What are the recommended light levels for parking garages?*



The National Parking Association recommends certain light levels for parking garages. For example, at the garage entrance, they recommend a level of 40 footcandles, at vehicle entrance and at stairwells and exit lobbies, a level of 20 FC, at general parking areas a level of 6 FC, and at bumperwalls, and roof and surface, a level of 2 FC.

To minimize the visual contrast at the entrance and exits (tunnel effect) of the garage, all of the lights are on during the day, and fewer at night. These changes are often controlled by photocells or timer clocks to conserve energy.

On rooftops, pole mounted fixtures should have hinged bases to facilitate lamp replacement. Precast double tee stems often include blockouts to allow for conduit to be run through the stems instead of below. For parking garages, light fixtures should be wet-listed, and vandal resistant fixtures are appropriate.