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Guidelines Choice Obstacle Lights

Guidines Product Choice

The recommendations of this guide shall support you with your projects in the field of obstacle lighting. Depending on the desired application, further regulations may be applicable. DeWiTec will support you with your tasks. 

 

I Identification of Required Light Type

II Selection of According Light Model

III Compliant Alignment

IV Professional Installation

 

Obstacle lighting systems mark dangers for aviation. Especially under bad weather conditions, pilots have to rely on their correct function.

Marking and lighting of aviation obstacles is based on several regulations and requirements. Set of regulations of the international aviation organizations may be applied in addition to regulations published by the local authorities.

 

Obstacles to be lighted

  • Inside cities / urban areas above heights of 150 m above ground
  • Outside cities / urban areas above heights of 100 m above ground
  • For protection of low flying aircraft (working, military or rescue flights and near airports / airfields) lighting may be required also in lower heights.

 

 

 

I Identification of Required Light Type

Advice for installers: Often the required light typ is already mentioned in the tender or order documents.

Table 1: Identification of required light type
 Type of Light Color Signal Type
(flashrate)
Peak Intensity

Heightof

Obstacle

Day Twilight Night
Low-Intensity
Typ A
Red Steady N/A > 10 cd < 45 m
Low-Intensity
Typ B
> 32 cd
Medium-Intensity
Typ A
White 20 - 60 flashes per minute 20 000 cd ± 25% 2 000 cd
± 25%          
45 - 150 m
Medium-Intensity
Typ B
Red N/A
Medium-Intensity
Typ C
Steady
High-intensity
Typ A
Weiß 20 - 60 flashes per minute 200 000 cd ± 25%  20 000 cd ± 25% 2 000 cd
± 25%
> 150 m
High-Intensity
Typ B
100 000 cd
± 25%

 

  • The height of an obstacle as well as the operating time (day / twilight / night) are both determining facts for the choice of the correct type of obstacle light.
  • Further factors may be location, environmental factors, air traffic and other light sources installed in the vicinity. 
  • Resulting from the operating hours, the use of an automatic brightness control can be required.
  • Increased failure safety can be achieved by the utilization of a double obstruction light with automatic switchover.
  • Medium intensity lights type B shall be used for night lighting if obstacle clearance is affected strongly. For obstacles taller than 100 m above ground level always, if the unlit part may not be lit for technical reasons and is taller than 15 m. They may be used for daylight marking instead of color for the benefit of reduced maintenance work.
  • For installations that are hardly accessible, the utilization of double obstruction lights with automatic switchover may be reasonable. The installation of a Controlled and Monitored System is recommended if response signals about the operating status are required from the system.
  • Lights with an high expected lifespan (for example LED) a backup lamp is not required if the operating data is monitored and saved and the lamp is changed after the point with 5% of failure probability.
  • High-Intensity obstacle lighting systems shall be monitored automatically or checked visually once every 24 hours.
  • Replacement power supplies should be installed where needed. Here, uninterruptible power supply systems should be installed to guarantee a downtime of less than two minutes.

 

II Selection of According Light Model

 

  • DeWiTec offers various models of obstacle lights and options to cover all applications in low-, medium- and high intensity. All units are easy to deploay and require only low maintenance.

 

 

Table 2: Selection of according light model
Type of Light Application

According Light Model

Low-Intensity
Type A

Single or multiple use, if only night lighting is required.

Low-Intensity
Typ B

Night use in environments, where the noticeability of typ A is affected.

Medium-Intensity
Typ A

Use at day, night and day with brightness control.

Medium-Intensity
Typ B

Use at night in combination with low- or high-intensity lights as dual system.

Medium-Intensity
Typ C

Use at night, if environmental factors prevent the use of installation of white or flashing signals (for example urban regions).

High-Intensity
Typ A
Use at day, night and day with brightness control.
High-Intensity
Typ B

 

 

 

III Compliant Alignment

 

  • Obstruction lighting systems have to be visible from all directions.
  • Obstruction lights shall be installed at the highest point possible.Hindernisbefeuerung komplexer Objekte
  • Obstacle lights at extensive and closely spaced objects or groups of objects shall be arranged that the outlines and edges are recognizable. Display of straight lines and edges is helpful. Synchronisation of flashing lights via GPS-moduls may be supporting for good visibility.

 

GPS Synchronisierung Hindernisbefeuerung

 

  • The height of objects determines the amount of levels to be lit. The spacing between two levels should not exceed 45 m: Amount of levels N = Height of Object / Maximum space of Level X
  • If the obstacle light may not be installed at the highest point for technical reasons, the unlit part may not be higher than 15 m.
  • At chimneys, lights may be installed from 1.5 m to 3 m to the top to avoid disturbance by smoke. The obstacle lighting still has to be visible from all directions.

Niederleistungs-Hindernisbefeuerung Typische Anwendungen

  • For groups of buildings or trees medium-intensity lights shall be used.Mittelleistungs-Hindernisbefeuerung Typische Anwendungen
  • The quantity of high-intensity obstacle lights per level depends on the diameter of the objects to be lit. Thus, visibility from all directions is provided. The following table provides guidelines:

 

 

Table 3: Quantity lights per level
  Quantity
6 m or less 3
6 m to 30 m 4
30 m to 60 m 6
more than 60 m 8

 

 

 

IV Professional Installation

 

  • The technically correct installation and the electrical connection should only be made by staff with education and experience in the field of electrical engineering.

  • Depending on the height of the objects that need lighting, an education for work in great heights may be required as well as personal protective equipment and fall protection devices.

 

The skilled and experienced technicians of DeWiTec are pleased to support you with the proper installation.