High Mast Floodlights
High Mast Lighting is lighting using a Tall Pole (or Column) with Lighting on top used to illuminate a large area. See Wikipedia for a traditional definition. The Photos show Projects illuminated with high Mast Floodlights:
- Industrial and Railway Storage areas,
- a Retail shopping centre and
- Harbour and Port areas.
In our experience, customers often talk about High Mast Poles from 15M upwards and it is often associated with a lowering/raising frame.
Area Lighting is an alternative to High Mast Lighting and examples are shown below.
Refit from 8 Lights to 4 Lights
Supervalu’s Retail Store in Waterford had its High Mast Lighting system upgraded after installing new VeeLite LED Floodlights. The old HPS Floodlights provided a yellowish coloured light but the new lighting provides a crisp white light colour. Due to the height of the Poles, standard Floodlights cannot usually be used efficiently for High Mast projects because the Light distribution pattern would be inadequate, the light would have dissipated before reaching ground level. VeeLite provide lighting calculations to determine the most suitable Floodlight version to use, advise what Light levels will be achieved and whether they will comply with Lighting standards.
The new Lighting system only required 4 Floodlights to replace the previous 8 Floodlights. As well as a significant Energy saving, there is also a maintenance saving with relamping no longer required. The other Poles have also been refitted with these new LED Floodlights.
Initially, a lower height scheme would usually have been more efficient, but issues with groundworks led to a High Mast scheme and less Foundation Bases to be installed.
Refit from 8 Lights to 4 Lights
Access to High Mast Lighting
- High Mast Lighting in the past often had a Headframe on top which could be lowered to access or replace the lighting. This Platform was often a ring shape which circled the Pole and could be winched down.
- A Hinged Pole is another option. In some cases, the Pole can be hinged from the Base using a specialised hydraulic machine. In other cases, usually shorter Poles, the Pole can be hinged in the middle and lowered manually. See example on our Product page.
- A Static Pole is also an option, with access when needed by a Cherrypicker. As LED technology had significantly reduced the need for lighting maintenance, this option has become more popular.
The High Mast Floodlights shown in a Rail Marshalling Yard (at Limerick Junction) and an Industrial storage yard were designed to minimise the number of columns. As a result, the Poles need to be significantly higher to provide a wider spread of lighting. Using High Mast Floodlighting in Harbour Areas allows the light to spread out over adjoining waters, without causing excessive glare or shadows. VeeLite Floodlights are designed to withstand corrosion in coastal areas and long-life LED technology minimises maintenance. Similar long-range Floodlights are used on Container Cranes.
Limerick Junction Railway Station – High Mast Floodlights
Belview Harbour – Crane Floodlights
Belview Harbour – Crane Floodlights
Dunmore East Harbour – High Mast Lights
High Mast Lighting at Dunmore East Harbour. This has 8 High Mast Towers with Robust marine-grade LED Floodlights which illuminate the U shaped Harbour and provide significant lighting over the water within and approaching the Harbour. Each High Mast typically contains 4 Floodlights.
Dunmore East Harbour – High Mast Lights
Dunmore East Harbour – High Mast Lights
High Mast Lighting Versus Area Lighting:
The alternative to High Mast Lighting is Area Lighting. This would involve a Lighting Pole at a typical height of 8M, 10M or 12M and would be usually be a more economic option, and less obtrusive, than a typical high Mast Project. The Pole is usually fixed but a hinged Pole is an option.
Many traditional High Mast lighting applications are designed today with an Area Lighting solution, using lower height Poles and a single High Efficiency LED Light, designed to spread the light widely. Each Pole has 1 Light per Pole instead of several Floodlights or Streetlights. The cost of the Poles and Lights is significantly reduced and the environmental impact of high Masts is also minimised.
Area Lighting is ideal for lower light levels (eg to 50 Lux), typically carparks, storage yards, etc.
When high light levels are required, such as for Sports Pitch Floodlights (eg 200 Lux), high masts Floodlights are usually required.
Alternative to High Mast Lights
Tesco – High Mast Lighting – 1 Light Replaced 4
