst daylight is uncontrollable in terms of its presence and intensity, there is a
need to make the most of what it offers. Staff may be standing or sitting in a fixed
the effects location for long periods and therefore any direct sunlight may need to be
of daylight controlled to limit issues such as glare or solar gain. Customers, however, will
move around and are likely to move away from a location where they are affected
by uncontrolled sunlight.
Certain merchandise may be susceptible to the ultraviolet or solar gain effects of

sunlight. For example, clothing or fabrics may fade if sunlight is allowed to fall
on them for significant periods of time and fresh food may deteriorate quickly in
direct and uncontrolled sunlight.
Passive control such as fixed shading can be used to limit the amount of natural
light entering a retail space. External shading is usually used to combat solar
gain, whilst internal blinds are usually used to limit glare or simply reduce levels
of daylight as required by the occupants of the space. Automatic control of blinds
can be used for a combination of both functions. In addition to automatic control
of blinds, active control of electric lighting can work in unison with daylight
sensing to reduce levels of artificial illuminance adjacent to windows, in atria and
below roof lights, hence reducing energy usage.
Window shading can be an effective way of controlling daylight; however, it can

also be used to reduce solar gain in a building. A third use may be for privacy
reasons and therefore any use of shading may have to be a compromise between
all three.
Fixed shading is usually on the outside of a building and is often some form of
Figure 4.1 Example of horizontal horizontal structure above a window to become, effectively, an overhang.
shading (© Denis Gilbert/ Occasionally, vertical shading options are used although they can have a
View Picture/agefotostock) significant impact on the view from the building. This type of shading is usually
passive in that it remains fixed in one position regardless of the position of the
sun.
4.7 Refurbishment Options for maximising daylighting in existing buildings, be that through
refurbishment or conversion from another use, are often restricted, particularly
and conversion if the façade is being left untouched. Where shops are in historic buildings,
façades could well be listed and any shading would have to be limited to the
4.7.1 General interior.
Sales desk positions may well be compromised by the shape and size of any
existing room and the most efficient use of the space may not be the most suited
for the available daylight. A number of options can be used to introduce light
into a space such as:
—— light shelves
—— sun pipes
—— roof lights
—— atria
—— clerestory windows.
Some options require a much greater architectural input than others, and will not
be as effective under an overcast sky. An early discussion with the building owner
regarding the options available is recommended.
Figure 4.2 Alternative methods Rooflights

of introducing
additional daylight into
existing buildings Light shelf
Light pipe
Atrium
Clerestory
window
4.7.2 Change of use Where retail spaces are to be created out of space previously used for other
purposes, the optimum utilisation of daylight may not be the highest priority for
the building owner. Whilst many spaces involving change of use will inevitably
result in some compromise, the benefits of making the best out of available
daylight should not be overlooked by the designers.
There are some relatively straightforward ways of optimising daylight in rooms

with less than ideal daylighting provision. Colours of wall, ceiling and floor
finishes can have a dramatic effect and should be as light as possible. In smaller
shops, the shelving and display stands can represent a large proportion of the
‘room’ reflectance and therefore dark shop furniture should be avoided where
possible.
4.7.3 Colours and textures The effect an interior colour scheme has on how lighting is utilised in a room is
not something that many building owners consider when creating or refurbishing
a retail space. Colours and textures can have a significant effect on the amount of
light they reflect. The importance of texture should not be overlooked. For
example, a shop with a dark carpet is likely to reflect only 10% of the light striking
the floor. It may seem obvious that a dark carpet will not provide much reflectance.
However, most building owners would probably guess that a light carpet is
significantly better. At 30% reflectivity, the light carpet is perhaps not as good as
most may think. This is in part due to its texture causing multiple reflections,
most of which will not be back into the room.
In the right circumstances, a retail space can benefit significantly from a large
amount of daylight, but the colour of that light is a key factor and cannot be
controlled. A garden centre is a good example of a retail space that would benefit

Daylighting 25
from large amounts of daylight. Car showrooms would also benefit, as would any
space used for displaying large merchandise where good colour rendering is
important.
Care should be taken though where merchandise is subject to strong daylight for
long periods of time as ultraviolet content could discolour finishes and solar
gains could heat up surfaces significantly, particularly where metal surfaces have
dark finishes, especially black.
Colour rendering
Daylight is the reference light source for determining the colour of everything
we see and whilst we think of it as being ‘white’, it can change subtly within the
description of ‘white’ as the day passes. The true colour of an object can only be
observed if daylight is falling directly onto it without being reflected from a
surface that could influence the colour of the light. Scattering of light in the
atmosphere means that is all but impossible; however, certain situations can
make this worse. For example, something in the middle of a city park is likely to
have a green influence from the grass, whereas the same object viewed in the
main shopping area of a city will have a myriad of colours from buildings, shop
displays, etc.
North light windows, which let diffused daylight directly into a space from the
sky, are perhaps the optimum way of delivering ‘true’ daylight, but they are not
really suited to use in many retail environments.

Active shading options are usually installed either in the occupied space or
within a gap between a glazing system. These can sometimes be manually
Figure 4.3 A car showroom with high adjusted. However, it is now more common to see such systems controlled by a
levels of daylight (courtesy
building management system (bms) and prioritised to control solar gain.
of Iguzzini Illuminazione
UK Ltd; photography by
Cristian Fattinnanzi) Where such systems are installed, it is advisable to include occupant override
manually operated blinds as well so that occupants can exert their own control if
desired.
Further information can be found in BRE Report BR364: Solar shading of buildings
(Littlefair, 1999).
4.7.5 Working with what The relationship between window and sales floor layout in many refurbishment
or conversion projects is often a compromise and the optimum position for
you have maximising the benefits of daylighting is not achievable. It is important to
identify any constraints and inform the building owner as early as possible so
that compromises can be discussed and the best solution found before the design
progresses too far.
An excessive amount of daylight can usually be controlled through preferable

external solar shading or blinds. Usually oversized windows will be a concern to
those having to consider the issues of solar gain, particularly in windows facing
south east through to south west. A joint effort in addressing the problem is
recommended.

Where windows represent a particularly large proportion of the wall area in a
south or south westerly direction, then shading may also need to address the heat
build-up in the room through solar gain. A combined solution may be appropriate
and this should be discussed with the building owner.
Figure 4.4 Monitors positioned to

avoid direct glare from
daylight (courtesy of RIDI
Lighting; photography
by Newberry Smith)
4.8 New-build For new-build projects, consideration should be given to the provision of quality
daylight in retail spaces as one of the key prerequisites. Each project is different
and the final design will ultimately be a balance of factors. However, daylight
4.8.1 General provision will have an effect on the occupants and energy use of the building for
its whole life and therefore should be viewed in this way.
Further information can be found in BRE Report BR209: Site layout planning for
daylight and sunlight: a guide to good practice (Littlefair, 2011).
4.8.2 Influencing design The lighting designer should ideally be on board with a project team at the outset
of the concept stage. This is the point in a design where the most effect can be
had for the least impact. If fundamental decisions are left too late, the cost and
impact on a building design can be significant. Figure 4.5 shows how the
opportunity to change a design is high with little impact at the outset of a project,
but decreases quickly as time passes.
Figure 4.5 Opportunity/impact curves

High
design
f changing the
Impact o
Opportun
ity for cha
nging the
design
Low
Time
4.8.3 Orientation Building orientation is often decided upon to meet criteria such as ease of access,
aesthetics, or to obtain the most usable space from a piece of land. The drive to
reduce energy use in buildings has led designers to look at façades on east- and
west-facing elevations where low winter sun can be difficult to control, as well as
to consider the use of internal spaces on these elevations to avoid overheating
through solar gain. Daylighting is an important factor to be considered here.
Ideally, large north-facing windows would provide the most suitable daylight
without the risk of direct solar glare. Any decision on building orientation should
take into account this requirement.

4.8.4 Corporate themes Some large organisations will have a corporate look to their retail spaces and the
lighting designer needs to understand what those requirements are. For example,
if the building owner always uses dark blue carpets in their stores, this needs to
be considered within the design. More information is available in section 5.
4.8.5 Speculative Daylighting for occupants in speculative development will always be difficult to
development determine as the designer may not be aware of how the space will be used. Where
possible, a developer or building owner should be encouraged to make the
building interior as light as possible and introduce elements such as atria or
shallow plan floor layouts to optimise daylighting.
See section 3 for
more information

Electric lighting 27
5 Electric This section looks in detail at the various lighting techniques available to the
designer in order to provide a suitable visual environment for retail spaces. These
lighting techniques include lighting directly onto the working plane from luminaires on,
or suspended from, the ceiling; indirect lighting via the lighting of the ceiling
and upper walls by free-standing, furniture mounted, wall mounted or suspended
indirect lights; lighting from combined indirect/direct lights suspended from
5.1 Introduction the ceiling and, finally, lighting the task area with local lights combined with one
of the above luminaire types providing the general lighting of the space.
It also considers the lighting of vertical elements such as display shelving and
people’s faces. In many retail spaces, the vertical element is as important as the
horizontal. Some examples include bookshops, newsagents, supermarkets, card
shops and mobile telephone retailers.
The selection of the type of lighting most suitable for the space depends on:
—— the physical constraints of the space

—— the proposed décor
—— user and designer preferences
—— capital cost
—— energy consumption
—— maintenance costs.
Electric lighting needs to provide the appropriate lighting level for all tasks
carried out in the space, without causing glare or leading to wide variance in
luminance between the various surfaces of the space. Retail lighting is about
more than just illuminating a display stand, merchandise, work surface, task area
or someone’s face.
Performance of a retail business can be dependent on the appeal to customers of

the space in which they operate and lighting has a large part to play in this.
Fundamentally though, the lighting has to be adequate and sufficient to allow
customers to shop in comfort, see the merchandise and read any associated
labelling or advertising. The type of retail business will dictate the approach. A
diy store may need good illumination of vertical and horizontal surfaces but does
not generally need to add any visual appeal to the interior design. A jewellery
store, however, needs to appear welcoming and perhaps give a sense of opulence.
Lighting in this situation can have a dramatic effect on the interior design.
Whilst customers come and go, those working in retail spaces may do so day after
day for hours at a time with limited change in their field of view other than to
look up and away from their task. Ideally, a view to outside or into another space
should be provided. However, if this is not practicable, then consideration should
be given to the environment and to how lighting is provided away from task
areas, in order to make them both visually attractive and provide relief for the
eyes.
5.2 The importance The importance of well-designed electric lighting in a retail space, both for the
benefit of improving sales and the health and well-being of the staff cannot be
of early overstated. Often decisions about electric lighting are made on the basis of
involvement aesthetics alone or on the basis of cost. Retail spaces are also working spaces and,
whilst the look of an interior and the cost of lighting it are important factors, the
impact on the performance of the business and the staff who manage it should be
considered in any decision making process.
Early discussion is therefore key to making sure that the electric lighting for a
retail space is a major consideration for the client and designers.
5.3 Refurbishment Refurbishment projects can vary widely and each will need to be considered
against a number of factors. It may be possible to utilise the existing electrical
and conversion and lighting installations with only minor modifications such as new luminaires
or modified switching positions if the room layout changes. On major
5.3.1 Working with refurbishment projects, however, the extent of change may be so great that the
what you have lighting designer is effectively dealing with a new project.
Lighting designers should also consider the way in which the refurbished space
is to be used. Modifying installations that already exist should result in lower
project costs and less waste. However, they may not be appropriate to how the
space is to be used in the future.
Well-intentioned re-use of an existing general lighting installation could result

in a reduction in customer satisfaction or in excessive energy use if, for example,
the nature of the space changed to one with a different customer base or the
interior design was much brighter.
The impact on customer satisfaction of reusing an inappropriate lighting scheme

is difficult to determine. As an example, the customers of a small convenience
store fitted with a lay-in grid ceiling and recessed 600 mm × 600 mm square
luminaires may not even notice the lighting. It forms part of a simple interior
design which centres on functionality. If the same store were re-purposed to
become a high-end restaurant and retained the existing lighting, it would stand
out as being inappropriate and may indirectly affect sales through customers
dissatisfaction with their surroundings.
Designers should be bold in making suggestions to retailers over the importance

of appropriate and well thought out lighting design so they understand the
potential impact on sales as well as on retail staff.
Energy use falls into distinct areas and new electric lighting in refurbished and
converted buildings needs to be considered. The four areas to consider are:
(1) Energy use of the luminaires during their operational phase: this
period could be 15 years or more so it is important to understand
how much energy (including losses) any selected luminaires will
use as the cumulative effect over the luminaire’s operating life
could be significant.
(2) Energy use during installation.
(3) Embodied energy: this is the energy used in the manufacture of

the luminaires and includes the energy involved in the mining and
processing of the raw materials used to make the luminaires.
(4) Energy used in the disposal of old redundant luminaires.
Items (3) and (4) are important considerations when undertaking refurbishment
projects. Whilst the lamps are a service item, and electronic components that
make up the control gear should have a lifespan of around 15 years, the body of a
luminaire could be expected to last the life of the building in which it is installed.
Consideration should be given to re-using such parts of a luminaire where

possible and installing new control gear and lamps within the existing body.
It should be borne in mind, however, that a point is reached in a luminaire’s life

when the painted surfaces discolour or lose their reflectance. If that is the case,
the cost of stripping down the fittings as well as repainting and re-assembling the
gear could be far greater than the cost of new luminaires.

