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Lighting for Roads and Precincts in South Africa: A Technical Guide for Engineers

Efficient, compliant, and safe road lighting plays a critical role in ensuring visibility, enhancing security, and enabling safer mobility across South Africa’s transport infrastructure. Engineers and electrical professionals involved in lighting design must balance complex factors such as road classification, performance standards, and maintenance to ensure robust and compliant lighting solutions.

This article outlines key considerations when designing road and precinct lighting in South Africa, including road classifications, lighting calculation methodologies, maintenance guidelines, and applicable standards.

Road Types and Classifications in South Africa

South African roads are classified primarily based on function, traffic volume, and role in the transport network. These classifications help engineers determine appropriate lighting methodologies, either luminance-based or illuminance-based, as outlined in SANS 10098-1.

Group A (A1–A4): Major Roads and Freeways

  • Includes national roads, freeways, high-volume arterials and collector roads.
  • These are high-speed, high-traffic routes where luminance-based lighting design and glare limitation is essential and to support driver visibility, especially at interchanges, off-ramps, and key decision points. Luminance reflects the brightness of the road surface as seen by the driver and considers:
  • Observer position
  • Reflectance of the surface (default R3 in SA)
  • Uniformity of luminance
  • Glare (threshold increment)

Luminance measurements can only be conducted with a luminance meter and not an illuminance meter.

Group B (B1–B3): Residential Streets

  • Covers urban arterial roads and local residential roads that connect various neighbourhoods or commercial areas.
  • Emphasis is on horizontal illuminance, ensuring uniform lighting for mixed traffic and pedestrian use.

Group C (C1–C2): Wholly pedestrian areas

  • Applies to only pedestrian paths, precincts and parks.
  • Lighting design here focuses on semi-cylindrical illuminance and enhancing comfort, safety, and aesthetics within communities.

For Groups B and C illuminance (horizontal or semi-cylindrical) is used, measured with an illuminance meter at ground or eye level for pedestrian-focused areas.

Lighting Calculations:

Accurate photometric design is at the heart of effective lighting.

The Point-by-Point (PBP) calculation method is one of the most reliable for detailed lighting design. It involves calculating the illumination at specific points on a surface based on the luminaires' photometric data.

Key Parameters:

  • Luminous Intensity Distribution (LID) of the light source
  • Mounting Height of luminaires
  • Luminaire Spacing
  • Tilt Angle and Overhang
  • Surface Reflectance

PBP ensures precise illumination analysis and is often supported by lighting design software such as DIALux, AGi32, or Relux. Engineers use this method to meet SANS 10098 recommendations for minimum average illuminance (Eav), uniformity ratio (Emin/Eav), and glare control (threshold increment).

Maintenance and Lumen Depreciation: ARP 035 Guidelines

Maintenance is a critical yet often overlooked component of lighting infrastructure.

The Association of Reticulation of Public Lighting’s ARP 035 provides industry-accepted guidelines for maintaining lighting systems and ensuring longevity and performance. It includes:

  • Maintenance Factor (MF) determination, which accounts for lamp lumen depreciation (LLD), luminaire dirt depreciation (LDD), and environment.
  • Scheduled cleaning and relamping intervals
  • Inspection and performance testing protocols
  • Recordkeeping and maintenance documentation

Designers must incorporate a suitable MF (typically ranging from 0.7 to 0.9) into lighting calculations to ensure minimum light levels are sustained over the luminaire’s lifetime.

Public Lighting Standards: SANS 10098 Part 1 & 2

South Africa’s SANS 10098-1 and SANS 10098-2 are the cornerstone standards governing public lighting design and performance.

SANS 10098-1: Public Lighting – Part 1

Focuses on lighting for roads and public areas and covers:

  • Classification of lighting classes (ME, CE, S)
  • Performance requirements such as:
  • Illuminance and luminance levels
  • Uniformity
  • Glare control
  • Colour rendering index (CRI)
  • Safety and visual comfort for road users

SANS 10098-2: Part 2

Covers technical requirements and application guidance, such as:

  • Selection and positioning of luminaires
  • Electrical infrastructure and control systems
  • Energy efficiency and environmental impact
  • Luminaire ingress protection (IP) and impact resistance (IK)

These standards align with international best practices (e.g., CIE and EN 13201) while addressing unique South African conditions.

Engineering for Performance and Compliance

Designing lighting for roads and precincts is more than installing luminaires—it's about aligning engineering principles with national standards and practical maintenance realities. By following South Africa’s road classifications, leveraging precise calculation methods, adhering to maintenance guidelines, and complying with SANS 10098, engineers can deliver lighting solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and quality of life.

Remain Ahead of Lighting Trends With IESSA

Illumination Engineering Society of South Africa (IESSA) represents the interests of lighting professionals and businesses in South Africa. While not a regulatory body, IESSA often collaborates with regulatory agencies, promotes best practices, and provides guidance to its members on compliance with local and international standards. It serves as an industry voice, advocating for policies that benefit the lighting sector and supporting members in navigating regulatory requirements.

IESSA provides opportunities for its members to improve their knowledge to practice their profession with knowledge and confidence, they also represent members at an international level to ensure that knowledge on the latest trends and developments is transferred to their members locally.

IESSA represents South Africa internationally and thereby acts as the National Committee of the CIE (Commission International De L'Eclairage). South African Experts on various topics in the lighting technology field serve on the CIE international committees responsible for the development of standards for the different aspects of illumination.

Membership of IESSA is open to both individuals and organisations active in the lighting industry of South Africa. You need to be a Lighting Professional to join IESSA. Group membership is open to any educational, scientific, technical, professional, institution, public, commercial, or municipal entity that is actively involved in the lighting industry.

If you would like to know more about our online Roads & Precincts course, please visit our website.

If you would like to know more about IESSA and the benefits of becoming a member, get in touch with us at info@iessa.org.za