Urban Lighting for People

Chapter 4Lighting for Reassurance

DR JEMIMA UNWIN

INTRODUCTION The idea that lighting plays a role in pedestrian reassurance is not at all new. Laws related to the lit environment were passed early in the 15th century in London, when the Court of the Common Council proclaimed that a lit lantern should be placed outside every house during the busy Christmas Watch. Likewise in Paris, Louis XI ordered his subjects to shine lanterns in the houses of windows at junctions to deter bandits.¹ Jumping centuries ahead, British Standard 307, dated 1927, recommends minimum horizontal illuminance levels for streets, ranging from 0.01 foot-candles (equivalent to 0.1 lux – less than moonlight) to 20 foot-candles (equivalent to 21.5 lux – just over the requirements ...