BRITISH STANDARD

BS 5649-2:
1978
EN 40-2
Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

Specification for

Lighting columns
Part 2: Dimensions and tolerances

This European Standard EN 40-2 was given, as from 30 November 1978,

the status of a British Standard and will replace the relevant requirements of
BS 1308, BS 1840 and BS 3989 (see national foreword)

UDC 624.971:628.971:621.753.1

BS 5649-2:1978

Cooperating organizations
The European Committee for Standardization, under whose supervision this
European Standard was prepared, comprises the national standards
organizations of the following Western European countries:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

This British Standard was

published under the authority
of the Executive Board on
30 November 1978
BSI 09-1999
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference RDB/28
Draft for comment 74/41655DC
ISBN 0 580 10403 6

sterreichisches Normungsinstitut
Institut Belge de Normalisation
Dansk Standardiseringsraad
Suomen Standardisoimisliitto, r.y.
Association Franaise de Normalisation
Deutsches Institut fr Normung E.V.
Institute for Industrial Research and Standards
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut
Norges Standariseringsforbund
Repartio de Normalizao
Instituto Nacional de Racionalizacin y Normalizacin
Standardiseringskommissionen i Sverige
Association Suisse de Normalisation
British Standards Institution

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No.

Date of issue

Comments

3136

December
1979

Indicated by a sideline in the margin

BS 5649-2:1978

Contents
Cooperating organizations
National foreword
Brief history
Foreword
1
Scope and field of application
2
Post top columns, main dimensions
3
Columns with brackets, main dimensions
4
Door openings and cable entry slots
5
Column foundation, planting depth and base plate
6
Flange plate
7
Connection dimensions for lanterns
8
Tolerances
Annex
National particularities
National appendix A
National appendix B
National appendix C
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3 Position of door and cable entry slot
Figure 4 Dimensions of cutout
Figure 5a
Figure 5b
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9a
Figure 9b
Figure 10a
Figure 10b
Figure 11
Table 1 Factor G

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Page
Inside front cover
ii
2
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
11
11
11
12
4
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
10
11

BS 5649-2:1978

National foreword
This BS/EN is being produced in the following Parts:
Part 1: Definitions and terms;
Part 2: Dimensions and tolerances;
Part 3: Materials1);
Part 4: Surface protection of metal columns1);
Part 5: Base compartment and cableways1);
Part 6: Loads1);
Part 7: Verification of structural design by calculations1);
Part 8: Verification of structural design by testing1);
Part 9: Special requirements for concrete columns1).
A further Part dealing with special requirements for plastics columns is in an
early stage of preparation.
BS 5649 will be issued in Parts as they are completed and approved, and until the
whole document is published it will not be possible to supersede the present
British Standards for lighting columns. As the Parts are issued recommendations
will be given for their implementation together with a list of clauses in the
existing standards which they will eventually supersede. It is hoped that a
gradual change-over will be obtained which will terminate with the total
withdrawal of the existing standards.
The British Standards affected are:
BS 1308:1970, Specification for concrete street lighting columns.
BS 1840:1960, Specification for steel columns for street lighting.
BS 3989:1966, Specification for aluminium street lighting columns.
It is anticipated that the affected clauses in the existing standards will be
withdrawn in accordance with the following timetable:
BS 1840 and BS 3989, One year from the publication of this Part of this standard.
BS 1308, Three years from the publication of Parts 6, 7, 8 and 9 of this standard.
In the interim period it is permissible for dimensions and tolerances for lighting
columns to be based on either the existing standards or on BS 5649-2. Purchasers
specifying lighting schemes during the interim period should, where possible,
permit either alternative.
BS 5649-2 covers some or all of the requirements also covered in the following
clauses of the existing British Standards:
BS 1308
1.1
Scope
1.8.2 Straightness tolerances
1.8.3 Column height and bracket projection
1.10 Bracket projection
1.11 Lantern fixing
1.12.1 Door and door opening
1.18 Service connections

1) In

ii

course of preparation

BSI 09-1999

BS 5649-2:1978

BS 1840
1 Scope
5 Tolerances
6 Doors and door openings
8 Base-plates
10 Service slots
11 Relative positions of door openings, service slots and bracket arms
12 Recommended depth of columns in the ground
13 Lantern fixing
BS 3989
1 Scope
6 Tolerances
8a) Doors and door openings
9 Base-plate
11 Service slot
12 Relative positions of bracket arm, door opening and service slot
13 Recommended depths of columns in the ground
14 Lantern fixing
This standard includes columns of height greater than those that were envisaged
in the scope of the existing BS 1308, BS 1840 and BS 3989. It is therefore
inappropriate to use the design loading requirements in these British Standards
for columns over 15 m in nominal height; for such columns the loading
requirements should be agreed between the purchaser and the supplier, pending
the issue of other Parts of this standard.
Advice regarding the choice of planting depth is given in National appendix B.
Convention. In this European Standard the comma has been used as a decimal
marker. In British Standards it is current practice to use a full point on the
baseline as the decimal marker.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 12 and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.
BSI 09-1999

iii

iv

blank

EUROPEAN STANDARD

EN 40-2

NORME EUROPENNE
Edition 1
June 1976

EUROPISCHE NORM
UDC 624.971:628.971:621.753.1
Key words: Luminaire, lighting column, dimension, dimensional tolerance

