Company premises: minimum values under ASR A3.4
ASR A3.4 "Lighting and visual contact" specifies Germany's Workplace Ordinance. Its Annex 4 lists minimum illuminance values for outdoor areas – a selection:
| Area | Minimum value | Colour rendering Ra |
|---|---|---|
| Footpaths | 5 lx | 25 |
| Company car parks | 10 lx | 25 |
| Site roads with loading zone, up to 30 km/h | 10 lx | 25 |
| Site roads with loading zone, up to 50 km/h | 20 lx | 25 |
| Bulk goods storage areas | 10 lx | 25 |
| Piece goods storage, handling areas, loading points | 30 lx | 25 |
| Gates | 50 lx | 25 |
| Petrol stations | 100 lx | 60 |
| Loading ramps | 150 lx | 40 |
Minimum value means: this value must not be undercut even after years of operation and with dirty luminaires. New installations are therefore designed with a margin.
Customer car parks
DIN EN 12464-2 distinguishes car parks by traffic volume:
| Car park | Example | Typical maintained value |
|---|---|---|
| Light traffic | Residential complexes, smaller shops | 5 lx |
| Medium traffic | Offices, businesses, sports facilities | 10 lx |
| Heavy traffic | Supermarkets, retail parks, shopping centres | 20 lx |
How masts, optics and night dimming are planned is explained in our guide to car park lighting.
Streets and paths
Public roads, cycle paths and footpaths are designed to DIN EN 13201. For residential streets and paths, the P classes are mostly used, for example 15 lx (P1), 10 lx (P2) or 7.5 lx (P3). Which class applies is usually set by the road authority. Private access roads and site roads on company premises fall under ASR A3.4 instead. More in our guide to LED street lighting.
Car park and underground garage
For multi-storey car parks and underground garages, DIN EN 12464-1 typically specifies 75 lx for driveways and parking areas and 300 lx for entrances and exits by day. In addition, the German state garage regulations require switchable general lighting and – in enclosed large garages – emergency lighting. Details in our guide to Car park lighting.
Golf and sport
Outdoor sports areas are designed to DIN EN 12193. A driving range needs at least 100 lx at the tee, a football pitch for training 75 lx. All values are in the overview Sports lighting lux levels and in our guide to Driving range lighting.
From the table to the finished installation
- Uniformity: Dark patches between bright pools of light feel unsafe, even if the average is right.
- Glare: Tilt luminaires correctly and choose optics that do not shine into windows, onto roads or neighbouring properties.
- Colour temperature: outdoors usually warm white around 3,000 K, at loading ramps or petrol stations also neutral white.
- Controls: night dimming, dusk switches or motion sensors where use allows.
We calculate your area to these values and supply luminaires, masts and lighting calculation from one source – more on the page LED outdoor lighting.
ConsultationLet's talk about your project.Lighting calculation and quotation from the manufacturer.Frequently asked questions
How many lux does a car park need?
Company car parks need at least 10 lx under ASR A3.4. For customer car parks, DIN EN 12464-2 specifies 5, 10 or 20 lx depending on traffic – busy car parks such as at supermarkets or retail parks 20 lx.
How bright must a company yard be?
Under ASR A3.4, for example, 10 lx on site roads up to 30 km/h, 20 lx up to 50 km/h, 30 lx on handling and loading areas, 50 lx at gates and 150 lx at loading ramps.
How many lux does a footpath need?
On company premises at least 5 lx under ASR A3.4. Public paths are designed to DIN EN 13201, often in classes P1 to P3 with 15, 10 or 7.5 lx.
How bright must a petrol station be?
At least 100 lx under ASR A3.4 with a colour rendering index of at least Ra 60.
Which rules apply to outdoor lighting on company premises?
For workplaces, Germany's Workplace Ordinance with the technical rule ASR A3.4. DIN EN 12464-2 also serves as a design basis. Public roads are covered by DIN EN 13201.
