Parking Lot Lighting

Frequently Asked Questions About Parking Lot Lighting

What is the best lighting for a parking lot?

Without a doubt, LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is the best and current industry standard for parking lots. Traditional lighting, such as metal halide or high-pressure sodium fixtures, is inefficient, has a shorter lifespan, and produces poor color rendering, making it harder to accurately identify cars and people.

LED fixtures are the superior choice because they offer:

• Massive Energy Savings: LEDs use up to 75% less energy than traditional lighting, drastically lowering your monthly electricity bills.
• Longevity and Low Maintenance: With lifespans often exceeding 100,000 hours, LED fixtures significantly reduce the frequency and costly maintenance calls for bulb and ballast replacements.
• Superior Light Quality: LEDs provide bright, clear, and uniform light that improves visibility and color accuracy, which is crucial for security cameras and creating a feeling of safety.
• Enhanced Durability & Control: LEDs are more resistant to weather and vibrations. They can also be integrated with smart controls like timers, dimmers, and motion sensors for even greater efficiency.

What are the lighting requirements for a commercial parking lot?

Lighting requirements are not one-size-fits-all; they are based on standards set by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). These standards use a measurement called a foot-candle (fc), which is the amount of light that falls on a one-square-foot surface.

While specific local codes may vary, general IES recommendations are:

• General Parking & Aisles: A minimum of 1 to 2 foot-candles is typical for basic visibility.
• High-Traffic Areas & Entrances: Areas with more vehicle and pedestrian traffic, like near the building entrance, should have a higher level, around 5 foot-candles.
• Uniformity: Just as important as brightness is the uniformity ratio. This ensures there are no harsh dark spots between light poles, which can be a significant security risk. A professional lighting design is essential to achieve both the required foot-candles and proper uniformity.

What is the OSHA standard for parking lot lighting?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is primarily concerned with worker safety. While OSHA doesn't provide highly specific foot-candle requirements for general parking areas, it does mandate that walking and working surfaces must be sufficiently illuminated to ensure safe passage for employees.

Under standard 29 CFR 1910, employers must provide lighting that is adequate for workers to move and work safely and to identify potential hazards. A commonly accepted best practice to meet this standard is to provide a minimum of 5 foot-candles in walkways and 3 foot-candles in areas of vehicle movement. A well-designed system from Lumen Lighting and Electric will ensure you meet and exceed these safety standards, reducing liability.

How many lumens to light up a parking lot?

This is a common question, but it focuses on the wrong metric. Lumens measure the total light output of a fixture, while foot-candles measure the light that actually reaches the ground. A fixture with very high lumens can be ineffective if it's mounted too high, aimed incorrectly, or has poor optics.

• The number of lumens needed per fixture depends entirely on:
• The height of the light poles.
• The spacing between the poles.
• The desired foot-candle level on the ground.
• The specific beam angle of the fixture's optics.

Instead of asking "how many lumens," the better approach is to define the required foot-candles. From there, a lighting professional can perform calculations to select the right fixtures, with the appropriate lumen output and optics, to meet your property's specific needs efficiently. The experts at Lumen Lighting and Electric specialize in creating these precise lighting plans to guarantee a safe, bright, and energy-efficient result.