DarkLicht tower crane lighting, which won the award for Best-Performing Construction Site in the Netherlands, with minimal light pollution and 73% energy savings.
Client
Top Performer
Construction Site NL
73%
energy saving
Leiden,
Netherlands
4 instead of 3
luminaires per crane
>100 crane frames
delivered
On construction site MORE 1 & 2 in Leiden similarly applied the same tower crane frame concept as at Van der Spek, in collaboration with Ballast Nedam Materieel and Heddes, but here it won them the award for Best Performing Construction Site in the Netherlands.
The innovation for which the construction site was nominated was the use of DarkLicht luminaires in the tower cranes. By using smaller and LED lamps, four instead of three luminaires can be mounted on the crane.
Are there multiple crane types on your construction site? See the overview at crane lighting.
Just like with Van der Spek, the challenge was to limit light pollution for the surrounding area and maximize energy savings, while ensuring the work environment around the crane remained well-lit at varying heights.
In the urban context of Leiden, with residents and nature in the immediate vicinity, limiting nuisance was particularly important.
JEL had already developed a reusable crane frame concept with Van der Spek. For construction sites MORE 1 & 2 in Leiden, the same concept was applied, together with Ballast Nedam Materieel and Heddes.
By using DarkLicht luminaires in the frame, the light shines exclusively on the construction site. This approach not only resulted in significant energy savings but also earned the company the national award for Best Performing Construction Site.
Project card
Project Type
Construction site lighting using tower crane frames (award-winning project)
Location
Leiden, Netherlands (project MORE 1 & 2)
Client
Heddes Construction & Development / Ballast Nedam Equipment
Environment
Urban construction site with residents and nature in the immediate vicinity
Current situation
Application of the proven JEL crane frame concept with DarkLicht fixtures
Scope
Lighting design and engineering, supply of DarkLicht crane frames (concept as at Van der Spek)
Result
73% energy savings and drastically reduced light pollution; Best Performing Construction Site in the Netherlands
Standards
EN 12464-2:2024, NSVV Light Pollution Guideline and the Machinery Directive (for the frame)
Prefer direct contact? +31 33 785 9809
The approach is based on the crane frame concept developed in 2019, which was further refined in 2021 with DarkLicht luminaires integrated into the frame. The lights can be adjusted with great precision so that the light shines only on the construction site, causing much less disruption to nearby residents, the surrounding area, and nature.
More than 100 tower crane frames have been supplied for Ballast Nedam and Heddes for their cranes.
Step 1
The environment
What is happening at the location determines the design: height, operating hours, environment, standards.
Step 2
The system
Light distribution, uniformity and glare are calculated before a luminaire is chosen.
Step 3
The product
Only after that follows the choice of luminaire, optics, and mounting that matches that calculation.
JEL supplied the DarkLicht crane frames and the lighting design for the tower cranes at the MORE 1 & 2 construction site in Leiden, in collaboration with Ballast Nedam Materieel and Heddes.
The light is designed and adjustable so that it illuminates only the construction site, at varying crane heights and in accordance with EN 12464-2:2024.
The solution builds on the JEL crane frame, which was developed in 2019 and further refined in 2021 by DarkLicht, and is used in collaboration with Ballast Nedam Materieel.
Because the DarkLicht luminaires are smaller and use LEDs, four can be mounted on the crane instead of three, with a precisely adjustable light beam.
Because the light is exclusively focused on the construction site, residents, the surrounding area, and nature experience much less disruption, which is important in the urban context of Leiden.
The switch to DarkLicht in the crane frame resulted in energy savings of no less than 73%.
The combination of energy saving and minimal light pollution made MORE 1 & 2 in Leiden the Best Performing Construction Site in the Netherlands; more than 100 crane frames were supplied for Ballast Nedam and Heddes.
The project resulted in energy savings of no less than 73% and significantly reduced light pollution in the surrounding area. As a result, the MORE 1 & 2 construction site in Leiden was named Best Performing Construction Site in the Netherlands.
The project demonstrates how thoughtful lighting not only saves energy but also directly contributes to an award-winning, environmentally conscious construction site.
73% energy savings and greatly reduced light pollution
Best Performing Construction Site in the Netherlands
Used product
The tower cranes are equipped with DarkLicht luminaires in the JEL crane frame. Because these lamps are smaller and work with LEDs, four can fit instead of three on the crane, with a precisely adjustable light beam.
For all cranes from Ballast Nedam and Heddes combined, more than 100 tower crane frames have been supplied.
This was achieved, in part, through the use of DarkLicht light luminaires on the tower cranes, in collaboration with Ballast Nedam Materieel. Thanks to smaller LED bulbs, four light luminaires,instead of three,can be mounted on the crane, and they can be adjusted so that the light shines only on the construction site.
The DarkLicht luminaires are precisely adjustable, ensuring that light is directed exclusively toward the construction site and that nearby residents, the surrounding area, and nature experience much less disruption.
This step results in energy savings of as much as 73%.
It is based on the same crane frame concept developed in 2019, which was further refined in 2021 with DarkLicht attachments integrated into the frame. More than 100 tower crane frames have been delivered to Ballast Nedam and Heddes.
More than 100 tower crane frames have been delivered to Ballast Nedam and Heddes combined, based on the JEL crane frame developed in 2019 and further refined in 2021 with the DarkLicht.
Are you working on a tower crane lighting project, a construction site, or another construction application? JEL supports the entire process: from frame design and lighting design to lighting fixtures, smart switching, and project coordination. For area lighting on the same construction site, we supply mobile lighting towers that operate without light pollution.
| Response | within 1 working day, by an engineer |
| Lighting calculation | free of charge, per zone |
| Test luminaire | on your own mast, upon request |
| Warranty | 5 years complete, 10 years on the housing with maintenance contract |
Rather call directly: 033 785 9809
