PROTECTIVE LIGHTING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Explain the purpose and value of protective lighting. Identify nine basic principles of protective lighting. Evaluate three types of protective lighting systems. Explain the power requirements for emergency lighting systems.

Protective lighting provides a means of continuing a degree of security approaching that which is maintained during daylight hours. It increases the effectiveness of security forces performing their duties, has considerable value as a deterrent to thieves and vandals, and may make the job of the saboteur or terrorist more difficult. Requirements for protective lighting at an activity depend upon the situation and the areas to be protected. In the interest of finding the best possible mix between energy conservation and effective security, each situation must be carefully studied. The overall goal is to provide the proper environment to perform duties such as identification of badges and personnel at gates and inspection of unusual or suspicious circumstances. Where lighting is impractical, additional compensating measures should be instituted.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

NAVFAC MIL-HDBK-1013/1 provides general principles and guidelines for exterior protective lighting. These guidelines, including table 25 and table 26 of this reference, should be applied by activities when determining protective lighting requirements. When protective lighting is installed and used, the previous guidelines and the following basic principles should be applied:

s Provide adequate illumination or compensating measures to discourage or detect attempts to enter restricted areas and to reveal the presence of unauthorized persons within such areas.

l Avoid glare that handicaps security force personnel or is objectionable to air, rail, highway or navigable water traffic or occupants of adjacent properties.

l Locate light sources so that illumination is directed toward likely avenues of approach and provides relative darkness for patrol roads, paths, and posts. To minimize exposure of security force personnel, lighting at entry points should be directed at the gate and the guard should be in the shadows. This type of lighting technique is often called glare projection.

. Illuminate shadowed areas caused by structures within or adjacent to restricted areas.

. Design the system to provide overlapping light distribution. Equipment selection should be designed to resist the effects of environmental conditions, and all components of the system should be located to provide maximum protection against intentional damage.

l Meet requirements of blackout and coastal dimout areas.

. Avoid drawing unwanted attention to restricted areas.

l During planning stages, consideration should be given to future requirements of closed circuit television (CCTV) and recognition factors involved in selection of the type of lighting to be installed. Where color recognition will be a factor, full spectrum (such as high-pressure sodium vapor) lighting vice single color should be used. 

l Choose lights that illuminate the ground or water but not the air above. These lights must penetrate fog and rain.

TYPES OF PROTECTIVE LIGHTING SYSTEMS

There are several types of protective lighting systems in use today. Each should receive consideration by the command based on their requirements. We will touch on three of these systems: continuous, standby, and movable. We will also discuss some emergency power requirements.

Continuous Lighting

The most common protective lighting system is a series of fixed lights arranged to flood a given area continuously with overlapping cones of light. The two primary methods of employing continuous lighting are glare projection and controlled lighting.

GLARE PROJECTION LIGHTING.- Glare projection lighting uses lights slightly inside a security perimeter and directed outward. This method is useful where the glare of lights directed across surrounding territory will neither annoy nor interfere with adjacent operations. It is a deterrent to potential intruders because it makes it difficult to see inside the area being protected. It also protects security personnel by keeping them in comparative darkness and enabling them to observe intruders at a considerable distance beyond the perimeter.

CONTROLLED LIGHTING.- Controlled lighting is best used when it is necessary to limit the width of the lighted strip outside the perimeter because of adjoining property or nearby highways, railways, navigable water, or airports. The width of the lighted strip can be controlled and adjusted to fit a particular need, such as illumination of a wide strip inside a fence. Care should be taken to minimize or eliminate silhouetting or illuminating security personnel on patrol.

Standby Lighting

A standby system differs from continuous lighting insofar as its intent is to create an impression of activity. The lights are not continuously lighted, but are either automatically or manually turned on randomly or when suspicious activity is detected or suspected by security personnel or intrusion system. Lamps with short restart times are essential if this technique is chosen. This technique may offer significant deterrent value while also offering economy in power consumption.

Movable Lighting

Movable lighting (stationary or portable) consists of manually operated searchlights that may be lighted during hours of darkness or as needed. 'This system is normally used to supplement continuous or standby lighting.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

Emergency lighting may duplicate any or all of the previous systems. Its use is limited to times of power failure or other emergencies that render the normal system inoperative. It depends on alternative power sources, such as installed or portable generators or batteries.

PROTECTIVE LIGHTING PARAMETERS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List five criteria that commanding officers should use to determine protective lighting requirements. Explain the minimum standards for protective lighting and the need for an emergency power source. Identify the technical aspects and describe switch and control protection for protective lighting systems.

The commanding officer must decide what other areas or assets to illuminate and how to do it. This decision should be based upon the following criteria: 

. Relative value of items being protected 

. Significance of the items being protected in relation to the activity mission and its role in the overall national defense structure 

. Availability of security forces to patrol and observe illuminated areas 

. Availability of fiscal resources (procurement, installation, and maintenance costs) 

. Energy conservation