6. LIGHTING
Considerations and Rationale:
The SAA reasoned lighting can affect the longevity of the record. Those working archival facilities, therefore should take appropriate measures to protect their collections from damage caused by excessive ultraviolet light and infrared light(SAA, 2009, p. 75).
GUIDELINES: In selecting lights for an archival facility, the SAA recommends that selection should be based on three principle considerations:
- (1) Economical Consideration: The lights selected for an archival facility should be kept as low as possible– and should strive toward “green status” (SAA, 2009, p.75). In short, the light should not drain energy.
- (2) Safety Consideration: The lights selected needs to be filtered or controlled in such a way that it will prevent damage and deterioration to sensitive archive records as a result of light aging (SAA, 2009, p.75). Light aging can result in fading, color shift, and darkening of collections(SAA, 2009, p.75).
- (3) Functional Consideration: The lights selected must be useful. It must be able to support the facility’s environmental, security, safety and accessibility goals in addition to the archival records (SAA, 2009, p.75).
The following chart demonstrates the level of lighting appropriate in archival facilities for proper protection of archival records and other rooms within the archival facility. The SAA measures lighting in foot-candles, which is a form of measurement of light intensity. One foot candle is defined as the a quantifiable amount of light that can saturate a one foot square with one lumen of light (FSG, 2019). (1 foot candle is equal to 1 lumen/sq. ft or 10.764 lux) (Source of Chart: SAA, 2009, pp.80-91).
| Source Type | Space Name | Lighting Level in Foot Candles | Maximum UV Level in Microwatts/Lumen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archival Stacks | Archival Stacks | 19-46 foot candles (200-500 lux) | 10 | No windows or skylights; UV filters; 20 inches [50 centimeters] between bulb and collections. |
| Cold Storage | 19-46 foot candles (200-500 lux) | 10 | Thermal tempered lights; UV filters | |
| Mixed Use | Processing Rooms | 19-46 foot candles (200-500 lux) | 10 | No windows or skylights; UV filters; 20 inches [50 centimeters] between bulb and collections. |
| Conservation Laboratory-Dry | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Controlled and color balanced light; UV filters; task lighting | |
| Conservation Laboratory-Wet | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Damp-labeled (DL) or We-labeled (WL) fixtures | |
| Special Media Laboratory | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Controlled and color balanced light; UV filters; taks lighting | |
| Reformatting Lab | 5-139 foot candles [50-1,500 lux] | 10 | Controlled and color balanced light; UV filters; task lighting | |
| Exhibits | 3-19 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Most in the 5-9 foot candles [50-100] range; Dimmers and occupancy sensors; fiber optic lighting; | |
| Reading Rooms | Textual | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Diffuse, color balanaced; UV filters; low-level lighting with brighter task lights. |
| Microfilm | 5-9 foot candles [50-100 lux] | 10 | No windows; UV filters; task lighting | |
| Audiovisual | 19-46 candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Low-level lighting-19-28 foot candles [200-300 lux]; UV filters; lighting zones; task lights | |
| Records Holding Area | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | No windows or skylights; UV filters; 20 inches [50 centimeters] between bulb and collections. | |
| Researcher Registration/Orientation Consultation | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | UV filters; online registration may require diffuse and lower lighting (5-19 foot candles [50-100 lux]) | |
| Finding Aids Room | 19-46 foot candles [200-500] | 10 | Online catalog searching may require diffuse and lower lighting (5-19 foot candles [50-100 lux]) | |
| Public Spaces | Lobby | 28-46 foot candles [300-500 lux] | 10 | Bright lighting; day lighting and accent lighting |
| Lockers/Locker Room | 28-46 foot candles [300-500 lux] | 10 | Occupancy sensors and automatic shut offs | |
| Auditorium/Training/Classrooms | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Lighting controls; avoid systems that produce heat or noise | |
| Meeting Spaces | 19-70 foot candles [200-750 lux] | 10 | 28 foot candles [300 lux] is standard | |
| Food Service Area | 7-70 foot candles [75-750 lux] | 10 | kitchens should have 70 foot candles [750 lux]; dininig can have day lighting and 7-18.5 foot candles [75-200 lux] | |
| Gift Shop | 70 foot candles [750 lux] | 10 | N/A | |
| Staff Spaces | Offices | 28-70 foot candles [75-750 lux] | 10 | N/A |
| Lunchroom | 7-70 foot candles [75-750 lux] | 10 | Dining can have day lighting and 18.5 foot candles [200 lux] | |
| Lockers/Locker Room | 28-46 foot candles [300-500 lux] | 10 | Occupancy sensors and automatic shut-offs; DL or WL fixtures if needed | |
| Non-Public Spaces | Loading Dock/Receiving | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | Recommended are 28 foot candles [300 lux] |
| Supply Storage/Warehouse | 14-46 foot candles [150-500 lux] | 10 | Depends on activity levels | |
| Computer Room | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | No windows or skylights | |
| Security Office | 19-46 foot candles [200-500 lux] | 10 | May need lighting zones with dimmers and flash capabilities | |
| General Spaces | Restrooms | 28 foot candles [300 lux] | 10 | DL or WL fixtures |
| Corridors | 12-48 foot candles [150-300 lux] | 10 | N/A | |
| Stairs | 14-28 foot candles [150-300 lux] | 10 | N/A | |
| Elevators | 14-28 foot candles [150-300 lux] | 10 | N/A | |
| Directional Signage | 19-28 foot candles [200-300 lux] | 10 | N/A | |
| Exterior | 1-19 foot candles [5-200 lux] | N/A | N/A |