---
title: "Lighting requirements and site selection"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/building_technology:lighting-site-selection"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/lighting-site-selection
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Lighting requirements and site selection

Building Technology · Chapter 1: Functional Requirements of Buildings

- Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 8 marks
- Video: [Site Selection, Orientation & Ventilation of Buildings |Lecture 2| Building Construction Engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTGEhOSoU4c) — Dr. KS Academy 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/lighting-site-selection
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-1

## Question

Illustrate the requirements of lighting in the building. What are the principle for the site selection and planning?

## Short answer

Lighting requires adequate lux levels (100-150 living, 300 classrooms, 500 drawing), uniform distribution, no glare, proper direction, good colour, daylight from windows at least 10% of floor area, artificial lighting, and controls. Site selection considers purpose, firm soil, drainage, clean environment, orientation, legal rules, planning, and economy.

## Answer

#### Requirements of lighting in a building
1. **Adequate illumination**: Enough light for the task (e.g. 100 to 150 lux for living rooms, 300 lux for classrooms and offices, 500 lux for drawing rooms), as per NBC.
2. **Uniform distribution**: No dark corners or sharp contrast between bright and dark areas.
3. **Freedom from glare**: Direct or reflected glare from the sun or lamps must be avoided by shades, louvres and diffusers.
4. **Proper direction**: Light should come from a direction that avoids shadows on the working plane.
5. **Colour rendering**: Natural-looking colours, with light of a suitable colour temperature.
6. **Daylight use**: Windows with an area of not less than about 10 % of the floor area (daylight factor 2 to 5 %), well placed (north light is steady), to save energy.
7. **Artificial lighting**: General, task and emergency lighting for night; efficient lamps (LED).
8. **Control**: Switches, dimmers and shading devices; easily maintained fittings.
9. **Economy and safety**: Low energy use, little heat and no fire hazard.

#### Principles of site selection and planning
1. **Purpose** and nearness to services such as roads, water, electricity, schools and markets.
2. **Soil**: firm and level, with good bearing capacity and a low water table; avoid black cotton soil, marsh and filled ground.
3. **Natural drainage** and flood-free land; away from landslides, river banks and faults.
4. **Good environment**: Clean air, sun and wind, away from noise, smoke and odour.
5. **Orientation and shape**: A regular plot, with the long axis east-west and open to the south and the wind.
6. **Legal**: Ownership, land use zone, setback and ground coverage as per bye-laws.
7. **Planning**: Placing the building to give light, ventilation, privacy, room for future expansion and a landscaped open space.
8. **Economy**: Cost of land and development.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Typical lux for classrooms and offices:
   A. 30
   B. 300
   C. 3000
   D. 30000
   Answer: B. 300 lux; living rooms 100 to 150, drawing rooms 500. (Key point: Lux)

2. Glare is avoided by:
   A. Shades, louvres and diffusers
   B. Bare lamps
   C. Large unshaded windows
   D. Mirrors
   Answer: A. Control direct and reflected glare. (Key point: Glare)

3. Preferred soil for site:
   A. Firm, level, good bearing capacity, low water table
   B. Black cotton soil
   C. Marsh
   D. Filled ground
   Answer: A. Avoid black cotton, marsh and fill. (Key point: Soil)

4. Window area should be at least about:
   A. 10 % of floor area
   B. 1 %
   C. 40 %
   D. 100 %
   Answer: A. Gives DF 2 to 5 %. (Key point: Window area)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Criteria for site selection](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Asite-selection-criteria) — Building Technology, chapter 1
- [Orientation and planning of a building](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aorientation-planning) — Building Technology, chapter 1, asked 12×
- [Natural/artificial lighting, daylight factor numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Adaylight-numerical-062p) — Building Technology, chapter 1
- [Roof types, functional requirements, timber roofs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aroof-types-requirements-timber) — Building Technology, chapter 4, asked 5×
- [Functional requirements of ventilation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Avent-requirements) — Building Technology, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Foundation selection factors, excavation in wet areas](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aexcavation-selection-wet-080c) — Building Technology, chapter 2

## Related in other subjects

- [Regulatory requirements and building codes for planning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aregulatory-building-codes-urban) — Construction Management, chapter 11, asked 2×
- [Flood lighting design and luminaire selection](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Aflood-design-luminaire-selection) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 8
- [Requirements and installation of factory lighting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Afactory-lighting-installation-types) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 7
- [At-grade intersection requirements; street lighting importance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Aintersection-requirements-street-lighting-importance) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 1