by AR 50-5-1
for nuclear weapons, AR 190-59 for chemical
agents, AR 190-11 for arms, ammunition, and
explosives, and AR 190-51 for Army property at
unit and installation level. Other security lighting
requirements pertaining to classified areas may be
obtained from the Department of Defense. For Air
Force security lighting requirements, AFI 31-301,
Air Base Defense will be used. In all cases, project
specific criteria will apply when such requirements
are more rigorous than those provided in this
manual.
11-2. Authorization.
The using agency determines when security light-
ing is necessary to illuminate boundaries and
areas so that unauthorized entry is visible to those
responsible for security. That determination
should be based on what is being protected and the
threat against which it is being protected. The
using agency will also designate the maximum
acceptable period for which loss of illumination
can be tolerated so that acceptable backup sources
can be provided. Without specific data, 2 minutes
is considered the maximum outage period accept-
able.
11-3. Use of Security lighting Systems.
Lighting systems for security operations provide
illumination for visual and closed-circuit television
(CCTV) surveillance of boundaries, sensitive inner
areas, and entry points. When CCTV is used as
part of security operations, the lighting system
will be coordinated with the CCTV system. The
type of lighting system is determined by the
installation environment and the intended use.
Often two or more types of lighting systems are
used within a single area.
a. Objective. The fundamental objective is that
any system or combination of systems must always
work to the maximum advantage of the security
force and to the maximum disadvantage of the
aggressor. The system will ensure a high probabil-
ity of detection of unauthorized entry attempts and
will thereby discourage aggressors. Lights will be
spaced and located to minimize the impact of a
single lamp failure. Lighting system design will be
reliable and easily maintainable.
b. Coordination. Where installed on airfields,
security lighting must be coordinated with the
flight safety officer so that aircraft takeoff, land-
ing, and ground operations are not impaired.
Airfield security lighting will be coordinated with
airfield navigational lighting. Avoid glare lighting
which interfer with the vision of occupants of
adjacent areas and roadways. Where lighting near
navigable waters is required, the U. S. Coast
Guard will be contacted to determine if the system
provided requires Coast Guard approval.
11-4. Types of Areas to be lighted.
Three distinct types of areas are lighted. These
areas are boundaries, sensitive inner areas, and
entry points.
a. Boundaries. Illumination of a restricted area
boundary includes exterior and interior clear zones
adjacent to boundary barriers (fences) or, in some
cases, the area between multiple barriers. The
design will provide adequate light on the border-
ing area, glare light in the eyes of the aggressors,
and minimum light on guard personnel. Glare
which handicaps guards or authorized operations
will be avoided. Poles will normally be placed
inside the boundary fence and between the patrol
road and boundary, but, the pole location must be
coordinated with the user to ensure that the
applicable egress requirements of the clear zone
are not violated. The distance of poles from the
fence will not be less than 5 feet, and this
minimum distance will be used only where the
patrol road is close to the fence. Either glare
projection or controlled lighting will be provided.
Glare projection lighting provides better protection
and will be used to illuminate flat areas free of
obstruction for at least 100 feet outside the fence.
Illumination levels for controlled lighting will be
adequate to detect a moving aggressor, either
visually or by use of CCTV. Controlled lighting,
which does not project masking glare, will be used
when it is necessary to limit the width of the
exterior lighted area, because glare would inter-
fere with authorized activities or activities outside
the installation. When designing for glare light-
ing, the designer will check for light pollution
ordinances of local governing bodies.
b. Sensitive inner areas. The lighting for sensi-
tive inner areas will be discussed with the appro-
11-1 TM 5-811-1/AFJMAN 32-1080
Table 11-1. Security Lighting Requirements.
