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The amount of lumens needed for an outdoor security light is 1000 lumens minimum, but it will depend on how many light fixtures you can install and the size of your land.
The amount of lumens needed for outdoor security lighting is to use at least 800-1000 lumens for every 10 feet of illuminated space. However, it depends on the size of the area that needs to be lit and the desired level of brightness.
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If you want brighter illumination in more dangerous or darker areas, you may need to invest in higher lumens levels of 2000 lumens upwards.
Lets look at the types of light you can use and the lumens they offer to build up enough security lighting around your property.
Lumens (denoted by lm) are a unit of measurement used to measure the amount of visible light that is emitted from a light source. They can be thought of as the “brightness” of a bulb or light fixture and are typically measured in lumens per watt (lm/W). Higher lumen ratings mean brighter bulbs and light fixtures.
When considering the amount of lumens for outdoor security lighting, it’s important to look at how much light is needed per square meter. As a general rule of thumb, you should use 300-500 lumens/sqm for small areas and up to 800-1000 lumens/sqm or more when lighting larger spaces with obtrusive light.
For readers in the UK, the new code for lighting outdoor spaces can be found from the Society of Light and Lighting SLL Code for Lighting publication 2022.
An outdoor security light needs 500-1800 lumens at least to be effective, with security lighting being built up in multiples to cover all access areas.
To determine how many lumens are needed for an effective outdoor security light, you should consider several factors, including the size of the area you want to illuminate, the level of ambient light in the area, and the intended use of the light.
For a small area, such as a doorway or a small patio, you may only need a light with 200-400 lumens.
For a larger area, such as a driveway or a backyard, you may need a light with 600-1,000 lumens or more.
It’s also important to consider the ambient light level in the area. If the area is already well-lit by streetlights or other sources, you may be able to get away with a lower lumen count from the light itself.
However, if the area is poorly lit, you may need a higher lumen count to effectively illuminate the space as it will be the primary source of light.
Security and floodlights must always be angled downward in order to prevent bothering your neighbors. Make sure that you avoid directing light into their yards or windows, so it is important to pay attention when installing these lights.
You should also consider motion sensors as they can help save energy and money by only activating when movement is detected in the area.
Your driveway is an essential element of both safety and security, which means the lighting should be adequate but not too bright to create a powerful overlighting and glare.
To reduce light pollution, adjustability is key: utilize a decorative lower lumen light at night (300-700 lumens). This will provide sufficient illumination while still preserving your local environment’s biodiversity.
Our 225 sq. ft driveway is lit sympathetically to create good light and dark contrasts, yet is bright enough to see where to walk and drive and be illuminated bright enough to see the face of someone approaching the house.
This level of security light is at the lower end of the scale, created from 4 adjustable LED spotlights each delivering 500 lumens each, that are angled into planting and across the gravel drive.
An idea worth considering is when you are not using floodlighting, motion sensors can introduce supporting security lights to create a wider flood of light only when necessary. This allows security lumen levels to be boosted to the recommended 300-500 lm/sqm without overlighting and loosing an otherwise welcoming lighting scheme rather than looking like a security compound!
Security lighting is not recommended for paths and walkways because the bright lights can be an annoyance to passersby, though a softer light with lower lumens is a good design approach as it retains a safe level of brightness and retains a welcoming level of light.
Any path that is lit well can deter a prowler as the reflected light from the ground will reveal the intruder.
A pathway should be lit at levels between 100-300 lumens/sqm, enough to provide illumination without creating excessive glare. If you have a longer pathway or a larger space to light, you can increase the lumens/sqm as necessary.
When lighting pathways, motion sensor lights are a great option that allow you to conserve energy and illuminate the area only when necessary. This will also create an added layer of security by alerting you to any movement in the area.
A backyard flood light must be bright enough to provide adequate illumination, but not so bright that it is too intense and uncomfortable for you and not pointing at neighbouring properties creating light pollution.
For a backyard flood light, the recommended lumens range is between 1,000-10,000 lm depending on the size of the area being lit. For larger areas, such as a large patio or an outdoor entertaining area, you may need to use the higher lumen count.
Typical 4000K LED floodlights for backyards range as:
It is important to consider the amount of lumens needed when deciding on the type of lighting for your property. It’s key to remember that security lighting should be angled downward and away from neighbours, while pathways, driveways and backyards should use lower lumen levels in order to ensure safety without creating excessive glare.
We also look at other recommended lumen levels for outdoor lights
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