I N F R A N O R

www. st er ner l i ght i ng. com z St er ner Li ght i ng z 701 Mi l l enni um Boul evar d z Gr eenvi l l e, SC 29607 z 864. 678. 1000
Hubbell Lighting, Inc.
An Apr on Li ght i ng Per f or mance Speci f i cat i on
Ai rport Desi gn Gui de
Or i gi nal l y wr i t t en by: Li ght i ng Anal yst s, I nc.
Li ght i ng desi gn and sof t war e consul t ant s
Ai rport Desi gn Gui de
Preface
The original Airport Design Guide was written by Lighting Analysts in 1996,
as a complement to the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
RP-14, which is no longer in print. However, the principles set forth in RP-14
are still considered sound design practices. Every lighting professional knows
that tangible numbers are dependent upon the distances involved and areas
to be illuminated. Without precise guidelines for the calculations of illuminance
quantities, we have no basis upon which to make concrete comparisons between
performance and glare potential of competitive lighting systems. Thus, there
remains a need to develop a practical, yet strict, lighting performance plan in
accordance with sound design practices against which to measure the conduct of
all proposed lighting systems.
The design specication guidelines presented in this revised Airport Airside
Design Guide are closely patterned after the ideas set forth by RP-14 with
reference to lighted spaces and required illuminance levels. Lighting systems
measuring up to the specications developed herein will satisfy all expectations
of sound design practices and produce a quality of illuminance exceeding all
previously known lighting criteria.
By providing speciable illuminance quantities at specic critical distances with
relation to the illuminated aircraft containment area during the design process,
we promote direct comparison of different luminaire types on an apples-to-
apples basis. This solidies the lighting specication and further promotes the
selection of a properly designed lighting system.
Where does Sterner t in?
The 876 Series luminaire with the airport louver option seems to lend itself
naturally to the task of airport ramp lighting. The optical characteristics of this
luminaire produce a beam pattern exhibiting excellent projection while simul-
taneously providing the necessary ll between poles and required cutoff. This
light distribution is ideal for minimizing offending glare to oncoming aircraft, yet
provides a high standard of visibility within the aircraft containment corridor. A
conventional oodlight will not possess all of these attributes in one beam pat-
tern, thus requiring a mixture of luminaires that have different beam patterns to
achieve the desired illuminance criteria. The approach to apron design may prove
to be spotty, complicate installation, and reduce the exibility of the lighting
system. In short, the unique 876 series luminaire places Sterner in the pilots seat
and sets rigorous standards by which others may be compared.
Pole Placement and Height
The selection of pole height and location is of great importance in the design of
any lighting system. However, the importance of these metrics in the design of
an apron lighting installation is absolutely paramount. Poor pole placement will
result in shadows and inadequate visibility for some aircraft service locations,
and in turn, directly affect the question of safety. Poles of insufcient height will
increase the potential for offending glare to approaching aircraft as well as the
control tower, due to the need for excessive luminaire uptilt.
Illuminance Specication: Intent
The following suggested illuminance specication illustrates luminaire perfor-
mance and glare control through the use of both minimum and maximum allow-
able illuminance levels. Minimum horizontal illuminance levels are specied in
the vicinity of the tail of the aircraft while a maximum horizontal value is stated
a short distance beyond. This type of specication dictates a well-illuminated
service corridor while at the same time minimizing spill through luminaire beam
cutoff. Minimum vertical illuminance values are then specied along the length
of the aircraft to further ensure good visibility for ground personnel. To nalize
the requirements, maximum vertical values are mandated in a vertical plane
in the area of the aircraft containment line. These maximum vertical values are
calculated at specied distances above the tarmac to provide evidence of the
lighting system cutoff and minimize glare to oncoming aircraft.
Illuminance Specication: Magnitude
The lighting system shall satisfy the following stated horizontal and vertical
maintained illuminance criteria. Maintenance factors are to be commensurate
with common practice for the appropriate lamp and luminaire type. Distances are
stated with respect to pole location datum and heights are in terms of distance
above ground level (AGL).
Calculated illuminance levels shall be within an allowable tolerance of plus or
minus 0.10 footcandle.
HORIZONTAL ILLUMINANCE
Minimum maintained horizontal illuminance at ground level.
