Security Lighting
Security lighting should form part of an overall security regime. It need not be expensive to install, maintain or run and provides a real deterrent to intruders.
Given sufficient time a determined and resourceful intruder can defeat any physical security measures or alarm/detection system.
Effective security lighting can, however, substantially reduce the time available to a potential intruder by making them vulnerable to discovery whilst they attempt to gain access to your store – especially where they may be overlooked by a farmhouse.
Well thought-out lighting offers protection by:
- Deterring the intruder by creating a feeling of uncertainty
- Providing light to help detect or identify intruders
- Displacing intruders to areas which are less well illuminated
- Giving the impression that good security is practised
Basic lights can be purchased and fitted at little cost. Consideration should be given to:
- Cost effectiveness – different lights (such as halogen versus low pressure sodium) have varying initial and running costs. Some lights are more suitable for constant illumination whilst others are ideal for combining with passive infrared detectors.
- Reliability and maintenance requirements
- Statutory requirements regarding light nuisance
- CCTV systems (where fitted) will need sufficient light to be effective 24 hrs per day.
Lights can be activated by motion sensors or left switched on through the hours of darkness, although studies have shown that a lower level of continual light is more effective as a deterrent than sudden, bright lights.
A good compromise is to use high efficiency, low energy lighting controlled by a photo-electric cell (dusk to dawn switch). This type of light, sited out of reach (say 10ft above ground level) provides ample illumination, with few shadows and costs only a few pounds a year to run – despite it being left on throughout the night.
For more information about security lighting visit "Burglary: Home Security Lighting".
