Illuminating Engineering Society lighting guidance

June 17, 1996
Mr. Arnold D. Schwartz
American-International Products, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Schwartz:
This is in response to your May 8 letter requesting interpretation of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (0SHA) standards. Specifically, you requested clarification as to whether the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) is an acceptable organization according to OSHA and that their information and data is acceptable to OSHA (for use as workplace illumination references to provide for the safety and health of employees in the workplace).
The American National Standard (ANS) A11.1-1965, R1970, Practices of Industrial Lighting, is a nationally-recognized consensus standard cited by reference under paragraph 1910.261 of Part 1910-Safety and Health Regulations For General Industry and under paragraph 1926.56 of Part 1926-Safety and Health Regulations For Construction. This ANS standard was developed with the active collaboration of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), now identified as the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). OSHA recommends that employers use this standard as guidelines to determine sufficient lighting required to provide for the safety and health of employees in workplaces.
The current revision of the aforementioned standard is American National Standards Institute and Illuminating Engineering Society standard, ANSI/IES-RP-7-1991 which is copyrighted by IESNA. It may be purchased by Order # ANSI-RP-7-91 from IESNA, 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017. OSHA accepts employers' use of the current revision to national consensus standards in place of earlier revisions incorporated by reference or adopted into OSHA standards. This acceptance is predicated on using the current revision such that at least the same level of safety and health is provided as required by complying with OSHA standards.
Thank you for your interest in employee safety and health. If we can be of further assistance, please contact the [Office of General Industry Enforcement at (201) 693-1850].
Sincerely,
John B. Miles, Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs
[Corrected 10/20/2008]