Are there regulations for car park lighting?
For car parks belonging to workplaces, DIN EN 12464-2 (lighting of outdoor work places) is the central basis for planning. Anyone operating a car park for customers, employees or visitors also has a duty of care: the area must be lit so that it can be used safely. Public roads and paths, on the other hand, fall under DIN EN 13201 – more on this in the guide LED street lighting.
Depending on the location, there are also requirements on light pollution and insect protection, for example from the German Federal Nature Conservation Act, state regulations or local development plans. Exactly which requirements apply should be clarified early in the project.
How bright does a car park have to be?
DIN EN 12464-2 distinguishes car parks by traffic volume. The following maintained average illuminance values are typical guide values:
| Car park | Example | Typical maintained value |
|---|---|---|
| Light traffic | Smaller shops, residential complexes | 5 lx |
| Medium traffic | Office buildings, industry, sports facilities | 10 lx |
| Heavy traffic | Large shopping centres, busy facilities | 20 lx |
It is not just the average that matters, but also uniformity. Dark islands between bright pools of light feel unsafe even when the average is right. Entrances and exits, footpaths and pay machines deserve particular attention.
Mast height, spacing and optics
In car parks, luminaires are usually mounted on masts between about 4 and 10 metres – lower along footpaths, higher on large areas. Taller masts cover more area and reduce the number of light points, but require careful glare control.
- Asymmetric optics direct the light onto the parking area rather than onto façades, roads or neighbouring properties.
- Luminaires with a shallow tilt and no upward light output avoid sky glow.
- Mast spacing: It follows from mast height, optics and the required uniformity. Rules of thumb help for a first estimate but do not replace a lighting calculation.
- Robustness: Outdoor luminaires need high protection ratings, impact resistance and surge protection – the Series 16 street light for example offers IP66, IK08 and 10 kV surge protection.
Which colour temperature for a car park?
Outdoors, warm white light of around 3,000 K or warmer is increasingly used. It feels more pleasant, is perceived as less glaring and, according to current knowledge, attracts fewer insects than cool white light with a high blue content. Neutral white light around 4,000 K can make sense where colours need to be clearly recognisable, for example at loading bays.
Dimming, night-time reduction and sensors
A car park is not equally busy all night. LED luminaires can be dimmed continuously – without the limitations of old sodium vapour or metal halide lamps.
- Time-based night-time dimming: For example reduced output from 10 pm, with full light again at shift changes.
- Motion sensors: A base level of light that rises to full output when movement is detected.
- Astronomical time switch or twilight switch: light only when it is really dark.
How far the light may be dimmed depends on use and safety requirements. How much sensors save in general is shown in our guide Presence detectors and light control.
What does LED car park lighting cost?
Costs depend heavily on whether masts and cabling already exist. Simply replacing the luminaires on existing masts keeps the investment manageable. New masts with foundations, cable trenches and connections increase costs considerably.
- Number and height of light points
- Luminaires and optics
- Masts, foundations, civil engineering
- Controls and sensors
- Installation, lifting platform, disposal of the old luminaires
Because car park luminaires run for many hours a year, switching from old discharge lamps to LED usually pays off quickly. As a manufacturer we offer competitive prices – ask for a quotation for your site.
ConsultationLet's talk about your project.Lighting calculation and quotation from the manufacturer.Frequently asked questions
How many lux does a car park need?
DIN EN 12464-2 states typical maintained values of 5 lx for car parks with light traffic, 10 lx for medium and 20 lx for heavy traffic. Good uniformity is just as important.
How high should car park luminaires be mounted?
Mast heights between about 4 and 10 metres are usual. The right height depends on the size of the area, the optics, the surroundings and glare control.
Does a private car park have to be lit?
Operators have a duty of care. Whether and how brightly it must be lit depends on use, opening times and local requirements. For workplace car parks, DIN EN 12464-2 is the basis for planning.
Can I keep the old masts?
Often yes. If masts and cabling are in good condition, only the luminaires are replaced. That reduces costs considerably.
Which colour temperature is insect-friendly?
Warm white light with a low blue content, around 3,000 K or warmer, is considered more insect-friendly. It is equally important that no light is emitted upwards.
