Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR THE REDUCTION OF OBTRUSIVE LIGHT

Think before you light - The right amount of light, where wanted, when wanted.
Man's invention of artificial light has done much to safeguard and enhance our night-time environment but, if not properly controlled, obtrusive light (sometimes referred to as light pollution) can present serious physiological and ecological problems. Obtrusive Light, whether it keeps you awake through a bedroom window or impedes your view of the night sky, is a form of pollution, which may also be a nuisance in law and which can be substantially reduced without detriment to the lighting task. Sky glow, the brightening of the night sky, Glare the uncomfortable brightness of a light source when viewed against a darker background, and Light Intrusion (Trespass), the spilling of light beyond the boundary of the property or area being lit, are all forms of obtrusive light which may cause nuisance to others and waste money and energy. Think before you light. Is it necessary? What effect will it have on others? Will it cause a nuisance? How can you minimise the problem?

Figure 1 Types of obtrusive light

Do not "over" light. This is a major cause of obtrusive light and is a waste of energy. There are published standards for most lighting tasks, adherence to which will help minimise upward reflected light. Organisations from which full details of these standards can be obtained are given on the last page of this leaflet.

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

Dim or switch off lights when the task is finished. Generally a lower level of lighting will suffice to enhance the night time scene than that required for safety and security. Good Design equals Good Lighting Any lighting scheme will consist of three basic elements: a light source, a luminaire and a method of installation. Light sources (Lamps) Remember that the light source output in LUMENS is not the same as the wattage and that it is the former that is important in combating the problems of obtrusive light. Most nightime visual tasks are only dependant on light radiated within the visual spectrum. It is therefore NOT necessary for light sources to emit either ultra-violet or infra-red radiation unless specifically designed to do so. It is also understood that light from the shorter wavelengths of the spectrum has important effects on both flora and fauna that should be considered. Research indicates that light from the blue end of the spectrum has important non-visual effects on the health of the human body, in particular in our sleep/wake patterns. It is therefore important to appreciate that while in obtrusive light terms the use of blue light should be minimised, there are many night-time tasks such as driving and sports where to be fully awake is an important aid to safety. Luminaires Care should always be taken when selecting luminaires to ensure that appropriate products are chosen and that their location will reduce spill light and glare to a minimum. Use specifically designed lighting equipment that minimises the upward spread of light near to and above the horizontal. The most sensitive/critical zones for minimising sky glow are those between 90o and 100o as shown in Figure 2 and referred to as the lower, upward light output zone (UL).
Figure 2 Critical luminaire angles For minimising sky glow

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

For most sports and area lighting installations the use of luminaires with doubleasymmetric beams designed so that the front glazing is kept at or near parallel to the surface being lit should, if correctly aimed, ensures minimum obtrusive light. Appendices 1 and 2 to these notes gives more details of how to choose and if necessary modify luminaires. Installation In most cases it will be beneficial to use as high a mounting height as possible, giving due regard to the daytime appearance of the installation. The requirements to control glare for the safety of road users are given in Table 3. Keep glare to a minimum by ensuring that the main beam angle of all lights directed towards any potential observer is not more than 70 o. Higher mounting heights allow lower main beam angles, which can assist in reducing glare. In areas with low ambient lighting levels, glare can be very obtrusive and extra care should be taken when positioning and aiming lighting equipment. With regard to domestic security lighting the ILP produces an information leaflet GN02:2009 that is freely available from its website.

Figure 3 Luminare aiming angles

Poor

Okay

Good

When lighting vertical structures such as advertising signs, direct light downwards wherever possible. If there is no alternative to up-lighting, as with much decorative lighting of buildings, then the use of shields, baffles and louvres will help reduce spill light around and over the structure to a minimum. For road and amenity lighting installations, (see also design standards listed on Page 5) light near to and above the horizontal should normally be minimised to reduce glare and sky glow (Note ULRs in Table 2). In rural areas the use of full horizontal cut off luminaires installed at 0o uplift will, in addition to reducing sky glow, also help to minimise visual intrusion within the open landscape. However in some urban locations, luminaires fitted with a more decorative bowl and good optical control of light should be acceptable and may be more appropriate.

