mercredi 10 janvier 2018

High Intensity Tower Lighting Ensures Safety

By Barbara Nelson


Proper illumination is valuable in many situations. A very important type is high intensity tower lighting. Many of these uses provide specific safety markings for aviation uses, but can also be used by ground services to provide better illumination for mobile emergency and cleanup services. In many cases there are federal regulations that provide detailed requirements for the strength and type used on taller structures.

Since taller buildings and towers can be seen easily from the ground it is easy to forget how difficult they are to see from the air. Since the typical flight path does not include road markings, the aircraft depend on lights to distinguish heights from landscapes and backgrounds. Without the lighting they can easily blend into the surroundings. It is important to be able to see them in all types of weather to mitigate dangerous situations.

Tall buildings and towers are a constant danger to passing aircraft. The United States FCC regulates the placement of tall radio towers and works with Congress and the FAA to update requirements needed to ensure the safety of aircraft regardless of the type of weather they are experiencing.

The limitations of viewing based on day or night time require different colors and intensity. The requirements for day light include both constant and strobe lights. They're usually white. Red lights work well at night. The differences between rural and urban circumstances also is taken into consideration. With heavily populated areas, regulations consider citizen complaints about strobe light effects. White lights also blend into the background of city lights, making it hard for flight crews to see them.

Structure height and placements are a factor in determining the type of the light. Federal requirements determine whether bright, mid level, and lower brightness systems are used. There are also different circumstances that require lights that are on constantly instead of the strobe version. The Federal Aviation Administration puts is part of the process for building permits for the taller structures.

For tall structures there are many types of systems available. Obstruction lights are constantly illuminated. Red beacons or strobes are often used at night. High-intensity white strobes are used on structures taller than 700 feet. Medium-intensity white strobes are for structures between 200 and 500 feet tall.

The lights are often also used for nighttime road work and emergency operations. Road crews in urban areas are often required to work overnight in order to reduce their impact on daytime traffic patterns. This can be extremely hazardous and the need to create near daytime brightness is important. Emergency crews responding to accidents or working in the dark to put out a fire need to see in order to safely do their job. Many firetrucks have been equipped with rotating systems in order to focus the lights where they are needed.

The safety of aircraft, emergency personnel, and road crews is necessary in both good and bad weather. With the right type of public lighting, safety can be ensured. Following government regulations for the construction of taller structures makes sure the building does not interfere with passing airplanes. Emergency staff and nighttime road crews are able to benefit from the systems and are no longer left in the dark and are less likely to put their lives at risk.




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