Interim Advice Note

(This Document will become a new separate Section within the upcoming
revision of the DMA Roadway Lighting Specification)

Solar Street Lighting Specification

Revision 0

18th July 2013

Contents
Clause

Section

Page

1........... Executive Summary................................................................................... 2

2........... Solar Street Lighting System Types........................................................... 3
3........... General...................................................................................................... 5
4........... Project Economic Cost Analysis................................................................ 6
5........... Applicable Standards & Guidance Documents.......................................... 7
6........... System Components................................................................................. 11
6.1

LED Luminaires...................................................................................... 11

6.2

PV-Pole System.................................... 12

6.3

Inverter/Controller............ 15

6.4

Batteries................................ 16

6.5

Controls............. 17

6.6

Cleaning System................. 17

7........... Pole Assembly........................................................................................... 18

8........... Pole Design Submission and Production.................................................. 19
9........... Quality Assurance..................................................................................... 20
10......... Warranty and Maintenance Cover............................................................. 20
10.1

Warranty............................................................................................... 20

10.2

Maintenance/Defects Contract Period .................... 21

11......... Measurement and Payment...................................................................... 21

12......... Operation and Maintenance...................................................................... 22

Revision 0

Page 1

18th July 2013

Solar Street Lighting Specification

All use of The Department in the following clauses refers to The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City*.
*Note: If this document is used as a brief for projects outside the ADM Municipal area, The
Department would therefore refer to the relevant Municipality and/or Transport Authority for the
project and area. The local authority applicable standards and/or guidance documents listed
under clause 3.1 would therefore all need to be assessed under direction from the other authority
and amended as necessary.

1. Executive Summary
The technical brief criteria within this specification have been established after access to
over four years of on-site test data from various different solar street lighting technologies
within Abu Dhabi and the UAE. From these results, has come the evidence of which
types of technologies are viable as long-term sustainable solutions for use on Abu Dhabi
street lighting projects and which are not viable.
Therefore there are some key factors for the specific criteria for solar street lighting, the
main critical points of which, as set out within the clauses of this Specification, can be
summarised as follows:

1.1

Required/Permitted under this Specification

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)

Revision 0

Vertically-mounted pole-integrated solar PV systems only

Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline silicon wafer PV construction
VRLA or Gel Lead Acid and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery technologies
Solar standalone solutions or grid-connected system options
Wind-generation components only as an addition to solar PV and with full material,
maintenance and efficiency data provided
Batteries mounted above ground within the base of the pole system
Batteries mounted below ground within the concrete foundation of the pole system
Standalone systems with batteries to have minimum 2-days autonomy
LED (or similar) lighting fixtures complying fully with the requirements of the DMA
Roadway Lighting Specification
Standalone or grid-connected project solar lighting control/operation fully interlinked
via wireless PLMS (Project Lighting Management System)
Minimum 5-year full on-site combined maintenance and defects cover in addition to
the standard warranty requirements
Full project cost analysis including payback
Provision of Operation and Maintenance Manual
Cleaning Proposal including the equipment as part of the project system provision
Environmental Policy Proposal for battery and component recycling/disposal

Page 2

18th July 2013

1.2

Not Permitted under this Specification

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)

Pole-top or side mounted flat PV-panel solar systems

Open wet-type Lead Acid, or other battery technologies to those listed in clause 1.1
Batteries mounted above ground at high-level on the pole system
Batteries mounted below ground within separate battery enclosure/pits
LED (or similar) lighting fixtures not complying fully with the requirements of the DMA
Roadway Lighting Specification
Any claim for self cleaning PV panels and/or unjustified maintenance factors
provided to include for dust accumulation
Any in-built mechanical/electrical automated cleaning mechanism or apparatus
Any wind-generation devices without full test data to prove long-term viability and
sustainability
Standalone project solar lighting individual pole (non-interconnected PLMS) operation
System approval unless full cost analysis provided and checked/approved by The
Department
Any non-site specific sun-availability criteria used in calculations/analysis
Any deviation from the system technical criteria as set out within this Specification
Any deviation from the minimum maintenance and warranty requirements as set out
within this Specification

2. Solar Street Lighting System Options

2.1

There are three viable solar street lighting system options available for consideration for a
project.
A. Standalone No grid-connection, standalone vertical PV-poles with integral
batteries, controller/inverter and wireless PLMS.
For solar street light projects:
Without existing substation/cabling/infrastructure
Or with existing cabling/infrastructure, but unsuitable for utilisation
Or where new cabling may not be commercially feasible
The battery is installed within the solar PV-clad pole base or in a separate, concrete
foundation-located formed battery enclosure.
The standalone PV-poles controller/inverter controls the charge and discharge of the
battery, the battery status and the status of the solar pole PVs.
A wireless type PLMS provides and controls the power for the light fitting, including
coordinated activation, dimming and status of the lights.

Revision 0

Page 3

18th July 2013

B. Grid Connected Electric grid-connection, vertical PV-poles without

batteries, with controller/inverter and wireless PLMS.
For solar street light projects:
With existing substation/cabling/infrastructure
Or where new cabling may be commercially feasible
The grid-connected poles controller/inverter during the daytime converts the solar
energy via the PVs from DC to AC and feeds it to the power grid. During the night,
the pole and LED fixture work like any other conventional street light, with the
required energy for lighting taken from the power grid.
A wireless type PLMS provides and controls the power for the light fitting, including
coordinated activation, dimming and status of the lights.
Ideally, the design of the system would ensure more energy from the solar PVs is
produced during the day than required for lighting the LED fixture during the night.
Excess energy can be used for its own purposes or could be sold/credited in the
future.

