Lighting is important especially when it comes to large areas. Large area lighting and high mast poles go hand in hand. From lighting up inadequate lit roads to guiding vehicles, pole lights are an integral part of outdoor lighting. The most important aspect of installing these lights is the safety aspect. Road accidents and other untoward incidents can be prevented with bright outdoor lights.
Before we get on to how these high mast lights (HML) are installed and what factors come into play, let’s look at the common draws of this system.
Benefits of High Mast Lighting Systems
Energy-efficient: HML with LED lights can bring down energy consumption considerably. Before the advent of the LED lights in this field illuminating large areas was a task. The conventional lamps or high voltage halogens brought high electricity bills in higher light output areas. Thanks to LEDs on HMLs the energy cost has dipped considerably making them hugely popular.
Maintenance expenses: That’s another factor that makes high mast LED lightings a huge hit. HMLs as they are most commonly referred are extremely low maintenance and have a longer life. Good quality LED fixtures stay on for more than 50,000 hours say experts.
Brighter performance: The first and foremost thing you notice when you install lights is how bright they are. That is a parameter that is on top of the performance index. Some other factors that make LED lighting system fare better than the others is, that they don’t emit heat or infra-red lights.
Factors that you should consider when opting for HMLs
Height of the pole: Every area is different and requires different lighting solutions and that is why pole sizes matter. Officials in-charge of installing outdoor pole lighting are also always advised to determine the appropriate height of the pole keeping in mind the area where they are supposed to install these lights. For this, they are often required to study the area in detail and come up with a plan to understand how many lights are required for each pole, the light model and also the number of poles.
Mounting variety: Another factor taken into consideration when installing pole lights are the type of mounts. Mounts are also decided as per the usage. From direct mount, slip fitter mount, adjustable mount to universal mount there are multiple variants available in the market. Choose one that suits your area the best.
Wind Speed: When installing lights in outdoor areas one thing that is always taken into consideration is wind speed and a lot of other natural occurrences. This is because pole lights installed have to stand tall braving all climatic odds. So, when installing outdoor lights officials are often advised to consult local authorities for collecting data on wind speeds in the area. Wind speed is important to determine the size of the poles. The stronger the wind, the stronger the pole has to be.
Corrosion: In areas like coasts, commercial LED lights have to face saltwater corrosion. That is why when choosing poles for such areas officials responsible for installing lights ensure that poles purchased for such areas are top-grade quality. Authorities concerned can also take measures to use poles that have special anti-corrosive coating so that they stay longer.