Security lighting is essential in keeping residential and commercial properties safe. Well-designed lighting systems deter intruders by illuminating spots where they could otherwise access the property without being seen.
Whether you’re looking to install or upgrade your current security lighting system, you have a wide range of lighting solutions to choose from. This guide will discuss the key types of security lighting, their unique features, and their benefits.
The Five Types of Security Lighting
Security lighting systems use five types of lighting: continuous, standby, movable (portable), emergency, and deterrence. Each type of lighting has a different use.
Continuous lighting is the most widely used type of security lighting system. As the name implies, continuous lighting provides a constant source of illumination. Standby lighting serves as a backup in case of power outages or other interruptions. Movable or portable lighting units offer flexibility and can be placed in various locations as needed.
Emergency lights are designed to activate automatically in an emergency, providing illumination to help occupants safely exit the building.
Finally, you have deterrence lighting, which is activated by a third-party motion, laser, radar, camera analytics, or other means. Deterrence lighting causes lights to come on and flash in an otherwise dark area, or existing lights to flash, which typically causes a startled intruder to retreat rather than carry out the breach.
Security Lighting to Safeguard Your Property
Security lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety and security of outdoor spaces, whether it’s a commercial property, an airport, or a warehouse. To secure your properties from theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities, you need to know about perimeter lighting, flood lighting, security camera lighting, and motion sensor lighting.
1. Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting is a type of security lighting that involves placing lights at the perimeter of large outdoor spaces. The goal is to either light up the perimeter area or the area nearest to it.
Perimeter lights are used extensively at sensitive commercial properties like airports, electrical substations, and warehouses. You’ll need to consider your property when selecting the best security lighting systems. For example, the best perimeter lighting for a chain link fence differs from a concrete wall.
At CAST Perimeter, we specialize in perimeter lighting for fencing. The CAST Perimeter Security System goes beyond the standard pole-mounted security lighting.
First, the CAST Perimeter lighting solution is easier to install and maintain than typical pole-mounted systems. You can attach the lighting fixtures directly to your existing fence infrastructure and easily integrate them into your existing or new security systems.
There are additional advantages to using the CAST Perimeter Security System. For example, it uses low-voltage fixtures to disperse light over long distances on both sides of the fence line. It also uses glare-free technology. That means you don’t need to worry about security guards getting blinded by glare or image-quality issues with your security cameras.
2. Security Camera Lighting
Security cameras are typically installed in areas that require added security or surveillance, such as entryways, perimeter walls, parking garages, and high-traffic areas. These areas are often brightly illuminated, so you can easily capture high-quality security camera footage.
A standard security camera in a white-light setting helps cameras capture high-quality footage at night. Our CAST Perimeter™ Infrared Night Owl™ CPL3IR2D is a great example of security camera lighting that remains hidden, interacting with the infrared night feature of the camera and providing a much larger distribution of infrared light across the camera viewing field.
The Night Owl system helps get the best results from night-vision cameras. This advanced technology allows users to switch between Infrared (IR) and Visible Light modes if needed. Having a lighting source in these wavebands makes a huge difference to image quality.
The image above shows a camera scene with IR supplemental lighting and White Light Perimeter security lighting. Proper lighting not only increases the image quality, but it will also reduce the bandwidth consumed due to the reduction of gain necessary to enhance the image.
3. Flood Lights
Flood lighting provides broad, high-intensity illumination across a large area. Flood lights are typically used to illuminate parking lots, sports fields, or the perimeter of commercial buildings. These lights deter intruders and enhance safety by providing increased visibility in areas where people need to navigate.
When installing flood lighting, consider the lighting source and wattage, mounting height, and angle of the fixtures. You can mount our GEN 2 Wall Pack Light, Guard Shack Series on poles or other elevated structures, such as roof lines or walls, to provide broad coverage. It can also be mounted on fences using our new CPL3SAM1 mounting system for the perfect solution.
Finally, while flood lighting is a great option for large outdoor areas, remember to consider the impact on adjacent properties. You also need to consider relevant restrictions and regulations for your location.
4. Motion Sensor Lighting
Motion sensor lighting is integrated into most modern security systems. As the name suggests, the lights turn on automatically when motion is detected.
Sudden deterrence illumination has a shocking effect that deters intruders and alerts security personnel to security issues. Our FlashGlare system heightens this effect. The security lighting can be turned on and off at user-defined intervals for a set duration. This temporarily blinds intruders.
To use the FlashGlare system, you need the CAST Perimeter® 1200W DC Power Supply with Astronomical Clock and 3rd Party Control. That’s used in conjunction with the CAST Perimeter® Security Lighting GEN 3. This is perfect for protecting critical infrastructure and properties where there is a risk of theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities.
In addition to the deterrent effect, there are other benefits to using motion sensor lighting. For example, because the lights are off by default, you’ll save money on your electricity bill.
Many motion sensors are used for this type of lighting, including camera analytics, laser, radar, motion, and sensors. Ideally, you should be using LED light bulbs, which are energy-efficient and long-lasting.
In Closing
Protecting residential and commercial properties from theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities requires the installation of reliable security lighting. In this article, we discussed the five types of security lighting, including continuous, standby, movable, emergency, and deterrence lighting, as well as specific types of security lighting such as perimeter lighting, flood lighting, security camera lighting, infrared, and motion sensor lighting.
Choosing the right security lighting system for your property is crucial, and that’s where CAST comes in. We have extensive experience working with airports, substations, data centers, and other critical infrastructure to provide top-of-the-line security lighting solutions. We understand the unique security challenges that these facilities face and the importance of maintaining a secure perimeter.
As a market leader in outdoor perimeter security lighting for critical infrastructure, we can help you design a custom security lighting system that fits your needs. If you’re interested in enhancing the safety and security of your outdoor spaces, contact our friendly staff today. Our team is here to provide the insights and support you need.
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CAST Perimeter® 1200W DC Power Supply with Astronomical Clock and 3rd Party Control
CAST Perimeter® Gen 2 Wall Pack Light, Guard Shack Series
CPL3 Generation 3 Series
