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I'm using rope lights to illuminate a wooden walkway (a catwalk with railings, actually). I've put a string alongside each edge (at the bottom). Midway along the catwalk, there is single step about 6" high. I want to illuminate it for safety, and I'm not sure how best to do it.

  1. I've zip-tied the rope light along the front edge of the step's nosing. I've got it very straight and tight against the nose, and it looks good. I'm afraid, however, that footfalls, rolling over the front edge of the nose, will loosen it so it becomes a trip hazard and/or the lights are damaged.

  2. Route a groove a little ways back from the edge, that the rope lights will fit snugly into - maybe cement it with RTV silicone. I think it'll be good for people stepping up, but I'm not so sure about stepping down.

  3. Put it along the bottom of the riser (in the corner between the lower-level of the walkway and the step). I'm thinking this could be best. I think it'll provide great illumination for stepping up, and should also provide a good visual cue for stepping down, although it doesn't explicitly mark the nose. It shouldn't present any trip hazard either.

Maybe I just need to experiment. But I'd welcome insight or other ideas.

enter image description here

RustyShackleford
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3 Answers3

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Fix it to the underside of the step nose so that it illuminates the riser and the deck below the step.

You could possibly drill through the nose and install light pipes (pieces of PMMA, or other clear, solid rod) to let some light out the top so that climbers know where to aim and descenders know where to get off.

isherwood
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Jasen
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An example of under-the-nose lighting. This was installed shortly after a friend broke her foot in someone else's garage when she missed a single step between bays.

Garage steps: Garage Steps

Bottom view: Bottom View

Bottom view of both steps in the dark: Bottom View Of Both Steps In The Dark

View from doorway: View From Doorway

View from standing in garage: enter image description here

Apologies for the quick and dirty snapshots. And yes, those are blue LED strips.

HABO
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If you simply run it along the edge of the walkway, the step is obvious from the sudden vertical section in the edge of the walkway lighting.

Depending on details we can't see because you haven't posted pictures, you might also divert upwards along whatever railing structure edges the catwalk at that point for more emphasis that "something is different here" and more light in just that area.

Ecnerwal
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