A public illumination project requires a multitude of planning. City officials have to decide on how much illumination is needed, what types of lights illuminate well and cost-effectively, how far apart poles should be spaced, and what type of light poles work best for the area to be lighted.
This article will look at public illumination projects, what is needed, and how LightMart can help you find the best solutions when planning for your lighting needs.
What Factors Should Be Considered in Public Illumination Projects?
If you’re considering embarking on a public illumination project, there are some factors you have to consider. Here are some of the most important:
Types of Poles
When deciding on types of poles for your lighting project, there are several choices, including street light poles, decorative poles, architectural poles, and parking light poles. For the convenience of your municipal lighting project, LightMart offers light pole kits giving you an all-in-one turnkey solution. Our kits also eliminate any supply chain issues that can arise so that you’re not waiting for any parts to arrive. Instead, you get them all at once.
- Decorative Light Pole Kits: Choose from four different decorative styles that combine style and functionality in a kit that includes a commercial-grade, round aluminum light pole, decorative base cover, and LED fixture.
- Architectural Light Pole Kits: For an aesthetically pleasing look, our architectural light pole kits include a 4” round straight aluminum light pole, an architectural post-top LED area light, tenon, and hardware.
- Halo Style Light Pole Kits: Our Halo Style Light Pole kits offer an exquisite lighting style with a straight aluminum pole in a black powder coat finish, a decorative base cover, and an LED light fixture.
- Parking Lot Light Pole Kits: All of our parking lot light pole kits include a light pole, LED fixture, bracket, base cover, pole cap, and handhole cover.
Of course, all of the poles from our kits are also available individually. They also have the option of anchor-based or direct burial installation.
Pole Material
Fiberglass, steel, and aluminum are the three most common light pole materials. Aluminum is a common choice for light poles. It’s corrosion-resistant and stands up to wind well since it sways because of its lightweight. Steel is stronger, heavier, and stiffer than aluminum, making it suitable for heavy-duty light pole installations. Fiberglass is a combination of steel and aluminum, offering strength, durability, and corrosive-resistant effects.
Wattage, Lumens, and Foot-Candles
We’re all familiar with the term watts, but lumens and foot-candles may have some of you scratching your heads. It’s not as complicated as it sounds.
A watt measures how much energy a bulb uses to produce light. An important thing to remember when considering wattage is that an LED light using 150 watts has the same lumen output as a traditional bulb using 400 watts. A lumen measures the amount of light emitted from the bulb or the brightness of the bulb. A foot-candle measures the amount of light falling on a specific point or object.
Number of Poles Needed
The number of poles depends on the size of the area you are trying to illuminate. Simply put, the more light you require, the more poles you need. As a general formula, figure on spacing poles 125-150 feet apart. For example, if you’re lighting a city street 300 feet long and plan on spacing them 150 feet apart, you would need about two light poles.
How Far Apart Should City Street Lights Be Placed?
In general, with light poles averaging between 25-40 feet in height, municipal lights are placed every 125-150 feet. Factors influencing proper pole placement include the need to illuminate streets and sidewalks without making them too bright or too dark.
Light poles that are spaced too far apart may create intervals of darkness, making it difficult for pedestrians to comfortably walk down the sidewalk or for drivers to see clearly on the road. Light poles spaced too close together will create glare and make it difficult to see in some spots. It’s also a good idea to check city ordinances to ensure any requirements when placing light poles.
Are City Lights Able to Be Dimmed?
One of the many features of using LEDs is that they are dimmable. This is a great advantage if you plan to use them as residential street lights since the LEDs can be set to adjust to available light. So, as dusk turns to dark or dark to dawn, the LED street lights’ brightness can adjust accordingly. This cuts down on energy use and is easier on the eye.
Consider These Features Before Buying
Here’s a list of the important features to look for when purchasing lighting for a municipal lighting project:
- Cost-Efficiency: Modern bulbs last a long time. Their typical lifespan is 50,000 to 100,000 hours or more. This means you are saving money by not having to purchase new bulbs as often and saving on labor to change them out.
- Energy-Efficiency: LED light fixtures require less energy and produce the same, if not more, light than traditional incandescent bulbs.
- Green/Eco-friendliness: For municipal projects, we recommend energy-efficient lights as they demand much less energy to run.
- Safety: To maximize safety, selecting lights that last longer and do not need to be replaced often means crews do not have to go out to replace them on busy city streets and highways.
LightMart Has the Answers
We know that planning a lighting project can be complicated and intimidating. Lightmart has the answers to any questions you may have about municipal lighting systems. We’ll help with planning the project, deciding on how many poles you need, the materials involved, and the installation of the poles as well. Call us today at (800) 443-8254 to talk to one of our lighting experts. You can also contact us online if you prefer. Our lighting experts are always happy to assist you with any of your lighting needs.