Design guidelines for Parking Lighting

2019-12-20

Well-designed parking lot light layout can help prevent accidents, prevent crime, and make your employees and guests feel safer ,while still maintaining an well community environment. Improperly designed parking lot lighting can cause accidents, crime and damage to the image of the community.

There are many factors to consider when planning parking lot and property lighting. If you are a facility manager, business owner, or developer, this can be a daunting task. Where can I find there are   guidelines and standards? First, follow the five parking lighting design guidelines listed below.

1、Learn about local regulations and use community resources

Local resources, such as your city government and your local lighting sales representative, can help you quickly know local lighting regulations. You can study regulations by viewing them on your local government website. Often, the most direct way to eliminate the tedious process is to call your local city planning department ,explain to them what you want to do and whether city ordinances and regulations allow you to plan.

You may need to redesign and refurbish existing lighting equipment, or you may be in a new construction or renovation position. These are different situations take different approaches. Redesigns and refurbishments usually do not require approval of a permit or plan. New or large-scale redesigns may require you to submit a floor plan with photometric calculations for proper permission or occupancy.

2、Learn about industry standards for parking lighting design

If you have limited resources and knowledge about lighting, or you do not have a design professional, you may need to contact your local lighting professional. Look for experienced professional companies and consider yourself an "energy-saving company". They may be electrical contractors, distributors or even lighting manufacturers. The best source recommended is your local power company. Most utilities have "union" programs. These company understand the process and can provide one-stop service for parking lot review, design, recommendation, installation, incentives and financing.

If your local government doesn't have any guidelines,do you or your lighting designer know how to create a well-designed lighting design? The good news is that there are industry standards for parking lot lighting design. The North American Lighting Engineering Association (IES or IESNA) is an organization that monitors and controls standards and lighting guidelines for all lighting industries. IESNA has created a recommended practice RP for different application types.

3、Learn about your Insurance and/or OSHA Requirements

It is best to contact your insurance agent and OSHA representative at the same time to see if there are other requirements that can be met to protect you and your business from litigation.

4、Learn about Energy Star equivalent standards for parking lot lighting

Now we are ready to select the fixtures. Most of us are familiar with the ENERGY STAR label and its meaning. The performance listed on the product label is accurate and verified by a third party to provide consumers with comfort. However ENERGY STAR does not cover outdoor lighting. But Design Lights Consortium (DLC) does. Learn more about DLC product labeling and certification.

There is another benefit to using products labeled "Energy Star" or DLC, and many power companies will offer rebate incentives to switch to more energy efficient lighting. Most require you to use a product with one of two labels to qualify. Your lighting professional can help.

5、What role do similar companies play in lighting? Should you create your own specifications or follow them?

Many organizations that have gone through this process have decided to create their own lighting specifications. This saves time, money and opportunity, and projects can be sent out to bid for multiple solution providers based on performance requirements. Some companies have assembly capabilities, while others subcontract tasks to design or engineering companies.

Check out these resources to learn more about the lighting specification process:

·Architectural Lighting

·Commercial Building Energy Alliance LED Site Lighting Specification

·Federal Facilities

Keeping these guidelines in mind, you can effectively create parking lot lighting designs permitted by local government regulations, follow basic design standards, and even save some money with discount programs. If you are interested in corporate parking design, please contact us via email or telephone.