NF EN 13201 classes: M, C and P by use
NF EN 13201 divides public space into lighting classes. Each class sets minimum values that must be maintained throughout the life of the installation, not just at commissioning.
- M classes (M1 to M6): roads mainly used by motorised traffic, at medium or high speed. Criterion: road surface luminance, from 2 cd/m² in M1 to 0.3 cd/m² in M6.
- C classes (C0 to C5): conflict areas (junctions, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings on trafficked roads). Criterion: average illuminance, from 50 lux in C0 to 7.5 lux in C5.
- P classes (P1 to P6): pedestrians, cyclists, low-speed residential streets, squares, paths. Criterion: average and minimum illuminance.
The class is selected using the CEN/TR 13201-1 method: speed, traffic, mix of users, parking, ambient brightness, facial recognition. A single street can fall under two classes: M for the carriageway, P for the pavements.
| Class | Maintained average illuminance (lux) | Maintained minimum illuminance (lux) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 15 | 3 | Very busy town centre, lively shopping street |
| P2 | 10 | 2 | Square, forecourt, shopping street |
| P3 | 7.5 | 1.5 | Busy residential street, urban cycle lane |
| P4 | 5 | 1 | Quiet residential street, housing estate |
| P5 | 3 | 0.6 | Little-used walkway, building surroundings |
| P6 | 2 | 0.4 | Country lane, little-used greenway |
Source: NF EN 13201-2, P classes (maintained values). Typical uses by Silumen: the class must be justified using the CEN/TR 13201-1 method.
In these areas, pole-mounted urban luminaires direct the light downwards with optics matched to the width to be covered.
Outdoor car parks: NF EN 12464-2
A car park linked to a business (shop, company, residential building) is usually designed to NF EN 12464-2. Glare there is expressed as GR, the outdoor equivalent of UGR.
| Area | Em (lux) | GR max | Uo | Ra (CRI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car park, light traffic (local shops, apartment buildings) | 5 | 55 | 0.25 | 20 |
| Car park, medium traffic (offices, department stores, industrial sites) | 10 | 50 | 0.25 | 20 |
| Car park, heavy traffic (shopping centres, sports facilities) | 20 | 50 | 0.25 | 20 |
Source: NF EN 12464-2, car park table. Silumen recommendation: CRI 70 minimum to clearly distinguish colours and faces.
In a little-used car park, LED floodlights with sensor limit full output to when someone passes.
French decree of 27 December 2018: the anti-light-pollution rules
It is this decree, not NF EN 13201, that sets the caps on flux density and colour temperature. It covers both public and private outdoor lighting, including solar lighting.
What the regulations say
For road lighting (safety of movement), the decree requires: an upward light ratio (ULR) below 1% as installed; a CEN flux code no. 3 of at least 95%; a colour temperature of 3,000 K maximum, lowered to 2,400 K in certain protected areas (nature reserves, astronomical observation sites); an installed flux density of 35 lm/m² maximum in built-up areas and 25 lm/m² outside them.
- ULR: 0% for a flat-glass luminaire mounted horizontally; a tilted bracket increases it.
- CEN flux code no. 3: share of the downward flux that stays within a 75.5° cone around the vertical. It can be read from the photometric file (LDT or IES).
- Installed flux density: sum of the source fluxes (lm) divided by the area to be lit (m²). It is a ceiling, not a target.
- Operating hours: parks and gardens open to the public and heritage lighting must be switched off by 1 a.m. at the latest, or 1 hour after the activity ends. Car parks linked to a business must be switched off no later than 2 hours after it closes. On roads, there is no national schedule: the municipality decides whether to switch off or dim in the middle of the night.
- Globe luminaires: those sending more than half of their flux towards the sky had to be replaced before 1 January 2025.
Our public lighting luminaires are available in 3,000 K and below, with light directed towards the ground.
Retrofit the lanterns or install a new luminaire
On an existing installation, the choice depends on the condition of the lanterns and poles.
Retrofit with an LED lamp
An LED lamp for public lighting with an E40 or E27 base replaces the high-pressure sodium or metal halide lamp. The lantern and pole are kept, and the control gear is removed or bypassed depending on the model.
Its limits: the photometry remains that of the lantern. If the lantern lets light escape towards the sky, the ULR does not improve. Also check thermal performance, lamp dimensions and ingress protection after the work.
