What commercial lux testing covers
Most commercial buildings are a mix of very different spaces under one roof: open-plan offices, meeting rooms, a reception, a ground-floor shop or café, stairs and corridors, toilets, plant rooms and a bin store. Each has its own recommended maintained illuminance, and a single average figure for the whole building tells you very little. Our commercial lux testing measures each area against the value that actually applies to it, so you get a clear room-by-room picture rather than a headline number.
Under regulation 8 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, every workplace must have suitable and sufficient lighting. HSE guidance HSG38 Lighting at work explains how to judge that, and BS EN 12464-1:2021 gives the task-specific values that lighting designers, insurers and surveyors use as the benchmark. A commercial lux survey turns those documents into measured evidence for your building.
Typical target values in commercial buildings
The figures below are maintained illuminance (Em) values from BS EN 12464-1:2021. The 2021 edition also lists higher "modified" values for where tasks are demanding, daylight is poor or occupants are older; we report against both where relevant.
| Area | Em (lux) | Uniformity (Uo) |
|---|---|---|
| Office work: writing, reading, data processing | 500 | 0.60 |
| Conference and meeting rooms | 500 | 0.60 |
| Reception desk | 300 | 0.60 |
| Retail sales area | 300 | 0.40 |
| Till area | 500 | 0.60 |
| Circulation corridors | 100 | 0.40 |
| Toilets and washrooms | 200 | 0.40 |
| Plant rooms and switchgear rooms | 200 | 0.40 |
For the full list, use our required lux lookup or read the BS EN 12464-1:2021 guide.
Who asks for a commercial lux report
- Landlords and managing agents checking common parts, or recording the lighting condition at the start or end of a lease for dilapidations.
- Tenants who have had complaints from staff about glare, dim desks or headaches and need objective numbers before they challenge a landlord or a fit-out contractor.
- Insurers and risk surveyors who ask for evidence that slip, trip and fall risks on stairs, ramps and walkways are controlled.
- Health and safety officers completing a workplace or display screen equipment risk assessment.
- Fit-out and LED retrofit contractors who need to prove a new scheme meets the specification at handover.
What happens on site
We agree the scope before the visit: which floors, which rooms and whether you need emergency lighting checked as well. On the day, an engineer from Polarity Electrics (an NICEIC approved contractor) arrives with a calibrated lux meter and works through each area in turn.
- Grid measurement. Readings are taken on a grid sized to the room, at the working plane (normally desk height, around 0.75 m) for task areas and at floor level for corridors, stairs and circulation routes.
- Daylight control. Where possible we measure with blinds closed or after dark, or record daylight separately, so the result reflects the electric lighting you are responsible for.
- Uniformity and condition. We calculate the minimum-to-average ratio, note failed or flickering lamps, dirty diffusers, poor control settings and obstructions such as high shelving or new partitions.
- Task checks. Specific workstations, tills or reception counters that staff have raised concerns about are measured individually.
Occupied buildings are fine; we work around staff and can attend early, late or at weekends to avoid disruption and get cleaner readings. If you want to know more about method, see how lux is measured.
What you receive
- A written report with a pass, marginal or fail result for every area surveyed.
- Average, minimum and uniformity values compared with the BS EN 12464-1:2021 target for that space.
- Marked-up floor plans or sketches showing where readings were taken.
- Prioritised, practical recommendations: cleaning, relamping, control changes or targeted fitting upgrades, rather than a blanket "replace everything".
- A summary page suitable for passing to an insurer, landlord or board.
The report turnaround is confirmed when you book; if you have an inspection or lease deadline, tell us when you book and we will confirm the turnaround in writing.
Commercial lux testing across London and the South East
We survey commercial premises throughout London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, from single shop units to multi-floor office buildings and mixed-use blocks. For portfolios, we can schedule several sites into one programme and produce reports in a consistent format so results can be compared building by building.
Prices
A spot check of a single problem area starts from £90. A full office or retail survey of a single floor up to 250 m² starts from £175. An insurance or dilapidations lighting report starts from £190, and multi-site work is priced on application. Every price is confirmed before you book; see our pricing or estimate with the cost calculator.
Book a commercial lux survey
Tell us the address, the approximate floor area and what prompted the survey, whether that is a complaint, a lease event, an insurer request or a new lighting scheme. We will confirm the scope, price and a date. Book your commercial lux test.
Frequently asked questions
Is lux testing a legal requirement for commercial buildings?
There is no law that names a lux meter, but regulation 8 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires suitable and sufficient lighting. A measured lux survey is the most straightforward way to prove you meet that duty.
Can you test an occupied office or shop?
Yes. We work around staff and customers, and can attend early, late or at weekends if that gives cleaner readings or avoids disruption.
What is the difference between a spot check and a full survey?
A spot check, from £90, measures one problem area or a handful of workstations. A full survey, from £175 for a single floor up to 250 m², grid-measures every area in scope and reports each against its BS EN 12464-1:2021 target.
Can a commercial lux report be used for dilapidations?
Yes. We can record lighting levels at the start or end of a lease so landlord and tenant have an objective baseline; insurance and dilapidations reports start from £190.