Exterior lighting shall be designed and maintained in accordance with the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting (IES RP-43):

1. “Useful – All lighting should have a clear purpose.

2. Targeted – Light should be directed only where it is needed.

3. Low Light Levels – Light should be no brighter than necessary.

4. Controlled – Lighting should only be used when it is useful.

5. Color – Warmer color lighting should be used when possible.”

Exterior lighting is important to promote visual tasks, visibility, reassurance, and safety of people in outdoor environments at night. Of particular importance is reassurance of pedestrians on campus, and pedestrian visibility to drivers in areas of pedestrian-vehicular conflict such as streets, crosswalks, midblock crosswalks, and parking lots.

Illumination Levels:  Refer to the Pennsylvania State University Lighting Design & Commissioning Matrix and the latest published IES Recommended Practice, such as the latest versions of IES  RP-8 and RP-43. Many areas of Penn State campuses may be considered, for the purposes of establishing illumination levels, as lighting zone “LZ-2”, with some areas LZ-3 and LZ-1.  Confirm illumination level requirements with OPP Engineering Services Electrical Group and refer to IES RP-43.

Maximum Uplight Rating: per IES RP-43 Table A-3.

Correlated Color Temperature:

Exterior lighting shall be 3000K.  This includes street, roadway, parking lot, pedestrian path, and building-mounted lighting, but not sports lighting. Though 4000K luminaires exist in many places across the University campuses, the University recognizes that 3000K aligns better with the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.  Projects of any scale should typically be 3000K but the occasional lamp maintenance work order may replace a lamp with 4000K if it is adjacent to existing-to-remain 4000K site lighting. 

Street and Open Parking Area Lighting

Light Source:  Minimum 70 CRI with preferred 80 CRI.

Luminaire:  Luminaire shall utilize a cut-off optical assembly, LED source, and IES distribution as required to maintain recommended lighting and uniformity levels.  Luminaires shall be rectangular in shape and conform to a “shoebox” design.  Integral driver shall be 0-10V dimming, multi-voltage or as directed by Engineering Services Electrical Group.  Luminaires shall be basis of design Lithonia D-Series Size 0 LED series, with FAO (field-adjustable output device), finished black with connection to square pole, or approved equal by Current or Signify (with similar optical performance options).  Any exception to this luminaire must be approved by Engineering Services Electrical Group prior to the final design submission. Provide matching manufacturer/series type where that type exists on adjacent site or as part of a phased project.

Pole:  Poles shall be 25 ft, 5” square, non-tapered fiberglass with handhole at base, finished black.  Professional shall coordinate final height of poles with local ordinance stipulations and other University requirements.  Basis of design for pole is Shakespeare, series AR (heavy duty with metal sleeve inside pole base).  Allow equal by CMT or as approved by PSU Engineering Services Electrical Group.  Use of poles lower than 25 ft is discouraged and must be approved by Engineering Services Electrical Group. Ensure poles are capable of supporting wind load of typical university banners.

For aesthetic reasons, and with project-specific review and approval by Engineering Services Electrical Group, a 4″ square pole may be considered for the Lithonia D-Series Size 0 or other luminaires of similar size.  Pole manufacturer must approve in writing that the smaller pole meets appropriate wind loading for the application.  Use caution in applying this pole size to a competitive bid as many shoebox luminaires would be inappropriate on a 4″ pole (both in size and wind loading).

Concrete Base:   24-inch diameter concrete bases shall utilize rebar reinforcement and embedded anchor bolts, and shall be designed to support the pole and luminaire assembly utilizing local wind load parameters and assembly effective projected area (EPA).  Bases shall protrude above grade 6” with a top beveled edge.  Bases shall protrude 36” above grade where damage from vehicles is possible as discussed with Engineering Services Electrical Group and Campus Planning, Design and Properties.  Above grade concrete shall be finished smooth.

Refer to Guideline Details list at the end of this section for PSU installation requirements.

Walkway Lighting

In 2025, PSU changed the standard walkway post top to the Lithonia Radean series instead of the Louis Poulsen KIPP because the Lithonia Radean better aligns with the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.  Any exception to the Lithonia Radean luminaire must be approved by the University Architect and Engineering Services Electrical Group prior to the final design submission. Projects of any scale should typically use the Lithonia Radean but the occasional minor site alteration may require relocating existing KIPPs or adding several KIPPs.    

Lithonia Radean Post Top:

Luminaire: Lithonia RADPT-LED-[P1 unless higher lumen package is necessary]-30K-[distribution]-MVOLT-RADPT20-[FAO unless otherwise discussed]-[HS as needed near residential]-DBLXD.

Pole: 12-foot, black pole. Lithonia RSA-12-4-5G-T20-FBC-DBLXD.

Louis Poulsen KIPP Post:

Light Source:  Light source for walkway lighting shall be 7,000 nominal lumen LED with a minimum color rendering index (CRI) of 82 unless directed by Engineering Services Electrical Group.

Driver:  Luminaire shall include the electronic dimmable driver dual-rated at 120V and 277V.

Luminaire:  Luminaire shall be conical shaped, low profile, incorporating a pressure die-cast UV and weather resistant black top shade, vandal resistant high impact UV stabilized clear injection molded polycarbonate enclosure and a three-arm support.  Source shall be concealed by use of a Conical white opal acrylic diffuser that creates a symmetrical round type V distribution.

