Factfile No.

7
Oct 2019

The Society of Light and Lighting

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Part of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
The Society of
Light and Lighting
Design and assessment of exterior lighting schemes
When considering the night-time lighting of any 2 Initial considerations
building, monument, park or feature, designers
and planners need to assess the advantages of Before starting to look at the individual
the proposed lighting scheme against any possible environmental factors that may be affected by a
adverse effects. The lighting of our buildings, lighting scheme, it is important to run through
roads, sports fields, exterior signs and car parks at a series of strategic decisions to see what needs
night is often necessary but can cause annoyance lighting. Only once you have established an exact
by unwanted light intruding into our homes or need can you try to design out or mitigate any
adversely affecting wildlife. Light may enhance our adverse effects.
world, but may also cause glare, waste unnecessary
amounts of energy and therefore money. 2.1 Should it be lit?
This is perhaps the most obvious starting point. Just
because a building owner in a conservation area
The poles, columns, brackets and luminaires all
would like to floodlight her building, this is not
remain visible during the day and, without careful
reason enough on its own to proceed. Similarly,
design, may be unsightly. A balanced approach is
not all advertising signs need be lit; neither do
needed to achieve a high-quality lit environment
all sports training grounds have to be allowed to
for all of us to enjoy and move through safely
operate at night.
whilst minimising any adverse effects.
If it is established that there is a real need to install
lighting, then we must look to limit the amount
1 Environmental factors of lighting to that strictly necessary to achieve the
aims of the scheme.

There are several environmental factors that need 2.2 Should all of it be lit?
to be considered when contemplating exterior
lighting. These are the direct energy usage, the If the Town Hall is to be lit, should all of it be lit
visual impact of the lighting equipment during or just the significant features? A road through a
the day, the effect of light spillage on surrounding mainly rural area may only need the junctions and
properties (obtrusive light), the spill light into the crossings lit to minimise accidents in potentially
night sky (light pollution), the effect of the light on dangerous locations. A risk assessment is sometimes
animal and plant species, interference with adjacent useful as a guide to whether lighting is required.
transport routes and, in some circumstances, the Blanket lighting is rarely necessary. By concentrating
embodied energy of the installation itself. on those parts or areas that most need lighting and
by providing each with just the right amount of
light, a significant reduction in energy use, overall
These factors vary in importance depending on the
brightness and obtrusiveness can be made. This
type of lighting and the location. The lighting of a
can increase the effectiveness of a scheme whilst
small office car park in a town is less likely to be a
reducing any undesirable effects from the lighting.
problem than a similarly lit car park on the edge
of a National Park. The need to provide light for
2.3 How long does it need to be on?
safety should not be compromised for the sake of
energy saving or fear of light pollution, but rather It may be that the lighting needs to be on for only part
the scheme should be designed well to satisfy all of the night, or for some days of the week, or for just
requirements. part of the year.

Factfile 7, 2019, page 1

Advertising and shop signs are most effective whilst lighting from the surrounding area, the spill of light
there are passing viewers. The lighting of such into the night sky and into adjoining properties.

