The design does not just refer to the color of the lights or the location where the fixtures will be placed. Design can be used to refer to everything, from planning and preparation to advanced measures that will save you money.
You must first have a plan.
All you need is information about the number, type, and height of your fixtures and you should ask a question from yourself “How many lights do I need for my parking lot ? “
As you survey the lot, consider what type of business or facility it is used for. Keep in mind that better lighting does not necessarily mean better. If your facility is located in a commercial area, look for trends.
More lighting doesn’t always equal better. Badly distributed lighting or too much light can lead to light pollution and problems with glare.
Is the lighting in other parking lots adequate? Is there any lighting in other parking lots? How many light poles and where are they placed in a parking area the same size as yours? Lighting distribution is the key to a well-executed design.
Determine the area of your parking lot and the output lumens per fixture. Depending on where your business is located, there are usually standards for total lumens. Lumens are an indicator of how bright your lights are.
The design phase is the best time to think about advanced lighting control. Parking lots are usually lit for 12 hours or longer. You can set the timers to turn on or off lights automatically and then walk away.
You can also control the distance of luminaires from your facility by using controls. The control of lighting allows property and business owners to decrease energy consumption during daylight hours when it is not necessary.
Most lighting contractors can assist you with designing the lighting system for your new facility. You want to do a good job with your parking area lighting.
Is there a Municipal Standard for Parking Lot Lighting?
Businesses can upgrade their parking lot lighting for many reasons. It’s not as easy as just buying some bulbs and climbing up a ladder. It is important to ensure that your replacement lights meet municipal guidelines and standards.
Some areas require businesses and buildings to dim their lights after dark. Some areas require that light from the lot does not interfere with traffic or neighboring properties. Nearly all codes require a minimum Foot-Candle.
Start by calling the nearest municipal office to your parking lot. Most often, there will be an area that oversees the current building codes and standards. You can let them know that your plans include lighting up your parking lot and you would like to be compliant with the current municipal standards.
A review board is usually appointed by the municipality to approve your lighting plan. They will provide advice on the requirements for the lighting review. They will ask for the following items: type and quantity of fixtures, type, and lamp, output lumens for each fixture, square footage of the property, and foot-candle distribution.
These codes can be confusing and sometimes unintuitive. It can be difficult to understand the codes and ensure that your new lights comply with all requirements. This is where professional lighting contractors step in.
No municipal code is too complicated to understand for skilled lighting contractors. An experienced contractor will know all the rules and design your new system according to them. Your lighting contractor can obtain the latest standards if they don’t have them.
What are Foot-Candles? How do they affect parking lot lighting?
Foot-candles. What is a Foot-candle? According to the technical definition, one foot-candle equals “the illumination cast on a surface from a one-candela-source one foot away”.
It is very important to have foot candles. Some rules and regulations regulate the number of foot-candles that parking lot lights should emit. It’s a good thing.
Parking lot lighting is one of the most critical, yet easy-to-forget elements of security for a business or building.
It doesn’t take much imagination to imagine what might be happening in your parking lot at night if the lights are not working or too dim. Customers and employees would hate walking through your lot to get to their cars. They’d soon be avoiding your business.
A good lighting contractor can be a great help in making sure your foot candles are covered. Professionals can measure the light coming from a source in many different ways using a variety of tools. One example of this measurement is foot candles. This science is called “photometry” and it is vital to make use of their expertise (and their tools) when lighting a parking lot.
You’ll not only be following local codes but also creating a safer and more welcoming environment. That’s good news for businesses.