LED lighting for aircraft hangars
For aircraft hangars used for testing and repair, DIN EN 12464-1 gives a maintained illuminance of 500 lx, as it does for engine testing and measurement areas. Because the aircraft casts shadows and luminaires hang very high, the lighting calculation determines layout and optics. The apron outside the hangar has its own values.
As of:
Enquiry for your hangarWhat matters in a hangar
500 lx where people work
The standard gives 500 lx for testing and repair, engine testing and measurement areas.
Shadows on the aircraft
Fuselage and wings block light from above.
High mounting heights
The higher the luminaires, the narrower the optics usually need to be. Only the lighting calculation shows which suit the hangar.
Maintenance without downtime
Luminaires above the aircraft are hard to reach.
Clarify explosion protection
Refuelling, painting and cleaning can bring special requirements.
Consider the door and apron
The apron with its own values begins outside the hangar.
GR ≤45
Glare rating, strictest level
10 no glare90 unbearable
Glare in the hangar and at the door
People working under an aircraft often look up, directly towards the luminaires. Tilt, optics and layout should allow for this. With the door open, the view from the cockpit also matters.
- Optics
- Layout
- Looking up
- Door
Light by hangar area
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500lx | Aircraft hangar, testing and repair | |||
| 500lx | Engine test areas | |||
| 500lx | Measurement areas in aircraft hangars | |||
| 200lx | Outdoor aircraft maintenance | U 0.5 | GR ≤ 45 | |
| 20lx | Hangar apron | U 0.1 | GR ≤ 55 |
Lighting requirements can vary from project to project. The requirements of the operator and aircraft manufacturer are decisive.
What do the values mean?
Lux tells you how much light reaches the pitch. Uniformity shows how evenly it is distributed, and the glare rating how strongly the floodlights cause glare.
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Illuminance (lx): How much light falls on a surface. 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given.
Uniformity (U): Lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer the value is to 1, the more even the light.
Glare rating (GR): Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare at outdoor facilities, on a scale from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare).
Emergency lighting needed too?
If needed, you can get emergency lighting for your site through our sister brand NOTLUX.
To NOTLUXFrequently asked questions
How many lux does an aircraft hangar need?
DIN EN 12464-1 gives 500 lx each for aircraft hangars used for testing and repair, engine test areas and measurement areas. For pure storage hangars, operator requirements are the main reference.
Is 500 lx enough for all work on an aircraft?
Not necessarily. The value applies to the area. Operators or manufacturers may require more for precise inspections, in which case additional task lighting is an option.
What should a tender for hangar lighting include?
At a minimum: use and target values per area, mounting height and hangar dimensions, the largest aircraft types, glare and colour rendering requirements, maintenance access, fire and explosion protection requirements, and proof by a lighting calculation using the data of the luminaires offered.
What applies to the apron outside the hangar?
For the hangar apron, licht.wissen 13 gives 20 lx with a uniformity of 0.1 under DIN EN 12464-2. EASA values apply to aircraft stands; we summarise them on our apron floodlighting page.
Enquiry for your hangar
Send us hangar dimensions, use or a bill of quantities. We will get back to you with an initial assessment.
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