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ISO/CIE 8995-1:2025: Circadian Lighting Enters International Standards ISO/CIE 8995-1:2025

On January 31, 2025, the updated ISO/CIE 8995-1:2025 international standard for indoor workplace lighting was officially published. This is the first international standard to incorporate quantified non-visual effects (circadian stimulation) into indoor lighting specifications. According to a technical analysis published by BrainLit on February 17, 2025, the standard introduces for the first time circadian lighting recommendations based on melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance (m-EDI).

m-EDI Recommended Values Explained

The standard establishes the following m-EDI recommendations for different times of day:

  • Daytime: Minimum 250 lux m-EDI to maintain normal circadian signaling and alertness. Adequate daytime light signals help anchor the body’s biological clock, improving nighttime sleep quality.
  • Three hours before bedtime: Maximum 10 lux m-EDI to reduce suppression of melatonin secretion. Melatonin is a key hormone for natural sleep onset, and excessive blue light stimulation can delay its secretion peak.
  • During nighttime sleep: Maximum 1 lux m-EDI to minimize light disruption to sleep cycles. Even dim nightlight illumination, if its spectrum contains significant short-wavelength components, may affect the proportion of deep sleep.

m-EDI is a metric that measures the intensity of light stimulation on the human non-visual system, particularly the melanopsin-containing photoreceptors that regulate circadian rhythms. Unlike traditional illuminance (lux), it accounts for the influence of spectral composition on biological effects. Two lamps with identical traditional illuminance may have significantly different m-EDI values if their color temperatures differ.

Implications for Smart Lighting Selection

The publication of this standard provides an international reference benchmark for tunable color temperature smart lighting. When selecting products, consumers can consider:

  • Whether the product specifies m-EDI values or equivalent circadian lighting parameters, indicating that the manufacturer considered non-visual health factors in the design rather than focusing solely on traditional brightness metrics.
  • Whether the fixture supports automatic adjustment of color temperature and brightness by time of day, enabling circadian-friendly modes with high-illuminance cool white light during daytime and low-illuminance warm light at night. This automation capability is one of the core values distinguishing smart lighting from conventional fixtures.
  • Understanding the distinction between m-EDI and traditional illuminance: high traditional illuminance does not equal high circadian stimulation; spectral composition matters equally. When selecting products, consumers should look beyond lumen or lux ratings and also consider spectral characteristics.

Our smart lighting category (30 products) includes various tunable color temperature fixtures. Specific spectral parameters and circadian lighting features should be verified on the product detail pages. For inquiries, please visit Contact Us.

Information current as of September 2026. Please refer to official sources for the latest updates.

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