C. Full Backup Electric grid-connection, vertical PV-poles with integral

batteries, controller/inverter and wireless PLMS
For solar street light projects:
With existing substation/cabling/infrastructure
Or where new cabling may be commercially feasible
Or for areas with infrastructure, but susceptible to power outages
Or for a project where maximised efficiency of power generation is desirable
Or for a project where 100% assurance of illumination is always essential
Solar energy generated from the PVs during the day is stored in a battery. Once the
battery is charged, excess solar generated energy is converted from DC to AC and
fed into the power grid. The battery is installed within the solar PV-clad pole base or
in a separate, foundation- located formed battery enclosure.
During the night, the pole and LED fixture can be designed to work in one of two
ways:

Either like any other conventional street light, with the required energy for
lighting taken from the power grid. Then in the case of power outage, the
system switches immediately to the battery backup.

Or, the required energy for lighting taken solely from the battery with the grid
used as a back-up in the event of the battery failing or discharging fully
before daytime.

A wireless type PLMS provides and controls the power for the light fitting, including
coordinated activation, dimming and status of the lights.

Revision 0

Page 4

18th July 2013

With a system such as this the autonomy and thus size of the battery could be
relaxed from the normal Specifications requirements as part of the overall system
design.
Excess energy can be used for its own purposes or could be sold/credited in the
future.

2.2

The decision about which system option is best considered for a project can be
determined primarily by what level of existing street lighting electrical infrastructure is
present for the project.
The site-specific infrastructure as far as a local sub-station being either present or not
present is another primary consideration; also if planned for a defined or undefined future
date or present but lacking sufficient capacity. Even if local substation and capacity is
available, but there is no existing street lighting electrical infrastructure currently in place
(sub-mains distribution, lighting control cabinets, final circuit cabling etc.) this can have a
further implication.
A project area might indeed have both full infrastructure and capacity in place, but other
factors such as a clients paramount need to ensure illumination is maintained at all times
or any area is subject to, or has a history of, power outages, may be an issue.
The main factors for consideration have been suggested in this section; however there
may be other factors to determine the best system for a specific project. All these factors
all need to be weighed up when deciding on the most appropriate system option to
consider and propose through the project cost analysis.

3. General
3.1

The design, specification, calculation, manufacturing, testing, shipment, installation and

performance of Solar and LED (or similar) lighting systems shall be in accordance with
the applicable requirements of all The Departments civil, electrical, mechanical and
lighting standards for electrical distribution works, except as specified herein. Copies
should be requested from The Department if not already held.

3.2

The Projects lighting design and luminance level requirements and the LED (or similar)
street lighting luminaires shall be fully in accordance with the requirements of the DMA
Roadway Lighting Specification.
Submissions for the project made to the Department must include all the usual proof of
compliance; lighting calculations, layouts, compliance checklist, luminaire/lampsource/gear data and all accredited test sheets to show the requirements of the DMA
Lighting Roadway Lighting Specification have been met fully.

Revision 0

Page 5

18th July 2013

3.3

The Consultant and manufacturers shall guarantee adherence to this Specification and
the performance of the Solar Pole, system and LED (or similar) luminaire under all the
required design conditions.

3.4

The Consultant shall be responsible to ensure that the project and product specifications
are fully in compliance, without any deviation from this Specification prior to forwarding to
The Department for approval. Any deviation should be brought to the notice of The
Department. The Consultant shall ensure in his design the following: integration,
coordination, functionality and accessibility of these services. It shall be the Consultants
responsibility to bring the system to the design & operating and maintenance conditions.

4. Project Economic Cost Analysis

4.1

The Consultant shall, as requested by The Department, provide full cost analysis
including payback assessments as required for the project solar proposal(s) and in
accordance with the instructions given by The Department.
The full life cycle cost analysis asset comparison shall be undertaken to the BS ISO
15686-5 Supplement (Publicly Available Specification - published by the British
Standards Institution) or similar and cover parameters which fully meets the requirements
of this specification.
All information provided and the cost analysis/payback calculations should be calculated
with the exact required LED (or similar) lighting fixture, driver/load, solar equipment,
battery, inverter, autonomy and site position (sun availability).

The Economic Cost Analysis should include the following parameters and allowances:
a) Compare the solar proposal(s) against the base standard of LED (or similar) as per
the DMA Roadway Lighting Specification, with standard non-solar poles as per the
projects brief requirements and electrical infrastructure matching the sites existing
constraints
b) Compare project specific Initial Capital Expenditure (CapEx) costs.
c) Compare project specific Annual Operational Expenditure (OpEx) to include
electricity usage and maintenance cost allowances.
d) Compare long-term total costs over minimum of 10-years based on present value
cost assessment including initial CapEx, annual OpEx and future CapEx for required
component replacement.
e) Compare Salvage Value of the system at the end of the study period.
f)

Revision 0

Include all justifications of given and calculated values and timescales with
annotation and supporting data where applicable.

