Hello:
My team and I are unsure whether our project site should be considered LZ1 or LZ2. The project is located in a public zoo campus setting, within a much larger public park area. The Zoo itself is modern, well-developed and maintained, and heavily themed with extensive commercial operations (gift shops, food and drink kiosks, etc). There is a mixture of existing luminaires, many of which are not full cut-off. The luminaire we have selected will be located under a canopy, but does produce about 2% uplight lumens. As I read the MLO, LZ2 is an appropriate choice for us...but I'd love some feedback.
Thanks-
http://darksky.org/lighting/model-lighting-laws-policy/recommended-lighting-zones/ LZ0 - total darkness.
LZ1 - low light levels.
LZ2 - moderate light levels.
LZ3 - moderately high light levels.
LZ4 - high light levels. The MLO user guide has some text for examples of uses in each lighting zone.
LZ-1 - "May also include the developed areas in parks and other natural settings."
LZ-2 - "... business areas with evening activities... Can be used to accommodate a district of outdoor sales or industry in an area otherwise zoned LZ-1." I can see this area being either LZ1 or LZ2. It is the design teams choice which LZ to pick, just have an argument ready to defend the location selected. My preference would be to minimize the rating of fixtures near the animal enclosures to LZ1. If you want LZ2 around the commercial operations that is fine.