CONCRETE LIGHTING COLUMNS - AN ECONOMIC PROPOSITION

The author considers the broad principles involved and shows that concrete columns have certain advantages that are often overlooked. The first costs of various types of column are compared; folded sheet steel columns are usually the cheapest, and concrete columns the most expensive. However when painting over a 30 year period is taken into account there is little to choose between the cost of tubular steel and folded steel. Aluminium columns are cheaper, and the overall cost of concrete columns is roughly half that of the other types. A survey of lamp failure has shown that the lowest failure rate was on group b concrete columns, suggesting that concrete does not suffer appreciably from vibration, and that considerable savings could be made by using concrete columns. The suggestion that in an accident a rigid colum will do more damage to the vehicle than a flexible column is discussed. It is argued that in pedestrian areas it is safer to stop a wayward vehicle as rapidly as possible. Columns are now often sited at the back of the footpath, and are protected by crash barriers on rural roads. Concrete columns are also less likely to be permanently damaged by scrapes and slight knocks. Dents on metal columns are often ignored providing a source of weakness. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

  Surrey House, 1 Throwley Way
  Sutton, Surrey SM1 4QQ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Lane, C R
• Publication Date: 1981-8-27

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 8-10
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 158
  • Issue Number: 4654
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Aluminum; Columns; Concrete; Concrete tests; Costs; Crashes; Failure; Lanterns; Lighting columns; Loss and damage; Sheet metal; Steel; Steel structures; Street lighting; Vehicles; Vibration
• ITRD Terms: 7168: Aluminium; 1631: Collision; 4755: Concrete; 224: Cost; 1614: Damage; 5520: Failure; 516: Lantern; 527: Lighting column; 4552: Sheet (metal); 4542: Steel; 1255: Vehicle; 5558: Vibration
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345651
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 29 1982 12:00AM