English version

Lighting columns
Part 2: Dimensions and tolerances

Candlabres
Dimensions et tolrances

Lichtmaste
Masse und zulssige Abweichungen

This European Standard was accepted by CEN on 1976-06-30. The CEN

members are bound to adhere to the CEN Internal Regulations which specify
under which conditions this European Standard has to be given, without any
alteration, the status of a national standard.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Central Secretariat or to
any CEN member.
This European Standard is established by CEN in three official versions
(English, French, German). A translation made by another member under its
own responsibility, in its own language, and notified to CEN has the same
status.
CEN members are the national standards organizations of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comit Europen de Normalisation
Europisches Komitee fr Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels
Copyright reserved to all CEN members

EN 40-2

Brief history
This European Standard, drawn up by technical
committee CEN/TC 50 Lighting poles and spigots
(secretariat DIN), was submitted to the ballot of
CEN members in February 1976 with a view to its
adoption as a European Standard.
It was adopted as such by CEN on 30 June 1976 on
the strength of its acceptance by the following
member countries:
Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland,
United Kingdom.

Foreword
In producing this Part of this standard it was
recognized that columns with nominal heights
and/or bracket projections not specified in this
standard will still be needed to replace columns in
existing lighting schemes. However, all columns for
new lighting schemes should be selected from the
nominal heights and bracket projections specified in
this document.

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

1 Scope and field application

This European Standard specifies the dimensions
and tolerances for a chosen series of lighting
columns adopted by CEN. It relates to post top
columns for post top lanterns as well as columns
with brackets for side entry lanterns.
The dimensional requirements are specified except
that the connection dimensions in clause 7
represent, for the time being, a recommended
choice. It is proposed to make them mandatory after
an interim period.

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

2 Post top columns, main dimensions (in metres)

Figure 1

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

3 Columns with brackets, main dimensions (in metres)

Figure 2

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

4 Door openings and cable entry slots (dimensions in millimetres)

Figure 4 Dimensions of cutout

Figure 3 Position of door4) and

cable entry slot
1)

Supplementary dimensions for concrete columns.

2)

For metal columns only.

3)

It is recommended that this dimension be approximately 600, but in no case shall it be less than 300; no maximum is specified.

4)

It is recommended that the door opening is positioned parallel to the bracket on the side away from the direction of traffic.
Figure 3 shows the position for right hand drive roads.

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

5 Column foundation, planting depth and base plate (dimensions in millimetres)

Figure 5a

Figure 5b

1)

The planting depth, e, shall be selected from the values given in the table taking into consideration the calculations made
beforehand and the ground conditions.

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

6 Flange plate (dimensions in millimetres)

Figure 6

Figure 7
h
m

u5
u 12
u 20

260
400
400
500

d 1a

M18
M24
M27
a

Figure 8
sa

8
10

200
300
300
400

20
d2

22
30
33

min.

d1

M18
M24
M27

la

min.

400
500
700

These dimensions shall be checked by calculation.

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

7 Connection dimensions for lanterns (in millimetres)2)

d 1b

60
76
102

Figure 9a
Post top lanterns

l1

70
130
250

Figure 9b a

d 2b

42
60

l2

100
100
250

Figure 10a

Figure 10b

Side entry lanterns

a

This design does not apply to concrete columns.

of steel spigots should be as given in the International Standard of ISO 64:1974 Steel tubes, outside diameters
for steel tubes of the nearest size.
b Diameters

2)

See clause 1.

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EN 40-2

8.4 Projection (without spigot)

2%
8.5 Fixing angle
The tolerance for the fixing angle of the lantern
fixing axis, from the horizontal, shall be 2 when
not under load; the deviation between the bracket
axis and lantern fixing axis shall also not
exceed 2.
8.6 Door opening and cable entry slot
For the opening dimensions:

+ 5 mm
0 mm

8.7 Column cross-section

8.7.1 Metal columns

Figure 11

8 Tolerances
8.1 Straightness
x u 0,003 l; l = h + e
%x u 0,003 %l; %l W 1 m
See Figure 11.
Measurement shall be carried out in unloaded state
(column lying horizontally).
8.2 Total length of post top columns
8.2.1 Longitudinally welded columns
With planted section:
With flange plate:

0,5 %
or 25 mm
0,6 %

(the greater value shall apply)

