THE LIGHTING REFERENCE
LIGHTING · SCIENCE · PRACTICE

Know which document answers which question.

A verified directory of 15 IES measurement methods, technical memoranda and lighting practices.

Primary-source research · Original explanations · Reviewed October 4, 2026
01

Three kinds of evidence

Measurement methods establish how specified quantities are measured. Technical memoranda address particular methods or technical topics. Recommended practices address applications. Start with the question, then choose the document; avoid treating every report or file as interchangeable.

02

Read the identifier and the scope

The entries below reflect official public product listings checked October 4, 2026. Edition suffixes and errata matter. Before making a project requirement, check the official record again and obtain the applicable full text.

03

Public metadata has limits

We verified titles, displayed identifiers, purposes and public contents. We have not reproduced protected numerical tables or full procedures. A catalog synopsis establishes subject coverage; it does not validate a design, certify a product or replace the complete standard.

04

Resolve inconsistent metadata carefully

Some official catalog fields conflict: the LM-63 descriptive paragraph discusses a different test topic, and some citation years differ from displayed identifiers or publisher fields. This directory uses the displayed document identifier and relevant title/contents; it does not propagate those inconsistent paragraphs. The research record retains the caveats.

Official IES catalog listings · checked October 4, 2026
IdentifierTitlePurpose
ANSI/IES LM-79-24 ↗Optical and Electrical Measurements of Solid State Lighting ProductsMeasures SSL product flux, electrical input, efficacy, distribution, spectrum and color under standardized conditions.
ANSI/IES LM-80-21 ↗Measuring Maintenance of Light Output Characteristics of Solid-State Light SourcesMeasures output and color maintenance of LED packages, arrays and modules under controlled conditions.
ANSI/IES TM-21-21 ↗Projecting Long-Term Luminous, Photon, and Radiant Flux Maintenance of LED Light SourcesProjects source flux maintenance from LM-80 data, with limits on extrapolation.
ANSI/IES LM-63-19(R25) ↗IES Standard File Format for the Electronic Transfer of Photometric Data and Related InformationDefines photometric data exchange structure, keywords, file conventions and IES-file examples.
ANSI/IES TM-30-24+E1 ↗IES Method for Evaluating Light Source Color RenditionEvaluates overall color fidelity and gamut, and hue-specific fidelity, chroma and hue shifts.
ANSI/IES TM-15-20 ↗Luminaire Classification System for Outdoor LuminairesDefines LCS and BUG ratings for outdoor luminaire distribution; replaces the deprecated cutoff system.
ANSI/IES RP-8-25+E2 ↗Lighting Roadway and Parking FacilitiesRoadway design and maintenance, intersections, tunnels, work zones, parking lots and garages.
ANSI/IES RP-1-24 ↗Lighting Office SpacesOffice quality, glare, visual displays, controls, sustainability and specific spaces.
ANSI/IES RP-6-24 ↗Lighting Sports and Recreational AreasLighting for sports facilities except professional, including indoor/outdoor applications and sport-specific considerations.
ANSI/IES RP-28-25 ↗Lighting and the Visual Environment for Older Adults and the Visually ImpairedApplication guidance for older adults and visually impaired users; title-only purpose verification.
ANSI/IES RP-3-26 ↗Lighting Educational FacilitiesClassrooms, corridors, labs, shops and social spaces in schools and universities; daylighting and controls updates.
ANSI/IES RP-29-25 ↗Lighting Hospital and Healthcare FacilitiesHealthcare-specific lighting challenges, quality, comfort, function, safety and room types.
ANSI/IES LM-83-23 ↗IES Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE)Annual climate-based daylight simulation metrics with hourly weather data and shading behavior.
ANSI/IES LP-3-20+E1 ↗Designing and Specifying Daylighting for BuildingsIntegrated daylight design: comfort, glare, heat gain, apertures, glazing, shading and electric-light integration.
ANSI/IES LP-6-25 ↗Lighting Control Systems – Properties, Selection, and SpecificationControl purposes, strategies, equipment, protocols, documentation and commissioning considerations.

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