Street lighting is one of the mandatory elements for improvement of residential areas, the procedure for which is governed by applicable regulations in the CIS. The main document that defines the requirements for street lighting is SNiP 23-05-95. The same goals are served by a number of industry standards that determine the lighting standards for lanes, roads, squares and park areas. These departmental documents stipulate nuances regarding the specifics of highlighting specific objects, including roads and entrances to buildings.
Types of Outdoor Lighting
Among the various approaches to street lighting, particular attention is paid to the following types:
- decorative lighting;
- outdoor lighting of house territories, sites near country houses;
- lighting design of urban areas.
The required effect of decorative street lamps is achieved provided that the location of the light sources is correctly selected. Before using them, it is important to prepare a layout that takes into account the architectural features of the landscape and park areas. The essence of the exterior lighting design is to emphasize the elements of the environment and the details of the objects to be equipped. A characteristic feature of this approach is the ability to control the intensity and other parameters of the backlight placed on special cables.
House lighting is an integral part of the layout of any commissioned construction project. Particular attention is paid to the access areas of residential buildings that need constant lighting. When arranging it, it should be borne in mind that the street lamp on the pole should not blind your eyes.
High requirements are also imposed on street lighting of city sites, since its presence ensures the safety of living in these territories. They relate to the architectural and design details of residential areas, which should be clearly distinguishable in the dark. The use of outdoor light helps to maintain the following locations:
- residential sector facilities;
- fully open urban spaces equipped with lampposts and streetlights;
- industrial buildings;
- retail outlets and educational institutions;
- busy highways.
To control the turning on and off the external lighting, a dispatching service or automatic devices that operate from the sensor according to a certain schedule are provided.
Types of Lighting
When organizing outdoor lighting, the following types of illuminators are traditionally used:
- powerful halogen and gas discharge lamps;
- modern mercury DRL illuminators and xenon devices;
- luminescent lighting devices;
- induction lamps;
- modern energy-saving lamps and LED illuminators.
The first three varieties have been successfully used in street lighting for many years, since they replaced the outdated arc bulbs. But in some distant districts from the center, mainly rural, mercury and sodium lamps are still successfully operated. Today, they are increasingly being replaced by economical models of modern lighting devices - LED lamps, for example. Their use significantly improves the quality of street illumination, while allowing you to get all kinds of effects
Criteria for the selection of elements and control systems for outdoor lighting
A modern street lamp is not just an outdoor lamp designed to illuminate roads or the entrance to a house. This is a reliable and trouble-free lighting product that can work in all weather conditions. Before choosing equipment, you need to take a number of additional measures:
- selection of the optimal support height;
- use of reliable and original in the form of pillars: they can be straight, arched or patterned configuration;
- solving the problem with the optimal distance between the supports;
- selection of the height of the lamp itself: according to the requirements of the standards, it is installed at least 2.5 meters;
- the presence of a lighting control system represented by external units and typical cabinets.
Special equipment that controls the lights, has a compact overall dimensions, which do not interfere with him remotely switch lighting networks.
Cabinet appearance (main characteristics)
Typically, the cabinet body is made of polyester. The material is classified as anti-vandal, which is also not able to burn. The cabinet of the lighting equipment control cabinet is selected taking into account the degree of protection regulated in accordance with GOST R IEC 536-94. This classification means that it uses at least two layers of special insulation.
The main operational indicators of control equipment represented by standard cabinets include:
- dimensions: height, length and depth;
- material used in its manufacture;
- level of climate protection;
- permissible operating temperature limit.
When choosing a control device suitable for specific conditions, its mass is also taken into account.
Types of cabinets
Various samples of equipment of this class differ in the level of functionality, which allows them to be used both for narrowly targeted and universal purposes. In addition, they have differences in the way they control lighting units:
- only local;
- automatic or manual;
- remote.
The remote control method involves the presence of a special dispatch center that allows you to control the entire work process.
Outdoor lighting in country houses
Special lights for summer cottages are mounted in compliance with the following requirements:
- Care must be taken to ensure that the shadow of the nearest buildings or trees does not fall on the facade of the house, which gives the structure an inhospitable appearance.
- Flashlights should not shine too much; best use diffused light.
- Experts advise making the light as even as possible.
Sources are installed so that the light from them reaches not only the house, but also the nearby vegetation (bushes and trees), as well as garden paths.
Preference is given to LED lights for the home, providing a number of advantages:
- profitability;
- the ability to use a backup battery in case of power failure;
- increased reliability and the convenience of obtaining diffused light.
To this should be added high intensity and a significant angle of coverage.
Before connecting such lights, you will need to prepare a detailed layout for their placement, indicating the following important details:
- the height at which lighting fixtures should hang;
- the possibility of using "flood" lighting to highlight individual parts of the environment;
- where on the selected area of the territory is the sunny side.
Experts do not recommend using floodlights with a strong light beam and cables for hanging several groups of illuminators for decorating areas.
When choosing lighting fixtures suitable for a personal area, it is equally important to consider both the type of fixtures used and the functionality of the control equipment.
