Disclosure: this guide is published by VOC Lighting, an OEM/ODM manufacturer of architectural and outdoor luminaires. Product specifications vary by model and configuration and must be confirmed on the quotation.
Updated: 23 October 2026. Verify product ratings and available configurations against the selected model documentation.
How to specify outdoor lighting: start with the application and exposure, then verify optics, glare, electrical design, controls and maintenance access. Choose IP and IK ratings for the actual installation — there is no universal outdoor minimum. For coastal or high-humidity sites, verify corrosion resistance, sealing, drainage and maintenance against the actual exposure. Specify impact resistance, colour quality and supply voltage separately for the application. Compare suppliers on photometry, test evidence and documentation rather than on brand.
This guide helps lighting designers, contractors and project buyers prepare a practical specification for outdoor landscape lighting across facades, gardens, pathways and hospitality sites, including coastal locations.
Match outdoor lighting to the application
Start with the lighting task. In an outdoor landscape lighting scheme, coastal exposure and hospitality requirements can apply across several fixture types, and each zone fails in a different way — which is why the fixture class follows from the application rather than from the budget line.
| Application | Typical fixture | Primary specification focus | Risk to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building facades | Wall washer, grazer, linear | Wash versus graze optics, setback, aiming access | Hot spot at the top of the wall; no access to re-aim |
| Landscape and gardens | Spike, inground uplight, accent | Exposure-appropriate IP rating, drainage, colour consistency | Water standing in a recessed body |
| Pathways and circulation | Bollard, step light | Glare control at eye level, uniformity | Glare, and dark bands between fittings |
| Coastal and high-humidity sites | Any of the above | Compatible materials, coating system, corrosion test evidence | Corrosion at fasteners and coating edges |
| Resort and hospitality grounds | Mixed across zones | Cross-zone colour consistency, serviceability, spares | Colour mismatch between production batches |
Define the brief and verify the layout
Record the surfaces and activities to be lit — entrance, pedestrian route, textured wall, planting feature, arrival area — together with mounting positions, operating hours, nearby windows, maintenance access and any ecological restriction. These inputs, not the fixture list, decide the rest of the project.
Set maintained light levels, uniformity and glare criteria against the applicable project guidance. Then evaluate the layout with photometry for the actual luminaire, optic and drive current. There is no universal spacing rule: mounting height, beam distribution and surface reflectance change the result, and a spacing that gives even coverage on a 3 m wall may produce scalloping on a taller facade.
Two items are routinely skipped and later cost money: maintenance access (can the fitting be re-aimed without a boom lift on every visit?) and the night-time viewing direction — a bollard that looks correct in plan can sit directly in a guest's sightline.
Check water, impact and coastal exposure
IP ratings. IEC 60529 classifies enclosure protection against solids and water. IP65 covers dust-tightness and protection against water jets; IP67 covers dust-tightness and temporary immersion under specified test conditions; IP68 covers immersion under conditions agreed with the manufacturer. Compare the manufacturer’s stated immersion conditions rather than the rating alone. Confirm the depth, duration and installation limits rather than treating IP68 as a universal underwater rating, and note that immersion ratings do not automatically establish water-jet protection.
For inground lights, assess the drainage bed, mounting sleeve, cable entries and connectors together. An enclosure rating does not compensate for poor drainage or an incorrectly sealed connection. Pool and submerged use require products specifically approved for that application.
Impact and loading. IK ratings follow IEC 62262: IK08 corresponds to a 5 joule impact and IK10 to 20 joules. Select the rating for the impact risk and keep it separate from walk-over or drive-over suitability — those uses require explicit load limits, installation details and supporting documentation. A cover labelled “walk over” in an illustration is not enough to establish the complete fitting's load capacity.
Coastal exposure. Review housing material, coating preparation, fasteners, seals and dissimilar-metal interfaces as one system. Assess options such as 316 stainless hardware and a coating system validated for the exposure. Request the corrosion test method, duration and acceptance criteria — neutral salt spray to ISO 9227 is the usual reference — and remember that salt-spray hours cannot be translated directly into years of field life, or into a warranty period.
Temperature and maintenance. Confirm the permitted ambient range, driver temperature limits and access for replacement. Check how a sealed inground assembly can be serviced or replaced without damaging surrounding finishes. Include inspection, cleaning and resealing instructions in the maintenance plan.
Choose optics, colour quality and glare control
Compare distribution and shielding in the proposed layout rather than selecting by wattage or nominal beam angle. Request IES or LDT files for the chosen configuration, plus dimensions and installation instructions, and run the calculation in DIALux or AGi32 with the real optic. Two fixtures at the same wattage can deliver very different uniformity, and the beam angle printed on a datasheet is usually the half-power figure, not the full distribution.
