Out & About Summer 2019

GARDENING

Show off your garden with some strategically-placed lighting; plant some eco-friendly seedballs and get the whole family outside over the summer

O ne way to ensure your garden stands out from the crowd is using creative lighting, which can turn even the simplest garden setting into a place of beauty as dusk creeps in. No longer restricted to a simple porch lantern or glaring security lights, today’s exterior lighting has evolved to become more creative and inspirational than ever before. Technical expert at leading electrical regulatory body, NICEIC shares his top tips for garden lighting Darren Staniforth: • When it comes to garden lighting, concentrate on illuminating the most attractive features, such as a stand-out plant or water feature. • Use navigational lighting to illuminate paths and steps. • Up-lighting works well at the far end of the garden when shining on to a fence to make the space appear larger. • Down-lighting should be used to highlight features such as a tree, or placed above a table for more light when dining al-fresco. • Effects such as shadowing work well when placing a light in front of a sculptural plant or object to create a dramatic look.

Safety first

As with any type of electrical work in the home, however, when lighting up an outside area it’s important to ensure it is installed professionally and safely. Darren’s safety advice includes: • All outside sockets must be RCD protected for safety. An RCD (residual current device) works by switching off the flow of electricity when a cable or flex is cut. • Cables underground must be buried at a sufficient depth to avoid damage from garden tools. This will require the electrician to dig a trench in the garden. • All cabling should be suitable for installation outside. Your registered

electrician can advise you on the best options. • Decorative lights plugged into an outdoor socket should be taken inside after use, unless they are clearly labelled as waterproof. They are not designed to stay out all year round. • Always buy outdoor lighting equipment from a reputable retailer and ensure anything purchased is waterproof – especially if to be used for water features. • Appropriate light fittings will always carry an IP rating, which indicates how well it stands up to external conditions. It’s also worth looking out fora BEAB

Approved Mark and the European Community(CE) safety symbol too. • Remember, any outdoor lighting installations that have been incorrectly selected, installed or damaged may create a risk of electric shock, resulting in serious injury or even death. • If in doubt, it is always advisable to seek the help of a professional qualified electrician, such as those registered with the NICEIC, who will be able to make sure all work is done safety and to required standards.

You can search for a registered electrician in your area by visiting www.niceic.com

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O&A SUMMER 2019