How Much Lighting Do You Need?

First things first... How can lighting help you? What 's your lighting goal? How much lighting do you need? What kind of lighting is there? What do you want to light up? Are there times when darkness is better? Can lighting be put in the wrong place? How can you mess up your lighting Avoiding vandalism problems Think like a criminal What are your lighting concerns?

How much lighting you need depends on the size and characteristics of the area you are trying to light up. A good way to determine this is to go to your business at night and think like a criminal. Where would you break in? Where would you hide to attack a passerby? Can others see the business? Now assess the lighting levels in these areas. If it is dark, it is hard for someone to fiddle with a latch or jimmy a door. Dim light provides enough light for criminals to see what they are doing, but not enough for others to observe and detect them. Bright light makes it easier for the criminal to break in, but allows for easy observation and detection by others. If you are able to read the sub-headlines of a newspaper, the light is bright enough. Proper lighting should provide visibility and allow surveillance without creating excessive glare or shadows.

Do you need more information on what levels of lighting are suitable for your business? Click HERE to send us an e-mail. If this e-mail function isn't working, you can contact Marcus Felson at felson@andromeda.rutgers.edu. Otherwise, you can write us at: Crime Prevention Service School of Criminal Justice Rutgers University 123 Washington St. Newark, NJ 07102-3094 Or call us at 973-353-5237 Or send a fax to 973-353-5896