Stair lighting is crucial for safety and aesthetics – particularly in the beautiful tenements of Edinburgh. Let’s look at unique challenges faced by property owners in Edinburgh looking to ‘keep the lights on’ in your tenement or communal stair.
Importantly, the responsibility for tenement stair lighting in Edinburgh has changed…
In Edinburgh, the responsibility for maintaining stair lighting in tenements shifted from Edinburgh Council to property owners. This transition has significant implications for those living in these historic buildings. Property owners must now ensure their stairways are adequately lit and maintained, which can be a daunting task without professional assistance.
Replacing tenement stair bulbs or lamps
Replacing bulbs and lamps in tenement stairs is a fairly simple operation for a qualified electrician. If you live in a tenement flat, you probably have Coughtrie SFB light fittings, which typically contains two 8W fluorescent lamps.
You can easily identify the type of bulbs and lamps currently in use by sending us a picture of the lights you have installed. Simply email the picture to us at info@ies-edinburgh.co.uk (or via WhatsApp on 0131 258 2750) and we will then send you a quote for approval. We will schedule one of our expert electricians to replace your bulbs/lamps and test them to ensure they are in full working order.
Occasionally, during this process, we may discover that the issue is not just with the bulbs but that the light fitting itself needs replacing. In such cases, we will provide you with an additional quote for the replacement of the light fitting.
Replacing damaged stair light fittings with LED conversion kits
If your Coughtrie light fitting is beyond repair and needs to be replaced, we have a straightforward solution.
Most stair lighting installations feature conduit running from both the bottom and the top of the light fitting, supplying power to the fittings above and below.
This setup limits the size of the fitting we can install and increases the time required to dismantle and replace it. Fortunately, Coughtrie has introduced an LED conversion kit that allows you to retain all the existing wiring and exterior casing. This kit enables you to upgrade the internal components to LED and replace the front cover, providing an efficient and modern lighting solution.
The replacement Coughtrie light fitting costs around £120, which is relatively expensive for this type of light fitting.
However, opting to replace the same brand of light fitting can result in lower labour costs (and it will significanly lower your ongoing energy costs).
Alternative LED conversion option – a cost saving solution by IES
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, we can replace the internal components of your light fitting with a high-quality alternative gear tray, costing around £80. This alternative fits exactly the same way as the original, allowing you to retain the existing wiring and exterior casing, just like the Coughtrie kit.
Opting for this solution not only provides the benefits of modern LED lighting but also represents a significant cost saving compared to the original brand’s replacement kit.
By choosing this option, you will reduce labour costs for replacing lamps and ongoing energy savings, all while keeping your stairwell lighting upgrade affordable.
Typically, these expenses are shared among the properties in the stairwell, making it more affordable for each individual property owner.
In either case…
Whichever way you decide to proceed, we would recommend initially that an EICR test is carried out in your property to make sure you wiring is safe and has the adequate protection for your consumer unit or fuse box – without a test it is impossible to be sure if you are protected!
Adjusting Sangamo and Astro time clocks
As the seasons change, so do the lighting needs in tenement stairs. When the clocks fall back in autumn, it’s essential to adjust and extend the stair lighting time clocks to accommodate darker mornings and evenings.
This is where Astro time clocks come into play. These advanced timers allow for precise control of lighting schedules, ensuring that stairways remain well-lit during the darker months.
How do Astro time clocks work?
Astro time clocks are sophisticated devices designed to automate lighting schedules based on the natural sunrise and sunset times for a specific location.
Unlike traditional time clocks that require manual adjustment, Astro time clocks use geographic coordinates to calculate the exact times of sunrise and sunset throughout the year.
This feature ensures that the lighting system adjusts automatically as the days lengthen or shorten, providing optimal lighting conditions without the need for frequent manual changes.
Geographic input:
Users input their specific geographic location (latitude and longitude) into the clock.
Sunrise and sunset calculation:
The clock calculates the exact times of sunrise and sunset for each day based on the location.
Automatic adjustment:
As the seasons change, the Astro time clock automatically adjusts the on and off times for the lighting system.
For example, as the days get shorter in autumn, the lights will turn on earlier in the evening and stay on longer in the morning.
Customisation:
Users can customise the settings to accommodate specific preferences, such as additional lighting periods or different schedules for weekdays and weekends.
What are the Standards for stair lighting?
Stair lighting needs to meet specific requirements to ensure safety and functionality. According to industry standards, staircase lighting should be sufficiently bright, at least 150 lux, and well glare-reduced (UGR≤25).
Correct lighting helps in creating short shadows, highlighting steps effectively, and preventing accidents.
Key considerations include ensuring lighting fixtures provide adequate illumination, using fixtures and bulbs that minimise glare to prevent visual discomfort, and maintain uniform lighting across all steps to avoid dark spots and shadows.
Choose Ideal to maintain your stair lighting in Edinburgh
Ideal Electrical are Edinburgh based electricians and provide many electrical services, including tenement stair lighting repairs and installation. Our services include routine inspections, bulb replacements, and system upgrades, ensuring your stair lighting remains in optimal condition year-round.
We understand the unique challenges of maintaining tenement stair lighting, have many years of experience and are here to help.
For more information on our services, visit our stair lighting page.
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