A Guide To Choose Parking Lot Lights

Today, parking lot lights are a ubiquitous feature of urban and suburban landscapes, illuminating parking areas of all sizes and types. They play a vital role in facilitating safe navigation, enhancing security, and providing a welcoming environment for visitors and customers. The continued evolution of parking lot lighting technology promises even greater efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in the years to come.Let’s move on to see what factors you need to consider when choosing parking lot lights.

What are Parking Lot Lights?

Parking lot lights are outdoor lighting fixtures specifically designed to illuminate parking areas, ensuring visibility, safety, and security for vehicles and pedestrians. These lights are strategically installed throughout parking lots to provide uniform illumination across the entire area, including parking spaces, driving lanes, walkways, entrances, and exits.

How Do They Work?

Light Source: Parking lot lights contain a light source, such as a bulb or LED array, housed within a protective fixture. The type of light source used can vary depending on the specific requirements and preferences of the parking lot owner.

Power Source: Parking lot lights are powered by electricity from the local power grid or, in the case of solar-powered lights, from solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical energy. Some lights may also use batteries or generators as backup power sources.

Light Distribution: The light source emits light downward onto the parking lot surface, providing uniform illumination across the entire area. The design of the fixture and the optics used determine the distribution of light, ensuring that the entire parking area is adequately illuminated.

Mounting: Parking lot lights are typically mounted on poles or structures at regular intervals throughout the parking lot. The height and spacing of the poles are carefully chosen to provide optimal lighting coverage and visibility while minimizing glare and light pollution.

Controls: Parking lot lights may be equipped with controls to adjust the brightness, timing, or direction of the light output. This allows for customization of the lighting settings to suit different usage patterns, environmental conditions, or specific requirements of the parking lot.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the proper functioning of parking lot lights. This may include cleaning the fixtures, replacing bulbs or LED arrays, inspecting wiring and connections, and addressing any issues with the power supply or controls.

How to Choose Parking Lot Lights:

Choosing parking lot lights involves a comprehensive assessment of various factors to ensure that the selected lighting solution meets the specific needs and requirements of the parking lot. Here's a detailed guide on how to choose parking lot lights:

Evaluate Lighting Requirements:

Begin by assessing the specific lighting requirements of the parking lot, including the size, layout, and usage patterns. Consider factors such as the number of parking spaces, traffic flow, pedestrian pathways, and any areas requiring special attention, such as entrances, exits, or security zones.

Determine Lighting Levels:

Determine the desired light levels (measured in foot-candles or lux) required for different areas of the parking lot, such as drive lanes, parking spaces, walkways, and building entrances. Consult lighting standards and guidelines, such as those provided by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), to establish appropriate lighting levels based on the intended use and occupancy of the parking lot.

Choose Lighting Technology:

Select the most suitable lighting technology based on factors such as energy efficiency, performance, lifespan, and maintenance requirements. Consider options such as:

• LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights: Known for their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and durability. LED lights offer superior performance and lower operating costs compared to traditional lighting technologies.
• High-pressure sodium (HPS) lights: Efficient and cost-effective, but with lower color rendering and shorter lifespan compared to LED lights.
• Metal halide lights: Provide bright, white light with good color rendering but have higher energy consumption and shorter lifespan compared to LED lights.

Consider Lighting Design:

Design the lighting layout and configuration to ensure uniform illumination across the entire parking lot while minimizing glare, shadows, and light spillage. Use lighting design software or consult with a lighting designer to create an optimized lighting plan that meets the specific requirements and objectives of the project.

Evaluate Energy Efficiency:

Prioritize energy-efficient lighting solutions to reduce electricity consumption and operating costs. Look for parking lot lights with high efficacy ratings (lumens per watt) and ENERGY STAR certification to ensure optimal energy performance. Consider options such as dimming controls, motion sensors, and daylight harvesting strategies to further maximize energy savings.

Assess Maintenance Requirements:

Evaluate the maintenance requirements of parking lot lights, including bulb replacements, fixture cleaning, and electrical repairs. Choose fixtures with long lifespans and minimal maintenance needs to reduce ongoing maintenance costs and downtime. Consider factors such as ingress protection (IP) ratings and rugged construction to ensure durability and reliability in outdoor environments.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance:

Ensure that the selected parking lot lights comply with relevant safety standards, building codes, and environmental regulations. Check for any local ordinances or regulations governing outdoor lighting installations, including restrictions on light pollution, glare, and light trespass.

Consider Budget Constraints:

Consider budget constraints when selecting parking lot lights and balance cost considerations with performance requirements. Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including initial purchase price, installation costs, operating costs, and long-term maintenance expenses, to determine the most cost-effective lighting solution.

Conclusion

By carefully evaluating these factors and conducting thorough research, you can choose parking lot lights that provide optimal illumination, energy efficiency, and durability while meeting the specific needs and objectives of your parking lot project. Taking a detailed and systematic approach to parking lot lighting selection will result in a lighting system that enhances safety, visibility, and usability for all users of the parking lot.