8.2.2 Seamless columns
With planted section:
With flange plate:

0,5 %
0,6 %

or

50 mm

8.7.1.1 Column circumference tolerance: 1 %

8.7.1.2 Deviation in shape
8.7.1.2.1 Circular cross-section: 3 % of the
diameter calculated from the measured
circumference (disregarding a welded seam bead)
8.7.1.2.2 Polygonal cross-section: 4 % of the
nominal value over the flats of the polygon
8.7.2 Concrete columns
8.7.2.1 Column circumference tolerance: 1 %
8.7.2.2 Deviation in shape
Cross-section dimensional tolerances: 5 %, min.
value 10 mm
8.8 Connection dimensions for lanterns
8.8.1 Length of lantern connection
for l1 or l2: 2 mm
8.8.2 Diameter of lantern connection (ungalvanized)
for d1 or d2: see ISO 64:1974

(the greater value shall apply)

8.3 Total length of columns with brackets
Column with planted section:
Column with flange plate:

10

1%
1,2 %

BSI 09-1999

EN 40-2

Annex
National particularities
In France it is admissible to use in addition to the
bracket projections fixed in clause 3 also the bracket
projections w = 1 m and w = 1,5 m.

National appendix A
The United Kingdom participation in the
preparation of this European Standard came under
the direction of the Road Engineering Standards
Committee of BSI. The following organizations were
involved in the work on this standard:
Aluminium Federation
Association of Public Lighting Engineers
British Plastics Federation
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.
British Steel Industry
Cement and Concrete Association
County Surveyors Society
Department of Transport
Design Council
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales
Institution of Highway Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Municipal Engineers
Lighting Column Manufacturers Association
Lighting Industry Federation Ltd.

National appendix B Planting depth

B.1 Selection
The planting depth of a column shall be selected
from the table in clause 5 for the nominal height
required.
B.2 Suitability
To check the suitability of the selected planting
depth for the ground conditions at the site it is
suggested that the procedure given in B.3 should be
adopted unless a more sophisticated foundation
design is utilized. Where the selected planting depth
is shown to be too short, this may be overcome by
backfilling the excavation with mass concrete. The
effective diameter of the column may then be
assumed to be equal to the minimum diameter of the
hole and the equation in B.3 can be used to calculate
this diameter.

BSI 09-1999

Alternatively, if the purchaser knows the soil

conditions before ordering, the equation in B.3 can
be used to calculate which planting depth would be
suitable and a decision taken, depending upon
availability and cost, to use that planting depth or to
use a shorter planting depth with a concrete or
selected infill.
B.3 Calculation
a) Select planting depth.
b) Calculate overturning moment due to full
design forces on the column about a fulcrum
located at 1/2 of the planting depth.
c) Multiply overturning moment by factor of
safety 1.25.
d) The moment in c) should not exceed the ground
resistance moment (Mg) obtained from
3
GDP
M g = ----------------10
where
G is a factor dependent on the ground in
which the column is planted
(in kN/m2 per m)
Values of G are given in Table 1.
D is the minimum diameter (or minimum
dimension across flats for multi-sided
sections) of the section of the column in the
ground (in m)
P is the planting depth (in m)
Table 1 Factor G
G

Soil type

630

Good: Compact, well graded sand and

gravel, hard clay, well graded fine and
coarse sand, decomposed granite rock and
soil. Good material should be well drained
and in locations where water will not stand.

390

Average: Compact fine sand, medium clay,

compact, well drained sandy loam, loose
coarse sand and gravel.
Average soils should drain sufficiently well
that water does not stand on the surface.

230

Poor: Soft clay, clay loam, poorly compacted

sand, clays containing a large amount of
silt and vegetable matter, and made
ground.
Poor soils will normally be wet and have
poor drainage.

11

EN 40-2

B.4 Back filling

The approach in B.3 is based on the hole into which
the column is placed being back filled with the
excavated material or with material of better
quality. All back filling material should be placed in
150 mm thick layers and should be well compacted.
Where the hole is back filled with concrete, the
concrete should extend from the base of the column
to ground level. A duct, equal in size to the cable
entry hole, should be formed through the concrete
filling using a suitable preformed lining tube.
Where bituminous surfacing is used round the
column, the top level of the concrete may be lowered
by the thickness of the surfacing.
B.5 Design loadings
Pending the issue of subsequent Parts of this
standard, which will give details of the design
loading for columns in particular zones of the
country, the following loading should be adopted for
calculating planting depths.
a) Concrete columns complying with
BS 1308:1970. The loads from Table 4 of that
standard.

12

b) Steel columns complying with BS 1840:1960.

The loads from Table 3 of that standard increased
by a factor of 2.0.
c) Aluminium columns complying with
BS 3989:1966. The loads from Table 4 of that
standard.

National appendix C References

Clauses 7 and 8.8.2, make reference to
ISO 64:1974 Steel tubes, outside diameters for
steel tubes of 42 mm, 60 mm, 76 mm and 102 mm
outside diameter. That standard gives actual
outside diameters of 42.4 mm, 60.3 mm, 76.1 mm
and 101.6 mm without specifying tolerances.

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BSI
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL

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