The preparation of good exterior lighting schemes is a time consuming job best undertaken by a trained lighting engineer and designer.
CU Phosco offer a complete lighting design service, provided without charge, using the latest equipment operated by experienced lighting engineers and designers.
With our unique lighting design software and CAD equipment, we are able to produce highly finished lighting schemes. The average lighting levels shown on our lighting designs are GUARANTEED. Experienced designers with knowledge of the customer’s requirements and the capabilities of the luminaires he has to choose from, are the backbone of our design section. Our design service has been used by many of the UK’s foremost Architects and Consulting Engineers and by National and Local Government Departments throughout the world.
Projects involving the design of structures to carry many different items in areas subject to typhoon, arctic conditions or at sea, have been successfully completed by our engineers.
Our design and development engineers are experienced in the design of special luminaires and columns. Modern high-tech designs or the reproduction of lanterns in historic areas are projects regularly undertaken. Our products are tested in our own laboratory: photometrically, thermally and to determine their IP rating.
A full lighting design service can be part of a turnkey package or simply a design and supply offer. CU Phosco has a team of experienced lighting designers who deal solely with outdoor lighting projects, be they road lighting, floodlighting or high mast lighting. CU Phosco does not carry out interior lighting so all our effort and energy is devoted to outdoor lighting. The preparation of outdoor lighting schemes requires input from the client as well as the designer, and the information we require to provide a scheme includes:
CU Phosco provides photometric data with REALITY, an independent suite of exterior lighting design programs covering road and area lighting. REALITY is intuitive, easy to use and upgrades can be purchased to enable CAD drawings to be directly input to the lighting design program. CU Phosco will also provide photometric data in TM14 format for use in other programs.
CU Phosco provides detailed photometric information and computer programs to enable experienced lighting engineers and designers to prepare schemes based on the information provided. Photometric information is supplied in TM14 format – the industry standard for outdoor lighting.
This information can be supplied on CD format, sent by e-mail or provided in written form and we guarantee its accuracy. The information contained is derived from our BSI registered laboratory.
Our BSI certified laboratory tests luminaires supplied by manufacturers and consultants. The laboratory provides certificates of testing with full photometric data. The laboratory also monitors the testing of illumination levels by our designers which may be required by sports clubs or other organisations to assure compliance with standards.
Light pollution is a problem of the 21st century for the affluent sector of the world. Until the last century outdoor lighting was minimal and the poorer less populated majority of the world does not have enough exterior lighting to cause a problem.
There are three types of light pollution:
Skyglow – the halo effect caused by the large number of outdoor lighting fixtures. Skyglow is seen when looking towards a town from the countryside and makes it difficult for town dwellers to see any but the brightest stars. Skyglow can be minimised by using road lighting luminaires and floodlights with a limited or zero upward light. However the reflected light from any outdoor lighting and the light from cars means that it can never be eliminated completely in a busy town.
Glare – the annoying effect caused by badly aimed floodlights or streetlights with inadequate light control. This can be avoided by the choice of a better floodlight with greater light control, or properly aiming and using baffles and louvres in existing units. Modern well designed street lighting luminaires with effective reflectors or refractors can eliminate this problem in road lighting.
Spill – light thrown when and where it is not wanted. This varies from the sports ground with hundreds of floodlights to the street light shining on the bedroom window. The increased use of outdoor lighting by sports clubs, shopping centres and entertainment facilities can result in overspill causing a nuisance to neighbours. There are ways of decreasing or eliminating this problem. Firstly by the use of floodlights and luminaires which do not throw light outside the area. Secondly and in conjunction with the first method, in sports areas where boundaries are very close and the area to be illuminated open and very large, by communication with the neighbours in order to devise a plan by which the floodlights will only be used until a specified time on a specified number of days a year. For the bedroom window problem most luminaires can be fitted with blanking pieces to eliminate light in a certain direction. Where a lighting scheme is prepared by CU Phosco the spill light can always be shown and is in fact usually asked for by planners.