A well lighted parking lot is an important feature of any shopping center, park, apartment complex, industrial business community, or manufacturing facility.  Properly designed lighting systems can help attract customers and enhance pedestrian safety by deterring crime and vandalism, while also creating a strong sense of personal security.  Another important issue is energy consumption; whether you use HID, LED or Fluorescent light sources for your property, a poorly designed system could waste light by projecting it where it is not needed as well as over light by using too many poles, wall fixtures, etc.  Using  the appropriate lighting fixtures in a parking lot is essential to achieving these goals. In other words, a good lighting system design can help keep the bad guys away, help your property become significantly more valuable, and save money.  

What do the different optic types actually mean and where are they best used?  Below we will examine each optic type for parking lot lighting fixtures and describe what purpose each serves.  When you contact  RLLD you will be speaking with professional lighting engineers who are able to help you select the appropriate fixture types for every application.  Lets get started.

TYPE II 
Type II optics are typically used for narrow roadways, walking paths, and any driving area where a narrow longitudnal throw is required.  Most shoe-box style fixtures are available with Type II distribution along with traditional cobra-head style.  Type II can also be used for sport applications such as batting cage light system.

TYPE III
Type III optics are used in roadway appications where the street is wide.  This distribution also works very well in many parking lot lighting situations where perimeter pole placement is needed.

TYPE IV
Type IV optics are designed to maximize the amount of light going forward from the fixture, typically in long narrow patterns.  This optic type is used around the perimeters of parking lots where there is no desire for wasted light behind the pole.  Type IV distribution is also used quite often in sport applications such as tennis, volleyball, and basketball court lighting where poles are situated outside the playing areas while high light levels are required.

TYPE V
Type V distribution is designed to produce an all around pattern of light.  Sometimes circular or square, this optical pattern is mainly used on the interior of parking lots.  Type V fixtures are commonly used in parking lot applications and areas where wide symmetrical pattern of light is required.