The UK lighting market continues to evolve at pace, driven by changing legislation, sustainability requirements, advances in LED and smart lighting technologies, and shifting construction activity.
New UK building regulations due over the next 18–24 months will change how lighting is specified, manufactured and sold. The Future Homes and Buildings Standard (FHBS) and the 2026 edition of Part L introduce stricter efficacy targets, tighter controls requirements and a stronger emphasis on whole‑life performance. For lighting manufacturers, the clock is ticking, compliance is now a commercial imperative, not just a technical task.
Manufacturers that prepare early will be better positioned to secure specifications, framework agreements and major projects. This brief guide outlines the key changes and lists practical steps manufacturers should take today to be specification‑ready.
What is changing?
- Part L (2026 edition): raises minimum efficacy standards for fixed lighting, introduces new LENI (Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator) targets for different building types, and requires wider use of automatic controls (occupancy sensors, daylight‑linked dimming) in both residential and non‑residential settings.
- FHBS (Future Homes and Buildings Standard): effective 24 March 2027 for most new homes, it tightens energy performance requirements and expects fixed lighting to meet minimum luminous efficacy thresholds and be supplied with appropriate local controls.
- Standards and test updates: revisions to BS EN 60598, BS 5266 and IEC emergency‑lighting guidance introduce new safety, temperature and battery requirements for luminaires and emergency systems.
- Market shift: procurement is likely to favour luminaires and integrated systems that can demonstrably meet Part L and FHBS requirements over lowest‑cost legacy products.
Why does this matter to manufacturers?
Regulatory changes will reshape tender specifications and compliance checklists. Products lacking documented efficacy, controls compatibility or clear installation guidance risk exclusion from specification and framework bids. Conversely, manufacturers who supply robust test evidence, BIM objects and ready‑to‑specify documentation will be far more likely to be selected for large public and private projects.
Key product implications
- Minimum efficacy thresholds: fixed luminaires must meet higher lumens‑per‑watt criteria. Specialist sources may have different thresholds – ensure product classification and test data are aligned with the new rules.
- Controls: automatic switching, daylight harvesting and separate switching of display or speciality lighting are emphasised. Compatibility with standard protocols (DALI‑2 / D4i) will be expected for professional projects.
- LENI and specification: specifiers will increasingly require LENI calculations for non‑residential projects; supplying luminaire data that feeds directly into LENI models accelerates specification.
- Emergency lighting: new requirements for battery types, self‑testing and adaptive emergency systems mean updated technical documentation and, in some cases, product redesign.
- External lighting: stricter limits on light spill and directionality require photometric data and shielding information to be readily available.
These implications will determine who is invited onto specifications and frameworks. Manufacturers that can demonstrate documented efficacy, controls compatibility and clear installation guidance will retain access to specification‑led markets; those that cannot risk being excluded as procurement increasingly favours demonstrable whole‑life performance.
Lighting Market Report by Barbour ABI
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the UK lighting market, covering both product and project perspectives across new‑build, retrofit and RMI activity. It examines key product groups (LED luminaires, controls & sensors, emergency lighting, streetlighting, specialist and horticultural solutions, and integrated/connected systems), their specification drivers and typical applications across commercial, public, industrial and residential sectors.
Click below to view this report on our store website where you can see an exhaustive list of the table of contents, market summary, and more.
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