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signs can easily be arranged to switch off once the
Where lighting is mounted on high poles or towers
street becomes quiet.
these may be visually intrusive during the day.
The lighting of a building or monument may only Lighting at high level can normally be seen from a
need to be on at the weekends or for special events. great distance, especially in rural areas.
The time when its lights are on can be restricted to There may be conservation restrictions on mounting
those hours when there will be passers-by to see it. lights on or by listed buildings or in conservation
Lighting only when necessary reduces energy use, areas.
reduces maintenance costs and reduces the overall Lighting from sunken pits will reduce the visual
impact on plant and animal species. impact of the installation during the day but
may result in more overshoot of light into the
3 Detail considerations night sky unless accurate aiming and baffling
are used. Lights in sunken pits also need more
Once you have concluded that something needs
maintenance to remove leaves, dirt and gravel from
to be lit and you have established what parts of it
grills or glass covering the luminaire. In extreme
need to be lit and for how long, you can move onto
cases, they may require a drainage system. Often
the actual selection or assessment of lamp source,
lighting equipment mounted above ground can
luminaire types and luminaire locations
be screened from normal directions of view with
planting or other devices.
3.1 What form should the lighting take?
Lighting from above, where aesthetically acceptable,
Choosing the right lighting for the purpose not
will minimise light spill into the sky, but will be
only determines the energy use and the spill of
more visually intrusive on the surroundings.
light past the intended target, but also affects the
daytime appearance of the installation. 3.3 What light source should be used?
Some types of luminaire are very precise in their The choice of lamps or LEDs will affect the colour of
beam control while others are less so and have spill the lighting, the appearance of the object or area
light that travels to areas and in directions that are being lit and the energy usage.
not required.
Light sources with a high colour rendering index,
The use of shutters and baffles may reduce night- such as white LEDs, enhance the recognition of
time light spill but is likely to mean that the light faces and colours of cars in the street, leading to a
fitting itself is less acceptable in appearance during more pleasing environment and increased feelings
the day unless it can be concealed from sight. In of security.
addition, these devices can reduce the efficiency of
the luminaire. The monochromatic light from low pressure
sodium lamps is not normally used now, except
The visual impact of the lighting equipment during near observatories as it can be filtered out more
the day, including poles, brackets and cabling, easily by astronomers for optical observation, thus
should be considered. Tall columns may be more minimising the effect of sky glow. Most animals
intrusive by day but they are likely to be less glaring and plants seem less affected by this type of lamp.
at night because the floodlights are aimed at
steeper downward angles. The colour temperature of the light affects the
feel of the lighting (warm/cool) and can enhance
The correct choice of lighting equipment can or diminish the natural appearance of certain
minimise environmental impact and improve materials. For example, most warm light sources
efficiency. enhance the appearance of red brick and warm
sandstone. Wildlife, insects and mammals are
3.2 Where should the light come from? generally less adversely affected by ‘warm’ sources
than ‘cool’ ones.
The position of the lighting equipment not only
determines the lit appearance of the building, area The effects of side spill from all lights should be
or object being lit, but affects the visibility of the considered, especially where they can be seen

Factfile 7, 2019, page 2

from the surrounding countryside or domestic be carefully considered in the context of their
properties. surroundings.

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The choice of lamp type will depend on the balance To avoid over-lighting objects and to reduce
of environmental factors in an area. unnecessary energy expenditure and waste light,
the International Commission on Illumination (CIE)
has published CIE150: Guide on the Limitation
4 Choice of lighting levels
of the Effects of Obtrusive Light from Outdoor
With some external lighting tasks, the lighting level Lighting Installation (CIE, 2017). This sets out a
needs to be chosen to provide a minimum level of series of environmental zones that range from E0
light so that a task can be performed correctly and to E4, see Table 1. Further details can be found
safely. Such tasks could be the unloading of vehicles in the Institution of Lighting Professionals’ GN01:
in a goods yard, driving in a busy supermarket car Guidance notes for the reduction of obtrusive
park or playing sport at a competitive level. For such light (ILP, 2019).
tasks the correct lighting level should be selected
Where an area or building to be lit lies on the
from the SLL Code for Lighting (2012a) and
boundary of two zones or is visible from another
the design carried out according to any relevant
zone, the values used should be those applicable
SLL Lighting Guides such as LG1: The industrial
to the darker zone. Similarly, the zones always run
environment (2012/2018), LG4: Sports lighting
consecutively; e.g. an E3 town in an E1 rural area
(2006/2013) and LG6: The exterior environment
must have an intervening E2 region.
(2016). For purely working environments reference
should be made to BS EN 12464-2 (BSI, 2014). Certain sub-areas of zones may warrant lower
levels. A park or incursion of greenbelt into a city
For other external lighting applications, the lighting would warrant a lower zone classification than E3
levels are selected to reveal an object against its or E4. Even within a single city the brightness of a
surroundings. Such objects could be advertising, district will vary according to use and character.
building façades or signs. An advertisement within
a well-lit city centre street will need more lighting CIE150 also gives recommendations for limiting
than the same advertisement in a less well-lit street the illumination level on surrounding properties.
to achieve the same visual impact. A rural church This is known as light intrusion and values are
needs less light to stand out in its environment than given in terms of the vertical illuminance (lux) on
a similar church in a city centre. properties. I.e. the light falling on windows. The
terms ‘light spill’ or ‘light nuisance’ are preferred
Before starting your lighting design, you should to the sometimes used expression ‘light trespass’.
consider its effect on its surroundings in terms of
intrusive light or unwarranted glare. Another factor, usually of greater importance, is that
of light intensity towards people who can see the
There is increasing use of digital media and video floodlights or light sources. This is especially the case
signs that are self-illuminated. Their maximum and where there was no lighting previously and even low
average luminance (objective brightness) should intensity light sources may be perceived as glaring.

Table 1 CIE environmental zones (reproduced from CIE150, by permission of the CIE)
Zone Lighting environment Examples
E0 Intrinsically dark UNESCO Starlight Reserves, IDA Dark Sky Parks, major optical observatories
E1 Dark Relatively uninhabited rural areas
E2 Low district brightness Sparsely inhabited rural areas
E3 Medium district brightness Well inhabited rural and urban settlements
E4 High district brightness Towns and city centres and other commercial areas
Note: Regardless of the level of urban development, the recommendations for Environmental Zone 1 or 0, should
be followed for all locations within 100 km of a major optical astronomy observatory.
Regardless of the level of urban development, the recommendations for Environmental Zone 2 (or better) should
be followed for locations within 30 km of an operating urban optical astronomy observatory, and for locations
between 100 km and 300 km from a major optical astronomy observatory.

Factfile 7, 2019, page 3

Again, CIE150 gives recommendations in terms of 5 Specific lighting applications
intensity (candelas) towards the viewer.

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This section gives specific recommendations for a
When considering the possibility of glare or intrusive number of lighting installation types.
light, the following notes should be taken into account.
5.1 Exteriors of buildings
• Light into windows: The values are suggested
maxima for any window. Any new lighting When considering whether a building should be lit,
will have to produce less than this value if its importance as an individual entity, its position
there is already any existing light falling on a in the immediate surroundings and the view of it
specific window; i.e. the recommended value from the wider surrounds should be considered.
is the sum of the proposed plus any existing If the building is within a district or urban space
lighting. covered by an overall master plan for lighting, then
• Source intensity: This is the intensity of the the brightness of the building should be matched
floodlights towards the viewer. Note that to that of surrounding properties.
several floodlights on one column may be If it is worthy of lighting then it must be considered
perceived as a single source by the viewer whether the whole building should be lit or
and so the recommended value is the sum of whether just, say, the central portico or certain key
the intensities in that direction. The figures features only should be picked out. The colour of
given are for general guidance only and for light should be chosen in relation to the materials
some large sports lighting applications, may of the building itself and of the surrounding street
be difficult to achieve. lighting or area lighting.
• Building luminance: This should be limited to
avoid over-lighting the façade of the building Coloured lighting can easily produce a big impact
and relates to the general district brightness. In but its use needs to be very carefully considered in
this instance, building luminance is applicable order to avoid a jarring or unsightly effect.
to buildings directly illuminated as a night- The switching times of lighting need to be
time feature, as against the illumination of a established. A simple photocell can switch the
building caused by spill light from adjacent lighting on at dusk and off at dawn. However, a
floodlights or floodlights fixed to the building better solution is to only switch when the lights are
but used to light an adjacent area. Such spill needed. Does the building need to be lit all night
light should be kept to a minimum. or just until midnight? Is it required every day of the
• Task lighting: The E1 zone does not preclude week or for all of the year? A building at a seaside
the installation of lighting for necessary resort may need to be lit only during the summer
task lighting or to meet health and safety season; civic buildings in a town centre may need
requirements. Obviously, if a farm in a to be lit only on Friday and Saturday nights.
National Park needs to have exterior lighting
for the moving of dairy herds, connecting There are many simple and inexpensive ways of
machinery to tractors or similar tasks, then controlling the times the lights are switched on.
it needs to be provided. But this should We recommend that some kind of control is always
be in a well-designed manner so that it is used.
not intrusive into the dark landscape that
surrounds the farm and is not too visible 5.2 Road Lighting
from a distance. The luminaires should not There are British Standards (BS 5489 (BSI,
emit any upward light. 2013 / 2016) and BS EN 13201 (BSI, 2015)) for the
• Local variations: Some Local Planning lighting of various categories of roads and their
Authorities may issue additional or junctions, but there are still many cases where the
supplementary planning guidance (often decision can be made to light or not light. This is
referred to as SPGs) for exterior lighting especially the case in rural and sparsely populated
installations. You should therefore check areas. Local Authorities have the statutory power
with the Local Planning Authority before to light roads but there is not a duty to do so. In
starting the design or installation of any simple terms, the decision to light a road is based
exterior lighting. on a risk assessment.

Factfile 7, 2019, page 4

In a rural location columns and luminaires may High-mast lighting of open car parks and internal
be chosen to put light only onto the roadway lighting of open sided multi-storey car parks can

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and immediate verge with minimal spill into the often be seen from a long distance. Care must be
surrounding countryside. The same type of road taken in the selection and positioning of equipment
passing through a village would need luminaires to minimise this visual intrusion into areas around
that spill more light back onto the pavements and the car park. The daytime appearance of high
front gardens to increase the sense of security of masts should also be considered.
the occupants and to make the whole street scene
In some factories and commercial premises, it may
more appealing to pedestrians and road users alike.
be possible to designate a smaller area of the car
park close to the building for the night shift and
5.3 Signs and advertisements
leave the rest of the car park unlit. Some lights may
Not all advertising sites or signs have to be need to be left on after hours for security reasons.
illuminated after dark. If for instance an advertising BS 5489 gives appropriate illuminance values for
site within a closed shopping mall can be seen from urban and rural environmental zones.
a nearby site of historic interest or residential area
then the sign may appear intrusive at night. 5.5 Loading bays and external storage areas
The luminance of an advertisement should be For loading docks and external packing or storage
chosen in relation to its surroundings. In a city areas, safety is very important because there is
centre an advertisement may need greater levels of likely to be a combination of reversing lorries,
lighting to stand out than in a less well-lit suburb. moving fork lift trucks and people on foot. Good
Care should be taken so that the luminance/ quality lighting is needed to ensure that open areas
brightness of the sign does not distract from safety are lit to the appropriate levels and from the best
critical ones such as those warning of a cross-roads directions to provide good vertical illumination
or traffic lights. without glare. The height of pallets needs to be
Advertising and signage need only be lit while considered in order to minimise shadows. This is
there are people around to view them. It is quite especially the case where low columns may cause
reasonable to restrict the times that such signs or long shadows.
advertisements are lit. At the loading dock thresholds, well designed
and located luminaires are needed to provide the
Digital LED displays are generally much brighter (i.e.
necessary task and safety levels on the loading
have a higher luminance) than signs that are backlit
platforms and into the backs of lorries whilst
or illuminated externally.
minimising glare towards reversing drivers.
It should be remembered that the glow from large
Careful consideration of the heights and locations
self-luminous signs and external TV screens can
of lighting poles can give good, even light coverage
not only be intrusive in itself but can also cast large
of the working areas, minimise daytime appearance
amounts and colours of light on nearby buildings.
and reduce spill beyond the site or working area.
The flickering light from large urban TV screens can
be an annoyance to nearby residents. Further guidance is available in the SLL Lighting
Guide 1: The industrial environment (2012 / 2018)
Further guidance can be found in the ILP and BS EN 12464-2 (BSI, 2014).
document PLG05: The brightness of illuminated
advertisements (ILP, 2015). 5.6 Sports lighting

5.4 Car parks Some initial considerations are:

Public car parks that are used in the evening almost • Do pitches need to be used at night; if so for
always need lighting for safety and security, but how long?
some private car parks may not be used after • Can matches or training finish at a set time?
certain hours and could have minimal or no lighting • Do training pitches need to be used at
installed. Lighting should be designed to be easily weekends?
turned off by a supervisor or security staff once the • Do all the pitches at a training ground need
car park has been closed for the night. to be lit?

Factfile 7, 2019, page 5

For sports areas where both training and matches • Consider the daytime appearance of lighting
take place, variable level lighting can be installed equipment.

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so that less light is used during training sessions. • Select colour rendering and colour
It is important that the lighting controls are under temperature of lamps to suit the quality of
management supervision to avoid players or the environment and materials being lit
coaches turning all the lighting to ‘international • Position lights and choose their distribution
match standard’ when there is only the need for so as to avoid spill into the sky and onto
sufficient light for a small training session. neighbouring properties.
It is easy to provide accessible switches that bring on
the ‘training’ level lighting but to have the ‘match’
References and further reading
level lighting controlled by a key-switch. See SLL BSI (2013) BS 5489-1: 2013: Code of practice for the
Lighting Guide 4: Sports lighting (2006/2013) for design of road lighting. Lighting of roads and public
more information. amenity areas (London: British Standards Institution)

The daytime appearance of the poles or towers must BSI (2014) BS EN 12464-2: 2014: Light and lighting.
be considered. If their appearance is unacceptable Lighting of work places. Outdoor work places (London:
British Standards Institution)
during the daytime, hinged poles can be obtained
that can be lowered or recessed onto the ground BSI (2015) BS EN 13201: Road lighting (five Parts)
by an electric motor when not in use. (London: British Standards Institution)
BSI (2016) BS 5489-2: 2016: Code of practice for the
5.7 Parks and gardens
design of road lighting. Lighting of tunnels (London:
Routes through parks and other open areas that British Standards Institution)
are used at night may need lighting for safety BSI (2018) BS 8300: Design of an accessible and inclusive
or amenity reasons. It is also possible to increase built environment (two Parts) (London: British Standards
the use and appreciation of decorative gardens Institution)
and urban landscapes by appropriate lighting at
night. By carefully studying the layout of planting CIE (1997) Guidance for minimizing sky glow CIE 126
(Vienna: International Commission on Illumination)
along routes and the usage patterns of the routes,
lighting can be concentrated on the places and at CIE (2017) Guide on the limitation of the effects of
the time most needed. obtrusive light from outdoor lighting installations CIE
150 2nd edn. (Vienna: International Commission on
Consideration needs to be given to minimising Illumination)
upward light (to reduce skyglow) and light source
intensity towards sensitive viewing positions. CIE/UIA (1980) Guidelines for minimizing urban sky glow
near astronomical observatories CIE/IUA 001 (Vienna:
If paths are used infrequently, it is better to use a International Union of Astronomers/International
control system that switches the illumination level Commission on Illumination)
to, say, 10% or 20% of full output, rather than
DCLG (1997) Lighting in the Countryside. Towards
switch the lights off completely when not in use. good practice (London: Department for Communities
Monuments and fountains can be key features and Local Government) (available at https://webarchive.
at night providing key points of interest and nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120920012017/http://www.
orientation. These features within otherwise dark communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/
pdf/158352.pdf) (accessed 2/10/19)
or minimally lit parks, gardens or streets need
surprisingly little light to make them stand out. See DEFRA (2006) Statutory Nuisance from Insects and
SLL Lighting Guide 6: The exterior environment Artificial Light. Guide to Sections 101 to 103 of the
(2018) for more information. Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (London:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(available at https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.
6 Conclusions uk/20130403014759/http://archive.defra.gov.uk/
• Only light what is necessary. environment/quality/local/legislation/cnea/documents/
• Only light when it is necessary. statnuisance.pdf) (accessed 2/10/19)
• Consider the lighting needs and the health ILP (2019) Guidance notes for the reduction of
and safety of those having to perform tasks obtrusive light ILP GN01 (Rugby: Institution of Lighting
at night outdoors. Professionals) (in preparation)

Factfile 7, 2019, page 6

ILP (2013) High masts for lighting and CCTV ILP PLG07 SLL (2016) The exterior environment SLL LG06 (London:
(Rugby: Institution of Lighting Professionals) Society of Light and Lighting)

This publication is supplied by CIBSE for the sole use of the person making the download. The content remains the copyright property of CIBSE
ILP (2015) Brightness of illuminated advertisements ILP
PLG05 (Rugby: Institution of Lighting Professionals) SLL (2018) The SLL Lighting Handbook (London: Society
PCPI (online) Secured by Design — Design guides of Light and Lighting)
(various titles) (Police Crime Prevention Initiatives)
(https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/design- South Downs National Park Authority (2018) Dark Skies:
guides) (accessed 2/10/19) Technical Advice Note (Midhurst: South Downs National
SLL (2006/2013) Sports lighting SLL LG04 (2006 edition Park Authority) (available at https://www.southdowns.
with 2013 addendum) (London: Society of Light and gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/TLL-10-SDNPA-
Lighting) Dark-Skies-Technical-Advice-Note-2018.pdf) (accessed
2/10/19)
SLL (2012a) The SLL Code for Lighting (London: Society
of Light and Lighting)
TSO (2009) Artificial light in the environment Report
SLL (2012b) SLL guide to limiting obtrusive light (London:
of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Society of Light and Lighting)
(London: The Stationary Office) (available at https://assets.
SLL (2012/2018) The Industrial Environment SLL LG01 publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
(2012 edition, reviewed and updated 2018) (London: uploads/attachment_data/file/228832/9780108508547.
Society of Light and Lighting) pdf.pdf) (accessed 2/10/19)

Author: Alan Tulla ACIBSE FSLL

© The Society of Light and Lighting 2019
Published by the Society of Light and Lighting, 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 8772
3680. Fax: +44 (0)20 8673 3302. e-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.sll.org.uk
The Society of Light and Lighting is part of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers,
registered charity no 278104.
The information in this Factfile is provided in good faith and to the best of knowledge of The Society of Light and
Lighting is a correct interpretation of the relevant research data. However, neither The Society of Light and Lighting
nor the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers take any responsibility for the use of the information
provided by members of the Society.

Factfile 7, 2019, page 7