Page 6

18th July 2013

g) Provide the calculated Payback Period (if applicable) for the solar proposal(s) against
the base LED conventional approach
h) Provide report and output graphs/tables as required to present project data clearly.
i)

Include also average per-pole cost comparisons of all options within report findings.

j)

Allow for 0.35fils/kWhr. As per the Average Economic Cost of Electricity; taken from
the DMA Sustainable Lighting Strategy.

k) Allow for 11-hours per night, 365-days a year luminaire operation.

l)

Allow for load of actual luminaire, with actual driver/current including all losses as per
the fixtures LM-79 report or similar accredited laboratory test.

m) Allow for stated average useful life of all components in the long-term analysis, and
salvage analysis, including, but not limited to, the luminaire, driver, inverter, battery,
control components, cables, PV-panels/modules, pole, base and associated synthetic
and metal materials.
n) For any solar grid-connected systems for which the poles have no batteries, but
connect to a conventional grid, generate electricity in the daytime and run
conventionally at night time, provide justified figures based on the local environment
and actual site situation on assessed generation value used in the analysis.
o) Use an annual discount rate of 7% for the long-term Present Value analysis unless
confirmed otherwise by The Department
p) Allow for dimming savings in the analysis only if included within the project
proposal(s) and then only pro-rata as per the exact dimming settings proposed and
justified.
q) If local infrastructure is present or not present this should also be factored into the
analysis for cost comparison purposes including, as applicable, local sub-station
provision, sub-mains distribution, lighting control cabinets, final circuit cabling,
protection, civil works and connections.

5. Applicable Standards & Guidance Documents

The following documents (or equivalent International approved documents) shall be
followed. Versions listed shall be superseded by updated versions as they become
available.

5.1

Abu Dhabi Standards:

.1

Revision 0

DMA Lighting Specification for Roadway/Parking, Tunnel/Underpasses, Lighting

Poles & Public Lighting Management System - Rev.01 1st November 2011.
(Referred to also as the DMA Roadway Lighting Specification).

Page 7

18th July 2013

5.2

5.3

5.4

.2

The Departments Sustainability Guideline Standards.

For ADM, the IRI Sustainability Guideline Standard 2010

.3

ESTIDAMA - Community Pearl Rating System

.4

UPC - Utilities Design Guidelines: Public Realm Design Manual (PRDM) & Urban
Street Design Manual (USDM).

.5

The Departments Electrical Standards. For ADM, the Standard Specification

Sections XVI-14 - Lighting and Electrical Distribution Works

.6

The Departments Civil, Mechanical and Material Standards. For ADM, the
Standard Specification Sections I to XIII

.7

The Departments Standards for tree/lighting-pole safety clear-zone safety

setting-off distances. For ADM, Interim Advice Note 01/308/06/2011

Maintenance:
.1

IESNA DG-4-03 Design Guide for Roadway Lighting Maintenance.

.2

CIE154:2003 The Maintenance of outdoor lighting systems

Solar PV Systems and Components:

.1

IEC 61215 Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules Design

Qualification and Type Approval

.2

IEC 61646 Thin-Film Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design Qualification

and Type Approval

.3

IEC 61730 Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification Part 1: Requirements

for Construction

.4

IEC 62093 Balance-of-System Components for Photovoltaic Systems - Design

Qualification Natural Environments

.5

IEC 60050 International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV)

.6

ISO 9488 Solar Energy Vocabulary

.7

ASTM E772 Standard Terminology Relating to Solar Energy Conversion

Batteries:
.1

IEC 60050 (IEV) Chapter 486: Secondary Cells and Batteries

.2

IEC 60086-1 BS 387, Primary Batteries General

.3

IEC 60086-2 BS, Batteries General

Revision 0

Page 8

18th July 2013

5.5

.4

IEC 60896-1, EN 60896-1 Stationary Lead Acid Batteries, Vented Types:

General Requirements and Methods of Test

.5

IEC 60896-2, EN 60896-2 Stationary Lead Acid Batteries, Valve-Regulated

Types (VRLA): General Requirements and Methods of Test

.6

IEC 60896-21, EN/IEC 60896-21 Stationary Lead Acid Batteries, ValveRegulated Types: Methods of Test

.7

IEC 60896-22, EN/IEC 60896-22 Stationary Lead Acid Batteries, ValveRegulated Types: Requirements

.8

IEC 61951-2 Ed. 3.0 b:2011, BS EN 61951-2:2011 Secondary cells and batteries
containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Portable sealed rechargeable
single cells - Part 2: Nickel-metal hydride

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis:

.1

5.6

5.7

Supplement to BS ISO 15686-5 - Standardized Method of Life Cycle Costing for

Construction Procurement

Mechanical:
.1

Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Code for ingress protection

and IK Code for Mechanical Strength): IEC 60529 (IP) and IEC 62262 (IK).

.2

Testing of Materials:
i.
ASTM B 117-07a Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog)
Apparatus, 2007 and ASTM D1654 - 08 Standard Test Method for
Evaluation of Painted or Coated Specimens Subjected to Corrosive
Environments, or
ii.
ISO International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9227 Corrosion
tests in artificial atmospheresSalt spray tests, 2006.
iii.
ISO8289A: Low voltage test for detecting and locating defects
iv.
ISO 4892-1: Plastics -- Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources

Electrical:
.1

Electrical Safety - General and for Road Lighting Luminaires: EN 60598-parts 1,

2-1 & 2-3

.2

Electromagnetic Compatibility:
i.
EN 61547, EN 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3 & EN 55015 (CISPR-15) for
(Immunity Requirements, Harmonics Requirements, Flicker
Requirements & Radiated and Conducted Emissions, respectively).
ii.
ANSI C82.77-2002 - Harmonic Emission Limits & IEEE Std 519 1992 Harmonic Limits
iii.
FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Radio Frequency Devices

