10 Street Lighting Design240

Chapter 10
Street lighting Design
Chapter content:
(1.0)Introduction

(2.0)Factors affecting the design of street

lighting

(3.0)Street lighting arrangements

(4.0)Street lighting design process

(5.0)Types of lamps used in Street lighting

(6.0)Methods of switching of lamps

(7.0)Street lighting system

(8.0)Lighting control and Wiring system

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(9.0)Design of the street lighting scheme

Chapter 10
Street lighting Design

(1.0)Introduction:
Lighting is a vital rule to describe the importance of major and minor
roads, which constitute the lifelines of communication in the motorized
world today.

For these roads, to fulfill their function properly, they must be made as
safe as technological and economic resources will permit. And one of
the most effective instruments in the constant striving to create saver
roads is light. Lighting for guidance, lighting to reveal all the features
of roads and point up hazards. Lighting to aid perception and provide
clear visual information for both drivers and pedestrians.

So we can say that the basic purpose of street lighting is to promote

safety and convenience on the streets at night through adequate
visibility, and to promote civic progress. Statistics show that good
street lighting installations results in:

• Reduce traffic accidents

• Combat crime
• Respect the environment

(2.0)Classification of factors affecting the

design of street lighting:
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(2.1)Area classification:
(2.1.1)Commercial:
That portion of a municipality in a business development where
ordinarily there are large numbers of pedestrians during business
hours. This definition applies to densely developed business areas
outside, as well as within, the central part of a municipality. The area
contains land use, which attracts a relatively heavy volume of
nighttime vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic on a frequent basis.

(2.1.2)Intermediate:
That portion of a municipality is often characterized by a moderately
heavy nighttime pedestrian activity such as in blocks having libraries,
community recreation centers, large apartment buildings or
neighborhood retail stores.

(2.1.3)Residential:
A residential development or a mixture of residential and commercial
establishments is characterized by a few pedestrians at night. This
definition includes areas with single family homes, town houses, and/or
small apartment buildings.

(2.2)Roadway classification:
(2.2.1)Freeway:
It’s a divided major roadway with full control of access and with no
crossings at grade. This definition applies to toll as well as non-toll
roads.

(2.2.2)Expressway:
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It’s a divided major roadway for through traffic with partial control of
access and generally with interchanges at major crossroads.
Expressways for non-commercial traffic within parks and park-like
areas are generally known as parkways.

(2.2.3) Arterial:
The part of the roadway system that serves as the principal network
for through traffic flow. The routes connect areas of principal traffic
generation and important rural highways entering the city.

(2.2.4)Collector:
The distributor and collector roadways serving traffic between major
and local roadways. These are roadways used mainly for traffic
movements within residential, commercial and industrial areas.

(2.2.5)Local:
Roadways used primarily for direct access to residential, commercial,
industrial, or other abutting property. They do not include roadways
carrying through traffic. Long local roadways will generally be divided
into short sections by collector roadway systems.

(2.2.6)Alleys:
These are narrow public ways within a block, generally used for
vehicular access to the rear of abutting properties.

(3.0)Street lighting arrangements:

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(3.1)Two way traffic roads:

There are four basic types of street lighting arrangements, which we
can summarize in the following points.

(3.1.1)Single sided:
This type of arrangement, in which all luminaries are located on one
side of the road, is used only when the width of the road is equal to, or
less than the mounting height of the luminaries.

Fig 10.1: Single sided arrangement

(3.1.2)Staggered:
This type of arrangement in which the luminaries are located on both
sides of the road in a staggered, or zigzag, arrangement is used mainly
when the width of the road is between 1 to 1.5 times the mounting
height of the luminaries.

Fig 10.2: Staggered arrangement

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(3.1.3)Opposite:
This type of arrangement, with the luminaries located on both sides of
the road opposite to one another, is used mainly when the width of the
road is greater than 1.5 times the mounting height of the luminaries.

Fig 10.3 Opposite arrangement

(3.1.4)Span wire:
This type of arrangement, with the luminaries suspended along the
axis of the road, is normally used for narrow roads that have buildings
on both sides.
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Fig 10.4: Span wire arrangement

(3.2)Curves:
Curves of large radius (in the order of 300 m) can be treated as
straight roads and the luminaries can be sited in accordance with one
of the schemes outlined above.

