Why healthcare lighting is measured differently
Healthcare buildings ask lighting to do contradictory things. A ward needs gentle, low-glare light so patients can rest, enough light for reading in bed, a much higher level when a clinician examines a patient, and a very low level at night that still lets staff observe safely. A GP consulting room needs good colour rendering to judge skin tone. A care home corridor needs even light with no dark patches, because older residents and people living with dementia are at higher risk of falls. A healthcare lighting survey measures each of these modes rather than a single average.
Regulated providers in England must meet Regulation 15 (premises and equipment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, which CQC inspects against, and staff are protected by regulation 8 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The detailed lighting guidance comes from BS EN 12464-1:2021, CIBSE SLL Lighting Guide 2 (LG2) Lighting for healthcare premises, and the Health Technical Memoranda and Health Building Notes used in NHS estates. See our healthcare lighting requirements guide for detail.
Healthcare lux values
| Space or task | Em (lux) |
|---|---|
| Wards: general lighting | 100 |
| Wards: reading lighting | 300 |
| Simple examinations | 300 |
| Examination and treatment | 1000 |
| Consulting rooms: general lighting | 500 |
| Waiting rooms | 200 |
| Healthcare corridors: day | 200 |
| Healthcare corridors: night | 50 |
Values are maintained illuminance from BS EN 12464-1:2021; colour rendering requirements in clinical areas are higher than in general buildings, and LG2 adds guidance on night lighting, observation and patient comfort. Specialist areas such as operating theatres have their own requirements and are scoped individually.
What we survey
- Wards and bed bays: general, reading and examination lighting, plus night and observation modes.
- Consulting, examination and treatment rooms in hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics and dental practices.
- Care home bedrooms, lounges and dining rooms, with attention to evenness and glare for older residents.
- Corridors, stairs and entrances in day and night settings, where falls risk is highest.
- Nurses' stations, medicine rooms and clean utility rooms where labels and doses are checked.
- Waiting areas and receptions.
- Emergency escape lighting, which is often critical in premises where people sleep or cannot evacuate quickly.
Who asks for a healthcare lighting report
Care home managers and registered managers use our reports as premises evidence ahead of CQC inspection. Practice managers request them when GP surgeries are refurbished or when clinicians complain about examination lighting. NHS and private hospital estates teams commission surveys to support condition reports, refurbishment briefs and LED programmes. Insurers and landlords of healthcare buildings ask for them too, and fire risk assessors often recommend an emergency lighting lux survey in residential care.
How we work in clinical and care settings
- We agree scope, infection control requirements and quiet times with the manager or estates team beforehand.
- Our engineer follows your sign-in, infection prevention and confidentiality procedures, and works around patients and residents with minimal intrusion.
- Rooms are measured with a calibrated lux meter at bed, desk, couch or floor level as appropriate, in each lighting mode.
- Night-time modes can be measured on an evening visit where needed.
Deliverables
- A room-by-room report against the BS EN 12464-1:2021 value for each mode of use.
- Average, minimum and uniformity figures, with corridor and stair results highlighted for falls prevention.
- Notes on glare, flicker, failed lamps, controls and colour rendering concerns.
- Prioritised recommendations and a summary page you can file as premises evidence.
Report turnaround for care homes and GP surgeries is confirmed when you book. Hospital programmes run to a timetable agreed at scoping.
Hospital lux testing across London and the South East
We survey hospitals, clinics, GP surgeries, dental practices and care homes across London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. Care groups with several homes can have every site reported in the same format.
Price
Care home and GP surgery lighting surveys start from £220. Hospitals and multi-building healthcare sites are priced on application once we understand the departments and access arrangements. Prices are confirmed before booking; see pricing.
Book a healthcare lighting survey
Tell us the type of premises, the number of rooms or departments and any inspection dates, and we will propose a survey that fits around care. Book your healthcare survey.
Frequently asked questions
Does CQC require a lux survey?
CQC does not name a lux survey, but Regulation 15 requires premises to be suitable and properly maintained. A measured report is clear evidence that lighting in rooms and corridors is adequate.
What lux level does a hospital ward need?
BS EN 12464-1:2021 recommends 100 lux general lighting on wards, 300 lux for reading and simple examinations, and 1000 lux for examination and treatment.
Do you measure night lighting in care homes?
Yes. We can visit in the evening to measure night and observation modes in corridors and bedrooms, where safe movement and resident rest both matter.
How much does a care home lighting survey cost?
Care home and GP surgery surveys start from £220. Hospitals and larger healthcare sites are priced on application, and every price is confirmed before booking.