Street lighting keeps our highways and public spaces safe at night, or should we say, good lighting keeps our highways safe.
As a street lighting designer, it is our responsibility to ensure we design considering the end user. We are, after all, lighting for people and not places.
'It's not all the same'
Each authority differs on their approach to lighting their highway network and the equipment standards they use. A large majority of authorities now incorporate a Central Management System (CMS) or at the very least require the installation to be future proof and incorporate one if required in the future. Below is a list of some of the items that can vary depending upon the local authority:
- Light source - typically LED across the UK
- Colour temperature
- Central Management Systems
- Column specifications
- Lantern specifications
- Power source requirements
- Switching regime
- Passive safety requirements
'Things we consider'
It's important for us to consider the following factors:
- Health and Safety; hazards, utilities, future maintenance
- Appropriate lighting class (compliant with BS5489)
- End users
- Column locations (proposed and existing)
- Crime
- Accident data
- Equipment specifications
- Properties
- Power supplies - Environmental factors i.e. light pollution and trespass
- Energy usage of the proposed installation
- Future maintenance
A good street lighting design will consider all of the above plus much more - the list goes on.
Our lighting designs aim to have as minimal impact on the environment as possible, whilst providing lighting that is worthwhile and effective.
Get in touch and see how we can assist with your next project.
All the best,
Peter