Model:  Louis Poulsen KIPP Post. 

Pole: Pole shall be 4.5 inch diameter, round, straight aluminum pole with handhole at base, split cast aluminum base cover and shoe base. Pole shall be 12 ft in height and finished black. Pole shall be Louis Poulsen model RSA-4.5-12-Black.

Other requirements:

Concrete Base: 18-inch diameter concrete bases shall utilize rebar reinforcement and embedded anchor bolts and shall be designed to support the pole and luminaire assembly utilizing local wind load parameters assembly effective projected area (EPA), with additional base depth for steep-grade applications likely to experience erosion. Bases shall protrude above grade 6” with a top beveled edge. Above grade concrete shall be finished smooth.

Where sidewalks are adjacent to streets, the street light source shall be deemed acceptable where the minimum lighting levels are satisfied.  Otherwise, the professional shall review alternatives with Engineering Services Electrical Group.

Contact Engineering Services Electrical Group for typical CADD details.

Façade Lighting – Do not light the building façade unless otherwise approved by Engineering Services Electrical Group and Campus Planning, Design and Properties

Bollards, in-grade luminaires, and those mounted recessed within walls/stairs are generally not acceptable. Where approved, bollard and on-grade landscape/flood lights should typically be mounted on a concrete base that extends below the frost line, each with a nearby handhole.

Commonwealth Campuses may have campus-specific luminaire aesthetic requirements and should be discussed with the University Architect.

Site Lighting Circuitry (including Walkway, Roadway, and Parking)

All underground circuitry shall be installed in 1-1/4” PVC schedule 40 conduit with burial depths in accordance with the latest edition of the NEC.

Utilize multiple phases of power for circuit (minimum of three (3)), luminaires shall be connected to alternate phases (to neutral) throughout run to avoid the loss of a single phase shutting off all lights.  When the electrical service includes ground-fault protection, utilize an interposing transformer to avoid an over-trip of a ground-fault to the upstream breaker(s), possibly including the service entrance.

A direct buried handhole shall be installed adjacent to the base of each concrete pole base.  Handholes installed within grass areas shall be similar to Penncell model PE-9.  Handholes installed in concrete shall be similar to Quazite model PG, minimum 12” x 12” square OR 9” diameter round, with open bases.  Provide heavy-duty covers where subject to vehicular activity.

Provide in-line waterproof fuseholders with appropriate fuse for each luminaire, installed in handhole serving the pole.  Fuse holders shall be similar to Bussman HE Style.

Provide 5/8” x 8’ copper clad ground rod for each pole, installed inside direct buried handhole.  Rod shall be connected / bonded to equipment ground and pole grounding lug, where applicable.

All wiring connections made at or below grade shall be waterproof with UL listed waterproof connectors.

Run separate circuit(s) to each type of site lighting (roadway, parking, and walkway).  Refer to “Lighting Control Devices” in Section 26 09 00.

Contact Engineering Services Electrical Group for typical CADD details.

Site lighting naming convention

Physically label each pole-mounted luminaire according to PSU Site Lighting Naming Convention chart.

Site Lighting Controls

Control Site and Night lights with a contactor setup.  Provide upstream current limiting devices as needed based on contactor withstand rating, available system fault current, and contactor manufacturer recommendations. Review final design approach with Engineering Services Electrical Group.   Contactor setup shall be fail-safe using an electrically-held, normally-closed setup that turns lights ON in case of any component failure. Refer to Section 26 09 00 Instrumentation and Control for Electrical Systems.

Building-mount Lighting

Provide sufficient normal/emergency egress illuminance per the International Building Code along the means of egress.  Provide wall-mounted and undercanopy-mounted luminaires with: minimum 70 CRI (80 at main building entrances), lumen maintenance of minimum 60,000 hours at L90, IP66 rating. Wall-mounted luminaires shall have BUG uplight rating = 0, unless otherwise permitted by IES RP-43.  Confirm luminaire type and finish with project architect and the University Architect. The luminaire basis of design should be similar in quality as EATON Invue Entri ENC.

Calculations

The professional shall submit PDF of computer-generated point-by-point calculations to Engineering Services Electrical Group for review.  Point levels shall be legible and plan to scale.  All pertinent calculation parameters shall be indicated and highlighted where non-compliant.  Engineering Services Electrical Group will provide direction and variance where deemed appropriate. Provide vertical footcandles at intersections, in crosswalks, midblock crossings, and areas where there is likely significant pedestrian-vehicular interaction, at 5’-0” above grade and aimed in both directions of oncoming traffic. Provide statistical summaries logically arranged by area and application type. Indicate Luminaire Type and Mounting Height on plan at each location. Provide illuminance information overlaid on CAD background (aerial images are not permitted unless approved by Engineering Services Electrical Group).

LED Retrofit

The replacement of HID lamps with LED lamps is generally not acceptable in site lighting applications. The desired approach is the replacement of HID luminaires with purpose-built LED luminaires.  However, LED lamps may replace HID lamps on a case-by-case basis if demonstrated to be suitable for the luminaire type and produce adequate illuminance levels on the intended target surface. Discuss ballast bypass, environmental/thermal factors, and CCT-selectable and lumen output-selectable LED lamps, with 3000K desired and lumen output set to not overlight the target. Submit photometric calculations or survey results for review by Engineering Services Electrical Group.

Warranty

Provide luminaires with minimum 5-year warranty.