Revision 0

Page 9

18th July 2013

.3

5.8

RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC, on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous

substances in electrical and electronic equipment

Lighting Design/Project Setting Out

(In addition to the standards/guidance already listed within the DMA Roadway Lighting
Specification):
.1

Road:
i.
IESNA RP-8-00 (Roadway Lighting)
ii.
CIE 115 - 2010(Lighting of Roads for Motor and Pedestrian Traffic)
iii.
BS 5489-1(Code of Practice for Design of Road Lighting), BS EN 132012 (Road Lighting Performance Requirements),13201 - Road Lighting
ME/MEW Classes

.2

Bridges:
iv. IESNA RP-8-00 (Roadway Lighting)
v. CIE 115 (Lighting of Roads for Motor and Pedestrian Traffic)
vi. EN 13201 - Road Lighting ME/MEW Classes
vii. BS 5489-1(Code of Practice for Design of Road Lighting), BS EN 132012 (Road Lighting Performance Requirements)

.3

Roundabouts:
viii. IESNA RP-8-00 (Roadway Lighting, Conflict Area) and DG-19-08 (Design
ix. Guide for Roundabout Lighting)
x. CIE 115 (Lighting of Roads for Motor and Pedestrian Traffic) Zones of
Conflict
xi. EN 13201 Road Lighting CE Classes
xii. BS 5489-1(Code of Practice for Design of Road Lighting), BS EN 132012 (Road Lighting Performance Requirements)

.4

Pedestrian Crossings:
xiii. IESNA RP-08-00 (conflict Areas and Interaction) and DG-5-94
(Recommended Lighting for Walkways and Class I Bikeways
xiv. CIE 115 (Lighting of Roads for Motor and Pedestrian Traffic)
xv. EN 13201 Road Lighting EV Classes
xvi. BS 5489-1(Code of Practice for Design of Road Lighting), BS EN 132012 (Road Lighting Performance Requirements)

.5

Interchanges:
xvii.
IESNA RP-8-00 (Conflict areas)
xviii.
CIE 115 (Lighting of Roads for Motor and Pedestrian Traffic) Zones of
Conflict
xix.
EN 13201 - Road Lighting CE Classes
xx.
BS 5489-1(Code of Practice for Design of Road Lighting), BS EN 132012 (Road Lighting Performance Requirements)

.6

Revision 0

Parking:
xxi.
IESNA RP-20-98 (Parking Lot and Parking Garages)
xxii.
CIE 129(Guide for Lighting Exterior Work Areas)
xxiii.
CEN 13201 Road Lighting S Classes

Page 10

18th July 2013

xxiv.

BS 5489-1(Code of Practice for Design of Road Lighting), BS EN 124642(Lighting of Work Places - Outdoor Work Places)

6. System Components
6.1

LED Luminaires
.1

The design, specification, calculation, manufacturing, testing, shipment,

installation and performance of LED lighting system (or other equally sustainable
technology) shall be in accordance with the applicable requirements of all The
Departments electrical and lighting standards for electrical distribution works,
except as specified herein. Copies should be requested from The Department if
not already held.

.2

Lighting fixtures must be LED (or similar), fully in accordance with the
requirements of the DMA Lighting Specification for Roadway/Parking,
Tunnel/Underpasses, Lighting Poles & Public Lighting Management System Rev.01 1st November 2011.
(Referred to also as the DMA Roadway Lighting Specification).

.3

The Consultant shall note that all lighting calculations for parking lots/areas
adjacent to roads must take into account the road lighting contribution into the
parking lighting design and vice-versa. All projects shall be undertaken, checked
and approved as the responsibility of the Consultant to meet the required
roadway and parking levels as set out in the DMA Roadway Lighting
Specification.

.4

The Consultant and Manufacturers shall ensure all luminaires are fully
compatible with the Solar PV Pole system, the fixture driver, the solar pole
inverter/controller, PLMS and components to meet all the overall design
requirements.

.5

All luminaire drivers must be specified correctly to have suitable inputs for the
solar systems (usually12 or 24v) DC output from the battery/inverter/controller.

.6

Some systems may negate the need for a driver with the fixture entirely as the
driver current function forms part of the inverter/controller equipment. Refer also
to clause 6.3 to see details about the inverter/controller

.7

All luminaire test data and supporting information must be provided with the
specific driver specification used.

Revision 0

Page 11

18th July 2013

6.2

PV-Pole System
.1 General
The pole for the solar street lighting system shall only be of the vertically integrated PVclad variety. Herein referred to as PV-Poles or PV-Poles Systems.

Separate flat design PV panels mounted on the top of, or offset from, a standard pole are
not permitted for use on The Departments street lighting projects. Flat PV panels are not
acceptable due their high maintenance requirements, inherent dust accumulation issues,
high wind-loads, aesthetic concerns and cleaning issues regarding both dirty water falling
onto parked vehicles and a potential for breach of privacy laws in residential areas.
All PV-poles shall be of a type that can accommodate a variety of applications. The PVpole shall be either circular or square in cross-section, made up of an extruded aluminium
or steel mast that enables proprietary accessories, as required by the project, to be
mounted at set distances along its length at heights and positions coordinated within the
PV sections. The finish colour and design of the PV-pole and accessories shall be as
agreed with The Department for the project.
Minimum Ingress Protection ratings for the PV-pole system:
Mast component - IP40, IK-07
PVs and electrical components protected to IP66
Glass components IK-08
Batteries IP44
Battery housing above ground within pole-base IP66, IK-07
Battery housing foundation-mounted below-ground IP68,
Battery housing foundation-mounted cover plate IP67, IK-10

