Lighting design

Why are errors in a lighting design only discovered after construction is completed?

Insufficient lighting in the production workshop, illumination of video cameras in the sales area, blinding of pedestrians by external floodlights, non-compliance of emergency lighting with fire safety requirements - all these are consequences that appear already during operation and the correction of which requires re-installation. Lighting systems seem to be a simple section compared to transformer substations or extra-low-voltage systems - until it becomes clear that lighting calculations have not been carried out, standardized illuminance values ​​are not achieved, and emergency routes are not equipped with self-powered signs.

AYU-Project develops design documentation and working documentation for indoor and outdoor lighting systems for facilities of any purpose - from residential complexes and shopping centers to industrial enterprises and sports facilities. The basis of each project is lighting engineering calculations with verification of standardized parameters, energy-efficient selection of equipment and documentation ready for examination.

What lighting systems do we design?

For each facility, the regulatory framework determines a specific list of lighting systems that must be provided as part of the DD. AYU-Project develops all types of lighting systems - independently or as part of the complete electrical section of the facility.

Work lighting - the main lighting system that provides a standardized level of illumination on work surfaces, workplaces and in general movement areas. Designed for all rooms and functional areas of the facility; lighting parameters (Em, UGR, Ra) are normalized depending on the category and subcategory of visual work according to SP 52.13330.2016 And GOST R 55710-2013.

Emergency lighting includes two fundamentally different subtypes: backup (ensures continuation of work when the working lighting disappears with an illumination of at least 30% of the standard) and evacuation (ensures the safe exit of people from the building - lighting of evacuation routes, high-risk areas, anti-panic lighting of open spaces). Emergency lighting is powered from an independent source: a central unit or individual battery packs in the luminaires.

Security and emergency lighting - systems that provide the minimum necessary illumination of protected perimeters and premises during non-working hours.

Outdoor lighting territories and roads - design of lighting installations for parking lots, pedestrian zones, entrance groups, internal passages, and the perimeter of the facility. The average illumination of the roadway, uniformity and limitation of glare are standardized.

Architectural and decorative lighting - artistic lighting of facades, accent lighting of architectural elements, seasonal illumination. It is developed taking into account the color temperature, color rendering index and angle of radiation of the lamps.

Sports lighting - lighting installations for indoor and outdoor sports facilities, where lighting standards are determined by the type of sport, the level of competition and the requirements of television broadcasts.

What facilities do we design lighting for?

AYU-Project carries out the design of lighting systems for all types of objects in the B2B construction segment:

• Residential complexes - apartment, communal and house-side lighting systems, lighting of underground parking lots, staircases and MOPs with automatic control;
• Shopping and shopping and entertainment centers - trading floors, common areas, atriums, parking lots, facade lighting; calculation of energy efficiency and lighting system indicators;
• Business centers and office buildings - working lighting in accordance with GOST R 55710-2013, lighting control by zones and schedule;
• Industrial enterprises - production workshops with high requirements for illumination and color rendering, warehouses, technical rooms, lighting in special environmental conditions (dust, moisture, explosion hazard);
• Medical institutions - standardized lighting of offices, operating rooms and wards, taking into account the requirements for color rendering and elimination of pulsations;
• Educational institutions - classrooms, auditoriums, gyms; standardized illumination from 300 to 500 lux SP 52.13330;
• Sports facilities - calculation according to GOST and federation standards for specific sports;
• Road and transport infrastructure facilities - lighting of roads, parking lots, airfield platforms, station areas.

What is lighting design and why is it impossible without it?

Lighting calculation is a mandatory engineering procedure during which the number, type, power and location of lighting devices necessary to achieve standardized lighting parameters in each zone of the facility are determined. Without calculations, a lighting design is nothing more than a plan for placing lamps “by eye” - and with a high probability it will not ensure compliance with standards when the facility is put into operation.

Lighting calculations performed by AYU-Project include:

• determination of standardized lighting parameters for each room and functional area: average horizontal illumination (Em, lux), cylindrical illumination, discomfort index (UGR), color rendering index (Ra), permissible pulsation coefficient;
• computer 3D modeling in specialized lighting software (DIALux, Relux) with visualization of illumination distribution on working surfaces;
• calculation of the luminous flux utilization coefficient method - for rooms with uniform placement of lamps;
• point calculation method - for outdoor lighting, lighting of high industrial spaces and non-standard geometric configurations;
• checking compliance with the standardized illumination uniformity (Emin/Eavg) according to SP 52.13330.2016;
• calculation of the specific power of the lighting installation (W/m²) and comparison with standardized energy efficiency indicators.

What is included in design documentation and working documentation lighting?

Documentation for the lighting system is developed in accordance with the requirements Government Decree of the Russian Federation No. 87 dated 16.02.2008 No. 87 (as amended on 21.10.2025) “On the composition of sections of project documentation and requirements for their content” and rules GOST R 21.608-2014.

Design documentation stage includes: an explanatory note describing the adopted lighting concept, justification for the choice of systems and equipment, the results of lighting calculations, a description of lighting control circuits, circuit diagrams for powering lighting boards, a description of the emergency lighting system and its power source.

