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In order to combat the light pollution caused by certainlighting installations, an order dated December 27, 2018 [1] sets out technical requirements for the design and operation of lighting. It takes up the provisions set out in the decree of January 25, 2013 [2] concerning switching on and off, and adds to them.
Note: Illuminated signs are not affected, but must comply with the provisions of article R. 581-59 of the Environment Code.
Lighting installations commissioned after January1, 2020 must comply with all the requirements of the decree.
We present the provisions applicable to lighting installations commissioned before January1, 2020.
Note: the prefect may set stricter requirements for nature reserves and their protection perimeters, in regional nature parks and marine nature parks, and in the territories of municipalities that have signed up to the charter of a classified national park.
1. Lighting and extinguishing rules :
These include
- lighting of non-residential buildings = lighting of non-residential buildings, covering both building illumination and interior lighting emitted to the outside of the same buildings, excluding toll plazas;
- outdoor lighting linked to an economic activity and located in an enclosed, uncovered or semi-covered space=outdoor lighting intended to promote the safety of movement, people and goods and the comfort of users in public or private space, in particular roads, excluding vehicle lighting and signalling devices, tunnel lighting, lighting installations established to ensure aeronautical safety, rail safety and maritime and river safety;
- lighting for uncovered or semi-covered parking lots attached to a business premises or area;
- outdoor site lighting ;
- lighting for heritage, buildings, parks and gardens (private and public gardens accessible to the public or owned by companies, social landlords or condominiums);
- lighting for open-air sports facilities.
LIGHTING FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
Lighting conditions: (*) at sunset at the earliest,
Re-lighting conditions: For interior lighting in business premises: no earlier than 7 a.m. or 1 hour before the start of business, whichever is earlier. (*) For store or exhibition windows: no earlier than 7 a.m. or 1 hour before the start of business, whichever is earlier,
Switch-off conditions: (*) No later than 1 a.m. (*) For interior lighting on business premises: no later than 1 hour after the end of occupancy. (*) For store or exhibition windows: no later than 1 a.m., or 1 hour after cessation of activity, whichever is later,
Applicability: Since December 29, 2018.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING for business activities in uncovered or semi-covered enclosed spaces
Ignition conditions: no conditions,
Re-lighting conditions: at 7 a.m. at the earliest, or 1 hour before the start of the activity if it takes place earlier,
Extinguishing time: No later than 1 hour after cessation of activity,
Applicability: If it is not necessary to create a separate supply network, applicable from January 1, 2021.
LIGHTING FOR UNCOVERED OR SEMI-COVERED PARKING PARKS ATTACHED TO A PLACE OR AREA OF ACTIVITY
Lighting conditions: at sunset at the earliest,
Re-lighting conditions: at 7 a.m. at the earliest, or 1 hour before the start of the activity if it takes place earlier,
Extinguishing conditions: 2 hours after cessation of activity,
Applicability: If it is not necessary to create a separate supply network, applicable from January 1, 2021.
OUTDOOR SITE LIGHTING
Lighting conditions: at sunset at the earliest,
Reignition conditions: no conditions,
Extinguishing time: No later than 1 hour after cessation of activity,
Applicability: If it is not necessary to create a separate supply network, applicable from January 1, 2021.
LIGHTING for heritage, buildings, parks and gardens
Lighting conditions: at sunset at the earliest,
Reignition conditions: no conditions,
Switch-off time: 1 a.m. at the latest. For parks and gardens, no later than 1 hour after their closure,
Applicability: If it is not necessary to create a separate supply network, applicable from January 1, 2021.
These requirements can be adapted when lighting is coupled with presence detection devices and daylighting control devices.
(*) These requirements are taken from the decree of January 25, 2013 and have been applicable since July1, 2013.
Note: Mayors and prefects may make adjustments and grant exemptions in certain cases.
2. Proportion of light emitted above the horizontal (= lighting towards the sky) :
From January1, 2020, for outdoor lighting and parking lot lighting that can be adjusted:
- on site, the lighting installation must comply with the mounting conditions recommended by the manufacturer, and must ensure that the proportion of light emitted above the horizontal is strictly less than 4% as of January1, 2020.
- when purchasing a luminaire, ensure that the nominal value of the proportion of light emitted by the luminaire above the horizontal is strictly less than 1%.
3. Replacement of lighting installations where the proportion of light emitted by the luminaire above the horizontal in the installed condition is greater than 50%:
These installations must be replaced by luminaires complying with the decree by January 1, 2025 at the latest.
4. Prohibition of light cannons, fixed-beam or moving-beam installations with a luminous flux greater than 100,000 lm and laser radiation beam installations in certain areas:
As of December 29, 2018, light installations such as light guns, with fixed or moving beams, whose luminous flux exceeds 100,000 lumens and installations with laser radiation beams are prohibited in natural areas and within the perimeter of astronomical observation sites (listed in a second order of December 27, 2018 [3]), with the exception of equipment necessary for the activities of these observatories.
The prefect may temporarily or permanently prohibit light cannon installations with a luminous flux of over 100,000 lumens and laser beam installations in certain areas, in order to take account of the particular sensitivities of wildlife species to the effects of light.
5. Direct lighting of waterways, public rivers, lakes, ponds and the public maritime domain is prohibited (with some exceptions):
From January1, 2020, lighting installations that do not directly illuminate waterways, the public river domain (DPF), water bodies, lakes, ponds and the public maritime domain (DPM) (land and sea):
- except in the case of labor code regulations concerning port handling professions,
- and except for safety reasons in traffic and parking areas bordering bodies of water, for a special event or as part of an authorization for temporary occupation of the DPM or DPF.
This does not apply to industrial, commercial and fishing handling or operating port facilities, including the water immediately adjacent to the facilities, within the DPM and DPF.
6. Lighting: Application to ICPE sites :
Article L. 583-4 of the French Environment Code specifies that the provisions governing the prevention of light pollution do not apply to installations classified as ICPE.
For a site classified as an ICPE, this means that the provisions relating to interior lighting or façade lighting in this decree do not apply to buildings housing ICPEs or related facilities (e.g. a building with a surface treatment workshop classified as 2565), but they do apply to purely administrative buildings (such as offices) with no connection to the ICPE. On the other hand, cross-cutting requirements applicable to roadways or parking lots, for example, can be considered applicable.
A circular dated June 5, 2013 [4] relating to the previous order supports this interpretation. In the absence of a circular specific to the decree of December 27, 2018, it is possible to consider that this reasoning remains valid.
In conclusion, we recommend that you take stock of your lighting installations (non-IPCE buildings, parking lots, roadways, etc.) and plan to bring them into compliance by the various deadlines. To do this, you can rely on the manuals for your installations and on the advice of your lighting and electrical contractor, particularly with regard to the technical aspects concerning the proportion of light emitted above the horizontal.
Note: Failure to comply with these technical specifications may result in a fine of up to €750.
[1] Arrêté du 27 décembre 2018 relatif à la prévention, à la réduction et à la limitation des nuisances lumineuses [JORF du 28 décembre 2018]
[2] Arrêté du 25 janvier 2013 relatif à l'éclairage nocturne des bâtiments non résidentiels afin de limiter les nuisances lumineuses et les consommations d'énergie [JORF du 21 janvier 2013]
[3] Arrêté du 27 décembre 2018 fixant la liste et le périmètre des sites d'observation astronomique exceptionnels en application de l'article R. 583-4 du code de l'environnement [JORF du 28 décembre 2018]
[4] Circular of June 5, 2013 on night-time lighting of non-residential buildings to limit light pollution and energy consumption.