STAIRS AND FOOT BRIDGES

Stairs and bridges may be open, enclosed and of varying construction. Good lighting can go some way towards maximising safety and capacity. Lighting should highlight the walking surfaces, treads and risers. It should also help create sufficient contrast between adjacent surfaces for maximum visibility, whether sparsely or fully occupied.

Lighting from each side can give sufficient directional quality of light. Equal highlighting of horizontal treads and vertical risers on the stairs is important whilst maintaining the natural lit contrast between the two. Luminaires mounted at low level can minimise troubling glare. Care should also be taken to minimise glare to train drivers and dispatchers.

Lighting could also be provided by column mounted luminaires either around the bridge or mounted on it, or a combination of both. Care should be taken to achieve suitable levels of uniformity.

In many situations, lighting could be fully exposed to the elements, making high IP rated luminaires essential. Moreover, for longevity and to minimise costs, the external finishes of luminaires should be highly resistant to degradation.