Choose colour temperature (CCT) and colour rendering (CRI) for the task. Warm white such as 2700 K or 3000 K can suit evening garden and hospitality settings, but ecological restrictions may require a different spectrum or lower output. Evaluate other CCT options in a mock-up rather than assuming a cooler light is better for stone or circulation. Consider CRI 90 where colour discrimination matters; it is not a universal requirement. Agree colour consistency between adjacent luminaires and production batches.
For RGBW, evaluate the colour effects and the dedicated white channel separately: a wide colour gamut says nothing about the quality of the white light used for everyday operation, and the white channel should be specified on its own CCT and CRI.
Light pollution. Use only the light needed, direct it towards the intended surface, and reduce output or switch off when the area is unused. Warmer light is often appropriate for evening landscape settings, subject to the project brief and any ecological requirement. CCT alone does not prove dark-sky compliance: shielding, aiming, output, operating hours and the applicable local rules all decide that. The DarkSky and IES principles are a useful framework — useful, targeted, low-level, controlled and warm-coloured lighting; evaluate shielding, aiming, output and operating hours together.
Coordinate voltage, surge protection and controls
Have the electrical designer define supply voltage, circuit loading, cable routes, protective devices, earthing and accessible driver locations. Specify surge immunity using the applicable test method, level, coupling mode and acceptance criteria. IEC 61000-4-5 defines the test waveform and IEEE C62.41 describes the location categories; a 4–6 kV test level is a common project requirement for exposed runs, so confirm the level and coupling mode with the electrical designer. Coordinate protection at the luminaire with upstream devices and earthing, because a driver test value alone does not establish installed-system protection.
220–240V AC versus 24V DC
A mains-input luminaire needs a compatible rated supply and driver arrangement. A 24V DC system needs a suitable power supply, cable sizing and voltage-drop calculations for each run — size the supply for the connected load with headroom, and calculate the drop over the actual run length rather than the fixture count. Driver location depends on the product design; mains input does not always mean an integrated driver, and low voltage does not automatically mean a remotely replaceable driver.
For a 120 V market, a locally suitable power supply may feed a compatible 24V DC luminaire, but that does not establish approval of the complete installation. Verify product certification, wiring methods and local requirements for the exact configuration.
Loxone, 0–10V, DALI and RGBW
Specify the luminaire, driver and control interface together. Loxone automation is a system function rather than a universal feature inside a fitting. For example, compatible DALI control gear can be integrated through a Loxone DALI Extension. Other arrangements require an appropriate interface and verified electrical compatibility.
| Option | Purpose | Confirm before ordering | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10V | Analogue dimming for a control group | Signal compatibility, wiring, dimming range and switch-off behaviour at the bottom of the range | Facade or garden zones using a compatible analogue interface |
| DALI | Addressing, groups and scenes | DALI-2 control gear, interface, addressing plan and supported colour-control functions | Multi-zone projects that need individual addressing |
| DMX / RDM | Dynamic effects; RDM supports device management | Compatible driver, addressing, cable topology and termination | Feature facades and animated RGBW schemes |
| Relay switching | On/off schedules | Driver inrush current and relay contact rating | Curfew switching and simple amenity lighting |
| RGBW | Red, green, blue and white channels | Compatible driver/controller, power capacity and white-channel CCT and CRI | Colour scenes plus usable white light |
RGBW describes light channels, not a communication protocol. For VOC enquiries, state the required control method and supply voltage, then request written confirmation of the supported combination for each ordering code.
Explore VOC outdoor lighting by application
Build the luminaire schedule around the mounting position and the required lighting effect, then shortlist within the collection and confirm the configuration zone by zone.
Inground lights
For recessed landscape accents and architectural details, compare the inground range and confirm the cover, optic, drainage arrangement and electrical version for each position. Inground is the position where water management matters most, so check the mounting sleeve and cable entry as carefully as the rating.
Spike lights
For planting beds and landscape focal points, explore spike-mounted options. Check aiming range, mounting stability in the actual soil condition, and shielding against the viewing direction before fixing the positions — and allow for seasonal growth, because a fixture aimed at a shrub in March may be lighting a hedge in July.
Bollard lights
For paths and garden circulation, compare bollard forms and mounting heights for the site. Confirm spacing and visual comfort through a calculation or a mock-up, and check the glare performance from a standing eye height rather than from the plan.
Outdoor wall lights
For entrances, terraces and exterior circulation, explore wall-mounted options and coordinate the light distribution with the elevation. Check downward distribution and upward spill separately: the second is what the neighbours notice, and a decorative wall fixture is not automatically a substitute for a wall washer.