5.3.2 Change of use Where a space that previously served another purpose is converted to operate as
a shop, it is important to discuss the matter with those who will be using that
space.
Typically, change of use on a large scale will result in a total refurbishment and
therefore a new lighting design will most likely be required. Existing lighting
circuits may be retained which could limit the scope of the design. However in
general the approach could be the same as for a new project.
Most change of use occurs on a much smaller scale where, for example, a store
room is changed into a small shop such as in a railway station or hospital. It may
be that the existing lighting is adequate or it may need supplementing to raise
illumination levels beyond those of its original use.
Compromises can be made in such situations but only with the agreement of
those who will actually be occupying the space.
5.3.3 Colours and Establishing exactly what is intended to be changed or altered during a
refurbishment or re-allocation of use is particularly important with regard to
reflectance colours of finishes and their associated reflectances.
It is easy to assume that any refurbishment will result in at least a new coat of
paint; however, this may not be the case. Smaller retail spaces in older buildings
for example may have restrictions or limitations on what can be done to finishes.
See section 1 for Areas of conservation may impose restrictions on internal space visible from
more information outside, which means décor has to remain.
A change in wall and ceiling colours, floor finishes and furniture can have a
significant effect on the lighting design and the lighting designer should ascertain
information on these elements as soon as possible in order to provide the most
suitable and energy efficient design for the refurbished space.
5.3.4 Display screens The vast majority of retail spaces have display screens of some kind and it is
important to provide a lighting installation that provides a comfortable
environment for prolonged viewing.
A refurbished or converted retail space will probably have some compromises

See section 8 for that need to be addressed. This could be unusually high or low ceilings, which
more information make the placement of luminaires, optimum balance of illumination level, glare
control and uniformity difficult to achieve.
It is important to remember that display screens are easily re-positioned and

therefore positioning of screens to reduce glare in particular may be part of a
lighting solution.
5.4 New-build The lighting designer should ideally be on board with a project team at the outset
of the concept stage. This is the point in a design where the most effect can be
obtained for the least impact. If fundamental decisions are left too late, the cost
5.4.1 Influencing design and impact on a building design can be significant. Figure 4.5 above shows how
the opportunity to change a design is high with little impact at the outset of a
project, but decreases quickly as time passes.
5.4.2 Corporate themes Some large organisations will have a corporate look to their retail outlets and the
lighting designer needs to understand what those requirements are. For example,
if the building owner always uses dark wood display cabinets, this needs to be
considered within the design.
Where dark corporate themes are present, the building owner should be advised
that it will have a direct effect on the amount of illumination within the space. In
addition, such a theme will result in a higher capital cost for the lighting
installation as more luminaires will be required to achieve a given level of
illumination. This will also affect the energy used by the store lighting.
Conversely, where a particularly bright theme is used, there could be significant

savings in the amount of luminaires required to achieve a given level of
illumination.
Often, corporate themes are prepared under a ‘model’ design and all subsequent
stores follow the model. There may even be a design for an entire store, which
exists only in the virtual realm, that is used to experiment with different internal
layouts and arrangements before installing them in ‘real’ stores. In this scenario,
the lighting design is prepared by one controlling designer and modified if
necessary to suit local requirements.
5.4.3 Development for It has been relatively easy in the past to address lighting design for known users,
known users particularly if the designer is familiar with other properties. Following a well-
established theme for a known client may, however, lead a designer to ignore the
latest developments in lighting, which could be detrimental to the client in the
long run.
Whilst following an established approach to a lighting design can be beneficial in

terms of quality, reliability and risk reduction, the designer should not be afraid
to challenge that design if a better approach or better products become available.
5.4.4 The physical One of the most obvious restrictions when it comes to selecting lighting types is
restrictions of room height. This can vary from as low as 2.1 m kiosks to lofty heights of 4 to 6
meters in supermarkets or diy stores. If the proposed space has a floor-to-ceiling
the space height less than 2.5 m then it is difficult to use indirect lights successfully without
causing bright patches on the ceiling above them. Below 2.3 m, direct lighting is
likely to be the only viable option and, even then, point source lighting with
narrow beams should be avoided unless they are intended solely to highlight
merchandise.
Generally in spaces higher than 2.5 m, floor or wall mounted indirect lighting
can be considered, as there is sufficient height above the luminaires to allow a
wide distribution of light without over-lighting the area of ceiling directly above
them. Suspended indirect lights or indirect/direct luminaires generally need a
greater floor-to-ceiling height as the units need to be suspended far enough below
the ceiling to provide a good distribution of light across it but be high enough
above the floor to avoid being a physical danger or a visual intrusion to those
walking or working below.
In all high spaces the problems of access for re-lamping and maintenance must
be considered before using ceiling mounted or suspended luminaires. If adequate
maintenance access cannot be provided to high-level lighting then wall or column
mounted indirect lights may be more suitable, although the efficacy may not be
as high.
It is easy to think of long-life light sources such as led as another alternative in

such locations. However, those luminaire will still need to be cleaned periodically
and so access remains an important consideration.
5.5 Lighting styles There are many ways of lighting a retail space, each with its advantages and
disadvantages. Each also strongly affects the lit appearance of the space and the
balance of surface luminances within the space.
Table 5.1 shows the main styles of lighting along with the main advantages and
disadvantages of each style. It progresses from pure direct light downwards from
the ceiling, through various intermediate styles to pure indirect lighting. With
exclusively direct light the floor and low level merchandise is well lit but the
ceiling and upper walls or high level merchandise may not be so well lit; this may
not be an issue if, for example, the interior design of the store has a blacked-out
ceiling and uses direct light to highlight products or the store simply wants to
light merchandise cheaply and efficiently.

Table 5.1 Advantages and disadvantages of each lighting style
Lighting style Advantages Disadvantages
Direct only Efficient delivery of light to low level merchandise Poor illumination of walls and ceiling and high level
Less energy required than for uplighting styles merchandise
Usually the lowest capital cost for installation Possible issues with glare and reflections in
customer smartphone and tablet screens
Uniformity can be poor
Can feel oppressive, leading to poor productivity
Poor cylindrical illuminance
Lack of visual interest
Direct with ceiling glow Efficient delivery of light to merchandise at low and Poor illumination of walls and high level
medium heights merchandise
Less energy required than for uplighting styles but Possible issues with glare and reflections in
more than for ‘direct only’ lighting customer smartphones and tablet screens
Usually a lower capital cost for installation than for Improved uniformity over ‘direct only’ style but can
a style using uplighting still be poor
Some minimal ceiling illumination
Direct with some uplight Improved ceiling and wall illumination over ‘direct Will probably involve increased cost over ‘direct
only’ styles only’ styles
Feeling of a larger space can be achieved Increased energy use over ‘direct only’ styles
Lighting can be used to add visual interest and Lower ceiling height may impact on usable space
achieve better interaction with the interior design
Improved uniformity over ‘direct only’ styles
Improved cylindrical illuminance over ‘direct only’
types
Direct/indirect Much improved ceiling and wall illumination over Will probably involve increased cost over ‘direct
‘direct only’ styles only’ styles
Feeling of a larger space can be achieved Increased energy use over ‘direct only’ styles
Lighting can be used to add visual interest and Lower ceiling height may impact on usable space
achieve better interaction with the interior design
Improved uniformity over ‘direct only’ styles
Improved cylindrical illuminance over ‘direct only’
types
Direct and indirect Improved ceiling and wall illumination over ‘direct Likely increased cost over ‘direct only’ styles
only’ styles Increased energy use over ‘direct only’ styles
Flexibility to site direct and indirect components to Loss of floor space
best suit the retail space
Obstructions on floor may lead to accidental
Can be used to quickly create a temporary localised damage
effect
Maintains issues with glare and reflections in
Feeling of a larger space can be achieved customer smartphones and tablet screens
Improved cylindrical illuminance over ‘direct only’ Limited uses in retail lighting
types
Indirect only Good uniformity when used with appropriate Likely increased cost over ‘direct only’ styles
ceiling height Increased energy use over ‘direct only’ styles
Positioning is not critical so gives more flexibility for Shadow-free environment may feel bland
unusual rooms or individuals’ needs
Obstructions on floor may lead to accidental
Feeling of a larger space can be achieved damage
Lighting can be used to add visual interest and Only really suitable for retail applications where a
provide better interaction with the interior design low glare environment is the main driver, such as
Good cylindrical illuminance TV, mobile telephone and computer shops
By allowing light to flow from the luminaire onto the ceiling adjacent to it the
ceiling brightness increases. By installing suspended direct luminaires with some
uplight component the upper part of the room will be better lit. Purpose-designed
direct/indirect luminaires allow the designer to tailor the flow of light downwards
and upwards to suit the room and occupants. The combination of direct lights
and separate indirect lights is sometimes needed and, while this solution can
provide the same quality of lit environment, it usually carries a higher capital
cost. Using exclusively indirect light means that the ceiling and upper walls are
lit to a higher level than the working plane. This approach could be distracting
in some circumstances and could also lead to a rather bland environment.
With any style the overall visual appearance of a space and the amount of light
available from inter-reflection is strongly affected by the room décor and surface
reflectance. With every design the energy usage and the use of controls must be
considered so as to minimise running costs and to comply with local building
regulations. Sections on direct lighting, direct/indirect lighting, a combination of
direct and indirect luminaires, and indirect lighting follow, which consider the
design implications for each of these styles in greater detail.
5.6 Providing Within most interiors there are aspects of the electrical installation such as
switching positions and containment restrictions that have implications for the
services to lighting options selected. Also the type of lighting method chosen affects the
luminaires amount of flexibility available for future changes to the lighting layout and hence
the lighting of altered workspace layout.
With freestanding indirect lights the electrical supply is usually supplied at floor
level. This means that there are a number of aspects of the electrical system that
need to be considered. Due to the relatively high power load, and even higher
starting load with discharge lamps, it is recommended that the number of indirect
lights that can be plugged into a single circuit is checked. Where personal
computers are using the same circuit data errors may occur when starting the
indirect lights due to voltage spikes appearing on the circuit. This means that a
separate floor power system may be preferred for supplying floor mounted
indirect lights. To avoid other equipment being plugged into these circuits,
nonstandard plugs and sockets can be used. This arrangement allows the central
control and switching of the indirect lights but also results in another set of floor
services in addition to the normal power, data and telecoms services. Where false
floors are in use this may not be a problem but where floor trunking is used then
difficulties may arise due to overcrowding. Floor supplied indirect lights can,
however, be an advantage where they remove the need for lighting supply
trunking and conduits in an otherwise congested ceiling void.
Extra low voltage (elv) control systems for lighting such as dali (‘digital
addressable lighting interface’) or tcp/ip (‘transmission control protocol and
internet protocol’) may require an extensive cabling network if centralised
control is required. BS 7671 (BSI, 2018) advises that elv circuits such as those for
dali or tcp/ip installations should not be mixed with those at mains voltage
(230/400 volts in the United Kingdom) unless the cabling used for the elv system
is rated to the higher of the mains voltages present. Designers should plan early
during the design process for containment associated with control systems.
With the fluid nature of some retail spaces and the need to be flexible in lighting
positions, consideration should be given in some instances to providing a
‘backbone’ of data connectivity. This should allow future re-organisation or
temporary display arrangements to have ready access to the installed control
system. Where lighting is both powered and controlled via an Ethernet
connection, planning for future flexibility can be done relatively cheaply
compared to the upheaval of trying to retro-fit cabling into a merchandised store
at a later date.
Where refurbishment of a lighting installation is being undertaken, it may be

possible to use the existing mains wiring for the new luminaires. However,
centralised dali or tcp/ip control may need a separate containment system for

its associated cabling and this may not be possible depending on the level of
acceptable damage to retained finishes. Again, early planning of control
philosophies should identify any such problems.
The use of ceiling mounted or suspended luminaires will free-up floor space and
remove the need for additional power outlets. However, the major disadvantage
is that in general the lighting array is fixed. This tends to make the use of the
space less adaptable where full height partitioning is required unless individual
luminaire regulation is used. Where direct lighting luminaires are recessed they
need to be physically co-ordinated with other services in the ceiling. Surface
mounted luminaires can be considered unsightly in certain spaces and may
interfere with air distribution across the ceiling from supply air grilles in
mechanically ventilated buildings.
Unless a system of track mounting or similar is proposed then indirect/direct

luminaires are as fixed as pure direct lights. There is, however, the possibility of
exchanging the luminaire or altering the number of lamps or the ratio of indirect
to direct lighting. This can provide a range of task illuminances and introduce
some visual variety across large spaces. Freestanding indirect lights, on the other
hand, can provide a flexible lighting source for temporary or localised visual
effects as they can be moved around to suit changing merchandise layouts or re-
spaced to provide varying illumination levels.
5.7 Lighting With any of the lighting styles it is possible to provide the required illumination
across the whole space. Each can provide illumination locally for highlighting
techniques merchandise or providing lighting over tills, sales desks etc. It may be more of a
challenge with direct styles to provide an adequate amount of illumination on the
faces of the occupants.
General lighting is perhaps the most flexible, allowing the user to place sales
counters or merchandise wherever needed and achieve the required task levels,
but it does consume unnecessary amounts of energy in over-lighting areas of
little importance. Localised and task lighting techniques are described in detail
in the next two sections before going on to discuss energy, controls and the
various general lighting techniques using each of the lighting styles available.
5.8 Designing The lighting installation within a retail space can be one of the major consumers
of electrical energy and therefore any lighting design proposal should consider
with localized how best to provide a suitably lit environment whilst making the most of the
lighting energy being input.
The task areas in any retail space such as checkout desks and till positions need
to have an appropriate level of illumination to allow the occupants to work
effectively. The most efficient way of getting light onto those surfaces will have
the largest effect on reducing energy consumption. Localising lighting to a task
area is the most effective way of achieving this aim.
Localised lighting is where one or more luminaires are positioned in the vicinity
of the task area. This might be by luminaires in or suspended from the ceiling
above areas such as checkout desks or by freestanding luminaires on counters or
built into furniture.
Generally localised lighting is used to provide all the required task lighting on
the work area although it is possible to use local luminaires to provide the top-up
lighting from a lower ambient level up to the selected task illumination level.
Figure 5.1 Localised lighting over In smaller shops where lighting is designed for a building owner, a direct
checkout desk positions communication route is usually present to allow discussion over the best lighting
(courtesy of RIDI Lighting; solutions. As localised lighting can be tailored to suit individual needs, it should
photography by James Callcut) form part of any such discussions.
Furniture mounted led task lighting can be powered via structured cabling run
alongside that installed for a computer network. As it is common practice to
install computer cabling to checkout and cash desk positions, the power for
localised lighting could be installed in the same way.
Where ceiling mounted, localised lights that are within or fixed to the ceiling are
normally part of a re-locatable ceiling tile system in which the individual tiles
with the luminaire can be exchanged for an adjacent blank tile. Such a system
relies on the above-ceiling mechanical services being sparse enough, and the
wiring system flexible enough, to allow some flexibility in positioning the
luminaires.
Suspended local luminaires can be associated with re-locatable tiles or be

suspended from a track system. This track can be powered, as used for spotlighting,
or be merely a mechanical track in the main with the electrical connections being
taken up by ‘curly leads’ to fixed electrical connection points or sections of
powered track. Obviously the more extensive the track system the more flexible
the lighting can be but at a greater capital cost.
Freestanding localised lights that have a direct component should ideally be

positioned so as to throw light from the side of the task area. Ideally it should be
possible to have the light coming from either the left or right hand side of the
task area, to suit the user. The spread of light should cover, as evenly as possible,
the area of workspace used for reading written text. Uniformity over the task area
should be 0.6 or better.
5.9 Designing with In retail environments where the priority for the lighting design can be to create
a dramatic or merchandise-focused lighting scene, the use of supplementary task
supplementary lighting can be beneficial in providing illumination to work spaces that need
task lighting consistent and uniform lighting.
Generally a one-step difference in line with the scale of illumination (see section
1.5) between task lighting and general lighting levels gives a reasonable balance
between energy saving and visual comfort. Often in retail spaces, high contrast
interior design can make this difficult to achieve so it is important to talk to the
interior designer about their thoughts for the sales area layout, colours, textures
etc. Planned positions for tills, checkout desks or other work areas may benefit
from changing their proposed location to better suit the balance of good uniform
lighting and visual effect.
Figure 5.2 High contrast interior

design and illuminated
checkout desk (courtesy
of LAMP)