2.0 fc at a distance of 200 feet
0.50 fc at a distance of 250 feet
Maximum maintained horizontal illuminance at ground level.
0.30 fc at a distance of 300 feet
Average maintained horizontal illuminance and uniformity ratio at ground level.
4.0 fc and 5:1 average / minimum inside a distance of 200
(incl. Pts. @ 200)
VERTICAL ILLUMINANCE
Minimum maintained vertical illuminance at a height of three feet (AGL) with
the light meter facing the poles.
5.0 fc at a distance of 100, 150 & 200 feet
Maximum maintained vertical illuminance in a vertical plane at a distance of
250 feet.
0.25 fc at a height of 50 feet AGL
0.10 fc at a height of 100 feet AGL
To ensure adequate visibility in the vicinity of each aircraft, avoid
shadows, and minimize glare, poles should be located at the corners of
each service location between aircraft.

In order to provide the necessary beam between projection for vis-
ibility at the tail of the aircraft, yet avoid offending glare by maintaining
luminaire uptilt within the design parameters for the optical systems, a
minimum pole height of sixty (60) feet is required.
2 - Sterner Lighting - Airport Design Guide
The Sterner 876 Series Luminaire
The Sterner 876 Series luminaire offers excellent
performance for the subject task of ramp lighting. This
performance, in concert with the superior glare control
afforded by the airport louver option, allow the specica-
tion to be easily met using either of the two dominant
light sources in a variety of poles spacing congurations.
The most cost effective ramp lighting solution is provided
by the use of the 876 Series 1000 watt lamp version,
either high pressure sodium or metal halide. The relative
maintained output of the two sources will dictate the
number of luminaires to be employed per pole. In the
sample lighting systems presented, the following
luminaire photometry has been employed:
High Pressure Sodium Luminaire:
IES File #t29216
Lamp Lumens of 140,000, Total light loss factor of 0.81
Luminaire tilted 2 degrees above photometered position of 60 degrees
Metal Halide Luminaire:
IES File # t35115
Lamp Lumens of 104,500, Total light loss factor of 0.72
Luminaire tilted 2 degrees above photometered position of 60 degrees
Figure 1
Horizontal plane of calculation 3' above
ground level with light meter facing
poles (vertical fc)
Test measurements at
100, 150, 200, 250 &
300 feet from pole datum
Horizontal plane of calculation at ground level
(horizontal fc)
60' pole height
Pole datum
Half pole spacing
Pole spacing
Horizontal & Vertical Illuminance Calculations (horizontal plane)
300 feet
100' 150' 200' 250' 300'
Horz 4.86 4.34 2.15 0.49 max 0.12
Vert 8.83 11.60 6.26 1.52
Horz 4.63 3.88 2.28 0.78 max 0.27
Vert 8.55 10.40 7.09 2.74
Horz 4.90 4.45 2.11 0.51 max 0.15
Vert 9.20 12.10 5.83 1.64
Horz 4.39 3.69 2.14 0.77 max 0.31
Vert 7.90 9.67 6.41 2.79
Horz 5.34 4.98 2.29 0.54 max 0.16
Vert 9.54 14.10 6.16 1.64
Horz 3.96 3.74 2.15 0.82 max 0.31
Vert 7.11 9.84 6.47 2.88
Horz 5.14 4.85 2.13 0.55 max 0.16
Vert 9.27 12.00 5.60 1.70
Horz 3.60 3.41 2.06 0.81 max 0.31
Vert 6.31 9.23 6.21 2.88
HPS
MH
HPS
MH
HPS
MH
HPS
MH
System 1 - 120' spacing
2 HPS luminaires per pole
3 MH lulminaires per pole
System 2 - 160' spacing
3 HPS luminaires per pole
4 MH lulminaires per pole
System 3 - 200' spacing
4 HPS luminaires per pole
5 MH lulminaires per pole
System 4 - 240' spacing
5 HPS luminaires per pole
6 MH lulminaires per pole
I N F R A N O R
Lighting Systems 1 4
The following four systems cover pole spacings from 120 to
240 feet on center. The choice of light source, high-pressure
sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH), governs the number of
luminaires per pole. The four systems provide solutions for
apron facilities accommodating commercial aircraft of all
sizes. However, in any real application, aircraft position and
size may vary along the length of the terminal dictating non-
uniform pole spacing. The luminaire quantities shown for
each of the following four systems may be used as a guide
during layout work as mix and match for asymmetrical
applications.
