General Requirements - Lighting

The standard for temporary workspaces (29 CFR 1910.142) details lighting requirements in regard to both the types of lighting fixtures and the levels of illumination.

The requirements for lighting fixtures are as follows:

• If there is available electric service, then each habitable room in a camp must have a minimum of one light fixture on the ceiling and one floor or wall outlet. (The standard does not define habitable room.)
• Laundry rooms, toilet rooms, and other rooms "where people congregate" must have a minimum of one light fixture on the ceiling and one floor or wall outlet.

Lighting level requirements are based on a measurement called foot-candles. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines foot-candles as "a unit of illuminance on a surface that is everywhere one foot from a uniform point source of light of one candle and equal to one lumen per square foot."

• Toilet and storage room light levels must be a minimum of 20 foot-candles and 30 inches from the floor.
• Other rooms (such as kitchens and living quarters) must be a minimum of 30 foot-candles 30 inches from the floor.

For more information regarding lighting, consult the OSHA standard 1915 ("General Working Conditions"). This standard contains 1915.82 ("Lighting"), which provides a chart for lighting requirements.

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