What is commercial lighting design?
Commercial lighting design means calculating and specifying luminaires, positions and controls so a space gets the right light for its tasks, meets standards such as BS EN 12464-1 and energy rules such as Part L, and is comfortable to work in. The output is usually a layout, lux plots and a fitting schedule.
What's included
- Lux calculations and plots for each area
- Fitting selection balancing cost, efficacy and glare
- Emergency lighting design to BS 5266-1
- Control strategy and zoning
- Part L or national efficacy evidence
- Drawings and schedules for tender or installation
How we deliver commercial lighting design
Brief
Uses, finishes, ceiling heights and budget.
Model
Calculations and lux plots for each space.
Specify
Fittings, controls and emergency lighting.
Issue
Drawings, schedules and a cost estimate.
Guide prices
National guide budgets, supplied and installed, excluding VAT. Your fixed price follows a free survey.
| Item | Guide budget (ex VAT) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial electrician | £300 – £500 | per day |
| LED panel (600×600) | £50 – £150 | per fitting, supplied and fitted |
| DALI dimming and control | £50 – £150 | per luminaire, on top of the fitting |
| LED high bay | £150 – £400 | per fitting, supplied and fitted |
Example: Three days of design and calculation work: about £900 – £1,500 excluding VAT. Get a figure for your site.
Standards and rules we work to
| Topic | Current position |
|---|---|
| Wiring | BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations. Every installation is tested and certified. |
| Workplace light levels | BS EN 12464-1:2021, for example 500 lux on office task areas and 150 lux at the floor of rack storage. |
| Emergency lighting | BS 5266-1:2025 code of practice, BS EN 1838:2024 light levels and BS EN 50172:2024 testing and records. |
| Energy efficiency of new lighting | England: Approved Document L (95 luminaire lm/circuit-W, rising above 105 from 24 March 2027). Wales: Welsh Approved Document L (new edition from 4 March 2027). Scotland: Section 6. Northern Ireland: Technical Booklet F2. |
| Fire safety duties | England and Wales: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Scotland: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. Northern Ireland: Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. |
| Waste | Fluorescent tubes are hazardous waste and are recycled through authorised routes, with paperwork. |
Commercial lighting design FAQs
Do I need a lighting design for an LED upgrade?
For a like-for-like swap in a simple office, a survey is often enough. For new layouts, warehouses, sports areas or where light levels are disputed, a calculated design avoids getting it wrong.
Can you design and install?
Yes. Most clients ask us to design and install so one team is responsible for the result.
Commercial lighting design by area
We provide commercial lighting design in every part of the UK. Choose your area:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- City of Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Clwyd
- Dyfed
- Gwent
- Gwynedd
- Mid Glamorgan
- Powys
- South Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Dundee and Angus
- Argyll and Bute
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Fife
- Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire
- Glasgow and Dunbartonshire
- Highlands and Islands
- Lanarkshire
- Moray
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Scottish Borders
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
Related services
Lighting surveys and lux testing
Lux readings, condition surveys and energy audits for existing lighting.
Fit-out and new-build lighting
First and second fix lighting for fit-outs, refurbishments and new units.
Lighting controls
Presence detection, daylight dimming and DALI systems.
Emergency lighting installation
Escape route lighting and exit signs designed to BS 5266-1.
Guides
Part L and lighting efficacy for commercial buildings
The lighting efficacy figures in Approved Document L, the Welsh and Scottish equivalents and Northern Ireland's Technical Booklet F2, plus the 2027 changes.
Choosing a commercial lighting contractor
What to check before appointing a commercial lighting contractor: competence scheme scope, insurance, certificates, design and references.