Retail

EN 12464-1

Retail spaces have different visual priorities compared to offices. Instead of desks and screens, retail focuses on product visibility, colour quality, visual guidance, safety, and customer experience. The same three lighting zones apply, but the interpretation is adapted for merchandising tasks, product displays, cashiers, fitting rooms, and circulation

Below is a clear, lighting-designer–friendly explanation of task areas, immediate surrounding areas, and background areas as defined and used in EN / NEN-EN 12464-1.

Task Area (TA)

The task area in retail is the zone where key visual tasks or customer–staff interactions occur — wherever precise, high-quality lighting is needed.

Examples of Task Areas in Retail

Point-of-sale / cashier counter
Product display tables
Shelving with high-detail merchandise (cosmetics, electronics, jewellery)
Fitting rooms (mirror zone)
Food/specialty displays requiring enhanced colour (fruit & veg, bakery, meat)

Lighting Requirements

Highest maintained illuminance in the space
Often 500–1000+ lux depending on merchandise type
High vertical illumination to highlight products
Excellent colour quality (CRI 90+ or tailored spectra)
Controlled glare (UGR) especially at POS areas
Accent lighting is common (spotlights, track, narrow beams)

Purpose

Enhance product visibility, increase visual appeal, support staff accuracy, and drive customer attention to key products

Surrounding Area (SA)

This is the zone directly around the task area — typically 0.5 m around shelving, displays, POS, or fitting room mirrors.

Examples in Retail

Floor area in front of shelving or display racks
Space around the cashier desk
The area immediately around a central display table
Perimeter space inside a fitting room

Lighting Requirements

Medium level illuminance (typically 1/3 to 1/2 of TA)
Usually 200–500 lux depending on product type
Enough brightness to avoid harsh contrast when shoppers move between highlighted displays and general areas

Purpose

Maintain eye comfort and smooth visual adaptation
Support clean, comfortable product browsing
Reduce contrast between accent-lit products and general room lighting

Background Area (BA)

The background area is the remainder of the store — typically circulation zones, walkways, and general ambient space.

Examples in Retail

Aisles
Customer circulation routes
Store entrances
General ambient zones without product displays
Back-wall ambient areas

Lighting Requirements

Lower illuminance compared to task and surrounding areas
Often 100–300 lux, depending on store type
Uniform, comfortable ambient lighting
Helps create contrast to allow accent-lit products to stand out

Purpose

Support safe movement
Provide overall ambient brightness
Enhance contrast hierarchy (products remain the brightest element)
Contribute to store atmosphere and customer flow