What are the minimum lighting levels for workplaces?

Short answer: it depends on the area and the task: indoors, 100 lux in corridors and stores, 500 lux at general office workstations and more for fine work; outdoors, from 5 lux on walkways to 200 lux for fine work in industrial yards. These are minimum maintained averages, so the average must not fall below them as lamps age and fittings get dirty. Emergency lighting has separate minimums, most of them higher than before.

Lighting falls under regulation 11 of the Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 (Government Notice 5952, Government Gazette 52226, 6 March 2025), which took effect on publication. They replace the lighting rules and lux schedule of the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, 1987, which regulation 21 repealed on 6 September 2026. An amendment of 20 February 2026 (Government Notice 7149, Government Gazette 54177) changed a few rows in Tables 4 and 6 (abattoirs, gas works, hat making, and canals and locks), none of them quoted here.

What regulation 11 requires

You must provide natural light, artificial light or both, and ensure:

• Illuminance: the minimum maintained average values in Tables 4 to 7, set out below.

• Uniformity: indoors, at least 0,75 on any horizontal working plane in a room, and at least 0,20 between the average on a working plane and on adjacent floor areas within five metres; outdoors, the ratios in Table 6 or 7.

• Glare and flicker: eliminated or, where that is not reasonably practicable, reduced to maintain visual performance.

• Stroboscopic effect: eliminated where the hazard is identified.

• Specialised illumination: for hazardous workplaces or tasks, and precision tasks, as far as reasonably practicable.

• Maintenance: luminaires, lamps and windows kept clean, and repaired or replaced when defective.

Minimum lux values, indoors and outdoors

Table 4 lists interior values by area and industry, including:

• Offices: 500 lux for general office workstations; 300 lux for reception desks.

• Circulation: 100 lux for circulation areas and corridors; 150 lux for stairs and escalators.

• Amenities: 200 lux for toilets, washrooms and canteens.

• Stores and plant rooms: 100 lux for stores, stockrooms and cold stores; 150 lux for loading bays; 200 lux for plant and switchgear rooms; 300 lux for dispatch packing and handling.

• Electrical manufacturing: 750 lux for fine assembly; 1 500 lux for electronic workshops, testing and adjusting.

Table 5 gives ranges for unlisted interior areas, such as 200 to 500 lux for simple visual requirements and 500 to 1 000 lux for demanding ones.

Table 6 sets exterior values by industry, with minimum uniformity ratios. Examples:

• Industrial yards and storage areas: 20, 50, 100 and 200 lux for very rough, rough, accurate and fine work; 5 lux on pedestrian-only walkways; 10 or 20 lux for vehicle traffic at up to 10 or 40 km/h.

• Parking lots and pedestrian areas: 5, 10 or 20 lux for light, medium or heavy traffic.

Unlisted exterior areas fall under Table 7: 20 or 50 lux for very rough work, 50 lux for rough, 100 lux for accurate and 200 lux for fine work.

Emergency lighting has changed

Regulation 11(5) requires every employer to provide emergency lighting for evacuation giving, at floor level, at least:

• 1 lux for escape route illumination;

• 5 lux for emergency escape illumination and at an emergency exit;

• 20 lux where machinery must be stopped or plant shut down before evacuating, or where dangerous materials or processes are present.

It must come on within 30 seconds of a lighting failure, or 0,5 seconds in the 20 lux cases, and be tested at intervals of not more than 3 months.

The old rules required 0,3 lux (20 lux in the higher-risk cases) within 15 seconds, and only in indoor workplaces without natural lighting or with habitual night work. Systems designed to them may now fall short.

Measurement, monitoring and who may do it

Your physical agent exposure risk assessment, repeated at least every 24 months, must cover lighting. Where it shows employees may be exposed to illumination below the Table 4 to 7 values, flicker, a stroboscopic effect or specialised illumination, regulation 11(7) and (8) require an illumination measurement and monitoring programme:

• Frequency: as determined by the risk assessment, or at intervals not exceeding 24 months. An inspector may direct you in writing to repeat it.

• Method: SANS 10114-1 for interior, SANS 10389-1 for exterior and SANS 10114-2 for emergency lighting, with instruments calibrated to a traceable standard.

• Who: a competent person. The regulations do not require an approved inspection authority for this work.

• Follow-up: a documented action plan for the recommendations; records kept for 40 years.

A quick self-check

• If your last lighting survey is over 24 months old, or used the old Environmental Regulations values, plan a new one.

• Walk the site, yards and parking areas included, and note dark spots, failed lamps, and dirty fittings or windows.

• Check the emergency lighting test record: tests must be no more than 3 months apart.

• List areas where machinery must be stopped before evacuation or dangerous materials are present: they need 20 lux within 0,5 seconds.

• Look for flicker, glare on screens, and rotating machinery that looks slowed or stationary.

How Qualitas can help

Our illumination surveys measure illuminance and uniformity area by area, check emergency lighting, and compare the results with Tables 4 to 7, in a report written for management, SHEQ teams and auditors.

Our overview of the Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 explains the wider framework, and indoor air quality can be assessed on the same visit.

Not sure what your site needs? Start with our free Compliance Gap Analysis, request a quote, or call or WhatsApp 082 649 6599.

This article summarises the Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 (Government Notice 5952, Government Gazette 52226, 6 March 2025), as amended by Government Notice 7149 (Government Gazette 54177, 20 February 2026), for general guidance. It is not legal advice; refer to the regulations for the full requirements.

Christo de Wet is a SAIOH-registered occupational hygienist with 15 years' experience and the founder of Qualitas Occupational Consulting.