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Plans, policies and reports

Lighting guidelines

Contents | Introduction to lighting | Planning decisions | Correct lighting decisions | Technical decisions | Using the right equipment | Lighting specifications | Lighting checklist | Future work

Correct lighting decisions

There are four areas that need to be considered to make correct lighting decisions. They are:

  1. A holistic approach to decision making
  2. Using the correct source of light
  3. Using the correct category charts for lighting of lighting
  4. Using colour lighting to get the best effect.

Holistic approach Top

To achieve correct lighting that also gives ambience and image to the night environment, a holistic lighting framework has to be applied in all lighting decisions.

This means that:

  • the correct V and P categories in the AS/NZS Standard1158 have to be used so that streets with a priority on pedestrians consider using P categories of lighting where appropriate and streets where there is a priority on vehicles use V category of lighting
  • motorists needs are met by having good visibility
  • there is good visibility for pedestrians with an illumination that gives a pleasant ambiance that is safe and comfortable for users
  • an aesthetic night-time image is created that enhances feelings of community ownership, a sense of belonging and improved perceptions of safety.

Use the correct source of lightTop

Light sources commonly used include:

Each light source can be applied in different circumstances - refer light source chart.

Light source chart

Light source

Best used for/when

Positive features

Negative features
Compact fluorescent
  • Features, trees, etc requiring a low level of recognition.
  • General lighting under canopies
  • Compact and readily available in a wide range of equipment.
  • Relatively efficient.
  • Reasonable lamp life.
  • Available in a range of colour temperatures.
  • Good colour rendering.
  • Control of the light output not as defined as metal halide or halogen.
  • Features can have a washed out appearance if not designed correctly.
  • Not suitable for spot lighting
Cosmopolis
  • Residential streets
  • Pathways, reserves, car parks, etc where high colour rendering is not required
  • High efficacy
  • Reasonable lamp life
  • 140 watt & 60 watt lamps equivalent light output to 150 w & 70 w hps providing energy saving
  • Cannot be directly retrofitted into existing luminaries
  • Requires specific designed optics
  • Currently only available from one supplier
  • Can be a high source of glare if not correctly controlled
  • Only available in CRI 65 at present
Halogen
  • Feature lighting of plants & ornaments where surrounding lighting level is low.
  • Small gardens and pathways.
  • Excellent control of the light source.
  • Excellent colour rendering.
  • Can achieve variable light output with dimmer control.
  • Cost effective solution where the operation of lighting is infrequent.
  • Compact and readily available with a wide range of equipment
  • Low lamp life.
  • Low efficiency compared to other lamp sources.

 
High pressure sodium
  • Urban streets
  • Road lighting
  • High efficacy
  • long lamp life
  • Currently used for all major roadways in ACC outside of the CBD
  • Very poor colour rendering
  • Can be source of glare if light output is not correctly controlled.
  • Requires control gear to operate lamp.
  • Only available in colour temperature range around 2000K
LED
  • Orientation and visual guidance.
  • Feature lighting.
  • Festive & event lighting
  • Extremely long lamp life.
  • Low maintenance.
  • Can be housed in very small luminaires.
  • Very low power consumption.
  • Almost indefinite colour range achievable.
  • Colour rendering is poor
  • light output relatively low
  • Can be a source of intense glare if source not controlled correctly.
  • Requires control gear or transformer to operate lamp.
Linear fluorescent
  • Building & wall facade lighting effects.
  • General lighting under canopies
  • Readily available
  • Proven technology
  • Reasonable lamp life.
  • Available in a range of colour temperatures.
  • Good colour rendering.
  • Limited exterior equipment available.
  • Equipment tends to be large due to
  • length of the linear lamp sources.
  • Can be difficult to control light source.
  • Requires control gear to operate lamp
Metal halide

 
  • Pathways, areas/features/trees etc that require a high level of recognition.
  • Good control of light output can be achieved.
  • Used in a wide variety of equipment.
  • Reasonable lamp life.
  • Available in a range of colour temperatures.
  • Good colour rendering.
  • Can be a source of glare if light output is not correctly controlled.
  • Requires control gear to operate lamp.

 

 

Published December 2008