Revision 0

Page 12

18th July 2013

.2

Materials
a) Foundations. Structural analysis shall be submitted to show that the foundation
design meets the load of the given PV-pole type in its Fully Loaded state. Unless
otherwise stated it is assumed the pole will sit above ground on a 100mm bed on non
shrink grout.
For all standard foundations and/or foundations designed to house a chamber for below
ground mounting of a solar battery, full design details shall be submitted for The
Departments review and approval. Special design details shall also be submitted by the
Contractor to install the poles above any tunnel structures.
Where batteries are to be located below-ground, only a Battery Foundation: a battery pit
constructed as part of the concrete foundation is permitted. This is to ensure the
maximum physical protection of the pit and pit cover from damage. No remote battery pit
enclosures are permitted on The Departments projects

The Two-Types of Permitted Solar PV-Pole Foundations

Example of Typical Concrete Foundation

Example of Typical Battery Foundation

b) Service Hatch(es), Each pole shall have its necessary service hatch(es) positioned
no lower than 400mm from finished ground level where all required electrical and solar
components and connections are accessible.
For a system where the connection of grid cables is required, a minimum of two hatches
are required, a lower service hatch must meet The Departments standards so electrical
connections can be made between the outside network and the pole accessories as per
normal pole design and work practices. The lower service hatch shall be used for street
lighting and the remaining one(s) for the solar equipment.
The service hatch(es) shall be accessible without removing the cover plates or cladding
from the pole bases. Cover plates shall be fixed by two screws. The service hatches or
hand hole covers shall be fixed with hinges made of corrosion resistant materials such as

Revision 0

Page 13

18th July 2013

stainless steel grade 316(A4), brass, hot-dip galvanized steel, etc. as applicable based
on the PV-pole and cover plate material and shall be lockable with padlocks complying
with The Departments standard specifications.
As required by the project the hatch(es) shall house general purpose outlets (GPO) that
can be accessed through an external lockable hatch. Hatch door keys shall be supplied
as per The Departments requirements.

c) Foundation conduits. Electric conduits shall be installed through foundation and

shall enter the PV-poles from the base plate.
Regardless of which solar system type the project has, even if it is a standalone (battery)
system, these conduits are required to be installed always for cabling entry purposes for
both present and future needs to avoid any potential future remedial works to the
foundations to be incurred.

d) Steel work. PV-poles steel work shall be manufactured out of BS grade S355 steel
for 10-14m poles or as appropriate to a pole of lower height. Hot dipped galvanizing (100
Microns minimum coating thickness) surface treatment shall be applied to both internal
and external surfaces. The base plate shall be in accordance with The Departments
standard specifications. All additional fixtures (Fixture Type-1, Fixture Type-2, and
Fixture Type-3) shall be on steel attachments of BS Grade S275 with hot dipped
galvanizing (100 microns minimum).
Base plate shall be manufactured as specified on the Drawings. Where steelwork is in
contact with aluminium work, the manufacturer shall ensure that bi-metallic corrosion is
prevented by means approved by The Department.

e) Aluminium work. PV-poles aluminium shall be made up of extruded aluminium alloy

(EN AW6005/6063/6082-T6) which shall have an anodized protective coating finish to 25
microns. The colour of the anodized finish shall be as approved by The Department. Any
transition rim shall be of cast aluminium alloy of grade LM6 having coating of minimum
100 microns of polyester powder coating, type PE-SDF matching the approved colour of
the anodized extruded aluminium.

f) Photovoltaics (PVs). All photovoltaic components shall be either Monocrystalline or

Polycrystalline silicon wafer types manufactured, tested and installed as per the
respective International standards listed under Clause 5.3 of this Specification.
The lowest level of the PVs on the PV-pole shall not be less than 3m from finished
ground level for the 10 or 14m poles to ensure they are out of reach of the general public.

g) Wind Generators. Wind-generation components are only permitted as a potential

additional option to solar PV and must be proposed with full material, including
maintenance requirements and justified lifetime efficiency data for The Department to
consider their viability. For Warranty purposes they must be considered to meet the same
requirements as the PV modules.

Revision 0

Page 14

18th July 2013

h) Synthetic Materials. All synthetic materials including translucent (non-glass) PV

covers shall be 100% UV Stable non-yellowing, environmentally resistant and scratch
resistant. Laboratory test data shall be provided to The Department to prove the materials are
resistant to deterioration.

i) Bracketry and Base Plate Cover. Pole brackets and base plate cover shall be
manufactured out of BS grade S275 Steel. This shall have high strength and finished to
match the PV-pole. All steel components shall be hot-dip galvanized to a minimum
thickness of 100microns and painted as per the applicable clauses of The Departments
standard specifications. The base plate cover shall be supplied along with the pole.

j) Fasteners. All fasteners supplied shall be made of corrosion resistant materials such
as stainless steel; - Grade 316, brass, hot-dip galvanized steel etc, based on the
materials with which it will be in contact. Bi-metallic contact shall be properly designed to
avoid any galvanic or bi-metallic corrosion.

k) Electric Equipment. M8 x30 mm long threaded stud carrying two nuts and two
washers shall be provided as an earth point. It shall be located within the lowest service
hatch. The electrical termination cut-outs shall be supplied in accordance with the Supply
Companys (Street Lighting) requirements and as shown on the Drawings. Each pole as
required shall be polyethylene rope (dia. 4mm) draw wired to assist in feeding electrical
and service cables.

l) Product Identification Tag. There should be a Name Plate affixed to the column in an
appropriate location and manner to suit the column design and access which will give:
a. Name of the Manufacturer or Distinctive Logo.
b. Model Number
c. Serial Numbers of all equipment
d. Year of manufacture
e. Separate battery details (where applicable for the system)

m) Copper Content. All Aluminium Die-cast components shall have a very low copper
content of less than 1%.