The locations of luminaries on curves of smaller radius, however,

should be such as to ensure both adequate road-surface luminance
and effective visual guidance. Where the width of the road is 1.5 m
less than the mounting height, the luminaries should be placed above
the outside of the curve in a single sided arrangement.

For wider roads an opposite arrangement should be used since the

staggered arrangement gives visual guidance, and should therefore be
avoided.

(4.0)Street lighting design process:

The illumination design process involves the selection of the proper
lighting equipment and the establishment of the geometry of the
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system in order to provide the most effective lighting system to satisfy

the needs.

(4.1)The major steps of the design process are

outlined as follows:
(4.1.1)Existing conditions:
Determination of roadway facility and land use area classifications.

(4.1.2)Selection of illumination level:

The recommended average intensity of horizontal illumination may be
determined based upon the classifications of roadway facility and area
type.

Table 11.1 shows the recommended average maintained illumination

(In foot candles).

VEHICULAR AREA CLASSIFICATION

ROADWAY

CLASSIFICATION
Commercia intermediat residential
l e

Freeway 0.6 0.6 0.6

Expressway 1.4 1.2 1

Major ( arterial ) 2 1.4 1

Collector 1.2 0.9 0.6

Local 0.9 0.6 0.4

Alley 0.6 0.4 0.4

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Table 10.1 recommended average maintained illumination (in foot

candles).

(4.1.3)System characteristics:
Detailed calculations using selected lighting source types and sizes
and luminaires mounting heights and spacing locations are employed
in order to determine the average intensity of horizontal illumination.
The uniformity of illumination is checked by comparing the ratio of
average maintained illumination to minimum maintained illumination,
commonly referred to as the uniformity ratio, with the recommended
criteria in order to determine optimal effectiveness of lighting system.

(5.0)Types of lamps used in Street

lighting:
We have to choose suitable kinds of lamps for different streets. The
lamp must be convenient for vehicles and pedestrians.

In internal streets we used mercury lamps to give a white colour, with

enough levels of levels of average luminance to promote civic
progress, and ensure pedestrians safety.

On highways, where there are no pedestrians, we use high-pressure

sodium lamps. Its yellow light is suitable for such kinds of lighting,
even in cloudy weather. The human eye is very sensitive to yellow
light, e.g. SHP- 400 watt, 47000Lm, 118 Lm/watt.

(5.1)High pressure sodium lamps:

The high-pressure sodium discharge lamp is a lamp providing the
highest efficiency in a light source with a good colour rendition. The
high-pressure sodium discharge is enclosed in an arc-tube envelope of
high temperature, alkali-vapour resisting high density, polycrystalline
alumina.

The difference from the former low-pressure sodium lamp is that the
sodium pressure, with high volume loading, results in a well stabilized
discharge and maximum efficiency.
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The high- pressure sodium discharge lamp has an initial efficacy in

excess of 100 lumens per watt. Median lamp live is in order of 6000
hours but may be expected to improve with improved construction
techniques.

High efficiency with acceptable color and a small, high brightness

source with low ultraviolet radiation make the high-pressure sodium
lamp attractive as a lighting source for street, roadway and area
lighting.

(5.2)Low pressure sodium lamps:

This type of lamp has special purposes because they give very strong
light under small power. This type of lamps has dark yellow light and is
used in tunnels and closed public places. They also have relatively long
life.

(5.3)Metal halide lamps:

This is a very special purpose lamp it has special advantage that it can
response very fast to electric power when turning on and very slow
when turning off, i.e. it turns on quickly and turn off slowly. Thus this
type of lamps could be used in medical operation room and flood
lighting. e.g. HSLL-BW-400, 400 watt, 2300 lm/watt.

(5.4)Mercury lamps:
There are several types of mercury lamps such as high-pressure, low
pressure and compound mercury lamps. This type has special
applications.

It gives a bright white light thus it could be used in illumination of open

places such as large stadiums since this type of lamps have strong
glass, they should be put when they should be hanged over large arm
poles and must be used in clear weather.
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(6.0)Methods of switching of lamps:

There are various methods, some of which are:

a) Photo cell
b) Control switch
c) Timer

(7.0)Street lighting system:

The distribution lighting network consists of:

1. Lighting distribution box

2. Poles
3. Lighting luminaires
4. Cables

(7.1)Lighting distribution box (LDB):

The LDB is a pad-mounted-explosion proof type provided with the
following equipment and devices.

a) One incoming C.B.

b) Four outgoing circuit breakers.
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c) One KWH meter

d) Automatic contactor (photocell or timer)

The lighting distribution box is shown in fig 10.5.