Task lights should be positioned so as to throw light from the side of the task
area. Ideally it should be possible to have the light coming from either the left or
right hand side of the area, to suit the user. The spread of light should cover, as
evenly as possible, the area of the space used for reading written text. Uniformity
over the task area of 0.6 should be achieved.
Positioning local lights in front of the user can result in low contrast between the
text and background of any paper on the workspace in front of the user and can
cause reflected glare if the paper is glossy.
The luminaire should have a limited range of adjustment to allow the user some
control over its position, but not so much that it will become a source of glare to
those nearby. The luminaire should not be positioned so low that deep shadows
are formed by light being cast across the workspace at too shallow an angle. It is
recommended that the height should not be less than 0.5 times the width of the
area being lit, e.g. to illuminate across 1 m of workspace the height should be at
least 0.5 m. The light source should be of a good colour quality and have a low
heat output. Suitable lamps would ideally be led, although linear fluorescent
lamps and compact fluorescent lamps with high frequency control gear could be
used.
If the task light is accessible to the user it is vital to ensure that it is mechanically
and electrically safe, and is both cool to the touch and cool enough to work beside.
This is especially important in public access areas, such as libraries, where the
users may not be familiar with the operation of the lights.
led lighting, particularly when used with an extra low voltage (elv) direct
current power supply of less than 50 volts, could provide a safer and cooler option
than many fluorescent types. led modules or fluorescent lamps in close proximity
to documents may cause uv damage over prolonged periods if not of sufficient
quality or suitably shielded by an appropriate controller or diffuser.
Figure 5.3 Supplementary task

lighting provided to
work space (courtesy of
Michael Grubb Studio)
5.10 Designing with Direct lighting uses luminaires that are designed to emit the majority of their
light output directly down onto the area to be illuminated. Any upward light
direct lighting emitted plays an insignificant part in lighting the area of interest. Direct
luminaires can be surface mounted, recessed into the ceiling or be suspended.
They are generally viewed as separate lit objects in the space and for this reason
can appear bright if viewed against a dark ceiling or as a distinct and possibly
distracting object when reflected on a screen such as those found in tablets and
smartphones.
The downward flow of light from direct lights means that the lower surfaces of
the room are lit in preference to the upper walls and ceiling. The extent of this
varies from one luminaire to another. Those that emit some light sideways or
upwards do provide some direct light to the walls and ceiling. Downlights with a
restricted distribution to the side, perhaps intended to reduce direct and reflected
glare for display screen environments such as tv or computer stores, provide
little light directly onto the walls. This can lead to rather dark walls unless the
floor and horizontal surfaces are pale in colour so as to reflect light onto the walls
and ceiling. As described later, it is possible to deliberately wash light over the
walls to offset their dark appearance. The walls and ceilings themselves should be
light coloured so as to appear brighter unless a dark appearance is intended. See
section 5.14 on room décor for more on the effects of surface reflectance on visual
environment.
Direct lights can be completely recessed into the ceiling, partially recessed,
surface mounted or suspended. The completely recessed type gives just downlight
with no light onto the surrounding ceiling. These are therefore likely to appear
bright when compared to the surrounding ceiling and can, in extreme cases,
cause problems with glare and reflections in display screens. As they are also
likely to have the least sideways flow of light across the space, they may make the
room appear gloomy, as the vertical room surfaces will not be well lit. It is
normally better to choose luminaires that have some diffusing or reflecting
element below the ceiling level that can direct a small proportion of the light
across the ceiling.
Figure 5.4 Direct lighting (courtesy

of LAMP)

Surface mounted and suspended luminaires can easily be selected to throw a
varying proportion of light onto the ceiling around or above them. This improves
the lit appearance of the space and reduces the apparent contrast between the
luminaire and its background. One possible problem with this type of luminaire,
is that they can interfere with the airflow from supply grills and cause localised
dumping of cold air. It is always necessary to liaise with the mechanical engineers
involved in any air supply systems on the interrelationship of grills and
luminaires.
Direct luminaires can be arranged in a uniform grid to give a uniform level of

illumination across the whole space or can be arranged in coordination with sales
floor layouts to give a localised boost to the lighting level on merchandise with
lower levels between. The former is the simplest when there is no knowledge of
likely layout or where the locations will vary. Even with uniform grids of

luminaires across a space with additional investment in individual dimming

luminaires, it is possible to have higher levels over some locations and lower
levels between. Section 10 gives more information on lighting levels for specific
applications.
5.11 Luminaire The luminaire layout adopted will depend on the type of installation, the
illumination level selected, and the constraints of the space.
layout with
direct lighting A uniform layout across the space can be designed to give a uniform lighting
level across the space. This allows merchandise to be placed in almost any
position and still receive the designed maintained illuminance. Unfortunately it
can be visually rather uninteresting unless supplementary feature lighting is
provided.
Figure 5.5 Uniform retail lighting

layout (courtesy
of LAMP)

Irregular room shapes
Retail spaces are often fitted into spare spaces within a building, particularly if
their merchandise is consumables such as coffee, confectionary, newspapers etc.
This is often because the space is irregular and does not suit any other function.
In non-rectangular spaces the size and layout of the luminaires need not be
uniform. Sometimes tailoring the number and size of the luminaires to match
unusual room geometry can add additional visual interest to a space. For odd
corners or recesses circular fluorescent lights can be used or, if the area is not a
main task area, perhaps a recessed spotlight can be used to highlight the recess.
Figures 5.6 and 5.7 give examples where it may not be necessary to light small
parts of a shop and where changes to a standard type of luminaire is justified.
Figure 5.6 Irregularly shaped
room (courtesy of
Iguzzini Illuminazione
UK Ltd; photography by Light level by door
Didier Boy de la Tour) can be lower than
in working areas
Luminaire
Figure 5.7 Adjustment of luminaire lengths can
be altered to
lengths to match
match space
shape of space
5.12 Direct lighting With nearly all retail spaces, the lighting designer will have to take into account
the use of display screens such as tablets and smartphones to at least a minimal
and display extent. It may not be possible to identify the specific type of display screens to be
screens used or any indication of their locations. However, the designer should discuss
with the building owner or developer the likely scenarios and approach the
design on this basis. Whilst many building owners or developers may not wish to
consider customers using mobile technology, it is increasingly being used by

retail staff to do their job and such uses should be addressed.
With luminaires on or near the ceiling directing their light downwards, there is
an obvious danger of their being visible in display screens below. Whether they
can be seen or not will depend on the tilt of screens such as those on cash registers
or self-checkout positions and their relationship to the screen user and the
luminaires. Customers using their own tablets or smartphones can of course
move position if they are experiencing some discomfort glare. If luminaires are
likely to be seen, particularly in fixed screens, then it needs to be established
whether they are so bright as to be a distraction to the user. This partially depends
on the clarity, or sharpness, of the reflected image on the screen and partly on its
luminance compared to the luminance of the information on the screen. The
sharper the image then the more likely the eye is to notice it; the higher the
luminance of the reflected image the more difficult it is to read the screen
information behind and around it.
If the screen has a smooth glossy finish then the luminaire image will appear as a
sharply defined object, which the user can see clearly. If, however, the screen has
a matt finish, then the reflected object is less well defined and is less likely to
distract the user.
Figure 5.8 Comparison of glossy

and matt displays .
subjected to unwanted
reflections (courtesy of
Simon Robinson/WSP)
If the software running on the screen uses light characters on a dark screen
background, such as white text on a blue background, then the reflected image is
going to be seen against this dark background. If on the other hand the
information is presented with dark characters on a light background then the
reflections will be less visible against the lighter background.
Thus if a luminance value for a luminaire is to be set such that it is unlikely to

distract the majority of users running typical applications on standard screens, it
needs to be established whether the screens in the area have matt finishes and
whether the information displayed on the screen is dark characters on a light
background (positive polarity), or light characters on a dark background (negative
polarity).
In some cases it cannot be established with any certainty that the screens in a
particular area will have a matt finish, or that all software being run in an area is
set to display dark characters on a light background. Again, early discussion with
the building owner or developer about the screen types to design for is important.

Luminance limits
Whilst primarily intended for office type environments, Table 5.1 shows
luminance limits for luminaires that may be reflected in display screens when
viewed from a normal working position. It would be reasonable to apply this
approach to certain fixed positions in retail spaces such as checkout positions in
supermarkets or sales desk positions in car showrooms, for example.
The table gives the limits of the average luminaire luminance at elevation angles
of 65° and above from the downward vertical, radially around the luminaires. For
work stations where display screens are vertical or inclined, tilt angles up to 15°
are used.

Table 5.1 Luminance limits for
Screen high state luminance High luminance screen Medium luminance
luminaires reflected
(L > 200 cd/m2 ) screen (L < 200 cd/m2 )
in display screens
Case A (positive polarity and normal < 3000 cd/m2 < 1500 cd/m2
requirements concerning colour and detail
of the shown information)
Case B (negative polarity and/or higher < 1500 cd/m2 < 1000 cd/m2
requirements concerning colour and detail
of the shown information).
Note: ‘screen high state luminance’ (see BS EN ISO 9241-302 (BSI, 2008b)) describes the maximum
luminance of the white part of the screen and this value is available from the manufacturer of the
screen.

If a high luminance screen is intended to be operated at luminances below

200 cd/m2 the conditions specified for a medium luminance screen should be
considered.
Some tasks, activities or display screen technologies, particularly high gloss

screens, require different lighting treatment (e.g. lower luminance limits, special
shading, individual dimming etc.).
Direct lights within smaller spaces are unlikely to cause glare or screen reflections
as the geometry of small rooms means that luminaires are unlikely to be seen in
the screens. In open plan areas, however, luminance limitation is needed due to
the long views to the luminaires.
Figure 5.9 Open plan retail

space (courtesy of RIDI
Lighting; photography
by Newberry Smith)
5.13 Designing with Indirect lighting uses luminaires where all, or almost all, of the light produced by
the luminaire (typically over 90%) is reflected off some surface, usually the
indirect lighting ceiling, before reaching the task area. Therefore it is important to ensure that
these surfaces have a high reflectance. The lighting produced by an indirect
lighting installation is typically diffuse, without strong modelling effects or
strong shadows. To avoid the space appearing bland it is important to use the
interior decor to create some variety and interest in the interior. A bland
appearance can also be minimised by spacing of luminaires far enough apart to
provide pools of light on the ceiling.
Indirect lighting can be used to provide the general lighting to an entire area or
be used to provide localised lighting in the centre of groups of customer counters.
The indirect luminaires can take several different forms, depending on the means
of mounting the indirect light. The most widely used mounting positions are free
standing, floor mounted units; units mounted on furniture; wall or column
mounted units; and units suspended from the ceiling. All these forms directly
light the ceiling and upper parts of the walls and so indirectly light the space. To
ensure maximum efficiency the ceiling surfaces must be of a high reflectance
matt finish.
Indirect lighting can be used successfully to light rooms containing display

screens such as tv and computer shops as the surfaces being lit by the indirect
light act as large area, low luminance luminaires. As long as the luminance of
these surfaces is not excessive then any reflection seen on the screen is of a
gradually changing low luminance.
5.14 Surface In order to ensure a reasonably efficient installation the ceiling and upper walls
should have a high reflectance. A minimum reflectance of 0.7 is recommended.
reflectance To allow for dirt build-up and degrading of the surface an initial surface reflectance
and decor of 0.8 should be aimed for. Ceilings of lower reflectance can be used, but at the
cost of additional installed load. If these surfaces are highly coloured the light
reflected back down onto the illuminated area will be highly coloured. White, or
at least very pale colours, should be used for the major areas of the reflecting
surfaces in indirect lighting installations. The surfaces should be matt, as a
specular finish will produce high luminance images of the lamp when viewed
from particular directions.
Figure 5.10 Light coloured ceilings

and floors can have an
significant impact on the
lighting design (courtesy of
Iguzzini Illuminazione UK Ltd;
photography by Paolo Carlini)
A rough surface has a lower effective reflectance than a smooth surface of the
same colour due to all the crevices in the surface. Care must be taken with old
buildings as indirect light may highlight any defects in wall or ceiling surfaces.
It is important in uplit spaces to use the interior decor to create some variety and
interest in the space. This could involve small areas of strong colour, picking out
salient architectural features, for example, but care should be taken to avoid

abrupt changes in reflectance. It is also possible to add variety to the space by

introducing some feature lighting via gentle spotlighting of items such as notice
boards or art works. This should not be so bright that the objects become possible
sources of reflection on any display screens in the area.
In addition, the colour scheme should be matched to the colour properties of the
light source used. For example, an interior filled with blues and greens would
look very subdued under high pressure sodium discharge lamps but one filled
with orange and yellow would be very vibrant. In this area, there is no substitute
for seeing the proposed colours under the light source under consideration.
It is sometimes assumed that a completely flat surface is necessary for a successful

