Dobbins JLUS IMP Public Draft Light Pollution Study | Page 59
5. Overview of Lighting Regulations
Pattern Outdoor Lighting Guide
BUG System Components
The Pattern Outdoor Lighting Guide (Guide) was developed by the US Naval
Observatory and published by the IDA most recently in 2010.
The Guide provides practical and effective measures by which the obtrusive
aspects of outdoor light usage can be reduced while preserving the safety,
security, and nighttime use and enjoyment of property. These measures are
intended to curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment,
reduce light trespass, glare, energy and resource waste by encouraging
lighting practices that direct appropriate amounts of light where and when it
is needed, increasing the use of energy‐efficient sources, and decreasing the
use of poorly shielded or inappropriately directed lighting fixtures.
While the Guide is similarly prescriptive to the MLO including provisions
based on geographic lighting zones, it contains provisions specific to outdoor
signage which is otherwise absent in the MLO.
BVH = Backlight Very High
BH = Backlight High
BM = Backlight Medium
BL = Backlight Low
UH = Uplight High
UL = Uplight Low
FVH = Forward Light Very High
FH = Forward Light High
FM = Forward Light Medium
FL = Forward Light Low
The Outdoor Advertising Sign Lighting Standards in the Guide provide
comprehensive requirements for a spectrum of signage types including
externally and internally illuminated signs including billboards, neon signs,
single color and multicolor fixed‐copy LED signs, and multicolor
changeable‐copy LED signs. The standards include:
Lamp sources
Shielding restrictions
Lumen outputs per square foot of sign face
Exemptions for decorative signage
Lighting control requirements for reduced luminance at night (for
changeable copy LED signs)
Daily time limits for illumination
March 2018
DRAFT Dobbins Air Reserve Base Light Pollution Study
Page 5‐9