Light towers for night work and early starts
When the crew starts before sunrise or finishes after dark, the site needs light that meets the rules and does not blind anyone. We source mobile light towers and lighting from local providers, schedule the delivery and fuel, and keep it on one agreement with your other site services.
- LightEnough for the task
- AimDown and away from traffic
- PowerFuel or plug-in
The rule
How much light the rules require
OSHA requires construction areas to be lit to at least the minimums in its illumination table while work is in progress.1
| Area or operation | Minimum foot-candles |
|---|---|
| General construction area lighting | 5 |
| General construction areas, concrete placement, excavation and waste areas, accessways, active storage areas, loading platforms, refueling and field maintenance areas | 3 |
| Indoors: warehouses, corridors, hallways and exitways | 5 |
| General construction plant and shops, such as batch plants, carpenter shops and mess halls | 10 |
| First aid stations, infirmaries and offices | 30 |
Foot-candles are a measure of light on a surface. Ask your provider to confirm the coverage of each tower for the area you need to light, and measure on site if it matters.
Need light for a night shift?
Tell us the area, the hours and the work. We source towers and schedule fuel and swaps with the crew.
Glare
Aim the light at the work, not at traffic
If the site is next to a road, glare is the next problem after brightness. The federal highway manual says floodlighting should be installed so that it minimizes glare to approaching road users, flaggers and workers.2 FHWA's nighttime lighting guidelines for work zones say lights should not be aimed toward traffic, should be aimed down at the work and should be rotated outward no more than 30 degrees from straight down.3 Those guidelines are written for highway work zones, but the idea works anywhere people drive past your site.
Ordering
What to tell us when you order
A few details let us match the tower to the job.
- 01
The area and the task
How big the area is and what happens in it. Excavation and finishing work have different needs.
- 02
The hours and the length of the job
Nights, early starts or around the clock, and how many days.
- 03
Power and fuel
Self-powered towers need fuel on a schedule. We can schedule it with the rental, and our temporary power page covers other options.
- 04
The surroundings
Nearby roads and homes, and where the towers can sit so they can be aimed down and away.
Common questions
Light tower questions
How much light does a construction site need?
OSHA sets minimums in foot-candles by area. General construction areas, concrete placement and excavation need 3, general area lighting 5, plants and shops 10, and first aid stations and offices 30.
What is a foot-candle?
A measure of the amount of light falling on a surface.
How do I stop work lights blinding drivers?
Aim lights down at the work and away from traffic. FHWA's work zone guidelines say to rotate lights outward no more than 30 degrees from straight down.
Do light towers need fuel?
Many do. Ask for the run time and how refueling will be scheduled, and see our temporary power page for other options.
Can you place towers for a night shift?
Yes. Tell us the area, hours and location, and we will source towers and schedule the delivery.
How do I get a quote?
Call sales at (888) 588-2607 or request a quote.
Light, power and fuel on one agreement
Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill. If a delivery gets missed, we contact the provider the same business day.
Read next
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.56, Illumination, Table D-3. Checked November 3, 2026. ecfr.gov
- Federal Highway Administration, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition, Part 6, Temporary Traffic Control. Checked November 3, 2026. fhwa.dot.gov
- ATSSA for FHWA, Nighttime Lighting Guidelines for Work Zones (2013). Checked November 3, 2026. workzonesafety.org