indirect lighting installation. This is incorrect. In fact, a degree of shape or
structure in the main reflecting surface can go a long way towards providing
some variety in the appearance of the space. However, the structure should have
as smooth a profile as possible to minimise sharp changes in luminance. Similarly
inclined ceilings, whilst requiring more thought in the calculation of light levels
and the distribution of the lights, can provide very interesting spaces. For ceilings
with exposed structure, care should be taken to avoid sharp contrasts between
directly lit and unlit areas as these may start to appear as distinct objects when
reflected in display screens.
5.15 Design criteria For indirect lighting to be successful it is essential that the luminance of the
reflecting surfaces be limited. It is recommended that:
for indirect
lighting (a) The average luminance on the major surfaces used for reflecting
light, such as the ceiling, should be less than 500 cd/m2.
(b) The maximum luminance of any point on the major surfaces
reflecting light should not exceed 1500 cd/m2.
(c) The value of luminance should change gradually across the surfaces,
i.e. no sudden changes in luminance across or between surfaces.
The calculation for maximum ceiling luminance over a single indirect light will
give a guide to the expected maximum in the final installation. However, it
should not be forgotten that the adjacent indirect lights in a real installation
would add perhaps an additional 25% to the calculated maximum value from a
single indirect light. Where mobile, free-standing units are being recommended,
then the client/user should be reminded that standard symmetric units should
not be moved close to walls or columns as this will reduce the efficiency of the
indirect light and produce a high luminance patch on the wall or column. Such a
patch is likely to be a source of complaint to display screen users both in terms of
direct glare and by being reflected in their screens.
5.16 Luminaire The desirable photometric properties of free standing, furniture mounted and
suspended indirect lights are that they should have as high an upward light
selection for output ratio as possible and to spread the light emitted over as wide an area as
indirect lighting possible without allowing a view of the lamp or luminaire interior. Unless the
luminous intensity distribution of the luminaire has a widespread distribution
there is a risk of having a high luminance spot immediately above the indirect
light and hence of exceeding the maximum luminance criterion. For wall
mounted indirect lights the luminous intensity distribution should be asymmetric
such that there are no high luminance spots above 1500 cd/m2 immediately above
the unit on the wall or ceiling.
A related aspect of the indirect lights is that there should not be a very sharp
cutoff in the luminous intensity distribution at any angle because this may
produce a step-like change in luminance on the ceiling or wall of the interior.
One other feature of the indirect lights that needs care is the reflectance of the
underside of the luminaire when suspended indirect lights are used. Such
indirect lights are seen in silhouette against the ceiling so unless they have fairly
light undersides, a sharp change in luminance will be evident.
Because most indirect lights rely on upward facing reflectors it is essential that
ease of maintenance is carefully considered when selecting indirect luminaires
and designing the installation. Easy access is essential if good light output is to
be maintained. Floor mounted indirect lights may offer the possibility of
replacing units for ease of maintenance. Maintenance, and safety, may be
enhanced by ensuring that the indirect light is fitted with a removable glass
cover, but to ensure full lamp life and to aid the self-cleaning of the lamp and
reflector the cover should not be sealed. This is to allow a convective air stream
to pass through the indirect luminaire when the lamp is lit. Freestanding indirect
lights should incorporate tilt switches to ensure that the unit switches off if it is
knocked over.
Mounting height and locations
Indirect lights rely on height to shield a direct view of the lamp and interior from
the occupants. This is the reason why the vast majority of floor mounted indirect
lights are at least 1.8 metres high. Similarly, wall mounted and furniture mounted
indirect lights should have their top surface located at about 1.8 m above the
floor. This minimum height imposes a limit on the ceiling height that is
acceptable for indirect lighting.
As a rule of thumb, most commercial floor mounted indirect lights should be

used with ceiling heights of between 2.5 m and 3.5 m above floor level. Indirect
lights can only be successfully used with ceiling heights below 2.5 m if particular
attention is paid to the luminous intensity distribution and means are taken to
avoid the creation of a high luminance spot immediately above the indirect light.
Ceiling heights greater than 3.5 m can be used but at extra cost in terms of
installed power. If indirect lighting is required in a space with a ceiling height
above 3.5 m, wall mounted or suspended indirect lights should be considered as
long as safe maintenance access can be ensured.
Care should be taken when positioning large indirect lights over, or close to, a
work surface. The effect of direct radiant heat from the body of the indirect light
to the users nearby should be considered when selecting indirect lights. Large
indirect lights can themselves act as an obstruction to the lit ceiling above.
Although any shadow thrown by the indirect light would be very soft due to the
large lit area of ceiling it may locally reduce the total illumination.
Suspended indirect lights
Here the major requirement is to ensure that the units are suspended far enough
below the ceiling to provide a wide soft spread of light onto the ceiling. A distance
of 1 m is recommended, with a minimum of 0.5 m to the top of the luminaire.
There is often a temptation in very large spaces to install a few high wattage units
to save money. This may well result in separate high luminance spots appearing
on the ceiling.
In all cases the fittings need to be suspended well above normal head height to
prevent users of the space feeling that they may strike their heads on the units. A
minimum height of 2.3  m is recommended. A light coloured body is recommended
so that the luminaire does not appear as a dark object against a light ceiling.
5.17 Designing with This section considers designs where the intention is to provide the illumination
for the working area by using luminaires designed to provide both indirect and
direct/indirect direct light.
lighting
The combination of direct lighting and indirect lighting can be very effective, as
the two types of lighting are in many ways complementary. By combining indirect
and direct lighting a lit environment can be produced that has well lit walls and
ceilings whilst having some directional element to provide modelling. The
horizontal illumination is good without creating either a gloomy interior or
having over-bright ceilings and walls, and the illumination of people’s faces is
improved over direct-only lighting. The exact proportion of indirect light to

direct light is not critical in most circumstances, although the room’s visual
characteristics would be markedly different as the proportions change. At one
extreme are indirect lights that provide direct light through translucent elements
on the bottom of the luminaire or from reflectors to their side. At the other
extreme are suspended direct lights that allow a reasonable proportion of soft
indirect light through slots or diffusers in the top of the luminaire.
In general luminaires giving more light output upwards are called ‘indirect/
direct’ whilst those emitting more downwards are referred to as ‘direct/indirect’
luminaires.

The switching and control of the luminaires needs to be carefully considered.
With many luminaires the option exists to switch or dim the direct and indirect
elements of the luminaire independently. This can be useful as it allows the users
another degree of freedom in selecting their preferred visual environment.
In order to ensure a reasonably efficient installation the ceiling and upper walls
should have a high reflectance. A minimum reflectance of 0.7 for the ceiling is
recommended. To allow for dirt build-up and degrading of the surface an initial
surface reflectance of 0.8 should be aimed for. If these surfaces are highly coloured
the light on the working plane will have some tint of this colour. White, or at
least very pale colours, should be used for the major areas of the reflecting
surfaces. The surfaces should be matt as a specular finish may produce high
luminance images of the lamp when viewed from particular directions.
Figure 5.11 Combined direct
and indirect lighting When using direct/indirect lights it is important to ensure that each component
installation (courtesy of meets the luminance criteria laid down in the criteria sections for direct lighting
Simon Robinson/WSP)
and for indirect lighting. The direct lighting elements still need to have luminance
limits suitable for the intended display screens and their use, and the indirect
component still needs to provide an even wash of light over the ceiling. However,
if the ceiling is uniformly lit then it is acceptable to allow the luminance of the
direct component to increase to match the average luminance of the ceiling.
5.18 Luminaire Luminaires which use a common source for both direct and indirect elements
can be highly efficient. The more typical light sources used are led or fluorescent
selection for lamps although high pressure discharge lamps and compact fluorescent lamps
direct/indirect can be used.
lighting
Adding an indirect element to led luminaires can help to alleviate the problems
such a lighting source can introduce. Being a point source of illumination, led
can be a source of discomfort glare if installed inappropriately. By illuminating a
ceiling above the luminaire, the contrast between the led array and background
in the viewer’s visual periphery is reduced, making the lamp intensity less
obvious.
One type of combined luminaire comes complete with its own indirect light
‘canopy’. This may take the form of large white wings that catch and redirect the
indirect light. These are usually suspended so that light spreads up onto the
ceiling above. However, it is possible for the wings to be integrated into the
ceiling in place of one or more ceiling tiles.
In these cases it is important that some light spill from the luminaire provides
illumination onto the ceiling surrounding the luminaire to reduce the contrast
between the lit wings and the unlit ceiling beyond. Luminaires can also be
positioned within larger coffers that are either part of the ceiling, or the structural
soffit. This coffer forms a large upper reflector that utilises the indirect light from
the luminaire.
Figure 5.12 Luminaires with suspended

reflector (courtesy of
Simon Robinson/WSP)
Suspended direct/indirect luminaires should be suspended far enough below the

ceiling to provide a wide soft spread of light onto the ceiling. In all cases the
fittings need to be suspended well above normal head height to prevent users of
the space feeling that they may strike their heads on the units. A minimum
height of 2.3 m is recommended.
Where a luminaire has a separate lamp for the direct light and another one for the
indirect light it can usually be arranged to have a single driver or set of control
gear for each lamp. With separate gear it means that the indirect and direct
lighting components can be controlled separately if required. This can provide
permanent background lighting across the space from the indirect component
with user control of the direct component over their work stations. It can also be
used to provide reduced level lighting for cleaning or when under standby power
supply.
For suspended indirect/direct lights it is important to realise that the luminaire

body will be viewed against a relatively bright ceiling. This means that the body
should be pale in colour to avoid the contrast of a dark body against a light
background, as this effect may be noticeable on a display screen. Another way to
avoid this problem is for the sides to be made of a translucent or light mesh
material. It is important that the luminance of the sides does not exceed the
design luminance of the ceiling they are to be viewed against.
5.19 Designing with The combination of fixed direct luminaires and separate indirect luminaires can
be effective, as the two types of lighting are in many ways complementary. By
a combination combining indirect and direct lighting a lit environment can be produced which
of direct light has well lit walls and ceilings whilst having some directional element to provide
modelling. The horizontal illumination is good without either creating a gloomy
and indirect interior or having over-bright ceilings and walls. The exact proportion of indirect
light light to direct light is not critical in most circumstances, although the room’s
visual characteristics would be markedly different as the proportions change.

Such lighting usually takes the form of direct high-efficiency lights within the
ceiling combined with free standing or wall mounted indirect lights to provide
well-lit ceiling and upper wall surfaces. Sometimes the indirect lights need to be
added to a direct lighting scheme to relieve a potentially dark and gloomy ceiling.

Energy use 45
It may be appropriate to add indirect lights to an area to soften or alter the effect
of an existing direct lighting installation. When this is done it may be necessary
to reduce the light output of the direct lights so as not to provide an excessive
horizontal illuminance. led manufacturers can offer drivers that can be
programmed to operate at different drive currents, offering a variety of lumen
outputs that match the design requirements. Removal of a lamp in a multi-lamp
fitting might be a crude way of reducing the output.
When using separate systems of floor standing indirect lights and ceiling
mounted direct lights it is important to ensure that each system meets the general
criteria laid down in the criteria sections for direct lighting and for indirect
lighting. The direct lights still need to have luminance limits suitable for any
intended display screens and their use, and the indirect lights still need to provide
an even wash of light over the ceiling. However, if the ceiling is uniformly lit
then it is acceptable to allow the luminance of the direct light to increase to
match the average luminance of the ceiling. Indeed if the direct light luminance
is much lower than that of the ceiling it is possible for the direct light to appear
on a display screen as a dark object against the brighter ceiling.
6 Energy use The amount of energy consumed by a retail space lighting installation, compared
to the overall building energy use is significant. Typically it will be the second
highest group in a heating/cooling, lighting and power comparison.
6.1 Introduction
However, retail lighting differs from other types of lighting in that it adds to the
visual appeal of a space in order to draw people in. Therefore retail spaces
normally need to be lit even when there are no customers present, making the use
of automatic controls in sales areas difficult. In addition, shop windows and
perhaps the front areas of some stores are lit in the evenings, even if the store
itself is closed. All such display lighting must be carefully designed to light only
the areas needed for such ‘advertising’ and the timing of its on-period carefully
set to turn it off once there is little likelihood of many people passing. All back of
house areas, such as stores, changing rooms, offices etc., should have appropriate
automatic controls installed.
In the UK, the government publishes energy consumption figures as a percentage

of total energy consumption for a number of commercial sectors. But the true
figure will depend on the type of retail space, how it is used, and where it is
located. Figure 6.1 shows the three main groups of energy use within a retail
space and it can be seen that heating, cooling and ventilation is by far the largest
consumer of energy. Lighting is the second highest.
It should be borne in mind that these figures are averaged across a year and are
based on what could be considered a general retail store such as a high street
Lighting grocer or newsagent. Stores with significant amounts of display lighting will use
Ancilliaries
a higher proportion of energy for lighting. Conversely, stores with large amounts
Heating, cooling of refrigeration, such as supermarkets, will use a higher proportion for heating,
and ventilation
cooling, ventilation and ancillaries.

The impact of energy use must therefore be considered when designing a retail
Figure 6.1 Typical proportions of lighting installation. For example, the various building regulations across the
energy use in a retail space UK require that the energy used by a building be controlled within a specified
energy target and lighting has a part to play in ensuring the building achieves or
surpasses those targets.
In addition, many organisations insist that the building they occupy has an
environmental assessment rating such as offered by the UK’s Building Research
Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) or by the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) method controlled by
US Green Building Council.
6.2 Things to As with all building types energy usage is a combination of the energy
consumption of the individual luminaires and the time that they are in use. The
consider time for which any particular group of luminaires is on depends on whether there
is any activity being carried out in that area or if there is sufficient daylight to
mean the lights can be turned off. Of course this assumes that people or automatic
systems will turn off those lights on these occasions. Retail lighting differs from
other types of lighting in that it adds to the visual appeal of a space in order to
draw people in. Therefore retail spaces may need to be lit even when unoccupied,
which can limit the impact that automatic controls can have on back of house
areas.
The first step in minimising energy use is to avoid over-specifying. A competent

designer should aim to provide as closely as possible the maintained illuminances
for each area as specified in the schedule of illuminances contained in the SLL
Code for Lighting (SLL, 2012). If the actual maintained illuminance is below the
recommendation then shoppers may find it difficult to see fine details or staff
tasks may be performed below normal expectations, leading to low output or
increased mistakes. If the level is too high then unnecessary amounts of energy
could be consumed by the installation throughout its life.
Where appropriate, the easiest way to reduce the energy consumed by lighting is
to limit its use to only the times needed. This can best be achieved through the
See section 7 for use of suitable controls. See section 7 for more information on controls.
more information
The next step in avoiding unnecessary energy use is to specify the most efficient
luminaires that will provide the illumination levels and lighting quality required
for any given area. This means looking for luminaires with high utilisation
factors and low energy consumption. The use of high efficiency lamps should
help to reduce energy consumption.
Luminaire efficiency is made up of a number of elements. The quality of the

lamp is obviously important, as is the control equipment driving the lamp.
Perhaps not always considered is the quality of the reflective surfaces within a
luminaire body. The reflector may be a mirrored surface in whole or part, but
could easily be just the inside of the luminaire body. In this situation the internal
surfaces of the luminaire should have a high reflectance white or specular finish
in order to ensure that as much light as possible is leaving the fitting and not
being dissipated into the luminaire body as heat.
The light output ratio (lor) is the measure in percentage terms of the amount of
light leaving a luminaire compared to the total light output of the lamps. A higher
See section 1 for lor indicates a more efficient luminaire although care needs to be taken to
more information ensure that the light output is in the direction required.
The ceiling and walls of a space could easily be considered as an extension of the
luminaires’ reflective surfaces. If dark colours are used in a space, any efficiency
in the luminaire design could be negated. See section 1 for more information on
reflectivity of surfaces.
6.3 Assessing There are two recognised ways of determining or perhaps benchmarking a lower
limit for the efficiency of a lighting installation and both are favoured by
energy use legislation.
The first considers the efficiency of each lamp and its associated luminaire and is
given in luminaire lumens per circuit watt. Luminaire lumens per circuit watt is
defined as the lamp lumens multiplied by the light output ratio (lor) of the
luminaire divided by the total circuit watts for the luminaire. So, to obtain a high
figure, some combination of efficient lamps, efficient luminaire optics giving a
high lor, and low energy consumption by the control gear is required. A
correction factor can then be applied if lighting controls are used.
This method allows for easy legislation and also gives luminaire manufacturers
some certainty in being able to produce luminaires that meet legislative

