ABSTRACT
The data given in table 12.1 is the result of a survey carried out in 1997 as part of the Daylight Europe project. Building codes – daylight standards https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
Country
Building codes
Standards, norms
Belgium
NBN L 13-002: Daylighting of buildings. Determination of natural illuminance under overcast sky conditions. (Consisting mainly of a translation of the CIE publication: No 16, 1970)
Denmark
Danish Building Code 1995
Ministry of Labor, Order No 1163, 1992 (Window area s 10% of floor area by sidelight, or 7% by toplight
France
Code du Travail (Work Code) Code de la Construction et de l’Habitation (Building and Housing Code) Code de l’Urbanisme (City Planning Code)
NFX 35-103: Ergonomical principles applicable to the lighting of workplaces for visual comfort
NFX 35-121: Work on visual display unit and keyboard – Fittings of the work premises and the workplace
Germany
Landesbauordnungen (State Building Codes); each German state has one of its own Verordnung Über Arbeitslälten / Arbeitstättenrichilinien (Workplace Regulations), Nation-wide Tageslicht in Innenräumen, DIN 5034, Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. (Daylighting in Interiors, DIN 5034, German Industrial Standards) – General Standards. Considering daylighting, the building codes and workplace regulations refer to this Standard. Consists altogether of 6 parts nowadays.
General requirements: Definition of terms / psychological importance of windows / Indoor illumination with daylight / Direct sunlight and sun protection
Principles: Definition of terms / Astronomical basics / Radiation basics / Calculations; Daylight factor / Sunshine duration / Occupation time
Simplified determination of minimum window sizes for dwellings Measurements: Definition of quantities to measure / Measurement equipment / Preparation of measurements / Simplified determination of suitable dimensions for roof lights
Greece
Greek Building Regulations (Ministry Decision 3046/304/30,1/3.2.1989, Government Official Gazette 59’
All spaces for primary use have to be provided with an aperture to the exterior of a min. size of 10% of the floor area The main staircase of building has to have natural lighting
Ireland
1991 Building Regulations, T. G. Part 1: Conservation of fuel & energy (government regulations)
Energy Efficient Lighting, Eolas (The Irish Science and Technology Agency)
BS.8206-part 2 code of practice for daylighting Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight – BRE PJ Littlefair
Italy
Ministry Decree 05/07/75 for dwellings: glazed area min. 12.5% of floor area; mean value of df ≥ 2% Ministry Decree 18/12/75 for schools: schoolrooms and laboratories df = 3%; gymnasia df = 2%; corridors, stairs and bathrooms df = 1%
Memorandum No 71911/10.0.296, guidelines for VDU, Feb 1991 Legislative Decree No 626, Sept 1994
Norway
Tekniske forskirfter til plan og bygningsloven, 1997 Access to daylight mandatory for dwellings and workplaces Min. 1% df halfway into room, 1m from side wall, 0.8m above floor Glazed area min. 10%
Löfberg: Räkna med dagsljus Swedish Standard SS 914201: Dagsljus – Förenklad metod för kontroll av erfordelig fönsterglasarea
Portugal
General Regulation on Urban Buildings, 1951 (Decree-Law No 38382)
Technical Norms for the Design of Residential Buildings, Lisbon, LNEC, 1994 (Section 6.3.5: Visual Comfort)
Spain
Daylight building code rules in Spain are quite old. Usually they are only related to fenestration surface as a minimum (12.5% of the floor surface for living spaces)
Sweden
There are no strict building codes, they just say adequate daylight’ for dwellings (code issued by Boverket) The code recommends a glass area of min. 10% of floor area. With more than 20° horizon screening the glass area is recommended to be increased according to SS914201
SS914201: Dagsljus – Förenklad metod för kontroll av erfordelig fönsterglasarea
Löfberg: Räkna med dagsljus
Recommendation: The earlier building code staled ‘at least 1% daylight 1m from side wall, at table high (0.8m above floor), halfway from windows to inner wall’. This is still regarded as reasonable goal even it is no longer clearly expressed in the new code. The value is for dwellings, but has also been used for offices, schools, nurseries etc.
Switzerland
Federal law for working spaces (10% minimal glazed ratio, 1/16 external view) Cantonal and district specific laws
ASH 8911.1989: Indoor illumination by the way of daylighting SIA 3804: Electrical installation within buildings
United Kingdom
For ventilation purposes the opening area of windows should be 1/20 the floor area
BS8206 Part 2: Code of practice for daylighting Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight