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

Figure 4 Faade Illumination

Poor

Good

Good

Since 2006 Artificial Light has been added to the list of possible Statutory Nuisances in England, Wales and Scotland. The monitoring of such nuisances will be the responsibility of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) for which separate guidance is being produced. With regard to the planning aspect, many Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) have already produced, or are producing, policies that within the planning system will become part of their local development framework. For new developments there is an opportunity for LPAs to impose planning conditions related to external lighting, including curfew hours. The Scottish Executive has published a design methodology document (March 2007) entitled Controlling Light Pollution and Reducing Energy Consumption to further assist in mitigating obtrusive light elements at the design stage.

ENVIRONMENTAL ZONES It is recommended that Local Planning Authorities specify the following environmental zones for exterior lighting control within their Development Plans.

Table 1 Environmental Zones Zone E0 E1 E2 E3 E4 Surrounding Protected Natural Rural Suburban Urban Lighting Environment Dark Intrinsically dark Low district brightness Medium district brightness High district brightness Examples UNESCO Starlight Reserves, IDA Dark Sky Parks National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty etc Village or relatively dark outer suburban locations Small town centres or suburban locations Town/city centres with high levels of nighttime activity

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

Where an area to be lit lies on the boundary of two zones the obtrusive light limitation values used should be those applicable to the most rigorous zone. NB: Zone E0 must always be surrounded by an E1 Zone. DESIGN GUIDANCE The following limitations may be supplemented or replaced by a LPAs own planning guidance for exterior lighting installations. As lighting design is not as simple as it may seem, you are advised to consult and/or work with a professional lighting designer before installing any exterior lighting. Table 2 Obtrusive Light Limitations for Exterior Lighting Installations General Observers Environment Sky Glow Light Intrusion Luminaire Intensity Building (3) al Zone ULR (into Windows) I [candelas] Luminance [Max Ev [lux] (2) Pre-curfew (4) %](1) PrePostPrePostAverage, curfew curfew curfew curfew L [cd/m2] E0 0 0 0 0 0 0 E1 0 2 0 ( 1*) 2,500 0 0 E2 2.5 5 1 7,500 500 5 E3 5.0 10 2 10,000 1,000 10 E4 15 25 5 25,000 2,500 25 ULR Ev I L = Upward Light Ratio of the Installation is the maximum permitted percentage of luminaire flux that goes directly into the sky. = Vertical Illuminance in Lux - measured flat on the glazing at the centre of the window. = Light Intensity in Candelas (cd) = Luminance in Candelas per Square Metre (cd/m2)

Curfew = the time after which stricter requirements (for the control of obtrusive light) will apply; often a condition of use of lighting applied by the local planning authority. If not otherwise stated - 23.00hrs is suggested. * = Permitted only from Public road lighting installations

(1) Upward Light Ratio Some lighting schemes will require the deliberate and careful use of upward light, e.g. ground recessed luminaires, ground mounted floodlights, festive lighting, to which these limits cannot apply. However, care should always be taken to minimise any upward waste light by the proper application of suitably directional luminaires and light controlling attachments.

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

(2) Light Intrusion (into Windows) These values are suggested maxima and need to take account of existing light intrusion at the point of measurement. In the case of road lighting on public highways where building facades are adjacent to the lit highway, these levels may not be obtainable. In such cases where a specific complaint has been received, the Highway Authority should endeavour to reduce the light intrusion into the window down to the post curfew value by fitting a shield, replacing the luminaire, or by varying the lighting level. (3) Luminaire Intensity This applies to each luminaire in the potentially obtrusive direction, outside of the area being lit. The figures given are for general guidance only and for some sports lighting applications with limited mounting heights, may be difficult to achieve. (4) Building Luminance This should be limited to avoid over lighting, and related to the general district brightness. In this reference building luminance is applicable to buildings directly illuminated as a night-time feature as against the illumination of a building caused by spill light from adjacent luminaires or luminaires fixed to the building but used to light an adjacent area.