Energy use 47
requirements without having to rely on interaction with other elements of a

lighting installation’s design. Such elements could be the colour or texture of
walls.
Whilst this approach puts minimum efficiency limits on luminaires, it does not
limit the number of luminaires being installed.
The method described above can be applied to a lighting design from concept
and if luminaire types or quantities change, as long as they meet the minimum
efficiency target, they will be acceptable.
A second approach is the Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (leni) as

determined in BS EN 15193-1: Energy performance of buildings. Energy requirements
for lighting. Specifications, Module M9 (BSI, 2017a).
leni looks at the lighting installation as a whole and considers how it will be
used. In some cases this allows for a more accurate prediction of the eventual
lighting energy use. Some countries that accept the leni approach expect
emergency lighting to be included in the calculation as well, so it is advisable to
check before undertaking the design.
leni considers how often the total lighting power requirement, plus any control
system power requirement (known as parasitic power) is used during both
daytime and night time. Factors such as automatic daylight dimming, automatic
adjustment for lamp decay and automatic control systems are also taken into
account.
Once the parasitic power, night time and daytime loads are known, the leni is
determined by adding them together and dividing by the floor area of the
building. The result is given in kW·h/m2 per year. Comparison can then be made
with the acceptable limits published by government, clients, or other controlling
bodies.
As an example, in England, a form of leni is included in the Non-Domestic

Building Services Compliance Guide (NBS, 2013a) for Part L of the Building
Regulations. Similarly for Scotland, see the Non-Domestic Building Services
Compliance Guide for Scotland (Scottish Government, 2018).
6.4 The energy Whilst energy reduction has become the driver for both new and refurbished
buildings, a balance needs to be struck between providing good quality lighting
balance and the energy it uses. Retail lighting can have a detrimental effect on the amount
of business generated and the health and productivity of staff if not properly
designed.
Background lighting and the illumination of walls and ceilings will clearly use
energy but such elements of the lighting design should not be omitted.
Lighting designs need to consider more carefully the use of the space so that
localised lighting can be considered for the task areas such as cash desks. This
will allow the relatively high levels required on task areas to be delivered in the
most efficient way, allowing background lighting to be properly considered and
designed as appropriate.
In addition, this approach allows a greater freedom to add visual interest into
background lighting designs, which is particularly useful in large open plan
spaces where a flat uniform level of background lighting can look uninspiring to
shoppers.
Figure 6.2 Visual interest provided

through colours and
texture (courtesy of Iguzzini
Illuminazione UK Ltd.)
6.5 Environmental In addition to legislative requirement for the reduction of energy, it is now
common for building owners or developers to use an external environmental
assessment assessment method to determine the impact of their building in and around their
methods environment.
Such methods go further than looking solely at the immediate energy use and
will consider the impact of other elements. For example, how will maintenance
be carried out and how will occupants travel to and from the building?
Issues such as the impact of light pollution caused by façade or access lighting to
a building are also considered.
Popular environmental assessment methods in use within the UK are:
—— Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment

Method (BREEAM) (https://www.breeam.com/)
—— Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) method,
controlled by US Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/
leed/)
—— Ska Rating, operated by the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS) (http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/ska-rating-/).
BREEAM is the dominant assessment method for the UK, where whole building
projects are being considered. However, some building owners will chose to
apply LEED instead. The RICS Ska Rating was developed for partial
refurbishment or fit-out of spaces where whole buildings are not being subject to
a BREEAM or LEED assessment.
Lighting designers should establish at the outset, if an environmental assessment

method is being applied and discuss any specific requirements with the appointed
assessor.
6.6 Legislative As discussed in section 6.1, the impact of retail lighting on the overall energy use
of a building is significant. Legislation in many countries will impose restrictions
requirements on how a lighting designer can approach a project and it is important that those
restrictions are understood before commencing with the design.
Most legislation considers the energy use of a building against a pre-determined

target level for a notional building of similar type. The contribution of lighting

Control of lighting 49
is one element which should be considered as part of a holistic approach if the

building is going to offer its occupants the best experience within the constraints
of the energy targets set for it. Simply treating each element such as lighting,
façade performance and mechanical plant efficiency as separate items may lead to
unnecessary compromise.
In the UK, the English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Governments are
responsible for setting their own building regulations requirements and guidance.
Each should be consulted as appropriate. However, as an example, in England,
the Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide (NBS, 2013a) recommends
that new non-domestic lighting installations approach lighting efficiency in one
of two ways, as described in section 6.3 above, in order to achieve compliance
with Part L of the Building Regulations.
7 Control of The most rudimentary form of lighting control is the manual light switch and
this can still be an effective means of control if the occupants of a space are
lighting diligent in switching off lighting when not required.
A number of problems can present themselves with a manual control solution

7.1 Introduction though, particularly in large retail spaces:
—— An individual’s perception of lighting levels can differ for many

reasons and is therefore subjective. Whilst one person may turn
lighting off for most of the day in a well daylit space, another may
feel the illumination level is not high enough and leave the lighting
on all day.
—— In large spaces, individuals may see it as someone else’s responsibility

to turn off lighting. Often in this scenario, no one actually takes the
initiative.
—— Some people feel morally responsible for reducing energy where

they can and will actively switch off lighting that is not required.
Others will not notice that the lighting is switched on.
—— In large organisations, the cost of the energy used is not seen by

individuals and so there is no incentive to switch lighting off.
—— Manual switches should ideally be located close to their associated

luminaires, which can prove difficult in large open plan spaces.
The Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide (NBS, 2013a)
for England, for example, recommends that switches be located
generally within a distance of 6 metres from their associated
luminaire or twice the height of the luminaire if this is greater.
It is therefore appropriate to consider an automatic control system for lighting

installations where no individual or specific team of people are responsible for
turning off lighting which is not in use. As discussed in the previous section, the
use of automatic presence/absence controls for retail lighting can be limited.
However, back of house areas can benefit and time-out controls can be used so
that lighting is not left switched on all night.
Guidance on compliance with building regulations in the UK acknowledges and

encourages the use of automatic controls, including the automatic control of
dimming above pre-set daylight thresholds, control of output as led arrays or
lamps age, and for presence and absence detection.
Where led arrays are used, automatic early life output reduction to ensure over-
illumination is controlled should save significantly on energy use, and can only
be done via an automatic system.
7.2 Control functions There are a number of control functions that an automatic system may cover.
Absence and presence detection (for back of house areas) may at first appear to be
7.2.1 Absence and the same thing from different viewpoints. However, they differ in the way
presence detection switching occurs and are suitable for different operating environments.
Absence detection operates by providing the occupier of a space with a switch

allowing them to turn the lighting on when they enter a space. The lighting is
then switched off automatically when the control system has not detected
movement for a pre-determined period.
Such systems are suited to back of house areas such as small offices, staff rooms,
meeting rooms and small stores where occupants would know to turn on the
lights when they arrived. Absence control gives users a direct input to the control
of their lighting and allows them to leave it switched off if they so desire.
Presence detection does not require any human interaction and will switch on
lighting when someone is detected in the controlled area. Lighting will then
remain on for a pre-determined period unless further movement is detected. It is
suited to large open plan areas where no individual is likely to be responsible for
switching lighting on when required.
Where occupiers of a large space would like some additional control, presence
detection can be linked to local override manual switching and appropriate
zoning to give more local control.
Whereas absence detection systems can be left switched off if there is sufficient
daylight, presence detection systems would need additional daylight linking
control to perform this function.
Presence detection systems may not be suited to areas of fast moving foot traffic
or where a hazard may present a risk if not illuminated immediately someone
enters the area. Presence detection systems will always have a delay due to the
need to detect movement before switching the lighting on.
7.2.2 Daylight linking There will be occasions where the level of illumination from daylight in a space
is sufficient to dim or switch off the whole or part of the electric lighting. Daylight
linking of controls allows a control system to consider dimming or switching off
lighting as appropriate. Where daylight linking is installed, it is usual to have at
least the first row of lighting adjacent to the window on a different switched
circuit to facilitate this.
Dimming is preferred as it allows gradual reductions in the provision of artificial

illumination and this can lead to greater energy savings than direct switching.
See BRE Digest 498: Selecting lighting controls (Littlefair, 2006) for more
information.
7.2.3 Constant illuminance For a lighting installation to deliver its design illuminance after the initial
adjustment depreciation in output from its led arrays or lamps, it will have been effectively
over-designed to begin with. Where suitable luminaires and control gear are
used, control systems can be programmed to dim luminaires at the beginning of
their life and slowly increase the output as the lamps age so that a constant
illumination level is achieved. An added benefit is that under-running led arrays
and lamps initially can save energy.
Lamp depreciation can be measured in terms of hundreds of hours or so. However,

led array output may take thousands of hours for it to fall to a stable design level.
Large led lighting installations therefore would most likely benefit from the use
See section 6 for of constant illuminance control, but the reduction in energy is not directly
more information proportional to the reduction in light output. Therefore, it will be necessary for
the designer to ascertain whether or not the extra cost of a constant illuminance
system can be justified, and what an estimated payback period will be.

Control of lighting 51
7.2.4 Time-out control The cost of an automatic control system can be a significant proportion of the
overall lighting installation cost. Where large spaces are likely to fair better in a
comparison of cost for lighting versus control, smaller spaces may need a different
approach.
Simple mechanical time-out light switches are an inexpensive way of allowing

infrequently accessed areas to be controlled, ensuring lighting is not left on by
accident. Care needs to be taken to ensure that occupants are not left in the dark
and larger or unusual spaces may need a mix of manual switching as well.
7.3 Human The operation of automatic control systems and how they serve the occupants of
a space needs to be considered from the outset of a project. Automating lighting
interaction control works effectively when it can be seen to assist the occupants of a space. If
the occupants perceive that the system is working against them, either through
lack of understanding or as a result of poor commissioning, they are more likely
to seek to disable any such system.
The designer of a lighting control system should consider providing easy to

understand guidance for occupiers so they do not feel the need to challenge the
operation of the system. Guidance could include:
—— a basic description of control functions that occupants will notice

in operation, such as absence and presence detection, as well as
daylight linking
—— parameters under which the system operated, such as time-out on
absence and daylight levels affecting daylight linking.
7.4 Control for Lighting represents a significant proportion of the energy used in a building and
the most effective way of reducing that energy use is to control the lighting
energy use installation effectively. Lighting should only be switched on when required and
automatic control systems are the most effective way of doing this, particularly in
large spaces.
See section 6 for
more information
See section 6 for more information on energy.
7.5 Control for Automatically controlling lighting to switch off when no one is present, or when
daylighting contribution removes the need for electric lighting, is the most
comfort effective way of saving energy in a lighting installation. However, lighting control
can also be used to improve comfort for occupants.
The simplest form of comfort control is the dimmer switch. Allowing occupants
to control the level of the lighting in their immediate space can have a significant
effect on their comfort. As each of us has a different opinion on what is
comfortable, care needs to be taken when offering dimming facilities in spaces
with more than one occupant.
Lighting can have a positive or negative impact on the occupants of a space. Our
bodies are used to the lighting around us changing as the day passes. Daylight is
constantly changing due to sun position, height and intensity as well as colour,
particularly at the beginning and end of the day. Cloud cover can make such
changes appear relatively quickly and randomly.
It is possible with the appropriate control system and associated luminaires to

mimic, to some degree, the changing sky and the lighting diversity it brings
throughout the day. The theory being that this will have a positive impact on the
occupants’ well-being. This is known as ‘human-centric lighting’, and involves
the behaviour of the circadian rhythm of our bodies. For more information see
the SLL Lighting Handbook (SLL, 2009). Whilst such systems are not common,
they may be appropriate in some situations.
7.6 Control for Whilst automatically turning off lighting that is not required makes good sense,
there will be situations where a total loss of lighting can make those entering a
safety space uncomfortable or may even put them at risk. Dimmable led luminaires
can reduce the lighting level to 5–10% of the normal output, resulting in energy
savings whilst allowing sufficient lighting in an unoccupied space for people to
move to a point where automatic presence or absence detection ‘sees’ them and
increases the illumination.

8 Tablet and The way in which we shop has changed dramatically over the past few years and
whilst traditional retail outlets are still common the way we use them, and the
touch screen technology used in them, has developed beyond the recognition of a shopper
from only a few years ago. Sales staff are also using technology in different ways
displays and the lighting needs to reflect this.
Often, shoppers will chose to use smartphones and tablets whilst shopping for a
8.1 Introduction variety of uses, from social media activities to checking-off shopping lists or
comparing prices with other stores. Retail operators will need to decide if they
want to provide a lighting design that accommodates such activities.
Retail staff are also increasingly using tablets and touchscreens. Cash desks have
been using visual display terminals for a number of years in fixed positions. Sales
desks in retail outlets where finance options are discussed will usually have desks
with computers, much in the same way as in an office. Additionally, staff are
increasingly using tablets around stores for stock checking and to assist customers
in ordering items that are out of stock.
Tablets, smartphones and, to some degree, laptop computers could have their
screen in any orientation during use and this makes it difficult for the lighting
designer alone to fully address the issue of glare.
It should also be borne in mind that keyboard finishes on laptop computers can
be as much a problem as screen glare, particularly if they are of a gloss or semi-
gloss finish and are positioned directly below a source of illumination, see Figure
Figure 8.1 Computer on the desk 8.2.
in a showroom (courtesy
of Iguzzini; photography
by Cristian Fattinnanzi
Figure 8.2 Example of keyboard

glare (courtesy of Simon
Robinson/WSP)
Where such devices are used, the lighting design can only be effective if it forms
part of an overall approach to space management. Other elements would need to
include some understanding by staff that it will not always be possible to provide
a glare free environment which allows them to work in any part of their store.
8.2 Understanding It is important to establish early in the design process if the lighting design is to
be based solely on fixed display screens or make provision for handheld and
how the space transportable devices.
will be used
Laptop computers are becoming much more portable to the point where retail
staff can move around whilst carrying on with a particular task. Tablet computers
are being used for many tasks, traditionally associated with being carried out at a

