CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Security
Lighting
Alan D. Duer, CPP

Security Analyzer
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
7309 Windsor Mill Road
Baltimore, MD. 21244
phone 410 597-7783
fax 410 597-7774
e mail alan.d.duer@bge.com
CPTED
90 % of crime occurs after dark

Proper lighting enables law abiding citizens to

observe / report crime and to identify
suspects.

It makes people feel safe.

Lighting Terminology
Light: Radiant energy that excites the retina
of the eye.
Lumen: Volume of light
Candlepower: Intensity of light in a specific
location.
Foot Candle: amount of light a candle gives
off in a square foot area.
Illuminance: Light on an object
Lighting Terminology
Lux: metric measurement of illumination
Lumen: measurement of light at its source
and the amount of light output.
Luminaire:The complete light fixture with
the light source and ballast.
Light trespass:Light pollution in unintended
areas.
HID: High Intensity Discharge Lamp
Lighting Terminology
LPW: Lumens per watt, a measurement of
efficiency
Ballast: A device used with an electric
discharge lamp to obtain the necessary
voltage and current to start and operate the
lamp.
Uniformity: Relative Illuminance, lighting
that doesn’t allow dark areas in parking
lots.
LIGHTING SOURCES
1) Incandescent
2) Quartz, Quartz-Halogen
3) Fluorescent
4) Mercury Vapor
5) Metal Halide
6) Low Pressure Sodium
7) High Pressure Sodium
Incandescent Lighting

Lamp which produces light by using electric

current to heat a filament
Incandescent Lighting
ADVANTAGES:
1) Instant on
2) Low initial cost
3) Excellent color rendition
4) Can be dimmed
5) Compact in size
Incandescent Lighting
DISADVANTAGES:

1) Short Life ( 500-5000 hrs.)

2) Inefficient to Operate

3) High Heat Output

Halogen & Quartz Halogen

Lamps are incandescent bulbs with halogen

gas (like sealed -beam auto headlights)
Halogen & Quartz Halogen
Advantages:

1) Good color rendition

2) 25 % better efficiency than ordinary

incandescent bulbs.
Halogen & Quartz Halogen
Disadvantages:

1) High heat output

2) Inefficient
Fluorescent

Lamps that pass electricity through a gas

enclosed tube to create light

Usually used indoors and in some cases for

signage
Fluorescent
Advantages:
1) They create twice the light & less than
half the heat of an incandescent bulb of
equal wattage.
2) Long life (10,000 - 15,000 hrs.)
3) Efficient
4) Good color rendition
Fluorescent
Disadvantages:

1) Temperature sensitive
Mercury Vapor

A high intensity discharge device which

produces light by excitation of mercury
vapors (also passes electricity through a
gas)

Emits a bluish white light

Mercury Vapor
Advantages:

1) Long life (16 - 24,000 hrs.)

2) Low initial cost

Mercury Vapor
Disadvantages:

1) Inefficient operation

2) Light output drops over life (2 - 3 yrs.)

3) Delayed hot restart

Metal Halide

High intensity discharge arc tube in which

light is produced by the radiation of exited
metal halides

100 watt bulb lasts 10,000 hrs.

Metal Halide
Advantages:
1) Excellent color rendition
2) Sparkling white light
a) imitates daylight conditions
b) used in sports stadiums, car dealer
lots, etc.
3) Works well with CCTV
Metal Halide
Disadvantages:

1) Hot restart can take several minutes

2) High initial cost

3) Most expensive light to install and

maintain
High Pressure Sodium

High intensity discharge arc tube in which

light is produced by radiation from sodium
vapor operating under pressure
High Pressure Sodium
Advantages:

1) Very Efficient - 20-28,000 hrs. life

2) Can cut through fog and allow the eyes
to see detail at
greater distance
( used on streets & parking lots )
3) In some cases it can be used with CCTV
High Pressure Sodium
Disadvantages:

1) High initial cost of fixtures

2) Hot restart can take several minutes

Low Pressure Sodium

High intensity discharge arc tube in which

light is produced by radiation from sodium
vapor operating under pressure

Emits a dull yellow /gold hew

Low Pressure Sodium
Advantages:

1) Very efficient ( 20 - 24,000 hrs. life, a 90

watt bulb may last 16,000 hrs.)

2) May be used to combat prostitution,

drug dealing, or illuminate an area just
to detect movement.
Low Pressure Sodium

Disadvantage:

1) Poorest color rendition

Security Lighting Recommendations

1) Illuminate entrances, fire escapes, etc.

with bright white light.
2) Parking lots should be illuminated with
bright white lights that allows for
uniformity, (not allowing any dark areas
in the parking lot).
3) Implement a maintenance policy
Security Lighting Recommendations

4) Parking lots should be illuminated so

one can identify a human face at 33
ft.,(3 foot candles vertically above the
surface).
5) Wire cages or industrial strength shatter
resistant lenses should be placed over
the light to deter vandalism.
6) Position lights to avoid glare areas &
blind spots.
Parking Lot Illumination

The general rule of thumb involving the

installation of lighting in parking lots, is
the height of the light pole multiplied by
4 will give the distance the light poles
should be apart.
Building Illumination

The general rule of thumb involving the

installation of wall packs, (lights on the
sides of a building), is the height of the
wall pack multiplied by 6 will give the
distance the wall packs should be apart.
Lighting Benefits
1) Less vandalism
2) Fewer Break-ins
3) Improved morale & safety / security
4) Fewer assaults
5) Premise liability enhanced
6) Increased curbside appeal
7) Increased building value
8) Improved Productivity
9) Increased utilization of public areas resulting in
more natural surveillance
National Institute of Justice
Research in Brief - April 1996

“The most important CPTED security feature is

lighting. Lighting should meet standards of the
Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America”.
“The most important CPTED security feature a
city can mandate is lighting”.
 THE END

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