Security Digest

The Senstar LM100 Proves Being Dim Isn’t Always A Bad Thing

Senstar LM100 hybrid perimeter intrusion detection and intelligent lighting system illuminating a fence line at night

Outdoor lighting is an easy and effective first step to deterring theft and vandalism at electrical utility sites. But when sites are in or near residential areas, lighting can draw the ire of those living nearby. In many of these cases, utility companies simply can’t use lighting, which appeases neighbors, but increases the risk of intrusions.

If only outdoor lighting came with a dimmer switch…

The Senstar LM100 hybrid perimeter intrusion detection and intelligent lighting system is the only security lighting system on the market with dimming capabilities. It can be set at any lighting level required – from 1%, providing enough of a slight glow at the luminaire’s head to let intruders know a system is in place, to 100%. The specially-engineered lighting can also be programmed to shine at different intensities, for example, it can run at 30% for normal operation and switch to 100% (and strobe, if desired) when an intrusion is detected. This allows a balance to be struck between the utility’s need for advanced security and the neighborhood’s need for reduced light pollution.

Minimizing light pollution

The Senstar LM100 minimizes light pollution by targeting the light in a downwards trajectory that illuminates only the fence line in a uniform fashion. As well, its power-efficient LED technology uses 95% less power than traditional security lighting systems.

In 2018, the Senstar LM100 received the Fixture Seal of Approval (FSA) from the International Dark Skies Association (IDA). IDA is the recognized authority on light pollution. Its mission is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and the heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. To help accomplish this, IDA developed the FSA program to provide objective, third-party certification for lighting that minimizes glare, reduces light trespass and doesn’t pollute the night sky.

Additional layers of security

The Senstar LM100 actively senses vibrations of the fence caused by intrusion attempts.

While the lighting acts as an initial deterrent, if an intruder persists and an attempt to cut, climb or otherwise break through the fence is detected, the closest luminaire brightens to its alarm level lighting and/or strobes while an alert is sent to the security management system. The intruder knows immediately they have been detected and that their exact location is known by security and others in the vicinity.

As well, LM100’s high color rendering (CRI) index maximizes camera performance, providing clearer images of the intrusion attempt. This allows security personnel at the monitoring station to better assess the situation and initiate an appropriate response, or images can be easily reviewed at another time.

NERC CIP Compliance

The purpose of the NERC CIP-014 reliability standard is to protect electrical facilities from physical attacks that could threaten the stability and operation of the electric grid distribution system. Requirement R5 mandates that operators implement physical security measures designed to collectively Deter, Detect, Delay, Assess, Communicate, and Respond to potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Senstar products, including the Senstar LM100, provide effective, field-proven solution that can assist electrical utilities in satisfying NERC CIP-014 recommendations.

Read Senstar’s NERC CIP application guide.

Recent success

The Senstar LM100 has been gaining a great deal of interest from electrical utility companies.

In Canada, dimming capabilities have led a provincial company to install the LM100 at five sites, with another 26 planned.

In the US, a company supplying electricity to 95 percent of a state’s population has implemented the LM100 at their sites in place of the separate lighting and intrusion detection systems they used in the past.

Read the case study.