How to Optimise Site Lighting

Working in winter naturally brings about a range of problems, such as braving the cold weather or tackling icy environments. With 21.12.2022 being the Winter Solstice and shortest day of the year, working in these dark winter months means finding the best lighting solutions.

In this blog we will discuss what it means to light a construction site, why it is important, and what elements should be considered when planning construction lighting.

What are the working environment requirements for lighting?

Before delving into planning lighting on construction sites, it is important to understand what is even required for site lighting. Although there is no specific legal or minimum lighting levels for work sites, given their varied nature of location and time, the Health and Safety Executive Document HSG38 [1] (Lighting at Work) does recommend average illuminance levels for different situations.

This table, replicated from HSE Document HSG38 (Lighting at Work), shows the recommended minimum lighting levels for a range of work activity and locations. [2]

Activity	Typical Location	Average Illuminance (lux)	Minimum Illuminance (lux)
Movement of people, machines and vehicles.	Lorry Park, corridors, circulation routes.	20	5
Movement of people, machines and vehicles in hazardous areas; rough work not requiring any perception of detail.	Construction site clearance, excavation and soil work, loading bays, bottling and canning plants.	50	20
Work requiring limited perception of detail.	Kitchens, factories assembling large components, potteries.	100	50
Work requiring perception of detail.	Offices, sheet metal work, book binding.	200	100
Work requiring perception of fine detail.	Drawing offices, factories assembling electronic components, textile production.	500	200

As light intensity is measured in ‘lux’, a measuring scale that is itself quite difficult to understand, this table below outlines how different situations supply various levels of light intensity.

Illuminance	Example
1 lux	Full moon overhead
50 lux	Family living room
80 lux	Hallway/toilet
100 lux	Very dark overcast day
400 lux	Sunrise or sunset on a clear day. Well-lit office area
1000 lux	Overcast day, typical TV studio lighting
10,000-25000 lux	Full daylight (not direct sun)
32,000-130,000 lux	Direct sunlight

Why is it important to illuminate work sites well?

Working outside in winter months will require artificial lighting as soon as it gets dark. As shown in the tables above, even when there is a full moon overhead only 1 lux is supplied, which is in fact 4 lux less than the minimum needed for simple movement of people, machines or vehicles. Choosing the right lighting solutions will therefore ensure safety and efficiency of the task.

What to consider when lighting a construction site?

When trying to optimise lighting solutions for a construction site, choosing energy-efficient and safe units will boost productivity and provide a safe working environment.

1. Energy efficient lighting – time saving, money saving & eco-friendly

Opting for efficient lighting tackles three key issues in one: it is timesaving, money-saving and eco-friendly.
By choosing energy-efficient lighting solutions, a construction site will be able to lower the electricity bills, remove the need to keep replacing lamps, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Less-money:

By using less energy to do the same task, using lighting units that are powered by energy-efficient light bulbs, such as LEDS, therefore optimise the amount of energy supplied to the unit, saving money by reducing energy bills. As 90% of energy is lost from heat in incandescent light bulbs, with only 10% of energy lost for LED bulbs, it is important to choose lighting applications with a low heat output, that maximise energy consumption and minimise energy waste. [3]

Timesaving:

Choosing LED lit lighting solutions will guarantee a longer product life, supplying around 50,000 hours of light, while an incandescent light bulb will last only for 1000 hours. Reducing the need for maintenance and replacement services, choosing energy-efficient lighting units will allow uninterrupted focus on the task ahead.

Eco-friendly:

Combining the long product life of energy-efficient bulbs with their reduced energy consumption will improve the environmental impact drastically. With less energy needed to light the same space, efficient lighting solutions will produce a more positive impact on the environment. Indeed, choosing high-quality, heavy-duty lighting solutions that themselves have a long shelf-life will reduce over-consumption, enabling even one unit to last a long time.

The best part of choosing lighting that is powered with LED bulbs, however, is that the quality of light remains, and is in fact often improved, despite less energy being used.

2. Safe Lighting – Planning and positioning is key

Choosing optimal lighting solutions will not only reduce our environmental impact and reduce energy bills but will also ensure and prioritise the safety of the site workers themselves.

Consider the physical environment:

Before choosing your lighting, the physical environment of the space should be understood and assessed, producing an appropriately planned lighting solution.
For example, in tight spaces, larger lighting units will take up more space, and become a hazard within itself, so opting for removable ceiling lights is an ideal way to remove trip hazards. Maximising the available space will also be achieved when choosing strung festoon lighting, reducing the risk of injury with more illumination and more room to move.

Conversely, when working in an environment that is large and open, ensuring that there is consistent and sufficient lighting across the premises will reduce extreme contrast illumination. Working in environments with dark shadows and brightly lit areas can be visually damaging for workers, so choosing lights with a specific broad, near shadow-free illumination design will certainly improve visual safety.

Understanding the visual impact of the lighting:

When handling large objects or complicated machinery, it is imperative to use lighting that will promote the concentration of the operator, and not distract them from their task. Opting for floor lights with an adjustable slimline frame will therefore allow for re-positioning of the direction of light. In fact, lighting that won’t cause glare, flicker or stroboscopic effects is highlighted by the HSE as a crucial element of good light planning.

Summary: Choosing the right lighting for your task

Here at DQ Services, we pride ourselves on our range of professional products, and boast a variety of different lighting solutions to suit any task. By contacting us at sales@dqservices.com or calling us on 01473 839880, you will be able to speak to our friendly customer service team who can help recommend the best lighting for your task.