Application
Illumination width feet
Minimum illumination
Type
Lighting
Area
Inside
Outside
lux
(a)
Location
Boundary
Glare
Isolated
25
100
2 (0.2)
(b)
Outer lighted edge & 30 ft.
out
10
70
4 (0.4)
At fence
Controlled
Semi-isolated
10
70
2 (0.2)
Outer lighted edge
4 (0.4)
At fence
Controlled
Non-isolated
20-30
30-40
4 (0.4)
Outer lighted edge
5 (0.5)
Within
Sensitive inner area Area
General
All
-
2-5
Entire area
(0.2-0.5)
(c)
At structures
50
-
10 (1)
Out from structure
Entry point
Controlled
Pedestrian
25
25
20 (2)
Entry pavement and sidewalk
Vehicular
50
50
10 (1)
a
Horizontal plane at ground level (6 inches above grade) unless otherwise noted. Footcandles are shown in parentheses.
b
Vertical plane, 3 feet above grade.
c
Use the higher value for the more sensitive or confined areas.
d
Initial field measurements will be multiplied by light loss factors to determine the maintenance levels.
US Army Corps of Engineers
priate security agency. Lighting installed and fo-
cused to illuminate the interior of a restricted area
assists security forces in surveillance and may
deter aggressors. The system will be designed so
that detection of an aggressor within the restricted
area is assured. Shadows, except those cast by
aggressors, will be avoided. Sensitive areas or
structures may include pier and dock areas, park-
ing areas, vital buildings, storage areas, and vul-
nerable areas of the communication, power, and
water distribution systems.
the entry guard and facing persons or vehicles
approaching the area. If the area is equipped with
a boundary lighting system, the entry point light
pattern will extend outward from the boundary or
gate of the area. The entry (guardhouse) in such
instances, will be inside the area in comparative
darkness.
11-5. lighting Guidelines.
(1) Luminaires. Lighting units can range from
ordinary floodlights to more elaborate pole-
mounted fixtures capable of illuminating compar-
atively large sectors of adjacent terrain, such as
those used for stadium lighting. Lighting units
may also include pivotable, individual spotlights
or searchlights. Where night operations which
require work area lighting are conducted, the area
lighting will be configured to facilitate the detec-
tion of unauthorized approach. Special purpose
lighting may be necessary for some applications.
a. Area and boundary descriptions.
(1) The boundary is considered to be the pe-
rimeter fence. If there is no fence, the property
line is the boundary.
(2) An isolated fenced boundary consists of
fence lines around a large isolated facility where
the area outside the fence is clear of obstructions
for 100 feet or more, and the fence is at least 100
feet away from any inner buildings or operating
areas.
(3) A semi-isolated fenced boundary consists of
fence lines where the area outside the fence is
clear for only 60 to 100 feet.
(2) Towers. Security towers, whether continu-
(4) A non-isolated fenced boundary consists of
ously or intermittently occupied, will be provided
fence lines where the fence is adjacent to operating
with a movable luminaire or searchlight which is
areas within the installation or to public thorough-
controlled at the tower. High intensity illumina-
fares or other installations outside the boundary.
tion at long range is the essential characteristic of
The width of the lighted area depends on the clear
a movable lighting system.
distances available.
c. Entry points. Lighting is installed at entry
points through boundaries or into interior sensi-
tive areas to facilitate accurate and rapid identifi-
cation of personnel requiring entry into the area
and complete inspection within and under vehi-
cles. Entry point lighting will be installed in any
restricted area for which entry controls are re-
quired during normal operations. Fixtures will be
placed so that light sources are above and behind
(5) A sensitive inner area is a storage or open
workspace inside a lighted boundary where addi-
tional security lighting is required, particularly for
aisles, passageways, and vantage points of adja-
cent buildings.
(6) A sensitive inner structure is either within
20 feet of critical operations or houses critical
operations (such as structures or buildings for
power, heat, water, communications, explosive ma-
11-2 terials, critical materials, delicate machinery, clas-
sified material, and valuable finished products)
where additional security lighting is required so
that doorways, windows, and insets will not be in
shadow.
(7) An entry point is where access to protected
areas requires complete inspection of pedestrians,
passenger cars, trucks, and freight cars entering or
leaving.
(8) Because confined areas offer a place to
hide, a shorter length of time is available to detect
an aggressor. In these areas, illumination will be
at higher levels and uniformly cover all surfaces
requiring observation.
b. CCTV lighting. When CCTV is used as part
of the exterior security system, coordinate the
design of the lighting system with the CCTV to
ensure proper operation of the CCTV system dur-
ing hours of darkness.
(1) Balanced lighting. The best image contrast
is obtained by a scene that is uniformly illumi-
nated. A CCTV outdoor lighting system mus