First things first… What is Catenary Lighting?

Simply put, catenary lighting is an alternative way of mounting luminaires. Instead of the more common column or wall mounted techniques, catenary systems commonly use stainless steel or galvanised cable mounted between two structures to suspend the luminaires. 

When an area isn’t suited to the installation of columns, masts or wall-mounted lighting options, catenary lighting is a great solution. We offer many innovative catenary lighting ranges featuring a wide range of optics and innovative reflector technology.

What are the Benefits of Catenary Lighting?

Catenary Lighting has many benefits including space optimisations, direct illumination and aesthetic appeal to name but a few.

As city and urban areas continue to grow in popularity, space is at a premium. Catenary lighting removes the need to for installing columns in the pavements, allowing more space for pedestrian traffic, EV charging stations and necessary street furniture.  

Suspended luminaires can reduce the amount of light pollution produced as the fixtures are installed flat-to-ground with very little upward light. The illumination is directed through the optical system, therefore decreasing the level of glare and obtrusive light. 

What to consider when designing your catenary lighting

All lighting schemes have to take a myriad of factors into consideration, but catenary lighting can be a minefield in the wrong hands. Selecting the luminaires is the easy bit… the hard part is the wealth of calculations, cabling considerations, load information and of course access for installation and maintenance.

Here are a few of our top tips for installing catenary lighting:

Load Testing Catenary Cable Anchors

The very first considerations need to be the anchor locations can withstand the overall load of the system. Once the structures have been signed off, the strength of the eye plate anchor must be tested to ensure they are stable and can withstand the weight of your luminaires, cable and accessories. The eyebolt must meet BS 788:2005 Code of Practice requirements for design, selection, installation, use, and maintenance of anchor devices that confirm to BS EN795. Always consult a structural engineer when planning your installation.

Calculating Cable Sag

A characteristic of cable and wire rope is ‘stretch’ and ‘elongation’. This happens at two points of installation; at the initial install as load is applied, and then later an elastic stretch occurs as the load increases.

Calculating the total stretch can be achieved by pre-stretching the cable with continual loading until the stretch has stabilised. Following this, you must take measurements of the total stretch incurred by the anticipated load. Ensure you double-check all results with a reliable structural engineer before proceeding.

Ongoing Catenary Lighting Maintenance

Conduct a visual check on the anchors on an annual basis, looking for signs of corrosion and degradation. Every five years, re-apply the load test to ensure the security of the fixing points.

All our catenary luminaires are made from high quality materials and are very corrosion resistant expanding their longevity within any scheme.

Catenary Lighting Installation

With over 30 years’ industry experience, our offerings don’t end with luminaires, we also offer design, installation, and maintenance services too for a wide range of applications! This ensures we can be by your side every step of the way.

Contact our team today to find out what we can do for you!

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