Lighting in car parks should provide basic levels of visibility while incorporating robust lighting and vandal resistant lighting to ensure durability and reliability. Illumination levels must promote confidence and feelings of safety and security. Ideally, lighting should be positioned over and between parked cars to eliminate potential hiding places.
Wide column spacing in outdoor car parks may be counter-productive in terms of light distribution. A preferred option is a higher quantity of lower output luminaires, more closely spaced.
Vertical illuminance must also be considered to ensure good facial recognition which instils a sense of personal security in spaces that may often be quite deserted. This form of illuminance also helps the effectiveness of CCTV recordings.
Specific areas such as ticket machines, barriers, pedestrian walkways, and signage benefit from highlighting to allow easy location and wayfinding. Car parks are often close to local residences, so light spill and general light pollution should be carefully considered and minimised.
Vandal resistance and high ingress protection are vital for luminaires specified in car park applications.
Technical Support
Reference should be made to BS EN 12464-1-2021 for indoor applications. BS EN 12464‑2:2024 has guidance for outdoor car parking applications.
To light these areas a range of column, wall mounted luminaires and bollards may be appropriate with close
attention paid to light spill.
Calculated uniformity should be 0.4 for covered / 0.25 open but care should be taken to avoid, as much as
possible, areas of deep shadow between vehicles by careful selection and positioning of luminaires.
For further lighting advice speak to our technical sales team on 020 8254 2022 or e-mail technicalsales@designplan.co.uk
Best Practice Lighting Guide for Public Realm
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