Tablet and touch screen displays 53
fixed desk position, such as reading email, stock checking, ordering merchandise,
etc.
Whilst lighting design for a retail store is predominantly about attracting custom,
the position of sales desks have traditionally been fixed and relatively straight
forward to define. Allowances made for staff being mobile will need a different
approach. It could be difficult to change a design intended for fixed desk use to
one capable of dealing with mobile staff, once the design process has commenced.
Where occupiers of a retail space are known, it would be worthwhile discussing

working patterns and matching the lighting design to suit.
8.3 Personal or It is inevitable that customers will use personal devices such as mobile phones
and tablets in a retail space. Staff may be allowed to do so with personal equipment
business use or it may be that using such devices forms part of their role. The store owner will
need to be consulted on whether they want the lighting design to consider
personal use. If staff are expected to use tablets around a retail space, then this
will need to be considered as part of the overall design.
8.4 Desktop touch Whilst the lighting designer has had to deal with display screens of varying types
for a number of years, they have usually been in a relatively fixed orientation with
screens minimal movement in the vertical plane. The introduction of the touch screen
on cash registers and sales desk computers has resulted in much greater
articulation of the associated screens to the point where some can be laid
completely flat.
Touch screens present an additional issue in that they generally have a glossy
screen and therefore finger marks are easily visible, particularly if viewed at
anything other than from directly in front.
Conventional vertical or near vertical displays
Conventional desk mounted display monitors are increasingly being provided

with touch screen facilities and, in most respects, can be treated by the lighting
designer in the same way as non-touch screen versions, with particular attention
being paid to the use of glossy screens and associated issues with reflections.
Where display monitors are designed to fold flat on the desk, the guidance below
should be followed.
Horizontal and lay-flat touchscreen display monitors
Where horizontal or lay-flat touch screens are to be used, indirect lighting is the
most appropriate lighting design to apply. Ceilings should have a luminance no
greater than 500 cd/m2 and any ceiling mounted equipment that may cause a
bright or dark spot should be avoided. Uniformity is an important factor for the
ceiling in this scenario and should be no lower than 0.4.
Where an indirect lighting design cannot be used, consideration should be given

to providing some form of screening of the touch screens to provide a barrier to
direct reflections.
It should be borne in mind that, as touch screens are self-illuminated and usually
have a screen-based keyboard, input devices may not require any external source
of illumination. Background levels can therefore be suitably reduced and an
average of 300 lux with a uniformity of 0.7 should be acceptable. In certain
circumstances, and where the only activity being carried out is via touch screen
Figure 8.3 Typical tablet use (courtesy input, the level of background illumination could be lower.
If illumination levels are too high, the backlighting of the screen will need to be
increased so the user experiences a lower contrast between the screen and the
periphery.
A decision to provide a lower level should be discussed with the building owner
and, if possible, with the users of the space. Any decision to reduce the level
significantly could have an effect on the ability to use the space in the future
should its application change.
8.5 Tablets and Tablets and smartphones differ from other forms of input and display devices in
that they are self-illuminated. There is no requirement to provide a general level
smartphones of illumination in order for the user to adequately see what they are doing as
there is with a traditional keyboard/screen.
Furthermore, tablets and smartphones have adjustable backlighting so the user

can adjust the brightness to their own personal choice.
This leaves the lighting designer with the task of providing sufficient background
illumination to give the tablet or smartphone user sufficient peripheral illumi
nation so as not to cause a stark contrast between the screen and surroundings.
The nature of tablet and smartphone use is that they are obviously portable and
can be used equally when sitting or standing; horizontal illuminance therefore is
not the dominating factor.
9 Emergency Emergency lighting (sometimes referred to as ‘emergency escape lighting’ is

provided to ensure that during failure of a building’s main lighting system, there
and standby remains a level of artificial illumination which will allow safe and unambiguous
egress from the building.
lighting Emergency lighting must be viewed in a different way to general lighting given
its inclusion in the building regulations for many countries including England,
9.1 Introduction Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In commercial properties, including retail outlets, it is recommended that in

addition to defined escape routes, all areas over 60 m2 should be provided with
emergency lighting. Given that retail outlets are predominantly occupied by
people unfamiliar with the space, particularly any back of house escape routes,
then additional lighting beyond that required by building regulations could be
considered, especially where escape routes are complex or not immediately
obvious. Early discussion with the building owner as well as the design team is
essential to assess how people will evacuate the building and whether additional
emergency lighting is needed.
It should be borne in mind that a loss of power to a retail outlet is not uncommon.
Large shopping malls will usually have back-up power sources but smaller retail
outlets may not. In fact, a loss of power is common enough for the building
occupants to view it with bemusement rather than panic. The sudden loss of
lighting can put people in grave danger should they attempt to move about.
Therefore, the need for emergency lighting is very important as it is more likely
to be put to use during its lifetime than other emergency systems such as a fire
alarm system.
The building owner should be asked if there is any requirement or risk assessment
recommending standby lighting so that all or part of the store can continue to
function, if only at a reduced level, during power failures. This could include an
intention for employees to remain in the space in the event of a main lighting
failure while customers evacuate.
It is important that the emergency lighting designer understands the intended

behaviour or management policy for dealing with such situations so that the
most appropriate design can be provided.
The circuitry or control system for the lighting may need to be arranged so that
all or part of it can be supplied from a standby generator or an uninterruptible
power supply (essentially a central battery system). If only part of the lighting is
to be supplied then careful thought has to be given as to how the circuitry is

Emergency and standby lighting 55
arranged. For example, if half of the lighting is to be supplied via a generator then
either half the light sources in the luminaires or half the luminaires need to come
on. Luminaires can be supplied with twin terminal blocks so that the light source
inside can be supplied half and half, or one-third/two-thirds depending on the
number of sources inside. This is more expensive and requires provision of two
sets of wiring to all emergency luminaires. It does, however, ensure that some
uniformity of the lighting is maintained across the space. The alternative is to
arrange the wiring to the luminaires in a chequerboard arrangement so that every
other luminaire comes on akin to the white squares on a chessboard. This is less
costly but leads to poorer uniformity across the space. Where there is an automatic
lighting control system this can usually be configured to turn off some light
sources in each luminaire, where the appropriate control gear has been provided,
or to turn off some of the luminaires during a power failure. This approach gives
maximum flexibility, as the ratio of standby lighting provided can be varied from
department to department depending on the criticality of their function.
Safety lighting needs to be provided where processes have to be shut down or

made safe in the event of a power failure. In most retail outlets, this is likely to
See SLL Lighting apply to back of house areas such as kitchens, communications rooms, print
Guide 12 for rooms etc. Escape lighting will need to be provided throughout the shop floor to
more information allow the orderly evacuation of the building in the event of an emergency or
power failure. Medium to large buildings usually warrant the installation of a
central battery system. This means that one or more secure, ventilated rooms
have to be provided in the building to house the battery/inverter units. Refer to
SLL Lighting Guide 12: Emergency lighting (SLL, 2015b) for more advice on
safety and escape lighting.
9.2 Siting of It is important to identify specific escape routes before commencing the design of
an emergency lighting system. This should be done in consultation with the
essential architect (if appointed), building owner, Fire Officer and Building Control
escape lighting: Officer. At this stage it would also be advisable to identify any specific requirements
initial design that the building’s insurers may wish to impose. Following consultation with
these parties, the initial design is conducted by siting luminaires to cover specific
hazards and to highlight safety equipment and safety signs. Typical locations
where such lighting should be sited include the following:
—— near stairs so that each flight of stairs receives direct light

—— near any other change in level
—— at externally illuminated escape route safety signs, escape route
direction signs and other safety signs needing to be illuminated
under emergency lighting conditions
—— at each change of direction
—— at each intersection of corridors
—— near to each final exit and outside the building to a place of safety
—— near each first aid post such that a vertical illuminance of 5 lux shall
be provided at the first aid box
—— near each piece of fire fighting equipment and call point such that a
vertical illuminance of 5 lux shall be provided at the fire alarm call
points, fire fighting equipment and panel
—— near escape equipment provided for the disabled, and
—— near disabled refuges and call points; also to include disabled
refuge two-way communication systems including disabled toilet
alarm call positions.
Note: for the purpose of the above list, ‘near’ is normally considered to be within
2 m, measured horizontally.
There may be instances where other measures reduce the need for emergency
lighting. For example, the use of vision panels in doors opening onto escape
routes may provide the recommended levels of emergency illumination within
the adjacent room.
The principal documents covering the need for emergency lighting in various
types of premises within the UK are as follows:
—— The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and

Wales)
—— BS 9999: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and
use of buildings (BSI, 2017b)
—— BS EN 1838: Lighting applications. Emergency lighting (BSI, 2013a)
—— BS 5266: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting
of premises (BSI, 2016)
—— Building Regulations Approved Document B: Fire Safety (England
and Wales) (NBS, 2013b)
—— Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook 2017 — Non-
Domestic: Section 2: Fire (Scottish Government, 2017b)
—— Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Technical Booklet E: Fire
Safety (DFPNI, 2012b)
9.3 Additional After siting luminaires at the locations listed in section 9.2, consideration should
be given to installing luminaires at other locations including the following:
escape lighting
—— lift cars (although not considered as part of the escape route,
emergency lighting is required since failure of the normal lighting
could result in persons being confined in a small dark space for an
indefinite period)
—— moving stairs and walkways
—— toilets with areas exceeding 8 m2
—— external areas in the immediate vicinity of exits.
Risk assessment may identify external escape routes requiring external emergency
escape route lighting to a point of safety.
9.4 High risk In addition to the above, emergency lighting should also be provided for areas in
which high-risk tasks are undertaken. These include areas such as some sales
task areas floors, plant rooms, lift motor rooms, electrical switch rooms, kitchens and any
area where a safety hazard is present and may become a danger to people moving
about in darkness.
The level of illumination recommended by BS EN 1838 (BSI, 2013a) is no less

than 10% of the maintained illuminance required for carrying out normal tasks
or 15 lux, whichever is the greater. Uniformity should be a minimum of 0.1.
BS 5266-1 (BSI, 2016) identifies that some areas may require higher levels and
gives examples. In addition, due to every project being different, a risk assessment
is recommended to determine an appropriate level of emergency illumination in
situations identified as having unusual hazards.
9.5 Illumination of Safety signs including exit signs can be either illuminated internally or externally
from a remote source. The specific requirements for exit signs are given in the
safety signs Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, BS 5499-4: Safety
signs. Code of practice for escape route signing (BSI, 2013b) and BS EN 1838: Lighting
applications. Emergency lighting (BSI, 2013a).

Emergency and standby lighting 57
(a) At each door exit (b) Near intersections of corridors (c) Near each staircase
Fire
extinguisher
(d) Near each change in direction (e) Near any changes in floor level (f) Near fire-fighting equipment
Breakglass unit
(g) Near each fire alarm breakglass unit (h) To illuminate exit and safety signs
Figure 9.1 Positioning of emergency exit signs
All emergency exit signs within a particular building should be uniform in colour
and format, as well as being located within a close enough proximity to the door
to ensure its association is unambiguous. Signs should be sited to ensure that a
clear contrast is apparent between the sign and its surroundings. Signs should be
viewable at a distance of 200 times the height of the signs. This means that
repeated signs at set distances leading to the final exits could be required.
9.6 Lighting levels Signs that show just text are no longer permitted within the UK and should be
replaced with signs showing the graphical representation. Signs should meet the
for escape recommendations of BS 5499-4 (BSI, 2013b).
routes
Defined escape routes have specific recommendations in terms of minimum
illumination. It is essential that a minimum level of illumination is maintained
along escape routes during a main lighting failure. A minimum of 1 lux along the
centreline of corridors up to 2 metres wide and a minimum of 0.5 lux, 1 metre to
either side is recommended by BS 5266-1 (BSI, 2016). Uniformity should be no
more than 40:1 between minimum and average illumination levels. Glare limits
should be observed in accordance with BS EN 1838 (BSI, 2013a).
9.7 Open spaces Open spaces are considered to be where no defined escape route exists. This
could apply to sales floors where merchandise is arranged in such a way that an
obvious escape route is not evident.
In England and Wales, the Building Regulations recommend that areas over
60 m2 be provided with emergency lighting. Due to the size and nature of such
large spaces, they will also include areas previously referred to as undefined
escape routes. In such situations, occupants of a space may take several different
routes to the nearest exit.
The recommended minimum illumination level for such situations is 0.5 lux,
excluding a 0.5 metre border around the perimeter.
Glare limits should be observed in accordance with BS EN 1838 (BSI, 2013a).

Uniformity should be no more than 40:1 between minimum and average

illumination levels.
Whilst this recommendation is a minimum level, designers are advised to assess
the dangers from loss of main lighting on an individual project basis dependant
on the hazards present.
10 Practical This section is intended to help the reader in determining the type of lighting
design most appropriate to a given situation.
examples
The examples discussed should not be taken as exemplar designs and are not
of design intended for use as reference points for any particular type of retail establishment.
approaches The intention is to give an indication of how lighting and associated illumination
levels could be provided in a number of scenarios bearing in mind that each retail
space will have to be considered against specific client requirements. The
10.1 Introduction advantages and disadvantages of different uses, layouts and décor are discussed.
10.2 Example 1: small

to medium sized
general purpose
retail space
Figure 10.1 Small general purpose retail

stores (courtesy of Hoare Lea;
photography by Redshift)
This example considers a relatively small retail unit of 5 metres by 20 metres in a

small 1960s-built shopping arcade. The unit has a full height glazed façade across
the 5 metre width of the store. No other natural daylight provision is made. The
front of the shop faces north.
The interior decoration is as follows:
—— Interior walls: all white but are shelved for merchandise up to

2 metres.
—— Ceiling: white, matt finish ceiling tiles.
—— Floor: light grey vinyl, racked-out with self-standing sales shelving.
The ceiling height is around 3.5 metres. A sales counter is located at the front of
the store adjacent to the window. A small store room, kitchen and toilet is located
to the rear for staff use.
This type of store is common across the world and possibly the type that most
would regard as a ‘standard’ shop, being deep plan with no daylight other than
from a relatively small façade.
There are a number of approaches that could be applied.

