Concrete Light Poles

1
Concrete Light Poles

• There are several projects for which you might
  find a need to install concrete commercial light
  poles. Among these uses are mounting lights for
  tennis courts, sports arenas, and street lamps.
  Concrete poles have similar strength advantages
  seen with those made of metal, but lack the
  conductivity. This makes concrete preferable for
  electrical mounting applications. If you intend
  to install concrete sports light poles yourself,
  you will need to acquaint yourself with the
  mounting methods as well as knowing how to select
  the correct pole for your project. Once you know
  the basics, installing these poles can be a
  simple task.

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• Parking Lot Lighting
• When you are trying to determine which concrete
  commercial  light pole mount is best for your
  project, you need to gather some specifics about
  the job to narrow down your choices. First of
  all, how high will the light be from the ground?
  The mount height of the pole measures from the
  ground to the base of the lamp, while the height
  of the light is from the ground to the lamp
  itself. If your lamp is to be mounted on an arm
  atop the pole mount, what is the area lit? This
  number, measured in square feet, is called the
  Effective Projected Area (EPA). You will also
  need to know how far away from the pole the lamp
  will be from the commercial outdoor pole light.
  This is the horizontal distance which will be the
  same as the length of the arm to which the lamp
  is attached. Once you know these numbers take a
  look at a wind speed map from your concrete light
  pole manufacturer. After finding the average wind
  speeds encountered in your area of the United
  States, you will need to go to a graph provided
  by the manufacturer.

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• There will likely be a separate graph for
  different wind speeds. If the average wind in
  your area is 100 mph, then you would use the 100
  mph graph. The numbers on the bottom of the
  graph, the x-axis, will be the EPA or the area
  lit by the lamp. The numbers along the side of
  the graph, on the y-axis, is the length of the
  arm holding up the lamp. The intersection of
  these points on the graph will tell you the class
  of concrete light pole that you will need to
  purchase. If it falls between two classes, you
  will need the higher of the two in the pole
  selection guide.

4

• Now that you know the class of concrete light
  pole you need, how will you mount it? There are
  three common methods. The easiest and most common
  is a direct embedment. This is where the pole is
  placed into a prepared hole with a granular base
  for drainage in the ground and recovered with the
  soil. Other forms of mounting include base plate
  and socket. Base plate mounting involves
  anchoring the plates into a pre-poured, or
  pre-existing concrete foundation. Socket mounting
  also requires a concrete poured foundation where
  the light pole might be mounted even with the
  ground level, or built up higher for added
  strength. The mounting method will determine the
  length of light pole you will need. If you intend
  to use the simple direct embedment, then you will
  need to add 10 of the pole's height plus an
  additional two feet. Add these two numbers to the
  height you need the light to be from the ground
  and then order the length of concrete light pole
  which comes the closest.

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• Other decisions to make for your light pole
  installation are less technical. You need to be
  able to specify the finish, color, and style of
  the pole. If you are unsure about what equipment
  you need additionally to install your concrete
  light pole, you should consult with an expert.
  Carefully follow the directions included with
  your light pole provided by the manufacturer.
  Once you have followed these tips and guidelines,
  installing the poles should be quick and easy.  
  Why not let the professionals at RLLD give you a
  hand with design or a customized quote. 
  Commercial parking lot lighting packages can be
  more affordable than you think.
• Commercial Lighting