PSP Security Lighting and CPTED 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ASIS and IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) guidelines, what is the minimum recommended horizontal illuminance level (in foot-candles) for a security perimeter fence line?
- 0.1 foot-candles
- 0.5 foot-candles (Correct answer)
- 2 foot-candles
- 5 foot-candles
Correct answer: 0.5 foot-candles
IES RP-33 (Lighting for Exterior Environments) recommends a minimum of 0.5 foot-candles (5.4 lux) for perimeter fence lines to support security patrol and camera surveillance functions.
Question 2: What type of security lighting provides continuous, even illumination at night specifically designed to reveal intruders against a lighted background — even if the intruder attempts to extinguish individual lights?
- Standby lighting
- Controlled lighting
- Glare projection lighting
- Continuous lighting (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Continuous lighting
Continuous lighting provides steady, even illumination throughout a protected area all night, making intruders visible regardless of their attempts to use darkness as cover.
Question 3: In CPTED principles, what does 'territorial reinforcement' mean and how is it applied?
- Installing fences and barriers to define territory boundaries
- Using design features to create a sense of ownership and legitimate use that deters potential offenders (Correct answer)
- Marking all facility boundaries with warning signs
- Assigning security guards to enforce territorial boundaries
Correct answer: Using design features to create a sense of ownership and legitimate use that deters potential offenders
Territorial reinforcement uses design elements (landscaping, walkways, signage, lighting) to distinguish private from public space, creating a psychological sense that the area is owned and monitored.
Question 4: Which lighting technology offers the BEST combination of energy efficiency, long lifespan, and instant-on capability for security applications, replacing older HID and fluorescent systems?
- Metal halide (MH) lighting
- High-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting
- LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting (Correct answer)
- Fluorescent T8 lighting
Correct answer: LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting
LED lighting offers 50,000-100,000+ hour lifespan, 60-80% energy savings over HID, instant full-brightness activation, and superior color rendering for camera performance.
Question 5: What is 'glare projection' (or controlled lighting) in perimeter security lighting design?
- Using floodlights aimed outward to blind potential intruders approaching the perimeter (Correct answer)
- Installing lights inside the facility to illuminate windows for surveillance
- Using motion-activated lights to surprise and disorient intruders
- Positioning lights to cast shadows into the facility to hide security activities
Correct answer: Using floodlights aimed outward to blind potential intruders approaching the perimeter
Glare projection lighting aims bright lights outward from the perimeter to temporarily blind approaching intruders while keeping guards in relative darkness, giving defenders a tactical advantage.
Question 6: According to CPTED principles, what is the recommended maximum height for foundation plantings (shrubs) near building entry points?
- 6 feet (1.8m) maximum
- 4 feet (1.2m) maximum (Correct answer)
- 2 feet (0.6m) maximum
- No restriction — natural screening is preferred
Correct answer: 4 feet (1.2m) maximum
CPTED guidelines typically recommend shrubs near entries remain below 4 feet (1.2m) so they cannot provide concealment for a crouching person while still providing aesthetic landscaping.
PSP Security Lighting and CPTED 1
According to ASIS and IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) guidelines, what is the minimum recommended horizontal illuminance level (in foot-candles) for a security perimeter fence line?