Practical examples of design approaches 59
Approach 1
If the store is to be used with simple display racks and the owner has no intention
of prioritising one area over another then a uniform direct lighting scheme would
probably be adequate. If costs need to be minimised as well, it may be tempting
to use simple batten fluorescent luminaires mounted directly on the ceiling.
Combined with light coloured finishes to walls, ceiling and floor, this approach
should give a good uniform level of illumination. However, whilst it should result
in a well-lit space giving flexibility for sales floor layouts, the approach would not
make the best use of the available light in energy terms.
By adding a controller to each luminaire, available light could be better directed

towards the merchandise on display as well as improving the efficiency of the
design. If the sales floor layout is known, matching rows of luminaires to racking
will improve the efficiency further.
Approach 2
Whilst approach 1 would give the most cost effective solution to generally
lighting a space, it could create a bland and possibly unappealing space. This may
be acceptable if the store is purely functional. However, if the store owner would
like to use the lighting as part of the décor to attract customers, the ability to be
flexible should be considered. Suspended ceilings with easily removable tiles
allows luminaires to be moved around provided the wiring system is designed to
accommodate it. Supplementary lighting could be added via lighting tracks,
which would give some flexibility to highlight particular areas of the store or
merchandise.
Typical illumination levels would be:
—— Sales floor: 300 lux

—— Cash desk: 500 lux
—— Staff corridor: 100 lux
—— Staff room: 200 lux
—— Toilets: 200 lux
10.3 Example 2: This example considers a small kiosk created as part of the bus station
redevelopment. It measures 3 metres wide by 2 metres deep and is entirely open
bus station to the bus station concourse. The floor to ceiling height is 2.5 metres. There are
kiosk selling no other rooms associated with the kiosk and access is via a roller shutter at the
newspapers and front, which provides a secure closure outside of business hours.
confectionery
Figure 10.2 Typical kiosk type

retail space (courtesy of
Simon Robinson/WSP)
Merchandise display options are limited with this type of store and it will most
likely be all displayed to the front. Because the kiosk faces onto a bus station
concourse, the concourse lighting will contribute some borrowed light and
provide a diffuse element to the scene. Lighting used to highlight the merchandise
could be mounted along the front edge of the kiosk behind the shutter and
directed inward either via asymmetric reflectors or using a mix of wide angle
spotlights.
This approach would also reduce light spill from the kiosk.
—— Kiosk: 500 lux
10.4 Example 3: This example considers a diy warehouse-type store in a retail park.
warehouse style The store has a floor area of 1000 m2 and is being developed into a diy store from
retail units a previous use as a carpet warehouse. The unit has no natural daylight except for
the main glazed doors and adjacent windows. The floor to ceiling height is 7 m.
The interior decoration is as follows:
—— Interior walls: grey concrete block up to 2 metres and white

composite panel above that to the ceiling.
—— Ceiling: no ceiling; the roof support structure and underside of the
roof have been painted matt white.
—— Floor: polished and clear bonded concrete floor.
The floor is racked-out with self-standing sales shelving to a height of 2 metres.

The shelving extends to 5 metres but is used for sales floor warehousing above
2 metres.
Five sales counters are located at the front of the store adjacent to the door. A
security room and office as well as staff welfare facilities are located in a single
storey block building within the main warehouse and adjacent to the sales
counters.
Two key elements need to be considered when lighting this type of store. First,
the racking is too high to allow a general lighting installation to be effective and
so a lighting design that provides light to the aisles and the vertical front of the
racking would be more beneficial. It is important to know, therefore, where the
racking will be placed before designing the lighting.
Second, whilst the customers will only need to look up to the 2 metre level, staff
re-stocking shelves above height this will be looking almost directly at the ceiling
and therefore almost directly into the light source so glare needs to be controlled.
Luminaires that diffuse the intensity of the light source would be advantageous.
As the layout of the store is predominantly racking, the vertical surfaces

representing the shelving are where the light should be focused. In most areas,
the reflective surfaces will be the merchandise itself and so colours and reflectances
will change over time. Care needs to be taken to agree a realistic compromise on
design reflectances and colours. Only the perimeter walls, where the white
composite and grey block are exposed, will provide some consistency. Where fine
detail needs to be read such as detailed instructions on equipment then a higher
level of illumination would be worth considering. Where large bulky items such
as timber and plasterboard sheets are stored, a lower level could be considered.
By using lighting appropriately to illuminate the vertical surfaces down to ground

level, the general access lighting illuminating the floor could be ‘borrowed’ from
the lighting used on the racks, particularly as the concrete floor is likely to reflect
about 40% of the light falling on it.

The sales counter positions should be treated as work areas and as tills and self-
checkout aisles are usually touch screen or computer display driven, an
illumination level and uniformity usually associated with office tasks would be
appropriate.
—— General racking: 300 lux

—— Sales counter: 500 lux
—— Office/security room: 500 lux
—— Staff welfare: 200 lux
10.5 Example 4: This example considers a typical new-build car showroom on an out-of-town
retail development.
fully glazed car
showroom The main showroom is 30 metres by 15 metres of unbroken space with a ceiling
height of 5 metres. To the rear of the showroom are offices, store rooms, toilets for
customers and staff, a staff dining area and viewing window into the service bay
for customers. There is a reception desk in the centre of the showroom with three
sales desks behind it.
The showroom is fully glazed on the south, west and north facades with the main
entrance in the centre of the longest, west, facade. The ceiling in the showroom
is a typical 600 × 600 lay-in grid ceiling with off-white matt fibre tiles. The rear
wall is painted light grey and 20% of it is covered in advertising displays.
There are usually five cars on display at any one time and these change on a
regular basis.
There are a number of issues to consider here. It would be easy to provide a

general layout of 600 × 600 recessed modular luminaires with prismatic
controllers or opal diffusers in the showroom ceiling. This would probably
provide the most economical and energy efficient approach but could make the
space look bland and uninteresting.
The five cars are the centre of attention and their colours will obviously vary as
they are rotated. As cars are usually highly polished with at least windscreens at
shallow angles relative to the ceiling, there is a good chance of discomfort glare
being created by a general lighting scheme as described above.
Reflections can of course be useful in enhancing the lighting of cars in a

showroom, provided an appropriate source is used.
The viewing window into the service area at the back of the showroom could also
be susceptible to discomfort glare and may need some glare control. Lighting
levels in this area should be lower than in the service bay in order to aid easy
viewing.
As the showroom has floor to ceiling windows on the south, west and north sides,
there could be significantly different levels of daylight at either end of the spaces
including a possible glare issue with the setting sun in winter. Some form of solar
control would be advisable and may already be under consideration to combat
thermal solar gain.
The daylight will provide excellent colour rendering though and allow the cars
to be displayed and colours to be recognised as they would be in daily use. During
the winter months, the absence of daylight for part of the trading day will of
course mean there is a need to provide electric light which can represent the
colours faithfully.
The owner may want to highlight one particular car for promotional purposes
and so display lighting could be provided. Mounting spotlights either directly on
or in the ceiling is a common approach. Using lighting track to give some
flexibility is also popular. Providing ground- or pedestal-mounted spotlights as
well as the facility to put spotlights actually in the cars can produce dramatic
effects and could also be considered. It would be worth asking the owner to
arrange for switched lighting circuits to be provided to floor boxes under each
display position to facilitate this.
The reception desk is the first port of call for customers visiting the showroom so
it would benefit from some accent lighting in order to draw customers attention
to it.
—— Showroom: 300 lux

—— Reception desk: 500 lux
—— Offices: 500 lux
—— Service viewing area: 100 lux
—— Sales floor accent and display lighting: 2 × showroom lighting level
for noticeable effect; 15 × showroom level for theatrical effect;
30 × showroom level for dramatic effect.
—— Reception desk accent lighting: 2 to 5 × reception desk level.
10.6 Example 5: There are many variations on this type of store and the interior design can be
subject to fashion changes as much as the clothing that is sold within.
high street
clothing store This example considers a store within a shopping centre where the owner wants
to create a high contrast, dramatically lit space, which uses display lighting
predominantly to highlight merchandise. General lighting is to be minimal with
circulation spaces lit by borrowing light from the displays.
The store is 10 metres wide and 40 metres deep with a floor to ceiling height of
4 metres. The floor is oak parquet and the walls are panelled in dark oak cladding.
There is no discernible ceiling but services in the roof void are painted out along
with the underside of the room in dark brown. No natural light is available.
The style of interior design used in this store is aimed at using the merchandise
as the visual interest and the lighting will play a large part in that. Using display
lighting only will make the space difficult to plan as the reflective surfaces will
largely be the clothes on display and of course they will change continuously. The
uniformity of the lighting is likely to be poor but will vary depending on the
colour of the clothes in fashion. Such a lighting design would benefit from a lot
of flexibility and therefore lighting tracks placed to allow spotlights to be installed
in all areas of the store would be worthwhile, even if not used initially.
With no natural light and a changing set of reflectances and colours, the challenge
is to provide a lighting installation that can faithfully show customers the true
colour of a piece of clothing. No one wants to buy a blue sweater to find out its
actually green when they get it home. Careful selection of light sources should be
discussed with the store owner and a mock-up of the installation with some of the
merchandise to be sold would be beneficial.
Using display lighting only could lead to problems in undertaking day to day
activities and it would be worth adding some secondary lighting for cleaning and
maintenance purposes. Emergency lighting will need to be provided and a
uniform level of lighting will be required at the sales counters.

Figure 10.3 High street clothing

store (courtesy of
WSP; photography by
Simon Robinson)
Most retail outlets use a mix of signage, décor and lighting to draw people to sales
counters and short term promotions. With such a dramatic lighting design it will
be difficult to create such distinctions. Flexibility remains the best option to
allow the store owner to move spotlights to suit the need at the time.
—— Sales floor: to be determined through discussion

—— Sales counter: 500 lux
—— General access lighting: 100 lux borrowed from the sales floor
—— Secondary light for cleaning: 200 lux
10.7 Example 6: high This example considers a high-end jewellers within a city where jewellery stores
are clustered together.
street jewellers
The store is located in a 1960s building designed to accommodate retail units at
ground floor level and offices above. The store is next door to two other jewellers
within the same building. A glazed front, which spans the whole width of the
shop, is used for access and display of jewellery.
The store is 5 metres wide and 10 metres deep with staff areas in a basement
below. The floor to ceiling height is 2.7 metres in the store and 2.3 metres in the
basement.
The walls are lined with oak panelling and the ceiling is matt white. The floor is
a deep pile aubergine.
The basement also houses a jeweller’s workshop and safe. Its walls and ceiling
have been painted in a dark matt grey finish and there is no natural light.
There are few display cabinets as the store owner wants an uncluttered look, only
displaying a few high value jewellery pieces at a time.
By their nature, high-end jewellery store customers expect the quality of finishes
and the interior design to reflect the status of the merchandise being offered. Cost
is not likely to be the main driver therefore and, given that the store has direct
competition next door, the owner wants the lighting to enhance the interior
design as an attraction to bring customers inside.
It is important therefore to work closely with the interior designer to help achieve
the owner’s vision. The minimal nature of the store means that the ‘impact’ of
the space and its displays can be greatly enhanced by the lighting. It is tempting
to opt for local led as a solution given its versatility but, if discrete light sources
are required, fibre optic cables and a suitable light generator may be better suited
and give maximum flexibility.
With the dark surfaces, the shop is likely to have at least a 30:1 uniformity ratio,
possibly much higher. Lighting for cleaning and maintenance may have to be
provided separately. If possible, a discrete secondary system that complemented
and raised the uniformity of the lighting would be ideal.
The workshop needs to have a high illumination level on the task areas and
sufficient lighting on adjacent areas to avoid a sharp change in contrast. The grey
walls and ceiling will not help with lighting this space and, as it has a functional
purpose, the best advice to the owner would be to re-paint them a much paler
colour. By changing the colour of the surfaces, the utilisation of any light sources
will be greatly improved. Task area lighting could be provided, suitably colour
corrected for jewellery work and fully adjustable for position. As glare and
reflection could be a problem when working with jewellery, an uplit general
lighting scheme would make use of the recommended paler surfaces and would
just about work with the ceiling height available.
If a fibre optic solution were chosen, the light generator could be installed in the
basement making maintenance easy, even during opening hours.
—— Jewellery display area: to be determined through discussion
—— Sales counter: 500 lux through task lighting
—— Secondary light for cleaning: 200 lux
—— Jewellery workshop: 1500 lux on task area
10.8 Example 7: high This example considers an unfranchised store selling a variety of mobile
telephones. The unit is in a complex of five shops in a town centre built in the
street mobile 1990s. The unit is 8 metres wide and 7 metres deep with a full width, full height
phone store glazed façade facing south-east. The floor is finished in white stone effect matt
finished tiles and the walls are clad in white satin finish facia boards. The ceiling
is a 600 × 600 lay-in grid with white fibre tiles.
Floor to ceiling height is 3.5 metres and the sales area takes up the first 5 metres
of depth. The remaining 2 m × 8 m section is used for storage, staff welfare and
an office.
Mobile phone stores tend to carry relatively little merchandise on the sales floor
limiting it to some display stands and wall mounted displays. As the surfaces are
all white, the space can easily become uniform and take on a clinical look, which
may be intended. However, the full height glazing to the south-east, coupled with
the white surfaces could produce some glare issues during winter with a low sun
angle. Any ceiling or wall mounted display lighting will need to have a high
output if it is to be of benefit. It may be better to suggest displays with built-in
lighting since bringing it closer to the item to be highlighted will improve the
contrast between general and display lighting.
—— Phone display area: to be determined through discussion
—— Sales desks: 500 lux through task lighting
—— Offices: 500 lux

10.9 Example 8: This example considers an existing medium sized supermarket where the owner
wants to add some self-checkout positions without affecting the existing store too
addition of a much.
self-checkout
area in a The store lighting consists of ceiling mounted 1500 mm fluorescent batten
luminaires without controllers on lighting trunking, installed some 10 years ago,
supermarket and delivers an average horizontal illumination of 500 lux across the store at floor
level. Vertical illumination levels of sales shelving is not known. The ceiling is
4 metres high and has a matt white finish. The floor is tiled in a light grey finish.
The store checkout positions have no dedicated lighting or method of controlling

glare from the general sales area lighting. Staff have made no complaints about
glare in checkout screens, which are close to a perimeter wall and, given the
height of the ceiling, are easy to position to avoid any glare.
The area identified for the new self-checkout tills is further into the store and at
least one row of luminaires may be visible on the screens of the self-checkout
machines.
As customers will be performing tasks and will need to be able to clearly read the
information on screen, avoiding reflections and glare is essential. The row of
luminaires that may be visible should be checked to see if that is actually the case.
If it is, then some form of control will be required. The easiest way would be to
fit metal reflectors to the luminaires or to provide ceiling hung screens between
them and the self-checkout machines.
Consideration should be given to providing dedicated lighting over the self-

checkout machines unless 500 lux with a uniformity of 0.6 minimum can be
measured. Adding reflectors or screens will affect the uniformity of the lighting
in the vicinity so the need for additional lighting cannot initially be dismissed.
—— Self-checkout machines: 500 lux
10.10 Example 9: In this example, the estate agency is within a Grade 2 listed terraced Victorian
mews.
high street
estate agent The estate agency occupies the ground floor consisting of a sales area, customer
and staff toilets, staff room with kitchen area and store room.
Ceilings are 3.5 metres high and the sales area is 4 metres wide by 6 metres deep.
It is carpeted in dark green with light green painted walls and a white ceiling.
The front façade is fully glazed.
This type of retail space is in reality an office with the addition of a shop window.
The sales area therefore should be illuminated in line with an office and deliver
300 lux for mainly screen based work or 500 lux for mainly paper based tasks. An
estate agency is likely to have a significant amount of paper usage in brochures
etc., so 500 lux would be reasonable. The relatively high ceiling and narrow width
of the space may allow the placing of computer screens to avoid reflections and
glare without the need for any specific controllers so it is worth discussing the
room layout with the client before design work begins.
Shop windows in estate agents are typically very shallow, only needing to display
posters of houses for sale. Localised lighting can be provided either within the
displays themselves or from ceilings overhead.
—— Sales area: 500 lux

