Kitchen task lighting: undercabinet on every working countertop section; brightness > 50 fc at work surface
ROT/EXT-KITCHEN-TASK-LIGHTINGDescription
Kitchen task lighting: every working countertop section needs undercabinet lighting (LED strips or pucks) providing > 50 footcandles (540 lux) at the work surface. The ambient ceiling light alone (typically 20-30 fc at counter) is insufficient — and shadows are cast by the user's hands. Linear undercabinet placed at the front edge of the upper cabinet eliminates shadow + provides crisp work lighting.
Why this exists
Kitchens are the most lighting-intensive room. The under-cabinet detail is a non-negotiable element of a working kitchen — and a $200-500 line item that's often value-engineered out of builder spec homes.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
workSurface | min | 50 | footcandles | Target task-lighting level at counter |
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Kitchen sizing · KITCHEN-SIZE
- Kitchen near mudroom + garage · KITCHEN-NEAR-MUDROOM
- Kitchen adjacent to dining · KITCHEN-NEAR-DINING
- Kitchen east-facing for breakfast · KITCHEN-EAST-FACING
- Pantry adjacent to kitchen · PANTRY-ADJACENT-KITCHEN
Last reviewed 2026-05-15.