Compare suppliers using the same evidence
Give every shortlisted supplier the same site brief and ordering requirements. Compare the exact configuration, supporting evidence and installed-system cost. A brand name does not establish environmental suitability, certification, control compatibility or customisation scope.
| Criterion | What to request | Why it decides the outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Complete ordering code | One row per code, including optic, driver, finish and accessories | Makes the proposed configuration traceable |
| Photometry | IES or LDT files for the exact optic and output | The layout cannot be verified or approved without them |
| Environmental evidence | IP and IK test reports, salt-spray method and duration | Shows the scope and conditions of the test |
| Control architecture | Protocol, driver compatibility, interface or gateway requirement | Reduces integration changes after ordering |
| Documentation package | Datasheet, dimensions, installation instructions, maintenance guidance | Needed for approval, installation and later phases of the site |
| Commercial scope | Sample approval, quantities, production timing, warranty terms, private-label terms | Defines whether catalogue supply or OEM is viable at all |
Distinguish catalogue supply, engineered modifications and private-label manufacturing. Ask VOC or any other OEM/ODM supplier to confirm sample approval, documentation, minimum quantities, production timing and warranty terms in writing rather than quoting a universal minimum order quantity in advance — the configuration and finish usually change both. VOC’s OEM and ODM lighting services page sets out the available scope.
Confirm approvals and the handover package
Confirm the destination-market and project requirements for the exact configuration. CE marking, RoHS compliance documentation and third-party safety certification serve different purposes: CE marking indicates conformity with applicable EU requirements; RoHS documentation concerns restricted substances. Where a North American project requires a safety listing, verify a suitable listing for the exact product and intended use. CE marking and RoHS documentation do not replace it.
Where an incentive programme applies, verify the exact product and configuration against the current qualified-product list and the programme rules. A brand-wide claim is not evidence that the specific ordering code is listed, and the list changes.
Collect the approved luminaire schedule, photometry, installation instructions, wiring and control records, aiming settings, maintenance guidance, warranty and replacement-part information. Agree which spares to keep based on access, downtime and replacement lead time.
Frequently asked questions
What IP rating does outdoor lighting need?
There is no single minimum. IEC 60529 separates protection against solids from protection against water: IP65 covers dust-tightness plus water jets, IP67 adds temporary immersion, and IP68 covers immersion under conditions agreed with the manufacturer. Match the rating to the position — sheltered wall, exposed path or recessed ground — then check cable entries, connectors and drainage as part of the same assembly.
Does IP68 remove the need for inground drainage?
No. IPX8 is defined by conditions agreed with the manufacturer, so the depth and duration behind one IP68 claim can differ from another, and the rating describes the enclosure rather than the cavity it sits in. Drainage, cable sealing and the mounting sleeve remain part of the installation. Pool and submerged use requires products specifically suitable for that application.
How far apart should pathway lights be?
Set spacing from the selected photometric distribution, mounting height, path geometry, surface reflectance and the maintained-lighting criteria for the project. Verify uniformity in a calculation rather than with a multiplier, and check glare from normal pedestrian viewing positions as well as from the plan. There is no universal spacing rule, and a layout that works at one mounting height does not transfer to another without recalculating.
Can outdoor lights work with Loxone?
They can when the driver and the interface match the chosen Loxone arrangement. Loxone is a building automation system built around a Miniserver and extension modules, so the integration happens at the driver: DALI control gear through a Loxone DALI Extension, 0–10V drivers through an analogue output or actuator, and simple circuits through relay outputs. Specify modules, wiring and dimming behaviour, then verify the exact ordering code.
Is 24V DC always the better choice?
No. Compare voltage drop, cable sizing, power-supply location, maintenance access and local installation requirements. A 24V DC system needs a power supply sized for the connected load with headroom, plus a voltage-drop calculation for each run; a mains-input luminaire may carry its driver at the fixture and suit long runs or retrofit. Driver location depends on the product design, and neither voltage proves the approvals a project requires.
Plan your outdoor lighting project
If the site is within reach of marine air, say so at the start: it changes the material and coating specification before it changes the price. Five items are enough for a usable first proposal:
- Layout — drawings or a site plan with mounting positions, and the effect you want in each zone.
- Quantities — fixture counts per zone, plus a spare allowance for maintenance.
- Market and approvals — destination country, and whether a UL or ETL listing, CE and RoHS documentation, or a DLC listing is required.
- Electrical and control — 220–240V AC or 24V DC, approximate run lengths, and whether Loxone, 0–10V, DALI or RGBW is specified.
- Exposure — coastal or humid conditions, walk-over or drive-over positions, and how the fittings will be serviced.
Request a model-specific outdoor landscape lighting proposal covering optics, environmental suitability, installation, controls, documentation, warranty and commercial terms.
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