Understanding the Nighttime Friendly Classification   

With all the different terms for light going up in the air from light fittings, as well all the different documents that talk about it, as a customer it is difficult to know what is going on. At some point in the near future there will be a definitive standard that will let us know once and for all what is acceptable, and what is not, but until that time this section of our website will attempt to clear some of the mists, and at least give you some guidance on some sort of best practice for up light control limits.

 

Holophane and Dark Sky compliance

Dark Sky compliance is not a term we use at Holophane, we defer from using this term, as there is no defined measure of what does or does not comply. We prefer to use the term 'Nighttime friendly', and then make a best practice attempt at giving a definition based around existing standards and measures.

 

Below are links to documents which we have used to guide us

 

Links to ILE (Institution of Lighting Engineers)

Who is the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)?

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a US-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founding members including an astronomer, a medical doctor/amateur astronomer, and an engineer. The mission of IDA is ‘To preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting’. Their principal approach is to raise awareness about the value of dark, star-filled skies and encourage their protection and restoration through education about the problems and solutions, including lighting practices that create less light pollution. In 2008 the organization had about 5000 members in 70 countries.

 

*Holophane Europe is not a member of the IDA, and none of its fittings have been measured by them.

What do the guys in America do about waste light (IESNA)?

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) provides, among many other things, classifications for luminaires according to their glare control and high-angle brightness. These classifications include full cutoff, cutoff, semi-cutoff and non cutoff.

The IESNA are developing a new system to classify exterior luminaires.
This system will provide more meaningful data about the optical control of luminaires.
This is still under development and we will be uploaded onto the site when released.

The table below lists a selection of Holophane's exterior products and categorises their control of upward and high angle light.

Each products optical performance is assessed against the metrics outlined here and establishes if the product achieves a “night time friendly” mark. Those listed with a grades A*, A or B*carry the Holophane “night time friendly” mark.

Please note not every optical configuration in each product family achieves its highest “night time friendly” mark. For specific characteristics and grading please contact Holophane for details.

 

  Grade A* Grade A Grade B* Grade B Grade C* Grade C
Aeris • •   •    
Ashbourne     • •    
Woburn     • •    
Sherington     • • •  
Caribe   •   •   •
Chalfont       • •  
Vista       • • •
Seattle Flood • • •      
Dorchester     •      
Grosvenor     •   •  
Vista Grande       •   •
Denver Pole     • •    
Gladiator           •
Signature II •   • •    
Vista Junior • • • • •  
Urbandeco • • • • •  
Terralux   •       •
Petxina   • • •    
Prismbeam •   •      
Muralux     • •    

 

Metric
EN13201—2:2003 (E) – ANNEX A – G6
ILE Guidance notes for the reduction of Obtrusive Light - E1 (ULR)
Zero Uplight – (Previous IDA Pass)
IESNA Full Cut Off (Old metric)
Grade A* All of the above
Grade A Any 3 of the above
Grade B* IESNA Cut off or better / G3 or better
Grade B ILE Guidance notes E2 (ULR) or better
Grade C* ILE Guidance notes E3 (ULR) or better
Grade C ILE Guidance notes E4 (ULR) or better

 

*It should be noted that the ILE Guidance notes for the reduction of Obtrusive Light - are aimed at whole installations/schemes not single fitting assessment, Holophane is using it to measure single fittings as a helpful guide that our customers should already be comfortable with and understand, this is not how the notes should be applied against final schemes.

 

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