6.3

Inverter/Controller
The inverter/controller controls the charge and discharge of the battery, the battery status
and the status of the solar PV modules. The inverter/controller provides and controls the
power for the street lighting fixture(s), including dimming and status..
Technical Requirements
Selected for minimum 2-days autonomy operation (2-nights bad weather
capability)

Revision 0

Page 15

18th July 2013

Photovoltaic charge control for 24V DC batteries as per the project system
requirements
24V DC output for powering LED fixture drivers
Intelligent charging of Ni-MH or Lead-Acid batteries, battery charging 24V DC
0-10V DC dimming (optional PWM dimming 0-100%)
Solar PV module input 10-24V DC
Nominal input 230V AC (optional 120-277V AC if required for project)
Can be combined with DC/AC inverter for grid system connection as required for
the project
Specified for the project assessed solar energy yield in combination with wattage
of LED luminaire used, battery size and usage of dimming
130W max typical normal load (Input Power), options up to max 200W loads if
needed
Automatic Light Switching
Light On/Off controlled by sunset/sunrise
Automatic Light Level Calculation / Automatic Dimming functionality for bad
weather situations based on calculated night length & energy available in
batteries. If not enough energy available for whole night, can be programmed to
be dimmed accordingly

Operating Conditions
Operating temperature: - 20C to +60 C
Storage (non-operating) - 40C to +80 C

6.4

Batteries
The type, size and quality of batteries specified shall be selected for their optimum
performance and integration for the project specific requirements.
Technical Requirements
VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid), Gel Lead Acid or Nickel Metal Hydride
(NiMH) battery technologies
Selected for minimum 2-days autonomy system capacity (2-nights bad weather
capacity)
24V DC, Min 100Ah rated. 24V DC output for powering LED fixture drivers
Expected Lifetime for the project design - 5-6 Years
Guaranteed Lifetime for the project design - 5 Years
75 % of the rated capacity of the battery should be between fully charged and
load cut off conditions.
Manufactured, tested and installed as per the respective International standards
listed under Clause 5.4 of this Specification.
Mounted either in the PV-Pole base or below ground within concrete combined
battery/foundation type
Operating Conditions
Operating temperature: - 20C to +60 C
Storage (non-operating) - 40C to +80 C

Revision 0

Page 16

18th July 2013

6.5

Controls
Whether the Standalone, Grid-Connected or Full Backup type systems, the project solar
lighting control/operation shall be fully interlinked via a wireless PLMS system.
Technical Requirements
Wireless, Wi-Fi, Cloud or RFI system fully tested and compatible with the solar
system proposed (GSM 900/1800, GPRS, SMS, ZigBee etc.)
Wireless communication complying with IEEE 802.15.4a
The proposed system shall be fully compatible with the specified LED luminaire
and driver proposed for the project and the inverter/controller
Any brand of manufacturers LED luminaires shall be able to be controlled from
the system to ensure luminaire choice can be made openly for the best current
marketplace products available for the project.
System interface/software to be password encrypted, able to program the project
system and cater for revised programming settings for future if required
System interface able to be interconnected to outside central system and control
room in the future as and when required.
0-10V DC dimming (optional PWM dimming 0-100%)
Light levels configurable at 1-10% step increments as required
Remote Light Switching, automatic-programmed and manual override
Standard & customizable light profiles for peak/off-peak times
Individual Dimming Profiles, changeable according to weekly plans
Automatic luminous flux reduction in case of consecutive bad weather periods to
avoid light switch off
Error Reporting - Comprehensive & instant overview about infrastructure
problems like lamp/driver errors, battery errors, inverter errors per pole
Energy Reports - Detailed daily overview about solar energy produced,
energy consumed, energy fed to the grid, energy charged to battery, etc.
Optional iPhone/iPad/Android mobile application interface for maintenance work
at site Basic status info and instant setting configuration via mobile phone,
while on site
Data Export for further in depth analysis or integration into existing inventory
management systems operated by The Department
Operating Conditions
Operating temperature: - 20C to +60 C
Storage (non-operating) - 40C to +80 C

6.6

Cleaning System
To ensure optimum performance at all times, the PV-pole must be cleaned on a regular
basis. To avoid dirty water falling onto parked vehicles and a potential for breach of
privacy laws in residential areas, The Department requires a proprietary ground-level
cleaning system solution and equipment to form part of the project proposal.
It shall be purchased as part of the project. At the end of the maintenance period, and as
and when determined by The Department, the cleaning equipment shall be handed to the
Department to be retained and re-distributed as per The Departments requirements.

