Question:  Are streetlight design standards going to be updated for the new LED technology?  

Answer:  The current design standard in use by many agencies is the ANSI/IESNA/Recommended Practice 8-00.  It establishes average illuminance levels and average/min ratios based on street type, pedestrian use level, and pavement type. (See http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI/IESNA+RP-8-00).  The methodology evaluates the amount of light shining on the pavement measured in footcandles.  The need for the updates stems from the very bright spot on the pavement when HPS lighting is used, and the lack of that bright spot when new LED lighting is used.  The very bright spot skews the average illuminance calculation by as much as 100%.  Therefore, even though LED lighting provides the same lighting in between streetlights, the average lighting levels can be much lower than those corresponding to HPS, which are the basis for the levels specified in the RP-8-00 publication.  

The IES committee responsible for updates to the RP-8-00 publication is currently discussing options for an update and gearing up for a meeting this summer.  The current discussion is looking at options including revising the required average illuminance levels down to values appropriate for LED, switching to the luminance lighting level methodology, or switching to the Small Target Visibility methodology.  Look for a revised publication in late 2011 or early 2012.