Dark Sky Lighting UK - GlareBuster Sky-friendly lights

	127
	Colin Dunn
	2007

Tulloch Resolis School - misaligned floodlights

This photo shows the misaligned floodlighting being sited around the new Resolis Primary School, Black Isle, Easter Ross. A joint project between Tulloch Construction and Morrison Construction (now owned by Galliford Try), the scheme includes several asymmetric floodlights sited around the rear parking area. Unfortunately, due to being angled at around 60 degrees, this will mean that the main beam will be directed above the area to be lit rather than on it - see red arrow above. The main Dingwall to Cromarty road is nearby, so this lighting could be potentially very dazzling and dangerous to motorists (and consequently pedestrains) as they pass the entrance of the new school. It could also be very disturbing to residents in nearby houses.

I've emailed both Tulloch Construction and Morrison Construction to ask them to adjust them for better and safer lighting, but have not had a reply so far.

See also picture #128 for a closer view.

Picture Added on 21 April 2007.

Comments

UPDATE:
Here's a copy of the email sent to Tulloch Construction and Morrison Construction (now owned by Galliford Try) asking them to consider changing the angle of the floodlights around this new school, and explaining why this would be better for them, and for the people living around the school.

So far I've not had a reply from either company, which is disappointing. This partnership is building several schools across Easter Ross, as well as in Portree on Skye, and if these lighting mistakes are repeated there too, then there's likely to be a very big increase in light pollution and energy waste in all of these areas across the Highlands.

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to Tulloch Construction and Morrison Construction

Dear sirs,

I am emailing you regarding the soon-to-be-completed resolis primary school in ross-shire. I believe that morrison construction and tulloch are joint contractors on this project.

I often pass this building project and have found it encouraging to see how well it is going. As I have an interest in the problem of light pollution, I was encouraged to see the excellent full cut-off street lighting fixtures chosen to light the grounds of the school. However, I am very concerned by the incorrect angling of floodlights around the parking areas as this will result in poor lighting of these areas and create a lot of unnecessary glare and light pollution.

The floodlights sited around the school are of asymmetric design. As you may know, asymmetric fittings are designed to be mounted near the horizontal (face parallel to the ground) and project light forwards at an angle of about 45 degrees enabling them to light across an area whilst minimising glare, light pollution and energy waste.

However, most of these fittings are tilted upwards at an angle of at least 60 degrees. This means that the main beam of light will be directed 15 degrees upwards into the sky ( 45 degrees + 60 degrees = 115 degrees). This will result in much poorer lighting of the ground around the school, and much greater glare suffered by drivers and pedestrians. It will also create much more potentially dangerous light annoyance for people beyond the school grounds. In particular, the dazzle of these lights may create significant dangers for motorists and pedestrians on the nearby culicudden road - a popular and busy road that passes the school.

Please will you adjust these lights correctly downwards to rectify these potential problems. There is ample material online and within institute of lighting engineers documentation that should help you adjust these fittings so that they provide safer, better lighting and reduce glare and light pollution at the same time.

If you need to see examples of the current lighting angles, I will be happy to email them to you.

Thank you for your time.

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UPDATE: 24/7/2007
The floodlights have been adjusted! On the way past a couple of days ago I noticed that all of the offending floodlights have now been pointed down correctly. Excellent. Better lighting = less light pollution. Well done Morrison Construction, and thanks to Derek Chambers at the Highland Council.

Added by Colin on 06 May 2007.

Many thanks, this has been very helpful as we have 40, yes forty, such lights, all set in the same manner in Cardiff close to several blocks of flats. The ironic thing is the Cardiff Council refuse to believe they are not set correctly.
Added by G Pace on 21 March 2008.