For architects specifying commercial washroom products, LRV values for special finishes are as important as their colour. The Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of a fitting determines how much visible light it reflects and how clearly it contrasts with surrounding surfaces.

Understanding LRV values for special finishes is therefore essential when specifying fittings for accessible and inclusive washrooms, while also helping to create a considered approach to lighting and colour.

LRV COLOUR CHARTS

The tables below show the complete LRV values for special finishes across Dolphin Solutions’ special finish range.

Use these LRV values for special finishes alongside the colour charts when selecting fittings and checking their contrast against walls, floors and other adjacent surfaces.

CERAMIC COATING

LRV Value Table Ceramic Coating

PHYSICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION (PVD)

LRV Value Table Physical Vapour Deposition

POLYESTER POWDER COAT (PPC)

LRV Value Table Polyester Powder Coat

Black and white are shown here simply to illustrate the two ends of the LRV scale. We can supply our washroom products in any colour from the RAL chart, so please get in touch to enquire.

Dolphin Solutions Special Finishes

LRV COLOUR CHART: WASHROOM SPECIFICATION

When building a colour palette for an ambulant or accessible commercial washroom, use the LRV values for special finishes to check three things:

  1. The LRV value of the washroom fitting

  2. The LRV value of the wall or floor it sits against

  3. The resulting difference between the two LRV values against the relevant benchmark

Document Part M sets the general requirement for visual contrast between two adjacent surfaces or fittings at a minimum LRV difference of 30 points.

Where illuminance on the surfaces exceeds 200 lux, this minimum can be reduced to 20 points.

A further exception applies to door opening furniture that projects beyond the face of the door or otherwise creates its own shading and differentiation, where a minimum LRV difference of 15 points is considered adequate.

Need help matching LRV values across your washroom specification?

Get in touch with our team for guidance on LRV contrast requirements and selecting suitable finishes.

What Light Reflectance Value actually measures

What is Light Reflectance Value (LRV)?

Light Reflectance Value is a measurement of how much visible light a surface reflects, expressed on a scale from 0 to 100.

The LRV values for special finishes shown in our colour charts indicate how much light each finish reflects.

What do low and high LRV numbers actually look like?

A surface with an LRV of 3 reflects almost no visible light and reads as near-black. A surface with an LRV of 90 reflects most visible light back into the room and reads as near-white.

The LRV values for special finishes can therefore help architects understand how a fitting will contrast against surrounding surfaces, rather than relying on colour alone.

Is there anything to watch out for when choosing colours based on LRV?

Yes. Different colours and special finishes can have very different LRV values, even when they appear similar in a sample box or colour chart. The LRV scale provides a more reliable way to understand how much light a finish reflects, so always check the tested LRV rather than judging contrast by eye alone.

Using the measured LRV values for special finishes when specifying washroom fittings can help ensure the required visual contrast is considered from the outset.

RELATED ARTICLES

DESIGNING WASHROOMS FOR VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS WHAT IS THE LIGHT REFLECTANCE VALUE IN ACCESSIBLE WASHROOMS? USING THE LRV COLOUR CHART IN ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM DESIGN

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