Understanding Obtrusive Light
Our training is available as an online, flexible learning course.
We also schedule in-person courses. Enquire below.
Artificial light, whilst providing many benefits if not properly considered, designed and installed, can result in a range of issues, including but not limited to obtrusive light, sky glow, adverse effects on fauna and flora and potentially be a legal nuisance.
This course is aimed at anyone with an interest in the effects of artificial light by day or night. It discusses how to apply controls that can provide a successful lighting installation whilst mitigating the adverse effects of obtrusive light.
ILP guidance Note 01/21 (GN01) is seen as the ‘go-to’ advice for the control of unwanted, obtrusive, artificial lighting in the UK and in many other parts of the world.
GN01 is based on the International Standards produced by CIE, being a practical application of these documents.
Session 1 of the course describes obtrusive light and what guidance is available, it also examines legislation around obtrusive light and the issues of enforcement. It goes on to give an understanding and ways to manage light spill.
Session 2 starts with understanding and managing glare and sky glow, then looks at the issues concerning advertisements and media screens and suggests how current advice can be applied. The final part looks at ways of evidencing the design and how to make obtrusive light measurements.
An Essential Course For:
- Designers of lighting schemes
- Planning officers
- Environmental Heath officers with responsibility for enforcement
- Managers with responsibility for lighting design
- Policy makers
- Specifiers and lighting equipment manufacturers
This course is suitable for participants with all levels of experience and does not require any prior training.
What You Will Learn
- The hierarchy of International and other guidance on the control of obtrusive light.
- Describing and defining obtrusive light and the terms used.
- Understanding and managing spill light.
- Understanding and managing glare and upward light causing sky glow.
- Guidance for the design and management of lit advertisements and media screens.
- What to ask for in planning applications, evidencing lighting design and verification.
- The measurement of obtrusive light.
Tutor Profile
Tutor: Allan Howard
Current Position: Director (lighting & Energy Solutions) WSP
Professional Qualifications: CEng, FILP, FSLL
Academic Qualifications: BEng(Hons)
Experience
With over 40 years’ worth of experience in the application and understanding of light and lighting Allan provides a WSP group level role providing clients with technical advice and support regarding all aspects of lighting including the impact of artificial light within the environment as well as providing specialist training.
Through his involvement within a number of professional bodies including the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) and the International Commission of Illumination (CIE) Allan leads and contributes to research and investigations aimed at developing International and National light and lighting Standards and good practice. Through this Allan is well placed to be aware and understand current and forthcoming developments in the lighting and environmental sectors. This enables his understanding to be future ready and proactive in the development of lighting policies, specifications, operations and service delivery to meet these developments and changes.
Allan is a Fellow of the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), a Fellow of the Society of Light & Lighting and a past President of the ILP (2011/12). He is still an active lighting industry member chairing and contributing to specialist panels producing national guidance reports on lighting issues (obtrusive lighting, good lighting practice, application of standards to name a few), as well as being a representative on the ILP Technical Committee.
Allan is the Executive Secretary for the National Illumination Committee (CIE-UK) part of the International Commission of Illumination and Secretary to the UK Lighting Liaison Group.
Allan is a regular speaker at lighting conferences and contributes to lighting industry technical articles and the development of national / international good practice guidance such as the effects of lighting on fauna and flora. Lately Allan joined the CIE Technical Committee TC-58 ‘Obtrusive Light from Colourful and Dynamic Lighting and its Limitation’.