Security lighting system and requirements

Security lighting - a complex system consisting of several parts. The main purpose is to ensure the safety of property and facilitate the work of protecting certain objects. Light can be used both indoors and outdoors, it all depends on the design and purpose for which the system is used.

Security lighting should provide the right level of security of the object.

Features of security lighting systems

The equipment used in the security complex, is a light sources of different configurations, combined into a single system using cables. The complex is connected to the hardware that controls the operation.

Lighting can be integrated into any security complex, it often combined with sound alarms and video surveillance systems. The main purpose is the prevention and prevention of offenses, as well as ensuring the safety of the protected object. The lights have three functions:

1. The security personnel can monitor the situation both inside the premises and on the perimeter. It is possible to see intruders in time at night and take action or trigger an alarm.
2. With light it is not difficult to create optimal conditions for video surveillance systems. And different options can be used.
3. Lighting also acts as a deterrent, preventing intruders from entering. They often prefer to avoid areas with good light.

Intruders are much less likely to enter a well-lit area.

Lighting can have more than one function.

Types of security lighting

All options are simply divided into three groups depending on the tasks they perform. You can use one of them, or all together, there are no restrictions.

Duty lighting

This option starts to work after the main light is turned off, when employees are not at their workplaces. It is designed to see who has entered the room, as well as to control by visual inspection or with the help of CCTV cameras. There are several aspects to consider:

1. According to SNiP 23-05-95 allowed to use some of the standard lights to ensure good visibility in the dark. Most often it is enough to include only 10% of the power.
2. You can also use emergency lights, they will ensure the operation of the security system in case of power outages on the main line. But you should not use equipment with self-contained power sources, as it is used in emergency situations and ensures the safety of people.
3. In the regulations there are no strict restrictions on the type of lights used, their characteristics and installation rules. Also individually determined by the places that need lighting, it is not necessary to put the equipment everywhere.
4. In the standby light does not use automatic control systems. In this case, you need to take out a separate switch, which will control exactly the security light.

Duty lighting with LEDs has a high brightness and at the same time consumes little electricity.

It is best to have standby light switches at the guard post to control them from the site.

Perimeter Lighting

To protect the boundaries of the site from intrusion, outdoor lighting is used. It is made by the rules set out in RD 78.145-93. In accordance with them, the network must be powered separately from standard lights. Also need to consider the following:

1. Lights are located so that the perimeter formed a continuous band of light width of 3 to 4 meters. This is the only way to ensure complete safety.
2. The minimum illumination should not be below 0.5 lux. This is a common standard, but if the lights are used together with photo and video recording equipment, the intensity of illumination is adjusted to it.
3. The system can operate continuously, turning on after dusk. You can set it to run when the motion sensor is triggered. But even when using the automatic version, it should be possible to turn on all the lights or part of them manually.
4. If the lights are to light up when the sensor is triggered, then they should use lamps that come up to operating levels instantly. Mercury lights are not suitable, you should use incandescent lamps, halogen or LED versions. The latter are used more and more often due to their high power, low electricity consumption and long service life.
5. All security lighting controls are located in a single power cabinet to prevent unauthorized entry. It is best if the doors are locked and the switchboard itself is located near the guard post.
6. Attention needs to be paid to lighting of guard locations. Standard lights are usually made on a general basis, but there must be emergency lightingIt must be provided for emergency lighting to be activated in the event of a power failure.

The perimeter should be clearly visible in all weather conditions.

The height of the lights can be selected according to the characteristics of the object. They are installed on individual poles as well as on walls and other places.

Lighting of technical signaling and control devices

Now most often the perimeter is equipped with video cameras, so the lighting must be adapted to them to ensure the best shooting. Here we must remember the following:

1. In the instructions to video cameras there is always an indication of the minimum level of light for normal shooting. But practice shows that video quality suffers at minimum illumination level.
2. Optimal illumination figures are usually 3-5 lux, and the light should be evenly distributed, so that the video can be contrasted and of good quality. If you use an open version of the light, you need to position the lantern so that it does not interfere with the video.
3. You can make a hidden light site, for this use infrared lamps. To such illumination could not see the intruders, the length of infrared waves should be greater than 800 nm.

Often a spotlight is placed over the surveillance camera.

