Street & Area Lighting

Course Description

ETP1135C — Street & Area Lighting is a 2-credit, combined lecture and laboratory course within the Energy Power Technology program (Engineering Technologies taxonomy). The course provides students with the knowledge and hands-on skills required to select, install, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain outdoor street and area lighting systems used in municipal, utility, commercial, and industrial applications. Students study luminaire types, photometric principles, pole and fixture hardware, wiring methods, control systems, and applicable sections of the National Electrical Code (NEC) governing outdoor and roadway lighting installations. Laboratory activities reinforce classroom theory through practical installation and troubleshooting exercises.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the major types of luminaires used in street and area lighting, including High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH), Mercury Vapor, and LED light sources.
• Apply relevant articles of the National Electrical Code (NEC) — including Articles 225, 230, 250, and 410 — to outdoor and roadway lighting installations.
• Explain photometric concepts such as lumens, footcandles, illuminance, and light distribution patterns as they apply to street and area lighting design.
• Identify the components of a complete street lighting system, including poles, mast arms, luminaire housings, ballasts, drivers, refractors, and mounting hardware.
• Describe safe work practices and OSHA regulations applicable to outdoor lighting installation, including traffic control (flagging), aerial lift operation, and pole-climbing safety.
• Interpret utility and site lighting drawings, specifications, and as-built documents relevant to street and area lighting systems.
• Demonstrate proper wiring methods for outdoor lighting circuits, including grounding and bonding per NEC Article 250 and wet-location conductor requirements.
• Troubleshoot common faults in street and area lighting systems, including lamp failures, ballast or driver malfunctions, and control circuit issues.

Optional Outcomes

Where time and resources permit, students may also be able to:

• Perform basic photometric calculations to determine pole spacing, mounting height, and illuminance levels for a proposed lighting layout.
• Describe the operation and programming of smart lighting controls, including dimming systems, networked lighting management, and photocell/astronomical clock controllers.
• Explain light pollution and environmental considerations, including full-cutoff fixture requirements and Dark Sky compliance guidelines.
• Compare life-cycle costs and energy efficiency of legacy lamp technologies versus modern LED area lighting systems.
• Identify relevant Florida-specific utility standards and municipal specifications for street lighting systems (e.g., Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida standards).

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Outdoor Lighting Fundamentals
   • Principles of light: lumens, candela, footcandles, illuminance, and efficacy
   • Light distribution classifications (Type I–V and full cutoff)
   • Comparison of light source technologies: HPS, MH, Mercury Vapor, and LED
2. Luminaire and System Components
   • Luminaire housing types, refractors, and optics
   • Ballasts (magnetic and electronic) and LED drivers
   • Poles, mast arms, anchor bolts, and base covers
   • Photocells, timeclocks, and astronomical control devices
3. NEC Code Requirements for Outdoor Lighting
   • NEC Article 225: Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders
   • NEC Article 410: Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lamps (outdoor and wet-location requirements)
   • NEC Article 250: Grounding and bonding of lighting poles and metallic equipment
   • NEC Article 230: Service entrance requirements at lighting distribution panels
   • Clearance requirements over roadways and public areas (NEC 225.18)
4. Wiring Methods for Outdoor Lighting Systems
   • Wet-location-rated conductors (THWN-2, USE-2, direct-burial cable)
   • Conduit types approved for outdoor/underground use: PVC Schedule 40/80, RMC, IMC
   • Pull boxes, junction boxes, and handholes for underground distribution
   • Service connections and metering for lighting circuits
5. Installation Practices
   • Setting and plumbing lighting poles (concrete, direct-burial, and anchor-base)
   • Mounting and aiming luminaires on mast arms
   • Underground conduit and conductor installation
   • Making proper terminations and splices at hand holes and junction boxes
6. Safety and Regulatory Requirements
   • OSHA electrical safety standards for outdoor power work (29 CFR 1910.333, 1926 Subpart K)
   • Traffic control and flagger certification (ATSSA) for work in roadways
   • Personal protective equipment (PPE) for energized work
   • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures for lighting circuits
7. Troubleshooting and Maintenance
   • Diagnosing lamp, ballast, and driver failures
   • Testing photocells and control devices
   • Inspecting poles and hardware for structural integrity and corrosion
   • Preventive maintenance schedules and documentation
8. Drawings and Documentation
   • Reading site lighting plans and one-line diagrams
   • Interpreting utility pole schedules and lighting layout drawings
   • Completing work orders, inspection records, and as-built documentation

Optional Topics

• Smart and Connected Lighting Systems: Networked lighting management platforms, dimming controls, and IoT-enabled luminaires
• Solar-Powered Street Lighting: Photovoltaic panel sizing, battery storage, and standalone solar luminaire systems
• Photometric Design Software: Introduction to tools such as AGi32 or Dialux for roadway and area lighting layout calculations
• Light Pollution and Dark Sky Standards: Full-cutoff fixture specifications, backlight-uplight-glare (BUG) ratings, and IES TM-15 compliance
• Florida Utility Standards: Duke Energy Florida and Florida Power & Light specifications for municipal street lighting programs
• NFPA 70E Arc Flash Awareness: Introduction to arc flash hazard categories and safe work practices for energized outdoor lighting panels

Resources & Tools

• Textbooks / Standards: NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code (current adopted edition); IES Lighting Handbook; manufacturer installation guides for major luminaire brands (e.g., Acuity, Eaton/Cooper, GE Current)
• Tools & Equipment: Digital multimeters, clamp-on ammeters, photometers/light meters, wire strippers, conduit benders, pole-climbing gear, aerial lift (bucket truck) familiarization
• Software: AGi32 or equivalent photometric design software (optional); AutoCAD or Bluebeam for reading lighting drawings
• Online Resources: Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) — ies.org; NFPA 70 NEC online; U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Solid-State Lighting Program

Career Pathways

Successful completion of ETP1135C supports entry-level and advancing careers in the electrical power and utility industries. Graduates may pursue roles such as:

• Electrical Lineworker / Line Technician — installing and maintaining utility-owned street lighting infrastructure
• Electrical Apprentice / Electrician — outdoor and site lighting installation for electrical contractors
• Municipal Lighting Technician — maintaining city- or county-owned street lighting systems
• Utility Street Lighting Specialist — working with Florida utilities such as Florida Power & Light or Duke Energy Florida on street lighting programs
• Lighting Maintenance Technician — commercial parking lot, sports field, and campus area lighting maintenance

This course typically applies toward the Energy Power Technology A.S. degree or Lineman Technology Certificate programs at Florida colleges including Valencia College, Lake-Sumter State College, and St. Petersburg College.

Special Information

ETP1135C carries the "C" lab indicator designation within the Florida SCNS, signifying a combined lecture and laboratory course meeting in the same location at the same time. Approximately 40–50% of course time is devoted to hands-on laboratory and field exercises.

Certification Preparation: Lab safety and traffic control content supports eligibility for the ATSSA Flagger Certification, which is commonly required for roadway lighting work. Safety modules align with OSHA 10-Hour General Industry or Construction awareness. Students completing the broader Energy Power Technology program may sit for NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) credentials in Electrical or Distribution Lineman.

Florida-Specific Note: Instructors should reference the current edition of the NEC as adopted by the Florida Building Commission and applicable Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) roadway lighting design standards, which may impose requirements beyond the base NEC for state roadway lighting projects.