IES Publishes Research Report on Roadway LED Luminaire Dirt Depreciation

Illuminating Engineering Society

LED luminaires present new challenges for those maintaining outdoor- and roadway-lighting systems. In other luminaire types, maintenance crews often clean the luminaires when they do a bulk or single relamp (Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (2012)), so the lamp life drives the cleaning schedule. However, LED-based luminaires are being marketed as lasting longer and requiring less maintenance than other luminaire types. As a result, they will be exposed longer to environmental dirt and other contaminants that can adhere to the luminaire and reduce the amount of light that reaches the road. This creates a different maintenance paradigm for LED luminaires, and their potential for dirt depreciation should be carefully investigated. The effect of dirt on luminaire output has long been studied, but past research was conducted on older designs that did not use LEDs. Complicating the problem is that LED luminaires are manufactured in a variety of ways, with different sources, lenses, and ingress protection.

This project sought to quantify luminaire dirt depreciation (LDD) in a number of different types of LED luminaires. This final report discusses project objectives, approach, and methods, presents research results, discusses the results in the context of today’s changing roadway lighting environment, and makes recommendations to stakeholders in roadway lighting regarding LDD for LED luminaires.

Download the report here: http://media.ies.org/docs/research/IES-RES-1-16.pdf

Related Articles

Changing Scene

Design

  • Liteline: Splitsville in Hamilton, Ontario – Lighting Project Highlight

    Liteline: Splitsville in Hamilton, Ontario – Lighting Project Highlight

    At Splitsville in Hamilton, Ontario, PEGA is suspended across all 34 lanes, creating a cohesive lighting design throughout the space. Each fixture is paired with OnCloud, enabling independent control and wireless connectivity. OnCloud is a natural fit for this bowling alley. From daily operations to league nights, special events, and private parties, lighting scenes and… Read More…

  • CDm2 LIGHTWORKS: The Real Work of Value Engineering – A Collaborative Approach

    CDm2 LIGHTWORKS: The Real Work of Value Engineering – A Collaborative Approach

    It’s a situation most lighting designers have experienced: a project you spent months designing comes back with a request to review and accept a value engineering package. You’ve seen it time and time again, a package of substitutions with a carrot of cost savings and a deadline. There’s no true value engineering offered, only substitution… Read More…

New Products

  • Emerson: Appleton Explosionproof Rigmaster LED Series Luminaires

    Emerson: Appleton Explosionproof Rigmaster LED Series Luminaires

    Appleton Explosionproof Rigmaster LED Series Luminaires are a high-performance linear lighting solution in a rugged, corrosion-resistant housing, that can be ordered as a standard model or with emergency battery backup to fit all your hazardous location requirements. Providing comfortable, uniform illumination in a lightweight, low-profile design, the diverse mounting bracket options ensure this luminaire is… Read More…

  • Leviton | Viscor: Certolux – MBHSL LED Wall Mounted Behavioural Health Step Light

    Leviton | Viscor: Certolux – MBHSL LED Wall Mounted Behavioural Health Step Light

    The MBHSL Step Light is a durable, low-profile step light engineered to deliver safe, controlled illumination in demanding healthcare environments. Designed specifically for behavioral health and medical applications, it provides subtle wayfinding light that supports patient and staff movement without disrupting rest or comfort. Installed easily into a standard single-gang outlet box, the MBHSL Step Light integrates… Read More…