Fig 10.5 :Lighting Distribution Box

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(7.2) Poles:
There is a wide range of street lighting poles which can be classified
according to their height (15m, 12m, 10m, 8m, ……3m) or according to
their type (stepped, octagonal, ….., or round).

The poles of 10m height are used in lighting system for most of streets
in the neighborhood, and the poles of 3m height are mainly used for
gardens lighting. For highways, higher poles are used to fulfill the
required lighting characteristics.

Fig 10.6 shows the main construction of poles used in street lighting.
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Fig 10.6: Construction of street lighting poles

The total pole heights depend on the method of installation. The

manufacturer should increase the pole height by at least 1-5m if it’s
directly mounted in soil or in concrete. Fig 10.7 shows the
recommended type of lighting poles (10m high)
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Fig 10.7 : The 10m high pole used in street lighting

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The 3m poles are of decorative or round types. This is shown in fig

10.8.

Fig 10.8 The 3m high poles used in gardens

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Each pole should be provided with a door opening for cable connection
at a height not less than 80 cm from ground level.

(7.3)Lighting luminaires:
The street lighting designed here is to use several types of luminaires.
Their type of lamps is:

• 250, 400 watt high pressure sodium vapour lamps.

• 160 watt mercury lamps.

Different shapes of luminaires are shown in fig 10.9.

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Fig 10.9 Different shapes of luminaires

(7.4)Cables:
• Cables of aluminum types should be used to connect the low
voltage side of distribution transformer to the lighting
distribution box (LDB), and the cross sectional area of cables is
chosen according to the lighting loads and the rating of the
lighting distribution box (LDB).
• Cables of 2-mm² copper are used to connect power cables and
luminaires.

(8.0)Lighting control and Wiring system:

(8.1)On-off control:
Luminaires for dusk to dawn operation will normally be controlled by a
photoelectric cell installed on each luminaire, however, central control
may be more economical for luminaires having fixed hours of
operation.

An automatic system using a time switch with an astronomical dial or a

manual on-off control will be used for such cases.

(8.2)Type of system:
Multiple wiring systems will be installed, except for extensions to
existing series systems or for long access roads where voltage drops
exceeding that permitted for multiple lighting systems would occur.

Circuits for multiple lighting will be designed to utilize the highest low-
voltage level appropriate for the installation in order to keep wire sizes
and voltage drops to a minimum.
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Lamps will be connected phase-to-neutral rather than phase-to-phase.

Where practicable, units will be connected to transformers, which
serve other loads. Also protection and disconnection of lighting circuits
will be provided.

(8.3)Grounding:
All lighting circuits will include an equipment grounding conductor. The
equipment grounding conductor may be any conductor approved by
the NEC, and will be bonded to the non-current-carrying metal parts of
each lighting standard and luminaire.

(9.0)Design of the street lighting scheme:

1. We specify the width, we have in our plan.
2. Substitute in following equation:

E=
F × C.F . × M .F .
S ×W

Where:

F: is lamp flux in lumens

CF: is the clearing factor, taken about 0.6

MF: is the maintenance factor, taken about 0.7

S: is the space between the poles in meter.

T: is the street width in meter.

E: is the illumination level of street in lux

3. The Span is taken from tables of EGY LUX catalogue according to

the street type .
4. The illumination level varies according to the street width and is
taken from tables EGY LUX catalogue
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5. As we know the street width from the plan we can calculate the
lamp flux, then we go to the tables and find most suitable lamp
wattage to the nearest standard lumen.
6. Chose a symbol for each type of pole then plot the chosen design
on the plan of the area. When passing by curved port of street
multiply the calculate space by a factor 0.8.
7. Make sure that the pole length is 3, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 meter for
high pressure sodium lamps while the arms are 0, 1.5, 2.5 or 5
meter. Also the span must not be more than 45 meters and for an
average of 20-30 meters.
8. Gardens and green area doesn't obey these lays of illumination
since they are illuminated for decoration only, so we put their
poles according to public view of the place taking a lamp of 70
watt for each luminaire.