Abacus Lighting - Amenity Lighting Design Guidelines

Amenity Lighting Design Guidelines/Criteria & Illumination Levels

Amenity Lighting

Amenity lighting is used to enhance and provide a safe night environment for the benefit of local residents, pedestrians, car park and road users.

It covers a wide range of general applications and purposes:

To improve night time visual attractiveness and surroundings for residents and visitors

• To allow safer movement of pedestrians in the outdoor environment
• To offer outdoor car park users the appropriate level of lighting to balance the requirements of security, comfort and visibility
• To provide security lighting for local properties by deterring intruders
• To discourage violence, vandalism and crime
• To provide low level general lighting of access roads, low traffic residential roadways and footpaths
• To provide the appropriate level of lighting for the level of security risk, be it low, medium or high

These requirements may usually be achieved by introducing relatively low lighting levels dependent, however, upon the overall purpose and degree of attractiveness desired.

It is more important to ensure that minimum illuminance values are achieved in order to allow safe movement of pedestrians. The minimum values are determined in the relevant categories. The lighting of roadways should comply with the relevant code of practice or standard. Increasing illuminance levels will also improve visual performance and instill in the pedestrian the psychological effect of increased safety, providing glare is controlled.

There are three distinct areas of light pollution, overspill, glare and sky glow.

The objective for the lighting system should be to limit these to an acceptable level for the location and application by careful design. By controlling obtrusive light, both the lighting quality and performance are increased.

Amenity lighting can create a positive effect. Good amenity lighting should take into consideration all aspects of the lit environment.

Floodlighting

The use of floodlights to illuminate exterior areas has a wide a varied range of applications;

Some typical categories are:

• General lighting
• Working areas
• Security
• Sports

Applications such as lighting for sports, security, airports, docks and the illumination of hostile and hazardous environments often require specialist attention. Our lighting design service is available to advise on these and all other aspects of exterior lighting.

General and Working Areas

Most general and working areas are illuminated by floodlights mounted on masts or buildings. The type of floodlight, lamp selection and mounting height are dependent upon the overall size of the area, illuminance level, visual task, site restrictions and the cost effectiveness of the overall design.

Calculations

All general exterior lighting calculations will include a maintenance factor due to depreciation caused by various elements. Where a ‘Maintained Illuminance Level’ is required, it is necessary to incorporate a full maintenance factor comprising all depreciation factors:

• Depreciation due to build-up of dirt on a luminaire
• Lamp lumen depreciation
• Lamp survival
• Deterioration of internal reflecting surfaces
• Atmospheric losses

The use of a ‘Maintained Illuminance’ should ensure the specified illuminance level is always provided during the period to planned maintenance. It is of particular importance in specifications for sports lighting.