BSI sheds light on the recommendations for daylight in buildings

May 16, 2019

Few people would dispute the benefits of natural light. The positive effects of daylighting* can be observed in how it supports the visual demands of building occupants, improves building performance and contributes to human health.

BSI has published a new European standard for the provision of daylight in buildings which may be regularly occupied by people for extended periods - BS EN 17037:2018 Daylight in Buildings. This standard applies to all such spaces, from offices to dwellings, and takes into consideration the variations in recommendations relating to the geographical and climatic differences across Europe.

Daylighting refers to the use of natural light as the primary source of daytime illumination, whether from brilliant or overcast sunlight, to create an adequate impression of lightness indoors and provide an adequate view to outside. This standard specifies the elements for achieving this. It also provides recommendations and defines the metrics used for evaluation, calculation and verification for the duration of sunlight exposure within occupied rooms and how to limit glare.

BS EN 17037:2018 Daylight in Buildings supersedes BS 8206-2:2008 Lighting for buildings, Code of practice for daylighting and was prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 169 “Light and Lighting”. New material included:

  • The use of median daylight illuminance
  • New metric for daylight glare
  • New assessment for sunlight in buildings
  • New ways of assessing view

Nick Fleming, Head of Manufacturing at BSI, said: “There are many benefits in harnessing the power of daylight effectively in building design and usage: Human health through a connection with outdoors, building performance and electric lighting energy efficiency.

“This new European standard provides guidance to building developers, planners, architects and lighting engineers on daylight design in domestic and non-domestic buildings including how to use daylighting to provide lighting within interiors and limit glare.”

Further information on - BS EN 17037:2018 Daylight in Buildings - can be found at https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030342286

Contact:

British Standards Institute (BSI)

Email:

[email protected]

Web site:

https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030342286