BRIGHTER LIGHT FOR SAFER STORES

How proper lighting can create a safer work environment

for you, your employees and your customers

New York, N.Y. – (October 21, 2004) – Safety is a major concern for any business owner. Proper lighting can help create a safer business environment, a sense of security for your employees and customers and provide protection for your property. A professional lighting design, coupled with high quality lighting products, can be a valuable part of your security program. Below please find some tips and ideas for retail business owners and facility mangers to keep in mind when addressing their lighting scheme.

There are four key factors to keep in mind when designing a lighting plan for security and safety:

1. Illuminance

Illuminance is important because it allows for adequate detection and recognition, whether it’s merchandise in a store area, by gas at night or in a dark parking lot. Illuminance is measured in footcandles (fc) and can measure adequate lighting in facilities and outdoor properties. A professional lighting services company can insure that your lighting program adheres to all professional recommendations for proper illumination while still providing the energy savings and the aesthetically pleasing look that business owners’ value.

2. Uniformity

Dark corners and shadowy areas are invitations for safety hazards. A uniform lighting scheme can eliminate dark spots and give your space a comfortable look and feel. Uniform lighting designs allows people to see at a distance in all directions, which can make your employees and customers more comfortable with their surroundings. To date, there is little evidence that uniformity of lighting drastically influences crime. However, a well-lit space can decrease the fear of crime and increases one’s sense of safety and security.

3. Glare

Simply adding more light to an area does not always create a safer environment. When lighting designs are set up improperly they can result in contrasting light sources and create glare. The eye is naturally attracted to the brightest element in a person’s field of vision. Extraneous brightness can be visually distracting and lead to diminished perception. Disability glare can limit people’s ability to clearly see the various features in a particular environment, making it more difficult to avoid dangerous situations or seek refuge.

4. Light source color

Not all light bulbs are created equal. While long life and energy efficiency are both major traits to consider when choosing a light source, the color of a bulb can also vary widely from product to product. The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures how accurately a light source renders color. Yellowish light has a much lower CRI than bright white light. Light source color is an important safety concern because it can be a factor in providing accurate descriptions to police authorities in the event of a crime. Also, whiter light will make your products appear brighter, clearer and crisper to the discerning consumer. Professional lighting service companies can recommend a variety of lamps with high CRI values to fit your specific lighting needs.

Planning, instituting and maintaining your convenience store’s lighting design for maximum safety and reliability is not an easy task. Professional lighting service companies, like SYLVANIA LIGHTING SERVICES (SLS), a subsidiary of OSRAM SYLVANIA, can make lighting your business effortless and help you meet your safety goals. With extensive knowledge of lighting practices and access to the newest products and technologies, companies like SLS can help convenience store owners and managers maintain a safely lit business.

Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH. Together we are the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries. We manufacture and market a wide range of lighting products, including automotive, electronic and magnetic ballasts, and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers, sold primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, but also under the OSRAM brand. OSRAM SYLVANIA also offers lighting systems installation and maintenance services. For further information, please refer to our Web site at www.sylvania.com.