Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment division, aims to protect, sustain and encourage community engagement in and improve access to the historic environment of Wales.
LTP Integration was asked by Philips SSL to provide specialist design, specification and installation services for a new carbon-conscious, eco lighting scheme to replace old sodium lighting for eight magnificent Cadw monument sites in South Wales.
The eight sites were Chepstow Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Castell Coch, Coity Castle, Kidwelly Castle, Llansteffan Castle, Swansea Castle and Tintern Abbey.
The products utilised were primarily the Philips eW Reach Powercore, the white light version of Philips SSL’s flagship exterior architectural floodlight. These were the only LED fixtures to meet the stringent tender specification at the time, incorporated Powercore technology, and were powerful enough to illuminate large architectural façades with white light washes in colour temperatures ranging from a warm 2700K to a 4000K ‘neutral white’.
Powercore technology is optimised to drive LED lighting systems. It integrates power and data management directly within the LED fixtures, eliminating the need for external low-voltage power supplies and special cabling that was historically required for LED lighting systems.
Reducing the cost and complexity of the installation process, it also makes LEDs far easier to use in existing lighting environments such as this.
The site work was co-ordinated by LTP Integration’s Jonathan Adkins, working with two experienced installation engineers on a point for point basis to avoid the unnecessary complication of requiring the work to be overseen by archaeologists.
At Caerphilly Castle, the interior keep walls were illuminated with warm eW ‘Reach’ fixtures that contrasted with the exterior walls, lit with neutral white eW Reaches, adding depth and dimension to the visual picture at night.
For infill lighting, warm white eW Blast Powercores were dotted around, ensuring that the many intricacies of the Castle’s superstructure were visible, adding a touch of magic to an already majestic scene.
Neutral white eW Graze Powercore fittings were added, skimming up the Castle’s front walls, incorporating the external fascias of the castle into the overall design.
All the fixtures were fitted into special self-contained hides, custom built to LTP Integration’s specification to guard against the weather and potential vandalism.
In addition to making massive energy savings of 50%, equating to saving 92 tons of CO² annually, the new schemes dramatically reduce the long-term maintenance needed and radically enhance the quality of light with a cleaner and more flattering source.
For control, at all sites the new units are hooked into the existing lighting control systems and turned on and off either by time clock or photocell.
Using the latest LED design innovation ensured the multiple challenges of energy reduction, enhanced visitor enjoyment, health and safety, and sustainability of these historic castles were overcome.
“LTP Integration has been superb, bringing extensive local knowledge, history and other invaluable bonuses to the table.” – Richard Williams, Project Manager (Philips SSL)
For further information on the architectural lighting solutions at these popular visitor attractions, or to discuss a similar exterior architectural lighting scheme, please get in touch today.
Contact us on +44 (0)1554 740500 or start a project and let us know your requirements.
+44 (0) 1554 740 500 
