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Store Front > Infrastructure > Obstruction Lighting

High Intensity Strobe Lighting Systems

FAA-Compliant HI

Antenna Systems & Solutions, Inc. offers a High Intensity Obstruction Lighting System that is FAA Type L-856 compliant. To see if this meets the specific needs for your application, please contact us (or by phone 847-584-1000).

You can choose from various lighting technologies and energy levels to light the exteriors of structures. For example, you can choose a red LED system or a low-intensity lighting system; both of these reduce energy costs, so are they the best? Not necessarily.

The primary goal of obstruction lighting isn't to provide the tiniest bit of light at the lowest amount of energy usage. The goal is to ensure proper visibility of structures for safety purposes.

Since you must light towers and similar structures per FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460-1K and similar standards, you'll need HI for any structures taller than 500ft (e.g., broadcast towers and the like). That's just for compliance. You may have other reasons to use HI rather than medium or low itensity lighting.

From the FAA, 2-2-3. Obstruction Lights, subsection a.3: "Flashing high intensity white lights during daytime with reduced intensity for twilight and nighttime operation. When this type system is used, the marking of structures with red obstruction lights and aviation orange and white paint may be omitted."

Our system provides you with these features and benefits:

High reliability with long lamp life, low power consumption, and low cost of ownership.
Two circuit board internal design for easy maintenance.
Simple “safe plug” lamp holder for easy lamp replacement.
Uses special technology for the ignition of xenon lamps control for long lamp life and very low UV and ozone generation.
Lightweight and easy to install with integral mounting frame.

Characteristic	Attribute	Quantity/Value
Effective Candelas	Day	270,000
	Nightlight	20,000 ±25%
	Night	2,000 ±25%
Beam Angle	Horizontal	120°
	Vertical Divergence	3°
	Minimum lights per level for 360° coverage	3
Power Consumption at 40 FPM	Day	300 Watts
	Nightlight	60 Watts
	Night	40 Watts

Characteristic	Value
Flash Character	40 or 60 flashes per minute (fpm).
Power Required	110V-254V AC 50-60 Hz
Weight	88.18 lbs. (40 kg)
Lamp Type	Xenon Flashtube

Antenna Systems & Solutions, Inc.offers FAA-approved obstruction lighting kits. The FAA approves lighting specifically for making obstructions visible. Generally, any structure over 190 feet is required to have obstruction lighting. The FAA defines five categories of obstruction lighting, A- F.

FAA's five categories are below. If you're not sure which one applies to your project, feel free to contact us (or by phone 847-584-1000) for assistance.

"A" Series Obstruction Lights:

Red (L-864) obstruction lights are used to increase conspicuity during nighttime. Daytime and twilight marking is required. Recommendations on lighting structures can vary depending on terrain features, weather patterns, geographic location, and in the case of wind turbines, number of structures and overall layout of design. Typical obstruction heights vary between 20 to 2200 feet.

"D" Series Obstruction Lights:

Medium intensity flashing white (L-865) obstruction lights may provide conspicuity both day and night. Recommendations on lighting structures can vary depending on terrain features, weather patterns, geographic location, and in the case of wind turbines, number of structures and overall layout of design. Typical obstruction heights vary between 200 to 500 feet.

"E" Series Obstruction Lights:

"B" Series Obstruction Lights:

Lighting with high intensity (L-856) flashing white obstruction lights provides the highest degree of conspicuity both day and night. Recommendations on lighting structures can vary depending on terrain features, weather patterns, geographic location, and in the case of wind turbines, number of structures and overall layout of design.

"C" Series Obstruction Lights:

When a structure lighted by a high intensity flashing light system is topped with an antenna or similar appurtenance exceeding 40 feet (12m) in height, a medium intensity flashing white light (L-865) should be placed within 40 feet (12m) from the tip of the appurtenance. This light should operate 24 hours a day and flash simultaneously with the rest of the lighting system.

"F" Series Obstruction Lights:

This dual lighting system includes red lights (L-864) for nighttime and high intensity flashing white lights (L-856) for daytime and twilight use. This lighting system may be used in lieu of operating a flashing white lighting system at night. There may be some populated areas where the use of high intensity lights at night may cause significant environmental concerns and complaints.

Don't get hooked on a particular technology, just because it's the latest or the most energy-efficient or (insert reason here). There is no ideal lighting technology. Each has its particular advantages and drawbacks. That's one reason we offer red incandescent along with LED.

Many people are hooked on LED, because it's far more energy-efficient than incandescent. In other words, it throws off much less of the energy as heat. Is that the kind of lighting you want on the exterior of an obstruction that is prone to freezing over with thick ice or even snow? Absolutely not. On the other hand, if you have an obstruction that's facing west and you're in Florida then the application is entirely different.

Or consider the choice between medium intensity and high intensity strobe lights. Which one you go with depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

Not sure what you need to do? No problem. We have experts who can help. Feel free to contact us (or by phone 847-584-1000) for more information.

You'll want to start with the FAA circular that provides the FAA Obstruction Lighting Rules.

Applicable standards for design and installation include NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code) and standards produced by the IES (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America).