Lighting consultancy

Lighting Consultancy

Attractive, functional and cost effective lighting from the right balance of daylighting, electric lighting and control systems.

Successful lighting depends on a balance of natural lighting (daylight and sunlight), effective and energy-efficient electric lighting and integrated control systems. These should complement the building’s design and support human activities. With experienced lighting experts and first-class facilities, we provide professional consultancy, advice, analysis, research and training on all aspects of electric and natural lighting, including occupant needs for lighting.

Lighting for new spaces

BRE experts provide impartial advice on the performance of new lighting technologies or innovative strategies, and on integrating electric lighting with daylighting.

We advise on developing the design brief and design specification, perform design assessments and prototype evaluations, and offer guidance on selecting lighting systems (light sources, luminaires and lighting controls) by evaluating their flexibility, suitability, value for money, energy efficiency, user-friendliness and maintenance costs.

Lighting in existing buildings

Our experts measure the effectiveness of current lighting systems, assess problems such as glare, flicker or inadequate quantity and quality of light, and suggest remedial measures.

We provide particular expertise on the best lighting for activities such as display screen equipment use, the appearance of lit spaces, colour appearance and colour rendering properties, impacts on user performance and wellbeing, the selection of appropriate lighting controls, and obtrusive light. Once lighting has been installed we offer and carry out occupant surveys to gather views on comfort levels and identify any problem areas.

Daylight and sunlight

We offer guidance on window design, measuring daylight, solar shading, and avoiding excessive solar heating and glare. Our experienced daylighting team helps with designing site layouts to optimise daylighting, and with issues such as the right to light, overshadowing, and the effects of trees on daylight and sunlight. We can assess daylight and sunlight for planning, including writing Environmental Statement chapters for submission as part of planning applications, offer expert witness and review services and perform Rights to Light analysis.

See our Natural light page for more details.

Lighting and health

We advise on the health effects of lighting in new and existing buildings, including daylighting or circadian electric lighting (sometimes termed human-centric lighting). We draw on the latest research in this field, and relevant codes and standards such as the WELL Building Standard and standards published by the CIE (the International Commission on Illumination).

Light pollution (obtrusive light)

Lighting installations can cause unwanted spill light to other properties or to the night sky. We assess light pollution from proposed developments and infrastructure and advise on cost-effective remedies. Our experts can provide reports or Environmental Statement chapters for submission as part of planning applications, and give evidence at planning hearings and public inquiries.