Autor(s):

Ivo Nikolov, Academy of the Ministry of Interior, Sofia, Bulgaria, IvoNikolov9090@gmail.com

Tihomir Tonev, Academy of the Ministry of Interior, Sofia, Bulgaria, TishoTonev2001@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.55630/STEM.2025.0724

Abstract:

    Artificial lighting is a critical factor for the safety and effectiveness of rescue teams operating under reduced visibility – at night, in fog, smoke, rain, or snow. The paper analyses the main Bulgarian regulations and international standards related to workplace and emergency lighting and compares their quantitative requirements. On this basis, physiological constraints of human vision (visual sensitivity, adaptation time, contrast sensitivity and fatigue) are discussed. Elementary photometric relations between luminous flux, illuminance, luminous intensity and uniformity are introduced, together with a simple example of illuminance calculation for a typical accident scene. The analysis shows a clear discrepancy between detailed international requirements (100–200 lx and above, with defined uniformity criteria) and the lack of explicit minimum illuminance levels in the Bulgarian regulatory framework. Recommendations are formulated for the development of national guidance on artificial lighting during emergency response to road traffic accidents.

Keywords:

Artificial Lighting; Workplace; Rescue Teams; Traffic Accidents;

Received:

30-11-2025

Accepted:

18-12-2025

Published:

29-12-2025

Cite (APA style):

Nikolov, I., Tonev, T. (2025). Requirements Analysis for Providing Adequate Artificial Illumination in Operational Areas during Emergency Response to Road Traffic Accidents, Science Series "Innovative STEM Education", volume 07, ISSN: 2683-1333, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, pp. 260-271, DOI: https://doi.org/10.55630/STEM.2025.0724

PDF file address:

http://www.math.bas.bg/vt/stemedu/books/07/STEM.2025.0724.pdf