If video surveillance is not installed initially, but later planned to put the camera, it is better to put the lights with the right brightness, so then do not remake the outdoor security lighting.

Design standards for security lighting

Before you start installing the system, you need to make proper preparations and make a competent project that will provide for all the details and will comply with the regulations. In the Russian Federation, GOST R 5000962000 standards, SNIP 23-05-95, RD 78.36.00362002, SP 52.13330.2016, as well as the requirements of PUE (Rules for Electrical Installations) are used. Here it is important to consider the following:

1. First of all, think through what options will be used for security lighting. In fact, you need two separate projects, one for the outdoor part, the other for standby lighting for the interior lighting that is switched on after all the employees have left their workplaces.
2. It is not necessary to install a separate security circuit in the premises, you can use the emergency or general lighting for this purpose (even 10% of the power will be enough to save energy). It is important to consider what elements will be used and in what mode. It is better to use manual activation from the guard post so that the light starts working when you need it.
3. For the perimeter, a COOP, a system of perimeter security lighting, is developed. When planning the location of lights, remember that the norm of light intensity at 3-4 meters from the border of the territory is not less than 0.75 lux.
4. Choose lights that allow you to change the angle of illumination to adjust them if necessary. At the same time the shades should be securely fixed in the right position so that the settings are not disrupted by wind gusts and precipitation.
5. It is best to use a system with motion sensors so that the lights turn on when necessary. If the area is small, it is better that all the lights turn on at the same time. In large areas, it is more reasonable to divide the lights into several segments, which will turn on when the sensor is triggered.
6. Select the location of the electrical panel, which will be solely for security lighting. It is best if it will be lockable and located under the alarm system, so that when you open it will trigger a notification on the guard panel.
7. Based on all the information is drawn up a detailed project, which will reflect all the elements of the system. This will greatly simplify the calculations, the purchase of necessary materials and components, and later you can quickly find the problem and eliminate it.

If there are large buildings on the territory, they should also be illuminated on the perimeter.

For installation outdoors, choose fixtures in steel or aluminum housing, they better resist damage and withstand even a large hail. If possible, place the lights under cover to better protect them.

Security lighting requirements

In order for the system to work without failures and malfunctions, it is necessary to ensure that a few simple requirements are met in the design, selection of luminaires and their installation. Consider:

1. System reliability and fault tolerance. First, you need to choose high-quality fixtures that will last a long time, and secondly, if one element fails, the rest should work as before. If possible, place the lights at such a distance that if one stops working, there is no dark sector in the perimeter, ideally it should overlap the neighboring lights.
2. Economical use of electricity. In this regard, it is better to use LED equipment, as it has a lower consumption of electricity than incandescent bulbs, 10-12 times. Also, LEDs give a good bright light without flicker, instantly lit, and last on average 25-30 times longer, which also saves money.
3. Uniform perimeter lighting and the absence of darkened, poorly visible areas. In this case, not only the lamp power is important, but also the type of reflector and the correct positioning of the luminaire.
4. Protection against external influences. For this reason, the switchboard must be securely closed and located close to the guard post.

The intensity of the light output depends on which lamps are used.

If interruptions with electricity are frequent, then for autonomous work is necessary to equip a battery unit or install a generator, triggered when power outage.

Features of use as part of video surveillance systems

If the street lighting will work together with video cameras, you need to consider a few important recommendations to ensure high-quality images and exclude any problems:

1. When designing, the lantern should be positioned on the same axis as the camera installation site. This is the ideal solution for the best light quality. You can place the flashlight either above or below the object being filmed.
2. Always check the picture quality when it is dark. Any irregularities may result in highlights or blackouts in the image. Adjust the position of the elements as necessary.
3. Adjust the light intensity to the requirements of the particular model. It is better to use higher quality light than specified in the documentation, because at a minimum light the camera at night will shoot much worse.
4. You can use covert infrared lighting, in which the shooting is of high quality, but intruders are not aware of it. In some systems, conventional light is supplemented by infrared light.

One light on a corner can illuminate the space for two cameras located in different directions.

Security lighting is a separate system that allows you to monitor the premises and the perimeter of the area in the dark. It is important to design the location of the elements in accordance with regulatory requirements. When video cameras are used, the perimeter can be monitored at the same time, which is very convenient.

Video presentation of the report: "Organization of perimeter lighting".