Revision 0

Page 17

18th July 2013

High pressure hose cleaning is not acceptable, nor are any automated/motorised
systems on the PV-poles themselves and any solution should be based on the following
parameters:
Technical Requirements
Cleaning must be undertaken using pure filtered water and no chemical additives
A telescopic low-pressure hose and brush system enabling the operator to reach
all PV surfaces from ground level
Water supply transportable via a truck/trailer with low-pressure electric pump
Minimum 100m hose
Minimum 10-14m telescopic pole (as per project PV-pole requirements)
Soft brush designed specifically for PV applications to avoid damage and
scratches to the PV module clear covers
Cleaning Cycles
Average time to fully clean a single PV-pole should be 4-5minutes
It should be able to operated by a single person
PV-Poles should cleaned initially once a month
However, the specific long-term cleaning cycle is to be defined after the first 6months of operation, where energy yields can be analysed and compared by the
PLMS against the degree of dust accumulation on the PV-panels for the site
specific project location.
If assessed as satisfactory the cleaning cycle beyond the initial 6-months can be
reduced to 2 or 3 months as appropriate.

Pole Assembly
a) Assembly of PV-pole. The pole shall be complete with all accessories and all
necessary component assembly undertaken at the factory. The final assembly of pole
and components shall be ready for installation at site without any works required other
than using suitable fixing tools.

b) Mast arm for the Luminaires. The mast arm for the luminaire shall manufactured by
the PV-pole manufacturer for the required length and fitted to the pole at the factory for
the correct orientation of the pole and PV panel sections for the project locations. The
attachment of the mast arms shall be made of standard fasteners (DIN M60 or similar)
through the structural casting without any detriment to the PV-poles IP rating.
As per The Departments lighting design requirements as set out within the DMA
Roadway Lighting Specification, mast arm heights of approximately 10m should be
provided for projects normally requiring conventional 10m poles and 14m should be
provided for projects normally requiring conventional 14m poles. Solar system options for
projects designed with lower luminaire mounting heights, thus resulting in closer pole
spacings and an increase in pole numbers on projects is not acceptable under normal
circumstances unless justification can be provided.
The mast arm shall be self-supporting against all forces including uplift, without the use of
any guy wires unless approved by The Department. The luminaire shall be fixed to the

Revision 0

Page 18

18th July 2013

mast arm and electrically wired. Finally the cable end shall be connected to the solar
system inverter/controller as required by the system type at the service hatch(es) located
in the pole base.

c) Additional Assembly. If required by the project brief, provisions shall be made on the
PV-pole for enabling the fixing of other accessories such as fixed arms for fabric banners,
or CCTV cameras. These provisions shall allow for the planned accessories to be added
without having to remove the existing installed accessories, luminaire brackets or the like.
The provisions shall be such as to ensure the clean, aesthetic look is maintained, the
solar-collecting capability of the PVs to not be compromised. If required these provisions
shall be designed to allow for complete dismantling, when not in use, without leaving
behind any clamps, lugs, etc...

d) Pole Base Cladding. Where a decorative element shall be used for the cladding at
the base of the PV-pole it shall be made from laser-cut, anodized or PE-SDF powdercoated aluminium sheeting and UV-stabilized, scratch-resistant polycarbonate
incorporating LED lighting as shown on the project drawings. LED strip shall be hidden
behind the polycarbonate sheet. The number and type of fixtures shall be as advised and
approved by The Department and all lighting equipment must meet LED standards as set
out within the DMA Lighting Specifications.
LED types and wattage shall be finalized on product testing and clear adhesive 3M VHB
or equivalent, 1mm thick film shall be applied to aluminium prior to laser cutting. Pattern
shall be laser cut through both. Otherwise, adhesive shall bond aluminium to 6mm satin
ice 100% UV-stable, scratch-resistant polycarbonate after forming.
If required to be supplied from a solar system with batteries, the additional load and
operation of this lighting must be including within the overall system and battery capacity
design together with the street lighting luminaire.

Pole Design Submission and Production

a) Design for Strength. The PV-poles shall be capable of withstanding a basic wind
speed of 45 m/s or 160 km/hr (3 second gust) when equipped with the equivalent of the
actual type and number of LED lanterns for the project and the associated fittings or
accessories as confirmed by The Department. All PV-poles shall be designed in
accordance with the requirements of the latest edition of AASTHO or equivalent
European or International standard. Design calculations shall be submitted, for The
Departments approval, showing the following:i.
Wind load derivation (hand calculation) on luminaires and mounted
accessories
ii.
Wind loading derivation (hand calculation) on the pole
iii.
Sectional area of the pole at regular intervals of height along the pole,
especially at areas of cross-section change and hand hole opening
iv.
Stress at the intervals specified in (iii) above
v.
Strength of the pole at the intervals specified in (iii) above
vi.
Combined Stress Ratios at the intervals specified in (iii) above

Revision 0

Page 19

18th July 2013

.
b) Design for Deflection. Actual deflection against the deflection limit of the PV-poles
shall be clearly stated in the design calculations and shall conform to AASTHO or
equivalent European or International standard. The actual deflection calculated shall be
based on the basic wind speed of 45m/s and shall be measured at the lantern position(s).
The calculated deflection shall be the sum of deflection on the vertical PV-pole section as
well as the outreach bracket arm section(s). Deflection of both the vertical pole and the
arm(s) shall be shown in the design submission.
Design calculations shall show the pole deflection and shall be checked against the
allowable deflection and special deflection limits required for CCTV cameras, where
applicable for the project.
c) Notarized Statement. A notarized statement, attested by the UAE Embassy,
certifying the PV-poles were built conforming to the manufacturers approved drawings
and design calculations, shall be submitted after completion of manufacture, and prior to
delivery of poles to site. PV-pole delivery to project site shall not be accepted without this.