—— Staff room: 200 lux
10.11 Example 10: In this example, the store is simply there to provide a pick-up point for items
ordered online but where the purchaser has chosen to collect their item from a
online purchase convenient location rather than have it delivered to their home.
collection kiosk
The store consists of a small counter and foyer for the public to wait whilst their
purchases are brought to them. The area is utilitarian with white painted walls
and a polished concrete floor. Behind the counter is a racked storage room, office,
toilets and a small staff kitchen.
In terms of a retail space, the foyer and counter are the only areas that can be
considered ‘retail’ in nature. The foyer can be illuminated in many ways and the
building owner will need to be consulted over the decorative level and quality of
luminaires to be used. Some may want just a simple efficient lighting installation
whereas others may want something specific. There may also be a requirement to
match a company ‘standard look’ or theme.
The counter needs to be well lit so that customers can ensure they have collected
the correct parcel and any associated paperwork can be easily read without
misunderstanding. Direct lighting above the counter would be beneficial
therefore delivering 500 lux at 0.6 uniformity.
—— Foyer: level to be determined through discussion

—— Counter: 500 lux
—— Storage: 200 lux
References and BSI (2008a) BS 8206-2: 2008: Lighting for buildings. Code of practice for daylighting (London:
British Standards Institution)
bibliography BSI (2008b) BS EN ISO 9241-302: 2008: Ergonomics of human-system interaction. Terminology
for electronic visual displays (London: British Standards Institution)
BSI (2011a) BS EN 12665: 2011: Light and lighting. Basic terns and criteria for specifying
lighting requirements (London: British Standards Institution)
BSI (2011b) BS EN 12464-1: 2011: Light and lighting. Lighting of work places. Indoor work
places (London: British Standards Institution)
BSI (2013a) BS EN 1838: 2013: Lighting applications. Emergency lighting (London: British
Standards Institution)
BSI (2013b) BS 5499-4: 2013: Safety signs. Code of practice for escape route signing (London:
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BSI (2016) BS 5266-1: 2016: Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of
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BSI (2017a) BS EN 15193-1: 2017: Energy performance of buildings. Energy requirements for
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BSI (2017b) BS 9999: 2017: Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Code of
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BSI (2018) BS 7671: 2018: Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations
(London: British Standards Institution)
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Booklet F2 (Belfast: Department of Finance and Personnel) (available at https://www.
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(accessed June 2018)

References and bibliography 67
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 Statutory Instruments 1996
No. 341 (available at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/341) (accessed June 2018)
IES (2015) IES Method for Evaluating Light Source Color Rendition TM-30-15 (New York,
NY: Illuminating Engineering Society)
Littlefair (1999) Solar shading of buildings Report BR364 (Garston: BRE)
Littlefair (2006) Selecting lighting controls BRE Digest 498 (Garston: BRE)
Littlefair (2011) Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight: a guide to good practice Report
BR209 (Garston: BRE)
NBS (2013a) Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide (2013 edition incorporating
2018 amendments) (Newcastle Upon Tyne: NBS) (available at https://www.planningportal.
co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/74/part_l_-_conservation_of_fuel_and_power/5
NBS (2013b) Fire safety Approved Document B Vol. 2: Buildings other than dwellinghouses
(2006 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments) (Newcastle Upon Tyne: NBS)
(available at https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/63/
part_b_-_fire_safety/2)
NBS (2016a) Conservation of fuel and power in new buildings other than dwellings Approved
Document L2A (2013 edition with 2016 amendments) (Newcastle Upon Tyne: NBS)
(available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-of-fuel-and-
power-approved-document-l) (accessed June 2018)
NBS (2016b) Conservation of fuel and power in existing buildings other than dwellings Approved
Document L2B (2013 edition with 2016 amendments) (Newcastle Upon Tyne: NBS)
(available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-of-fuel-and-
power-approved-document-l) (accessed June 2018)
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Statutory Instruments 2005 No. 1541
(available at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541) (accessed June 2018)
Scottish Government (2017a) Energy Section 6 in Technical Handbook 2017 — Non-Domestic

(Edinburgh: Scottish Government) (available at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-
Environment/Building/Building-standards/techbooks/techhandbooks/
th2017nondomcomp) (accessed June 2018)
Scottish Government (2017b) Fire Section 2 in Technical Handbook 2017 — Non-Domestic

Environment/Building/Building-standards/techbooks/techhandbooks/
th2017nondomcomp) (accessed June 2018)
Scottish Government (2018) Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide for Scotland
Environment/Building/Building-standards/techbooks/techhandbooks/ndbscg) (accessed
June 2018)
SLL (2009) SLL Lighting Handbook (London: Society of Light and Lighting)
SLL (2012) SLL Code for Lighting (London: Society of Light and Lighting)
SLL (2014) Daylighting: A guide for designers SLL Lighting Guide 10 (London: Society of
Light and Lighting)
SLL (2015a) Offices SLL Lighting Guide 7 (London: Society of Light and Lighting)
SLL (2015b) Emergency lighting SLL Lighting Guide 12 (London: Society of Light and
Lighting)
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Statutory Instruments 1992 No.
3004 (available at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004) (accessed June 2018)
Index dali (digital addressable lighting

interface) 32
horizontal illuminance 5
human-centric lighting 51
daylight factor 22
Note: page numbers in italics refer to daylighting 14–15, 21–26 illuminance
illustrations.
daylight linking controls 50 constant illuminance adjustment
new-build 26 50
absence detection 50
orientation of shop window 9 cylindrical 5, 6
accent lighting 5, 12, 13, 14
refurbishment and conversion daylight factor 22
automatic controls see controls
23–25 modelling ratio 6
speculative developments 26 scale of 5
back of house lighting 13, 50
uniformity and autonomy 22 illuminated displays 10
backlit signage 11
decorative schemes see interior image projectors 12
battery systems 55
finishes indirect lighting 40
blinds 23, 25
design coordination 9 combined with direct lighting
BREEAM 48
design factors 2–3 42–45
British Standards 66
BS 5266: 2016 56, 57 design team 2 design criteria 41–42
BS 5499-4: 2013 57 dimming 50, 51 floor mounted 32, 42
BS 7671: 2018 32 direct lighting 35–37 maximum ceiling luminance 41
BS 8206-2: 2008 22 combined with indirect lighting mounting height and locations
BS 9999: 2017 56 42–45 42
BS EN 12464-1: 2011 5 and display screens 37–39 suspended 42
BS EN 12665: 2011 5 lighting styles 30–32 interior finishes 9, 13
BS EN 15193-1: 2017 47 see also task lighting and daylighting 24
BS EN 1838: 2013 56, 57 display lighting 14 refurbishment and conversion 29
BS EN ISO 9241-302: 2008 39 display screens 9, 29 room surface maintenance factor
building orientation 9, 26 and direct lighting 37–39 (rsmf) 16
Building Regulations: Part L 47 luminance limits for luminaires surface reflectance 40–41, 43
building services integration 33, 36 39
mobile devices 52–53 kiosks 59–60, 66
car showrooms 25, 61–62 readability 38
cash desks see sales desks/checkouts lamp depreciation 50
ceiling heights 42 electric lighting 27–45, 28 lamp lumen maintenance factor
ceiling mounted luminaires 33, 34, electrical system 20, 32, 34 (llmf) 16
36 emergency exit signs 56–57 lamp survival factor (lsf) 16
ceiling reflectance see surface emergency lighting 54–56 laptops 52–53
reflectance energy balance 47 leds
change of use 7, 24, 29 energy use 15, 45–49 constant illuminance adjustment
checkouts see sales desks/checkouts assessing 46–47 50
client requirements 2–4, 6–7, 12 back of house lighting 13 furniture mounted 34
client/user types 6 constant illuminance adjustment with indirect element 43
clothing stores 8, 14, 62–63 50 lamp lumen maintenance factor
colour rendering 7–8, 25 and corporate themes 29–30 (llmf) 16
colour schemes 24, 41 maintenance regime 16 task lighting 35
comfort considerations 51 refurbishment and conversion 28 LEED 48
constant illuminance adjustment 50 typical proportions 45 legislative requirements 48–49
control gear 28, 44 environmental assessment methods light output ratio (lor) 46
controls 49–52 48 light spillage 10
combined direct and indirect equipment re-use 14, 28 Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator
luminaires 43 escape lighting 54–56 (leni) 47
for comfort 51 ethernet 32 lighting styles 30–32
constant illuminance adjustment exit signs 56–57 lighting techniques 33
50 extra low voltage (elv) 32, 35 listed properties 18
daylight linking 50 luminaire maintenance factor (lmf)
manual 49, 51 fit-out 20 16
occupant guidance 51 flexibility 20–21, 33 luminaires
for safety 52 ceiling mounted 33, 34, 36
shading 23, 25 glare control 9, 25, 43, 52, 57 combined direct and indirect
speculative developments 21 glazing 22–23 42–44
time out control 51 constant illuminance adjustment
conversions 23, 28 health and safety see safety 50
corporate themes 26, 29–30 considerations direct 35–36
creative design 3–4 high risk task areas 56 ease of access for maintenance
cylindrical illuminance 5, 6 historic buildings 18 30, 42

Index 69
luminaires (continued) retail spaces 17–18 shopping malls 17–18

efficiency 46–47 car showrooms 25, 61–62 signage 10–12
indirect lighting 41–42 clothing stores 8, 14, 62–63 Ska Rating 48
layout 37 gift shops 18 smaller shops and stores 18, 58–59
light output ratio (lor) 46 high street estate agent 65 smartphones 52–53, 54
luminance limits 39, 41 high street jewellers 63–64 solar shading 23, 25
luminous intensity distribution high street mobile phone store 64 speculative developments 7, 19–21,
36, 41 kiosks 59–60, 66 26
power supply 20, 32, 34 small to medium sized general spotlights 14
re-use 14, 28 purpose 58–59 standby lighting 54–56
standby lighting 55 supermarkets 12, 65 supermarkets 12, 65
suspended 33, 34, 36, 42, 44 warehouse style units 60–61 surface reflectance 40–41, 43
task lighting 35 re-use of equipment 14 see also interior finishes
luminous intensity distribution 41 RICS Ska Rating 48 surface textures 24
room height 30 suspended luminaires 33, 34
maintenance factor 15–16 room surface maintenance factor accent lighting 12, 13
manual controls 49, 51 (rsmf) 16 combined direct and indirect 44
mixed developments 17–18
mobile devices 52–54 safety considerations 52, 56 tablets 52–53, 54
modelling ratio 6 safety signs 56–57 task lighting 13, 33, 34–35
sales desks/check outs 9, 19 tcp/ip 32
new-build 26, 29–30 daylighting 22, 23 time-out control 51
illuminance 5 TM-30-15 8
occupant controls 49, 51 localised lighting 33, 47 touch screens 9, 53
office accommodation 13, 50 with mobile devices 52–53 track systems 34
orientation of building 9, 26 modelling ratio 6
with touch screens 53 uplighting 31, 32
partitioning 21 see also display screens user/client types 6
pay desk areas see sales desks/ sales floor lighting 12 utilisation factor (uf) 15–16
checkouts self illuminated signage 11
power supply 20, 32, 34 self-checkout areas 65 vertical surfaces 5
presence detection 50 self-contained retail outlets 17
projected images 12 shading 23, 25 windows 22–23
‘shell and core’ retail space 20 see also daylighting
refurbishment 23, 28 shop window lighting 9–10
Lighting Guide 17:
Lighting for the built environment — Lighting Guide 17: Lighting for retail premises
The Society of Light and Lighting
ISBN 978-1-912034-37-6
Lighting for the

built environment
The Society of Light and Lighting is part of the
The Society of
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers 9 781912 034376 Light and Lighting

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The Society of Light and Lighting

Lighting for the

222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS, UK

The rights of publication or translation are reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or

© October 2018 The Society of Light and Lighting

The Society is part of CIBSE which is a registered charity, number 278104.

ISBN 978-1-912034-37-6 (book)

Printed in England by The Lavenham Press, Lavenham, Suffolk CO10 9RN

Cover illustration: Suspended luminaires combining diffuse and direct lighting

Note from the publisher

Any commercial products depicted, mentioned or described within this

Section 10 of the Guide provides some practical example of how to approach

CIBSE Head of Knowledge

CIBSE Editorial Manager

2 Types of retail outlet..................................................... 16

8 Tablet and touch screen displays.................................. 52

9 Emergency and standby lighting.................................. 54

10 Practical examples of design approaches...................... 58

References and bibliography.................................................... 66

Whilst it is easy to concentrate on the visual effects created in retail lighting, it

Designers of lighting for retail environments need to consider the efficiency of

The retail space under consideration may not be in a large, self-contained

In some instances, it may be appropriate to have a dedicated lighting designer

Control of lighting is an equally important part of the design process and in

—— Is daylight to be optimised or excluded?

—— What tasks are to be performed by staff?

Figure 1.1 A high contrast interior

Where a bespoke approach is acceptable or favoured, the lighting designer will

Whilst the ‘rules’ in lighting design, such as complimenting colours, is not

Scale of illuminance (lux):

Whilst illumination of vertical surfaces such as magazine racks in a newsagent

The need to address the illumination of a person’s face is important and BS EN

Cylindrical illuminance can be thought of as the illumination on a vertical object

It is also important to understand if their location in a room is limited to a

Figure 1.2 Application of cylindrical

Task area illumination

or decorative lighting required. This can be lighting for merchandise as well as

Figure 1.3 The same colour rendition

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has introduced an alternative

Ra > 90 should be acceptable for clothing or home furnishing stores, compared

Figure 1.4 Good use of colour to

Figure 1.5 Decorative spot lighting

Figure 1.6 Shop window lighting

Illuminated shop windows can cause problems though. If illuminated throughout

Figure 1.7 Externally illuminated sign

Figure 1.8 Backlit retail sign (courtesy

Figure 14.4 Cold cathode ‘neon’

—— What type of merchandise will be present?

The illumination levels appropriate to particular retail environments are given in

Figure 1.10 Suspended accent lighting

Lighting to office accommodation task areas should provide an illumination

Figure 1.11 Typical back of house

Another alternative is to omit lights from a sequence in order to create a break

Whichever approach is taken to providing accent lighting, designers should

—— the size, shape and height of the sales area