Pro Landscaper Magazine October 2020 Lighting Those Lengths
Pro Landscaper Magazine October 2020 Lighting Those Lengths
NEIL PARSLOW DIVES IN AT THE DEEP END, SHARING THE DO’S AND DONT’S OF LIGHTING IN AND AROUND POOLS
Gardens with chemical or natural pools should integrate this body of water within the overall lighting scheme, rather than as an isolated illuminated feature. Flat, calm bodies of water – like pools – will always reflect the surrounding landscape lighting the best and add huge amounts of drama to a lighting scheme.
During the pool design and construction stage, a little thought is needed regarding the internal pool lighting and its cohesion with the external landscape lighting. The pool lighting must always be constructed as fit for purpose within pools, and preferably of extra low voltage (ELV) to reduce the potential of electric shock. All lighting within pools must also be protected with suitable RCD protection, and to the current IET wiring regulations BS7671.
It is also important to know whether there are going to be one or several fittings used in the pools design, including the brand of light fittings used, as pricing will vary considerably between brands, and the clients budget will have a big impact on the products specified. The quantity and type of fittings will depend on the nature and intended use of the pool, such as if there will be a series of steps leading into the pool or unusual shapes and elevations within the pools design.
Another factor to include in the design of garden pools is the location the pool will be built within the garden, as this requires careful planning to enable it to merge with the surrounding landscape lighting. The main viewing areas would usually be near the house, so the pool needs to be between this location and surrounding landscape lighting to enable the water reflections to be visible from these viewing locations.
FLAT, CALM BODIES OF WATER – LIKE POOLS – WILL ALWAYS REFLECT THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE LIGHTING THE BEST AND ADD HUGE AMOUNTS OF DRAMA TO A LIGHTING SCHEME
Lighting in natural pools tends to be easier to maintain, as the fittings specified are not usually recessed into the walls like in chemical swimming pools, as some fittings can require a partial or complete draining to service or replace. Natural pools will typically use fittings more at home to general submersible landscape lighting, which offers a greater choice of fitting from which the designer can choose. More often than not, natural pools will also have the addition of planting above the water line and will enable depth layering of the lighting composition.
Particular attention should be paid to the location of the lighting inside pools, as it is important that glare from the light source is eliminated, as this could be visible from the main viewing areas from either outside on a deck or patio seating area, or inside a house. As a general rule, internal pool lighting should be recessed into the walls at the near side of the viewing location and facing in the opposite direction, away from the viewer.
Coloured lighting in pools typically consists of blue light – to most this represents our perception of the colour of water – but with the advent of sophisticated colour changing LED’s technology, any colour is now possible and can be controlled from a smartphone or tablet. For integration of pool lighting into a landscape lighting scheme, full dimming control of the pool lights is required, and the ability to be able to switch the pool lights off completely will enable the best results of cohesion between the pools dark reflective surface and the surrounding landscape.