SYSTEM 1
Poles spaced 120 feet on center, two (2) HPS or three (3) MH
luminaires per pole.
SYSTEM 2
Poles spaced 160 feet on center, three (3) HPS or four (4) MH
luminaires per pole.
SYSTEM 3
Poles spaced 200 feet on center, four (4) HPS or ve (5) MH
luminaires per pole.
SYSTEM 4
Poles spaced 240 feet on center, ve (5) HPS or six (6) MH
luminaires per pole.
Test data is based upon a typical section of ramp area (see Figure 1). Contributions to the test area
are considered from a total of ve poles. The test area is located adjacent to the third pole and covers a
distance equal to one half of one pole spacing in width.
Horizontal illuminance values are calculated at ground level. Vertical illuminance values are calculated over
a similar horizontal plane located three (3) feet above ground level with the light meter tilted 90 degrees
towards the poles. All illuminance values as shown in Illuminance Table One are absolute minimum values
at the subject distance of calculation unless otherwise noted.
Illuminance Table One
Sterner 876
Sterner Lighting - Airport Design Guide - 3
www. st er ner l i ght i ng. com z St er ner Li ght i ng z 701 Mi l l enni um Boul evar d z Gr eenvi l l e, SC 29607 z 864. 678. 1000
Ai rport Desi gn Gui de I N F R A N O R
Figure 2
Vertical plane at 250'
from pole datum with
light meter facing poles
(vertical fc)
Test measurements at
50 and 100 feet above
ground level
0'
50'
100'
Pole datum
Half pole spacing
Pole spacing
250 feet
Vertical Illuminance Calculations for Glare Consideration
50' 100'
HPS 0.12 0.05
MH 0.20 0.06
HPS 0.14 0.06
MH 0.22 0.07
HPS 0.16 0.07
MH 0.22 0.07
HPS 0.17 0.07
MH 0.23 0.07
System 1 - 120' spacing
2 HPS luminaires per pole
3 MH lulminaires per pole
System 2 - 160' spacing
3 HPS luminaires per pole
4 MH lulminaires per pole
System 3 - 200' spacing
4 HPS luminaires per pole
5 MH lulminaires per pole
System 4 - 240' spacing
5 HPS luminaires per pole
6 MH lulminaires per pole
HPS 4.5 2.05:1
MH 3.94 2.08:1
HPS 5.05 2.39:1
MH 3.93 2.31:1
HPS 5.45 3.3:1
MH 3.99 3.44:1
HPS 5.71 4.88:1
MH 4.02 4.79:1
System 1 - 120' spacing
2 HPS luminaires per pole
3 MH lulminaires per pole
System 2 - 160' spacing
3 HPS luminaires per pole
4 MH lulminaires per pole
System 3 - 200' spacing
4 HPS luminaires per pole
5 MH lulminaires per pole
System 4 - 240' spacing
5 HPS luminaires per pole
6 MH lulminaires per pole
Vertical Illuminace Calculations for
Glare Consideration
In a similar manner to the horizontal plane calculations, the
vertical test plane is located adjacent to the third pole in the
ve pole series and covers a distance equal to one half of one
pole spacing (see Figure 2). The plane is located a distance of
250 feet from the pole location datum and rises in elevation to
100 feet above the tarmac (AGL).
All illuminance values shown in Illuminance Table Two are
absolute maximum values at the subject distance of calculation.
Average Illuminance Calculations
The average illuminance calculations are summarized for an
area similar to that shown in Figure 2 at ground level. The
actual area of calculation covers an area extending from 10 feet
in front, to a distance of 200 feet away from the pole location
datum. Uniformity gures are expressed in terms of average to
minimum. Average statistics reect points calculated on a ten
by ten foot grid including points along all area borders.
Calculations are summarized in Illuminance Table Three.
Illuminance Table Two Illuminance Table Three
Due to continued efforts to improve our products, product specications are subject to change without notice.
Average Uniformity