Society of Light and Lighting

About SLL

The Society of Light and Lighting acts as the professional body for lighting. It has over 2000 members in the UK and worldwide, and carries out a full range of activities. The Society is a company limited by guarantee which is controlled by CIBSE.

It is run by an elected Council and Executive Committee with standing committees covering its full range of activities. The Society prepares publications on lighting, holds a programme of regular sessional meetings and regular lighting conferences, and acts as a focus for lighting professionals. It liaises with the CIBSE Regions on lighting events throughout the country.

The Society of Light and Lighting is the senior and largest professional body in the UK representing the interests of those involved in the art, science and engineering of light and lighting in their widest definition. Although it was formed only in 1999, the Society builds on over 90 years of history. Its origins go back to the formation in 1909 of the Illuminating Engineering Society which had the aim of considering all applications of natural and artifical light.

In 1978 the Society amalgamated with the Institution of Heating & Ventilating Engineers to form the Chartered Institution of Building Services, which became the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers in 1985. As a chartered body the Institution was able to raise the standards expected in the lighting profession. It is now one of the main engineering institutions and has a direct involvement in the running of the Engineering Council.

This and its active involvement in the Construction Industry Council ensures that the lighting profession is given the recognition it deserves. However, because of its Engineering Council involvement, CIBSE’s membership criteria are inevitably linked to qualifications and experience in engineering. Much of light and lighting is not engineering in any sense of the word. The Society has therefore been formed as part of CIBSE to offer the best of both worlds: the strength of a chartered professional institution with the freedom to serve the world of light and lighting without appearing to be restricted to engineering aspects.

It is thus able to welcome all those who contribute to the world of light and lighting: lighting designers, lamp and luminaire manufacturers, sales people, consultants, installers, facilities managers, ergonomists, interior designers, ophthalmologists, architects, physicists, entertainment lighting specialists; in fact anyone who has an interest in any aspect of light and lighting.

The aims of the Society are:

• To promote the benefits of good lighting
• To provide professional recognition of those who have qualifications and/or experience in light and lighting
• To establish and promote good practice in lighting design and engineering in all their facets
• To provide a forum where people interested in all aspects of light and lighting can come together
• To set and maintain standards in education for light and lighting
• To advise government and other authoritative bodies on the best use and application of light and lighting.

The Society of Light and Lighting makes a major contribution to the development of British Standards, European and international related to its field, and is a major player in the International Commission on Illumination. It also provides advice to government departments on issues such as the Building Regulations and health and safety legislation.

The Society’s quarterly research journal, Lighting Research & Technology. has a very high world-wide reputation as the leading international journal on the science and application of exterior and interior lighting technology as well as lamp and equipment technology and developments. Some 20% of the Society’s membership is outside the UK in over 50 countries, and its regular conferences attract large numbers of delegates, both members and others, from all over the world.