New LED luminaire
A new luminaire brings road optics matched to the carriageway, a controlled ULR, a programmable driver and a photometric file. It is the safest way to demonstrate compliance with the 2018 decree and the NF EN 13201 class in a public contract.
Design office tip
Survey every light point (lantern, wattage, pole condition, mounting height). Use LED lamps in decorative lanterns that are in good condition and closed at the top, and new luminaires on main routes and wherever the lantern lights up the sky.
Dimming, presence detection and solar
LED makes lighting control simple. Three levels, from the lightest to the most comprehensive:
- Scheduled dimming: the driver reduces the output in the middle of the night, for example to 50% from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., without a control cable. Demonstrate the class achieved at reduced output.
- Presence detection: the luminaire stays at a low level and brightens when a pedestrian or vehicle passes. Suitable for walkways, access roads and little-used car parks.
- Remote management: each light point communicates (DALI interface, NEMA or Zhaga socket). It reports failures and allows street-by-street scenarios.
To estimate the savings from a retrofit, use our LED savings calculator.
Solar lighting
A standalone solar luminaire avoids trenching and grid connection on paths, building surroundings and isolated car parks. Size it for December: panel facing due south with no shading, autonomy of several nights, presence detection to save the battery. It remains subject to the 2018 decree and must come with a photometric file.
Worked example: a 200 m residential street
Assumptions: housing estate street in a built-up area, 200 m long, 5 m carriageway and two 1.5 m pavements, giving a width of 8 m and 1,600 m² to light. Light traffic, 30 km/h.
- Class: P4, i.e. 5 lux average and 1 lux minimum maintained across the full width.
- Layout: poles on one side only, 6 m mounting height, 25 m spacing (about 4 times the height), giving 9 light points.
- Flux per luminaire: illuminance × spacing × width / (utilisation factor × maintenance factor), i.e. 5 × 25 × 8 / (0.45 × 0.8), about 2,800 lm. We choose a luminaire with about 3,000 lm output, i.e. around 25 W at an efficacy of 120 lm/W.
- 2018 decree check: 9 × 3,000 lm / 1,600 m², about 17 lm/m², half the 35 lm/m² cap. Colour temperature 3,000 K or 2,700 K, luminaire mounted flat (ULR 0%).
- Consumption: 9 × 25 W, i.e. 225 W installed. Over about 4,100 hours of lighting per year, this comes to nearly 920 kWh; with 50% dimming from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., it drops to around 680 kWh. Compare this with the nine original 100 W sodium lanterns (about 115 W with ballast): nearly 4,200 kWh per year.
This calculation gives an order of magnitude. The 1 lux minimum between two poles must be verified by photometric calculation: our lighting study demonstrates both values, with a calculation report, for your tender file.
Common mistakes
- Calculating without a maintenance factor: the installation falls below the class within a few years.
- Comparing wattages (W) instead of luminous flux (lm) and efficacy (lm/W).
- Choosing 4,000 K "to see better": not compliant with the 2018 decree.
- Tilting the bracket to cover more width: the ULR quickly exceeds 1%.
Your public lighting CCTP in 8 points
Specify verifiable performance, not brands.
- Lighting class for each road (M, C or P), justified according to CEN/TR 13201-1, with the maintained values to achieve.
- Mandatory calculation assumptions: maintenance factor, road geometry, surface, calculation grid, so that all bidders calculate on the same basis.
- Compliance with the French decree of 27 December 2018: ULR, CEN flux code no. 3, colour temperature, installed flux density, operating hours, with a calculation report.
- Photometric data: LDT or IES files for each luminaire and a DIALux study or equivalent supplied by the bidder.
- Luminaire specifications: output flux, luminaire efficacy in lm/W, IP65 minimum, IK08, electrical class, surge protection, lumen maintenance (Lx value at a given duration).
- Controls: dimming profile, presence detection, interface (DALI, NEMA or Zhaga) compatible with future remote management.
- Supports: mounting height, bracket, foundation, wind load calculation according to NF EN 40, compatibility with retained poles.
- Operation: warranty period, spare parts availability, as-built file (DOE), take-back and recycling of removed lamps and luminaires.
Send us your tender documents (DCE) or your CCTP: we will reply with a lighting study and a quote based on our public lighting ranges.
