Robust lighting solutions for demanding environments – in-house design, manufacture and testing since 1963.
Designplan Lighting
New on Amplifa
About Designplan Lighting
Designplan Lighting develops and manufactures robust luminaires for demanding environments such as railway stations, custodial facilities, secure healthcare settings as well as public and community areas. Since its founding in 1963, standard luminaires and bespoke lighting solutions have been created, starting as a concept design in 3D CAD software, followed by prototypes that are performance-tested in the company's own testing laboratory. The company controls the entire development path from concept to completion. The in-house laboratory tests luminous flux, colour rendering and light distribution (integrating sphere, goniophotometer Type C), ingress protection (dust and water tests up to IP6X/IPX8), corrosion resistance of coatings (salt spray test up to 1000 h), impact resistance up to IK10, thermal behaviour as well as electrical safety and flammability of insulating materials. Reference projects include, among others, Birmingham New Street Station, the Elizabeth Line in London, HMP Fosse Way, Foss Park Hospital York and the Tyne Cycle and Pedestrian Tunnel in Newcastle.
- Processes
- Bespoke luminaire development (3D CAD design, prototyping), Integrating sphere test (luminous flux, colour rendering, efficiency), Dust chamber test (IP5X/IP6X), Salt spray test (corrosion test of coating, 5% NaCl, 35°C, up to 1000h), Goniophotometer test (Type C far-field, luminous intensity distribution, LDT/IES), Humidity chamber test (91-95% r.h., 25°C, 48h, according to BS EN 60598-1), Pendulum test (impact resistance up to IK10 / 20 joules, BS EN 62262), Thermal test (temperature measurement according to BS EN 60598-1)
- Materials
- Nickel-chromium (glow wire test element), Nickel-Chromium, Salt spray test solution (5% sodium chloride)
- Certificates
- BS EN 60598-1, BS EN 62262 (IK classes), IEC 60695-11-5 (needle flame test), IEC 60695-2-11 (glow wire test), ASTM D3359-23 (adhesion test), CIE standards (photometry/colorimetry)
- Founded
- 1963
- Industries
- Transport, Custodial, Secure Healthcare, Community and public buildings
- 01
Concept design (3D CAD)
- 02
Prototype construction
- 03
Product testing in own laboratory
- 04
Series production
- 05
Project delivery
Materials and Testing Methods
Nickel-Chromium
Glow wire test element in the glow wire test according to IEC 60695-2-11 (650 °C / 850 °C).
Salt spray test solution (5% sodium chloride)
Test medium for accelerated corrosion testing of coatings up to 1000 hours at 35 °C.
Locations
Designplan Laboratory
GBTesting laboratory and product development
- Materials
- Plastic insulating materials, coatings
- Integrating sphere with spectroradiometer
- Goniophotometer Type C (far-field) with spectrometer
- Dust chamber (IP5X/IP6X)
- Salt spray fog chamber
- Humidity chamber
- Pendulum hammer test rig (up to IK10 / 20 J)
- Thermal test room with temperature probes and data loggers
- Electrical test station
- Needle flame test apparatus
- Glow wire test apparatus
- Spray tube test rig (IPX3–IPX6)
- Water tank (approx. 1.2 m³, IPX7/IPX8)
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bespoke luminaire development (3D CAD design, prototyping)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Integrating sphere test (luminous flux, colour rendering, efficiency)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dust chamber test (IP5X/IP6X)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Salt spray test (corrosion test of coating, 5% NaCl, 35°C, up to 1000h)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Goniophotometer test (Type C far-field, luminous intensity distribution, LDT/IES)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Humidity chamber test (91-95% r.h., 25°C, 48h, according to BS EN 60598-1)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pendulum test (impact resistance up to IK10 / 20 joules, BS EN 62262)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Thermal test (temperature measurement according to BS EN 60598-1)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Insulation resistance test (500V DC or 100V DC for SELV)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Electric strength testTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Earth continuity test (10 A / 12 V AC, max. 0.5 ohm)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Needle flame test (IEC 60695-11-5)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Glow wire test (650°C/850°C, IEC 60695-2-11)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Water test IPX3/IPX4 (spray) and IPX5/IPX6 (water jet)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Water tank test IPX7/IPX8 (immersion test, tank approx. 1.2 m³)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
12 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrating sphere / spectroradiometer | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dust chamber (IP5X/IP6X) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Salt spray fog chamber | – | – | – | – | – |
| Goniophotometer (Type C far-field with spectrometer) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Humidity chamber | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pendulum hammer test rig (up to IK10/20 J) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Thermal test room with temperature probes/data loggers | – | – | – | – | – |
| Electrical test station (insulation, voltage, earth test) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Needle flame test apparatus | – | – | – | – | – |
| Glow wire test apparatus | – | – | – | – | – |
| Water test rig (spray tube IPX3-IPX6) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Water tank (approx. 1.2 m³, IPX7/IPX8) | – | – | approx. 1.2 cubic metres | – | – |
Quality and Standards Testing
In the company's own testing laboratory, luminaires are tested according to BS EN 60598-1, BS EN 62262, IEC 60695-11-5, IEC 60695-2-11 and ASTM D3359-23 – from photometry (CIE standards) and IP ingress protection to impact resistance. In addition, the company offers CIBSE-accredited CPD seminars on topics such as robust lighting and emergency lighting.
| Evidence | Designplan Laboratory |
|---|---|
| BS EN 60598-1 | |
| BS EN 62262 (IK classes) | |
| IEC 60695-11-5 (needle flame test) | |
| IEC 60695-2-11 (glow wire test) | |
| ASTM D3359-23 (adhesion test) | |
| CIE standards (photometry/colorimetry) |
Company History
- 1963
Foundation of the company; since then, development of innovative lighting solutions for demanding environments.