Lighting can be added to a property to benefit security in a variety of ways. Many people put their faith in simple light installations that just illuminate the main entrances of the property. This may function for some properties but if you want to really raise the effectiveness of your security fixtures it pays to put a little more thought into it which will pay off in the long run.

Security lighting that is clearly visible is often subject to vandalism, particularly in urban areas. There are several ways to tackle this which will vary in effectiveness depending on the layout of your premises.

• Height can be used to your advantage. If lights are positioned high above an area that needs to be illuminated it is difficult for vandals to access or throw projectiles at them. Adding tough mesh over the front of the lamps will prevent any lucky shots from damaging the light. If possible you should also locate the power supply high above or underground to make it inaccessible.
• If you cannot position lights high enough to provide illumination over an area you can tackle the problem by using Mirrors. Position the lights as high up as possible over the area and install a mirror to reflect the light downwards.
• Pipe Lights are a common solution when you are limited for space. Install the lamp a few feet back from the opening of the pipe to prevent any attempts at destroying it. If you are limited for space you can try using mirrors to divert a stream of light towards the opening of the pipe.
• The Power Supply for your lights can also be vulnerable to attack. If you need to protect your lighting it is recommended that you protect the power supply to as vandals will logically move to the source of the obstruction if they can't tackle it head on. Installing a second power supply is one way to limit vandals. Alternatively you could install a dummy power supply. These false fittings are also available with built in cameras which are great for catching incompetent vandals unaware. By arranging the circuitry over multiple boards you can prevent a line of lights from being extinguished from a single bulb being knocked out.
• Protecting all the Components is one of the most comprehensive measures. As well as the lamps and the power supply you should also protect all the adjoining wires and cables to prevent vandals from tampering. Make sure to cover all sides of the fixtures to prevent any projectile attacks from causing damage.