Types

• Cove and Indirect Lighting
  Concealed LED sources in architectural coves, slots, and ledges that bounce light off ceilings and walls, used for soft ambient lighting and architectural emphasis.
• Emergency and Exit Lighting
  Battery, inverter, or generator-backed luminaires and illuminated exit signs that light the means of egress and mark exits during power loss.
• Lighting Controls
  Switches, dimmers, occupancy and daylight sensors, timeclocks, and networked systems that control lighting on, off, and level, used to meet energy codes and occupant needs.
• Linear LED Fixtures
  Continuous or individual linear LED luminaires, recessed, surface, suspended, or wall-mounted, used for general and architectural lighting in offices, schools, and retail.
• Pendant Fixtures
  Luminaires suspended from the ceiling by cable, rod, or cord, decorative or linear, used for general and feature lighting in high or open ceilings.
• Recessed Downlights
  Ceiling-recessed round or square LED luminaires that direct light downward, used for general, accent, and wall-wash lighting in commercial and residential interiors.
• Recessed Troffers
  Rectangular LED luminaires sized to lay into acoustical ceiling grids, used for general lighting in offices, schools, and healthcare.
• Site and Pole Lighting
  Pole-mounted area, roadway, and pedestrian LED luminaires, plus bollards and landscape lights, used to light parking lots, drives, walkways, and building sites.
• Track and Rail Lighting
  Adjustable luminaires mounted on powered surface, recessed, or suspended tracks and low-voltage rails, used for flexible accent lighting in retail, galleries, and hospitality.
• Wall Sconces
  Wall-mounted luminaires distributing light up, down, or both, used for corridors, stairs, guest rooms, building exteriors, and decorative accent.

Code reference

Always verify the adopted code edition and local amendments for the project jurisdiction.

Governing editions

Means of egress illumination

• IBC 2024, Section 1008.2: the means of egress serving a room or space is illuminated at all times the space is occupied, with exceptions including Group U, Group A aisle accessways, and dwelling and sleeping units in Groups R-1, R-2, and R-3
• IBC 2024, Section 1008.2.1: at least 1 footcandle at the walking surface; exit access stairways, exit stairways, and their landings at least 10 footcandles when in use; assembly spaces may drop to 0.2 footcandle during performances, with steps marked by UL 1994 self-luminous marking, restoring on fire alarm activation
• IBC 2024, Section 1008.3: emergency power for illumination in aisles, corridors, and exit access stairways and ramps of rooms requiring two or more exits; exit stairways, exit passageways, vestibules, and exterior landings of buildings requiring two or more exits; electrical equipment rooms, fire command centers, fire pump rooms, generator rooms, and public restrooms over 300 sq ft (emergency and exit lighting)
• IBC 2024, Section 1008.3.1: emergency power for at least 90 minutes from storage batteries, unit equipment, or an on-site generator (emergency and exit lighting)
• IBC 2024, Section 1008.3.2: initial emergency illumination at least 1 footcandle average and 0.1 footcandle minimum along the path of egress at floor level, declining to 0.6 footcandle average and 0.06 footcandle minimum at the end of the duration; maximum-to-minimum ratio 40 to 1; in Group I-2, failure of one lamp does not leave any area below 0.2 footcandle (emergency and exit lighting)

Exit signs

• IBC 2024, Section 1013.5: internally illuminated exit signs listed and labeled; photoluminescent signs charged per Section 1013.5.1 (emergency and exit lighting)
• IBC 2024, Section 1013.6.3: exit signs illuminated at all times and connected to an emergency power system for at least 90 minutes; approved signs with independent 90-minute continuous illumination are excepted (emergency and exit lighting)

Natural and artificial light

• IBC 2024, Section 1204.2: natural light by glazing of at least 8 percent of the floor area of the room served
• IBC 2024, Section 1204.3: artificial light averaging 10 footcandles at 30 in. above the floor where natural light is not provided (recessed downlights, troffers, linear fixtures)
• IBC 2024, Sections 1204.4 and 1204.4.1: stairs within and serving dwelling units lit to at least 1 footcandle on treads; stairway lighting controls per NFPA 70

Accessibility

• 2010 ADA Standards, Section 307.2: wall-mounted objects with leading edges between 27 in. and 80 in. above the floor protrude 4 in. maximum into circulation paths (wall sconces)
• 2010 ADA Standards, Section 307.4: 80 in. minimum vertical clearance in circulation paths (pendant fixtures)

Energy

• IECC 2024, Section C405: interior and exterior lighting power allowances, and lighting controls including occupant sensing, time-switch control, and daylight-responsive control; daylight-responsive control applies where general lighting in primary or secondary sidelit zones exceeds 75 W, or 150 W combined, with enclosed offices under 250 sq ft excepted (lighting controls, all interior luminaires)

Referenced standards

Sources

• ICC: 2024 IBC Section 1008.3.2 illumination level under emergency power, https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/IBC2024P1/chapter-10-means-of-egress/IBC2024P1-Ch10-Sec1008.3.2
• gocodebook: egress illumination and exit signage (2025 California Building Code text), https://gocodebook.com/us/california/california-building-code/means-of-egress/egress-components-doors-stairs-and-signage/egress-illumination-and-exit-signage
• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 12 interior environment, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/12/interior-environment
• Corada: 2010 ADA Standards Section 307 protruding objects, Protruding Objects: ADA Standard Section 307
• Acuity Brands nLight: IECC 2024 applications guide, https://nlight.acuitybrands.com/-/media/abl/nlight/files/resources/application-guides/iecc-applications-guide-2024.pdf
• Inside Lighting: lighting controls in the latest 90.1 energy standard, https://inside.lighting/news/26-06/lighting-controls-take-focus-latest-901-energy-standard