ICE Chips

Q.  Many food defense audits include a question asking if adequate exterior lighting is present. How do we know what is enough, and how do we maintain this security lighting?

Al St. Cyr: Let’s go to Lance Reeve, AIB’s security expert, for this question to ensure the latest information is provided.

Lance Reeve: Thanks Al.

A. Lighting is an important element in your physical security program. Appropriate lighting helps to deter and detect possible criminal activity. The amount of lighting should ultimately be determined by the facility; however, there are some basic recommendations about the amount of lighting within the security world. For example, one to two footcandles is generally recommended for areas with no pedestrian activity, two to five footcandles in areas with limited pedestrian or vehicle traffic, and five- to ten-footcandles for areas with high traffic or where CCTV is used.

The amount of lighting should be determined based on the conditions of the facility. What is the threat environment? What are you trying to protect? Are there security cameras that will depend on appropriate lighting from dusk to dawn? Are there vehicle and pedestrian areas that are of concern? The list of variables should be evaluated and a standard for these areas determined by the facility and listed as the amount of footcandles or lumens in that area.

Once these standards are set, the appropriate amount of lighting should be provided. The types of lights will also depend on factors such as the use of CCTV and types of cameras, location relative to facility entrances, concern for lighting pollution with neighbors, attractiveness to insects, etc. Careful consideration should be given to the types of lights and where they are positioned in order to not create other facility concerns, such as insect attraction or glare that may hinder the effectiveness of CCTV cameras.

The facility security team should measure the level of lighting on a periodic basis with the use of a light meter, and document the results. If the set standards are not being met, lights should be repaired or replaced. It is helpful to number the light locations on a schematic to assist with maintenance and cleaning. The light fixtures should also be cleaned on a periodic basis to ensure that dust or dead insects in the fixtures do not decrease the level of lighting provided.

The method of operation also will need to be considered. In areas where the lights should operate from dusk to dawn, photoelectric sensors are the most appropriate. This eliminates the concern for switches being turned on or off or for timers being adjusted to the length of day and daylight savings settings. In areas where only occasional lighting is necessary, the use of motion-activated lights or switches could be considered when facility personnel will be occupying an area.

The level of lighting should be determined by the facility based on local conditions and requirements to support the security environment. Once these levels have been established, a program should be established to ensure these lights and levels of illumination are maintained.