Table 3 Obtrusive Light Limitations for Exterior Lighting Installations Road Users Road Classification
(1)

Threshold Increment (TI) 15% based on adaptation luminance of 0.1cd/m2 15% based on adaptation luminance of 1cd/m2 15% based on adaptation luminance of 2cd/m 15% based on adaptation luminance of 5cd/m2

Veiling Luminance (Lv) 0.04 0.25 0.40 0.84

No road lighting ME6/ ME5 ME4/ ME3 ME2 / ME1

TI

= Threshold Increment is a measure of the loss of visibility caused by the disability glare from the obtrusive light installation = Veiling Luminance is a measure of the adaptation luminance caused by the disability glare from the obtrusive light installation = Road Classifications as given in BS EN 13201 - 2: 2003 Road lighting Performance requirements. Limits apply where users of transport systems are subject to a reduction in the ability to see essential information. Values given are for relevant positions and for viewing directions in path of travel. For a more detailed description and methods for determining, calculating and measuring the above parameters see CIE Publication 150:2003.

Lv (1)

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND STANDARDS:
British Standards: www.bsi.org.uk BS 5489-1: 2003 Code of practice for the design of road lighting Part 1: Lighting of roads and public amenity areas BS EN 13201-2:2003 Road lighting Part 2: Performance requirements BS EN 13201-3:2003 Road lighting Part 3: Calculation of performance BS EN 13201-4:2003 Road lighting Part 4: Methods of measuring lighting performance. BS EN 12193: 1999 Light and lighting Sports lighting BS EN 12464-2: 2007 Lighting of work places Outdoor work places Lighting in the Countryside: Towards good practice (1997) (Out of Print but available on www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1144823) Statutory Nuisance from Insects and Artificial Light Guidance on Sections 101 to 103 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 Road Lighting and the Environment (1993) (Out of Print) CIBSE/SLL Publications: www.cibse.org CoL LG1 LG4 LG6 FF7 01 83 92 115 126 129 136 150 154 ILP Publications: www.theilp.org.uk TR 5 TR24 GN02 ILP/CIBSE Joint Publications ILP/CSS Publications ILP/CfDS Joint Publication www.dark-skies.org IESNA www.iesna.org Code for Lighting (2002) The Industrial Environment (1989) Sports (1990+Addendum 2000) The Exterior Environment (1992) Environmental Considerations for Exterior Lighting (2003) Guidelines for minimizing Urban Sky Glow near Astronomical Observatories (1980) Guide for the lighting of sports events for colour television and film systems (1989) Guide for floodlighting (1992) Recommendations for the lighting of roads for motor and pedestrian traffic Second Edition (2010) Guidelines for minimizing Sky glow (1997) Guide for lighting exterior work areas (1998) Guide to the lighting of urban areas (2000) Guide on the limitations of the effect of obtrusive light from outdoor lighting installations (2003) The Maintenance of outdoor lighting systems (2003) Brightness of Illuminated Advertisements (2001) A Practical Guide to the Development of a Public Lighting Policy for Local Authorities (1999) Domestic Security Lighting, Friend or Foe

Countryside Commission/ DOE UK Government / Defra www.defra.gov.uk

CIE Publications: www.cie.co.at

Lighting the Environment - A guide to good urban lighting (1995) Joint Code of Practice for the installation, maintenance and removal of seasonal decorations. (2005) Towards Understanding Sky glow. 2007 TM-15-07 (R) Luminaire Classification System for Outdoor luminaires

NB: These notes are intended as guidance only and the application of the values given in Tables 2 & 3 should be given due consideration along with all other factors in the lighting design. Lighting is a complex subject with both objective and subjective criteria to be considered. The notes are therefore no substitute for professionally assessed and designed lighting, where the various and maybe conflicting visual requirements need to be balanced. 2011 The Institution of Lighting Professionals. Permission is granted to reproduce and distribute this document, subject to the restriction that the complete document must be copied, without alteration, addition or deletion.

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

APPENDIX 1 - PROPOSED OUTDOOR LUMINAIRE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Variable Aim Luminaires General Classifications:

Proposed labelling System: Fixed Position luminaires Variable Aim Luminaires

(Shown here for a 45o Double-Asymmetric luminaire aimed at 70o with and without a cowl).

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

APPENDIX 2 - ILLUSTRATIONS OF LUMINAIRE ACCESSORIES FOR LIMITING OBTRUSIVE LIGHT (images provided by Philips and Thorn)

Cowl (or Hood)

External Louvre

SHIELD

SHEILD Barn Doors

Double Asymmetric Luminaire

Simple Hood

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light GN01:2011

Circular Louvre

Cowl & Louvre

Internal Louvre (horizontal)

Internal Louvre (vertical)

10