Building Regulations -Non Dwellings

Updated 24th March 2026

click here to view the updated documents

CURRENT BUILDING REGULATIONS

Statutory guidance Approved Document L (2026)

WILL MY PRODUCTS COMPLY (with the proposed regulations)

Do the products you use comply?

Click on the above box to try our product compliance simulator

All UK buildings must comply with the regulations produced by the UK government; specifications must ensure that the lighting designs utilise conforming products. and that those products are installed by the electrical contractors. The resposibility lies with the landlord, building occupier or owner of the premises.

There are two seperate documents in force. Click here for dwellings guidance

Building Regulations Document L Volume 2 - Building other than Dwellings.

Fixed internal lighting must achieve illumination levels appropriate to the activity in the space, adhering to CIBSE’s SLL Code for Lighting (or equivalent) without over-illuminating. (Note: Calculations are not expected for small spaces like toilets or storerooms with low total lighting power).
Scope Exclusions: Specialist lighting (e.g., theatrical spotlights, stage lighting, gobo projectors, wall-washers) is excluded from these minimum efficacy standards.

Here is the summary of the specific lighting requirements outlined in Approved Document L, Volume 2 (2026 Edition):

General Standards

Internal Lighting Efficacy Requirements

Fixed internal lighting must satisfy one of the following criteria depending on the lighting type:

General Lighting: Must achieve either:
1. An average luminaire efficacy >105 (LM/PCW), or
2. A Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) calculated using Appendix B methodology that does not exceed the maximum values set in Table B1.

Display Lighting:

Must achieve any one of the following:
1. A rated power usage 0.3w/M in each space.
2. A compliant LENI calculation per Table B1.
An average light source efficacy > 95 (LM/PCW)
High Excitation Purity Light Sources: Must achieve an average light source efficacy > 65 (LM/PCW).
Lift Car Lighting: General and display lighting inside lift cars must achieve an average luminaire efficacy 105 (LM/PCW).

2

Internal Lighting Controls & Metering

Controls Design Guidance: Systems should be specified following BRE Digest 498.
Automatic Absence/Presence Shutdown: Automatic controls must turn off general lighting when spaces are unoccupied in:
- All unoccupied spaces.
- Occupied spaces where suitable for the application.
Hotel Accommodation: Guest bedrooms require key-card switches or automatic occupancy detection to shut down lights when unoccupied.
Daylight Dimming/Switching: Occupied spaces receiving high natural light levels must feature daylight-linked controls (e.g., photo-switching or daylight dimming).
Display Lighting Circuits: Display lighting must be on dedicated circuits that can be switched independently from general ambient lighting.
Submetering Requirements: General and display lighting energy must be metered using one of the following:
1. Dedicated circuits with a kWh meter per circuit.
2. Local power meters integrated into or coupled with lighting management controllers.
3. A lighting management system that measures energy use and feeds data to a Building Management System (BMS).

Fixed External Lighting Requirements (New Buildings)

Design & Light Pollution Mitigation: Luminance levels must match space activity (per CIBSE SLL Code). Light must be directed using shields, reflectors, or baffles (downward where feasible) to minimise sky glow and spill in line with ILP Guidance Note GN01/21.
Automatic Controls: External lighting must automatically switch off during:
Daylight hours.
Non-operational nighttime hours.
Exceptions: Controls are not mandatory if lighting is essential for safety/security, or if the luminaire (or group controlled by a single sensor) consumes < 4w maximum rated power.

Existing Buildings & Consequential Improvements

Upgrading Existing Lighting Systems: When consequential improvements apply to existing buildings with a total useful floor area > 1000 m².
General lighting systems serving areas > 100 m² with an average efficacy < 60 (LM/PCW) must be upgraded with compliant luminaires and/or controls.
Any general lighting with efficacy < 60 (LM/PCW) within an area served by a new or expanded fixed building service must be upgraded

Summary Check List

Feature / Area

Requirement Standard

Key Criteria and Notes

General Design Standard

General Internal Lighting

Display Lighting

High Excitation Purity

Lift Car Lighting

Internal Occupancy Controls

Daylight Controls

Circuit Segregation

Submetering

Fixed External Lighting

Existing Buildings Upgrades

Exclusions

CIBSE SLL Code for Lighting

Greater than 105 light-source lumens per Circuit Watt (LM/PCW) or LENI

Greater than 105 light-source lumens per Circuit Watt (LM/PCW) or 0.3w/m

Greater than 65 light-source lumens per Circuit Watt (LM/PCW)

Greater than 105 light-source lumens per Circuit Watt (LM/PCW)

Automatic Absence/Presence Shutdown

Daylight Dimming / Photo-switching

Dedicated Display Circuits

kWh Metering per Circuit or BMS

Greater than 105 light-source lumens per Circuit Watt (LM/PCW) + Dark-Sky Controls

Upgrade threshold < 60 light-source lumens per Circuit Watt (LM/PCW)

Specialist Lighting Excluded

Illumination levels must match activity without over-illuminating. (Calculations are exempt for small spaces like toilets/stores).

Average luminaire efficacy threshold, or must satisfy LENI calculation limits per Table B1.

Light source efficacy, power density limit per space, or compliant LENI calculation.

Average light source efficacy minimum for specialist sources.

Applies to general and display lighting inside lift cars.

Must shut down general lighting when spaces are unoccupied. Guest bedrooms require key-cards or occupancy sensors.

Mandatory in occupied spaces with high natural light levels.

Display lighting circuits must switch independently from general ambient lighting.

Submetering required via dedicated circuit kWh meters, localised power meters, or BMS-connected controllers.

Must direct light down/use shielding per ILP GN01/21. Requires automatic daylight and non-operational hours shut-off controls. (Exempt if <4W or safety-critical).

In buildings $> 1000 \text{ m}^2$, existing lighting in areas $> 100 \text{ m}^2$ with efficacy $<60 \text{ lm/cW}$ must be upgraded during consequential improvements.

Specialist process lighting (theatrical, stage, gobo, wall-washers) is exempt from efficacy limits.

WILL MY PRODUCTS COMPLY (with the proposed regulations)

Click on the above box to try our product compliance simulator

Do the products you use comply?

How do I know if my products meet the new regs?

To ensure that your chosen or preferred products comply with the new 2026 Building Regulations, we have designed an interactive model:

Follow these instructions

Enter the product wattage.
Enter the total lumens output for the product as published in the manufacturer's data.
Select the tick if the wattage is the published wattage only.
Unselect the tick if the wattage includes circuit losses for driver/gear.
Select from the Building Application Type, applicable to your type of project.
Results are shown in the calculated Efficacy at the bottom.

You are currently viewing the information for all buildings other than dwellings, to see information for dwellings only .

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

Building Regulations Document L Volume 1 Dwellings.

The information above is intended to be used as a guide only, this does not mean that all criteria has been met and cannot be used for duplication or to accompany a planning application.