Working Documentation Stage (WD) contains: plans for the location of lighting devices with reference to building axes and elevation marks; single-line and installation diagrams of lighting boards (lighting panel); diagrams for laying cable routes for lighting networks; cable magazine with cable brands, sections and lengths; lighting control circuits (switches, motion sensors, DALI systems, KNX/BACnet control); specifications of equipment and materials.

How to choose the right lamps for an industrial or commercial facility?

The choice of a lighting device is determined not only by the power and luminous flux, but also by a number of technical parameters that directly affect the quality of the light environment, safety and cost of operation. Selection of lighting equipment is an engineering task in which the manufacturer’s marketing characteristics are only the starting point.

Key criteria when choosing lighting devices for B2B objects:

• Luminous flux and KPD - real luminous efficiency (lm/W) at a specific operating temperature, and not the passport value in laboratory conditions;
• Light intensity curve type (KSS) - determines the angle and nature of the light distribution, on which the uniformity and presence of blinding zones depends;
• Color rendering index Ra - critically important for trade (Ra ≥ 80-90), medicine (Ra ≥ 90), production with product quality control (Ra ≥ 80);
• Color temperature (K) - warm white (2700-3500 K) for residential and hotel spaces; neutral (4000 K) for offices and trade; cold (5000-6500 K) for industrial facilities with high requirements for distinguishing parts;
• Ripple factor - By SanPiN 2.2.4.3359-16 no more than 10-20% for workplaces with permanent presence of people; for high-speed production lines - no more than 5%;
• Degree of protection (IP) - IP54 and higher for industrial facilities with dust and moisture; IP65/IP66 for outdoor use and process areas;
• Warranty life and LM factors - degradation of the luminous flux in the dynamics of operation, important for calculating the actual time until the first replacement.

Lighting control: from switch to smart building system

A modern lighting project for a commercial or industrial facility cannot be considered in isolation from the control system: it is this that determines how energy efficient the lighting will be in actual operation. AYU-Project designs control circuits of any level of complexity - from traditional switches and photo relays for outdoor lighting to centralized DALI and KNX systems with the possibility of integration into the building’s BMS.

Typical solutions for lighting control in B2B construction:

• Motion and presence sensors - automatic shutdown of lighting in temporary areas (corridors, parking lots, bathrooms); reduction in consumption to 30-50% without changing the level of comfort;
• Photosensors and astronomical timers - for outdoor lighting, they provide switching on/off according to the level of natural light or astronomical time;
• DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) - a digital addressable control protocol that allows you to separately regulate each lamp or group, integrate the system with fire automatics (emergency mode) and AIIS TUE;
• KNX/BACnet - integration of the lighting system into a single BMS of the building along with HVAC, security systems and AMR;
• Multi-scenario control - preset light scenes for different operating modes of the room (negotiations, presentation, cleaning, full brightness).

Regulatory framework for lighting design

Building lighting systems are designed in accordance with the following main regulatory documents:

• SP 52.13330.2016 “Natural and artificial lighting” (updated edition of SNiP 23-05-95*, as amended) is the main regulatory document that defines standardized lighting parameters for all types of premises and objects;
• GOST R 55710-2013 “Lighting of workplaces inside buildings” - lighting standards for workplaces with constant occupancy of people;
• SanPiN 2.2.4.3359-16 - sanitary and hygienic requirements for lighting of workplaces, including limitation of pulsation;
• GOST R 21.608-2014 "SPDS. Rules for the implementation of working documentation for internal electric lighting” - requirements for registration WD;
• GOST R 57256-2016 - street lighting of roads and adjacent areas;
• GOST R 58635-2019, GOST R IEC 60598 - requirements for lamps and lighting installations;
• Government Decree of the Russian Federation No. 87 dated 16.02.2008 No. 87 (as amended on 21.10.2025) “On the composition of sections of project documentation and requirements for their content” - regarding the composition of DD.

Why do construction companies choose AYU-Project for lighting design?

The lighting design is one of the sections that is often given to the “last” contractor or done formally. This is what leads to the expert’s comments regarding illumination not meeting the standards and to alterations after delivery. AYU-Project approaches lighting as an engineering section with a full calculation, justification for the choice of equipment and documentation that passes the test the first time.

Lighting calculations in specialized software - not a simplified formulaic calculation, but a computer model with visualization of illumination distribution, which can be transferred to the customer to understand the light environment before installation.

Selection according to budget and tasks. We do not impose a specific manufacturer and offer options with justification of technical and economic parameters - nameplate power, real light output, resource and TCO.

Integration with other sections. Lighting boards are designed in conjunction with power equipment; emergency lighting - with fire safety systems; control - with BMS and AIIS TUE.

Fixed Schedule and Price - in the contract, without revision during the work process.

Cost and procedure for ordering a lighting project

The cost of developing design documentation and working documentation is determined individually: the type and area of ​​the object, the number of zones with different lighting requirements, the presence of architectural or sports lighting, the complexity of the control system. Approximate calculation - through the online calculator on the website.

To receive an accurate commercial proposal, leave a request: indicate the type and purpose of the object, area, availability of initial data (architectural solutions, technology specifications). Attach existing documents - this will speed up the formation of the proposal. The initial consultation is free, and we work across Russia remotely.