One of the most important responsibilities any school has is protecting the safety of pupils on the premises and surrounding areas. Measures should be taken to ensure that pupils attending school are not put at risk from traffic on the school grounds and that the school buildings and surrounding area are safe.
Design for outdoor lighting in schools involves considering a wide range of factors, including ensuring safety and security for all users of the space, correct light levels, and the clear delineation of pathways and roads. Attention is given to conflict zones such as zebra crossings and places where there is a change of direction.
The needs of pupils with additional needs or limited mobility forms part of the lighting design with vertical lighting to highlight any areas of risk such as changes of level.
In areas where there is low visibility, obstructions might not be easily seen, and pupils can easily be injured.
Using ground level and bollard lighting, it is possible to clearly show pathways around the school area and help to prevent pupils from tripping as they make their way in and out of the buildings.
In schools built on multiple levels, it is essential to provide good quality lighting on stairways and ramps. Choosing the correct products for the needs of the space cast light onto staircases to ensure that risers are clearly visible when both ascending and descending, to prevent unnecessary falls that could result in serious injury.
Clear delineation of pathways around the school grounds also helps to prevent pupils from entering areas where cars may be present and separate pedestrians from cyclists to reduce the risk of accidents. Modelling of routes taken through the school grounds is a key part of the lighting design. The use of lighting to direct pupils into using the safest route to and from the school building, coupled with overhead lighting in areas used by cars ensures that pupils can be easily seen and avoided.
Schools are often unoccupied during evenings and school holidays, and this puts the buildings at risk of break ins and vandalism. The use of CCTV systems can function as a deterrent, but unless areas are well-lit with post top lighting, the cameras may be ineffective at providing evidence.
Organic Response can perform emergency testing during periods of rest such as school holidays to ensure no disruption to the school day and provide compliant, suitable precautions. Read more about the features of Organic Response.
Exterior lighting on buildings can be disruptive for local residents. When designing the lighting system for a school, there is a need to balance the safety and security of the buildings with the needs of the community. The use of proximity sensors on exterior lighting to only activate lighting as necessary reduces spill light for nearby residents and can be coupled with sensitive design choices and optical control that focuses light where needed to maintain security during the night.
Well designed exterior lighting for schools helps to improve pupil safety and building security. Our education lighting specialists can provide you with advice and support to help you plan the lighting system for your school.
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