Lighting classes, lux, luminance, and uniformity.
Learning Track · Module 1: The network · Step 5 of 101
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EN 13201 is the European road lighting standard. It sorts each area into a lighting class.
| Classes | Used for | Main measure |
|---|---|---|
| M1 to M6 | Motorised traffic, medium to high speed | Luminance (cd/m²) |
| C0 to C5 | Conflict areas: junctions, roundabouts | Illuminance (lux) |
| P1 to P7 | Pedestrians, cyclists, residential streets | Illuminance (lux) |
| HS, SC, EV | Extra criteria for faces and vertical surfaces | Hemispherical, semi-cylindrical, vertical lux |
CEN/TR 13201-1 explains how to select the class. Parts 2 to 5 give the values, calculation, measurement, and energy indicators. In the UK, BS 5489-1 is the code of practice that applies EN 13201.
Road authorities in the region publish their own road lighting manuals, for example Dubai RTA, Abu Dhabi ITC, and Qatar Ashghal. Most base their classes on EN 13201, BS 5489-1, or CIE 115.
Use the manual of the authority that owns the road. It sets the class for each road type and often the luminaire, pole, and cabinet details too.
In India, IS 1944 (Parts 1 and 2) is the code of practice for lighting of public thoroughfares. It sorts roads into groups, for example A1 and A2 for main roads, B1 and B2 for secondary roads, and further groups for local roads and special areas. Each group has a minimum average illuminance and uniformity.
Many newer tenders also refer to CIE 115 or EN 13201 classes, mainly for smart city and highway projects. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka often use CIE 115 or BS practice.
ANSI/IES RP-8 is the recommended practice for roadway lighting. It classifies roads (freeway, expressway, major, collector, local) and the pedestrian conflict (high, medium, low).
RP-8 allows design by luminance, illuminance, or small target visibility for roads, and illuminance for sidewalks and intersections. Many state DOTs publish their own lighting manuals based on RP-8 and the AASHTO Roadway Lighting Design Guide.
Uniformity
Example: 4 lux ÷ 10 lux = 0.4
Low uniformity gives dark patches between poles, even when the average is high. USA: RP-8 often states it the other way round: average ÷ minimum, for example 3:1.
Sources
- CEN/TR 13201-1 Guidelines on selection of lighting classes
- EN 13201-2 Performance requirements
- BS 5489-1 Code of practice for the design of road lighting
- IS 1944 (Parts 1 and 2)
- ANSI/IES RP-8
- CIE 115 Lighting of roads for motor and pedestrian traffic
Changes: 30 October 2026: First publication: guides for Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the USA; failure library; tender clause library; comparisons; tools; downloads. See the changelog. Found a mistake? Report it.