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The Do’s and Don’ts of Uplighting

Uplighting is one of the most popular lighting choices, so why does it go so wrong? There are many factors to consider including installation, maintenance, IP ratings and so on. Here are our recommendations on the do’s and don’ts of uplighting.

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Why Does Uplighting Have a Bad Reputation?

Uplighting is an effective way of creating a welcoming atmosphere, illuminating walkways, and improving visibility in public realm areas. Over the years, it has developed a reputation due to poor quality components and improper installation methods which lead to quick failure of the fittings.

We can help you avoid these common mistakes and make sure you get the most from your uplights by following our top tips…

Reducing Water Ingress

Placing fittings below ground level can cause water ingress over time, and this can cause detrimental effects on the fitting. As water pools into the sunken fitting over time, moisture slowly seeps into the fitting itself and causes corrosion. This prevents lights from working correctly, or even at all.

DON’T: Install your light fitting below ground level or in areas with poor drainage.

DO: Ensure your fitting is level with the ground’s surface and has suitable drainage below it.

Stop Water Affecting your Wiring

Water isn’t just a problem with the fitting, the wiring and junction box can be affected by moisture too. A capillary effect can be found in cables, where moisture seeps along the wiring to cause extensive damage.

DON’T: Use standard wiring without water ingress protection.

DO: Invest in a minimum grade of H05RN cabling combined with IP68-rated junction boxes between each fitting.

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Understanding Product Specifications

Investing in low-quality lighting will result in many issues with your project such as poor illumination, failing fittings and a ruined aesthetic. Remember, cost saving is one thing but cheap fitting will end up costing you!

It is important to use reputable brands when lighting your projects. We have a team of Project Engineers to guide you through the best choices for your schemes. They’re able to assess your site and create efficient designs tailored to your projects requirements.

All luminaires must have an IP67 or IP68 rating without either they should not be used for uplighting. A fitting rated with IP67 has been tested with a water jet to determine the level of water ingress at pressure. An IP68-rated component has been tested via submersion. These ensure your fittings are performing to the best of their ability and have the right protection.

DON’T: Compromise quality to save money, as it will cost more to replace faulty/damaged fittings over time.

DO: Research the IP rating, as well as standard safety ratings, to make sure the luminaires you are fitting will withstand heavy rain and flooding over time. You can find out the IP ratings of all our fittings on our website.

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Location, Location, Location

When choosing the placement of your uplights, you must make sure that it will withstand the pressure of whatever passes over it that being a person or a car. An example would be uplights placed in a flower bed, which endure far less stress than uplights in high-traffic areas such as walkways or car parks.

DON’T: Forget to consider the typical stress your fitting will need to withstand over time.

DO: Use products specifically tested and proven to manage heavy loads when placing an uplight in high-traffic public areas. A good example is the Inground 180, with a screen made of 10mm thermal-shock resistant tempered glass that can withstand up to a 5000kg static load.

Maintenance Access is Key

Prolonging the lifetime your luminaires will come with not only correct installation but regular maintenance. Poor installation of recessed lighting can result in the early with degradation of luminaires so go with a reputable contractor who has plenty of knowledge installing uplights. We recommend you keep fittings clean, have annual body checks, and perform regular electrical tests.

All schemes have different requirements so do not hesitate to ask our team who will be more than happy to recommend a maintenance plan for you.

DON’T: Fit uplights without future access options for general maintenance.

DO: Invest in our LED luminaires which are considerably low to maintain as opposed to lamped products, saving you money on not only maintenance costs but also running costs.

Uplighting Quality Matters

As you can see, there are many different elements needed to ensure you get uplighting that stands the test of time. Here’s a quick summary of how to get the most from your lighting:

  • Invest in high-quality lighting and don’t compromise quality to save money – it will cost you more in the long run!
  • Make sure your luminaires have the correct IP ratings and can withstand any weight that may be passing over them.
  • Ensure your uplights are installed by a reputable contractor with experience. Installation is a huge factor to getting the most from your lighting.
  • Have a maintenance plan in place to prolong the lifespan of your recessed fittings.

Providing high-quality products for over 30 years, we have many solutions for you including our Inground, Linea-In, Ray and Stone fittings to name but a few. Our team are more than happy to assist with your enquiries so, contact sales@kingfisherlighting.com or call 01623 415900 to find out what we can do for you.

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