Outdoor Bulkhead Lights and  Brick Lights

What are bulkhead lights and brick lights?

Bulkhead lighting is often used in industrial and commercial premises, but works just as well at home to light outdoor areas such as side passageways or back doors. Brick lights do a different job: they sit flush in the wall and wash light downwards across a path or a set of steps.

• Bulkhead lights are surface mounted to a wall or ceiling to light an area. They are robust and durable, with high ingress protection against dust and moisture. LED bulkheads suit continuous use because they draw so little power: light-emitting diodes use up to 80 to 90 per cent less energy than traditional lamps and last far longer, so they need changing less often.
• Brick lights are recessed into the wall at low level. They are the ideal solution for lighting pathways, steps or driveways. With light emitted low down, the surrounding area is lit well enough to improve safety without glare at eye level.

Choosing the right IP rating

The IP rating tells you how well a fitting is sealed. The first digit covers dust, the second covers water. For Irish weather the second one matters most.

• IP44 — protected against splashing water from any direction. Fine for a sheltered porch, a covered walkway or a doorway with an overhang.
• IP65 — dust tight and protected against water jets. This is what you want on an exposed wall, a coastal property or anywhere rain hits the fitting directly.

Brick lights sit in the wall itself and take water running down the face of the brickwork, so IP65 is the sensible default there. If you are unsure on a bulkhead, go up a rating. The price difference is small and an underrated fitting on an exposed wall fails long before its time.

LED or lamp-ready?

Integrated LED fittings are sealed units with the light source built in. They are slimmer, use less power and need no maintenance, but when the LED eventually goes the whole fitting is replaced. Lamp-ready bulkheads take a standard bulb, usually E27 or B22, so you can change the lamp, the colour temperature or the brightness whenever you like.

For most homes an integrated LED is the easier choice. On a commercial site with a lot of fittings, or anywhere access is awkward, lamp-ready can work out cheaper over time.

Sensors and emergency versions

Many outdoor bulkhead lights come with a built-in PIR motion sensor, which is worth considering for side passages and back doors where you want light only when something moves. Emergency versions with a backup battery are also available and are often required in commercial stairwells and corridors.

Sizes and finishes

Round bulkheads from around 190mm to 300mm cover most domestic uses. Oval and square versions suit narrower walls and more modern buildings. Brick lights are usually sized to a standard brick or block so they sit flush without cutting. Black and stainless steel are the most popular finishes in Ireland at the moment, white remains the standard for commercial and utility spaces, and brass suits period properties.

Where to use each one

• Back door, side passage, garage wall - bulkhead, IP65, ideally with a PIR sensor.
• Porch or covered entrance - bulkhead, IP44 is enough.
• Garden path, steps, driveway edge - brick lights, IP65, spaced evenly rather than densely.
• Stairwells and communal corridors - bulkhead, emergency version where required.