Quality Assurance
The Department may request standard production model samples, identical to the
proposed products to be installed. The Department may request independent testing of
the sample PV-pole masts and equipment to verify the performance and compliance with
the specifications. The Department shall be the sole judge regarding the acceptability of
the performance of the light poles.
According to the requirements of the Projects Contract documents, if required The
Department reserves the right to attend, or appoint a third party to attend, a factory
inspection. During a factory inspection, the manufacturer shall perform a full deflection
test, as agreed jointly with an accredited independent test house and department, on a
randomly selected pole from the manufactured lot, for each type of ordered pole, to
establish the design compliance and structural integrity of the manufactured pole under
simulated conditions of full loading, strictly in accordance with the approved design
calculations and drawings.
If requested by The Department, different options of the base or lower cladding unit are to
be shown on the project drawings. The Department will choose one option during the
material review process and the sample shall be submitted accordingly.

10

Warranty and Maintenance Cover

10.1 Warranty
The Consultant/Contractor shall provide a written undertaking of the Warranty from the
Solar system supplier, accompanied with the written proof of the local representatives
UAE Operating License and established UAE background, to the satisfaction of The
Department to warranty the materials and performance, as follows:

Revision 0

Page 20

18th July 2013

a) Provide a written minimum-ten (minimum-10) year Warranty for on-site replacement:

material, fixture finish, and workmanship. On-site replacement includes transportation,
removal and installation of new products. Finish warranty shall include warranty against
corrosion, failure or substantial deteriorations such as blistering, cracking, peeling,
chalking or fading. The warranty shall include for maintained aesthetic integrity of the PVpole, photovoltaic panels, accessories, components and assemblies (not including the
photovoltaic panels and batteries), without any partial or complete separation, corrosion,
leaking, dislocation, disjointing, flaring, etc. of any elements of the PV-pole, system
components and assembly with no cost to The Department.
b) Provide a written minimum-ten (minimum-10) year replacement warranty for defective
PV-poles, photovoltaics, accessories, components and assemblies (not including the
photovoltaic panels and batteries), with no cost to The Department
c) Provide a written minimum-five (minimum-5) year Warranty on the batteries for on-site
replacement: material and workmanship. On-site replacement includes transportation,
removal and installation of new products.
Warranty shall include substantial
deteriorations such as leaking, buckling, corrosion, inability to be charged or withhold a
charge, impacted system autonomy and reduced DC output with no cost to The
Department.
d) Provide a written minimum-twenty five (minimum-25) year replacement warranty for
the photovoltaic (PV) modules for their output peak watt capacity to not fall below 80% at
the end of twenty five (25) years. With a minimum-ten (minimum-10) year replacement
warranty for their output peak watt capacity to not fall below 90% at the end of ten (10)
years. With no cost to The Department.

10.2 Maintenance/Defects Contract Period

If requested within the Project documents, the Consultant/Contractor shall provide for the
solar street lighting system manufacturer to include for a full maintenance and defects
contract for a defined period for the project. This would be above and beyond the normal
defects arrangements
This contract shall include for all preventative and reactionary maintenance of the solar
system and components, including all parts and materials throughout the duration of the
contract. Refer also to clause 6.6 regarding cleaning. Full details of this maintenance
contract including method statement for the maintenance to be included for approval of
The Department. The maintenance contract should include for a renewal and/or
extension of the contract if required in the future by The Department.

11

Measurement and Payment

a) General. The measurement and payment for the PV-pole solar street lighting system
shall include, but not by way of limitations, the complete PV-poles and components,
batteries, invertors, controllers, PLMS, LED luminaires with all accessories, foundations,
arthing and all related materials and works for the complete installation and energizing
the system.

Revision 0

Page 21

18th July 2013

Installation of cables in PV-poles shall be in accordance with The Departments standard

specifications.
b) PV-Poles. Measurement and payment for the PV-poles, solar system and
components, will be at the unit rates as included in the Bills of Quantities, which rates
shall be considered as full compensation for all labour materials, finishes, tools,
equipment and appurtenances as required, as specified, and as directed by The
Department.

12

Operation and Maintenance Manual

An Operation, Instruction and Maintenance Manual (O&M Manual), in both English and
Arabic, should be provided for The Department for the project solar street lighting system.
The following minimum details must be provided in the Manual:

Revision 0

Basic principles of the photovoltaic system.

A small write-up (with a block diagram) on the project solar street lighting system
- its components, PV-poles and PV-modules, batteries, inverter/controller
electronics and LED luminaires, driver, including expected performance.
Type, Model number, Voltage & capacity of the batteries used in the system.
Charging, discharging regime and significance of any indicators.
Clear instructions about erection of the PV-poles and mounting of PV-modules,
arms, fixtures and accessory housing assemblies on the PV-pole.
Equipment manufacturers documentation (data sheets, handbooks, etc.
A list of actions to be taken in the event of an earth fault alarm
The shutdown and isolation procedure for emergency and maintenance
A copy of the Shutdown procedure and any electrical safety warnings
Clear instructions on regular maintenance, cleaning and troubleshooting of the
solar street lighting system.
The system performance estimate, including expected seasonal or operational
variation
Do's and Donts.
Environmental Policy regarding the origin and manufacturer of all components,
operation performance and safe transportation, disposal and/or recycling of
components after removal/changing-over.
All names and contact details of the relevant contact persons for repair, cleaning
and maintenance, in case of non-functionality of the solar street lighting system.

Page 22

18th July 2013