What Does BUG Rating Mean?

To the untrained ear, hearing the words “BUG rating” may bring to mind swarms of insects or bad reality TV. However, the BUG rating has
nothing to do with either, and everything to do with lighting. BUG is simply an acronym coined by the Illuminating Engineering Society
(IES) and the International Dark Sky Association to better explain how light trespass can be measured. The BUG rating of a luminaire
determines how much light trespass that a light fixture produces. The BUG rating replaced the old measuring system known as the “cutoff
system” around 2005 and is more comprehensive, taking Backlight, Uplight, and Glare into account (the B, U, and G, of BUG).
•Backlight – This category takes into account the light that is spilled from behind the fixture into areas where it is unwanted. This isthe
opposite area to the area where light is intended to be. Backlight is mostly a problem regarding light trespass on adjacent sites and areas.
•Uplight – Uplight is the resulting light spill above the top of the fixture. Uplight
contributes greatly to light pollution, sky glow, and is generally not “dark-sky friendly.” Minimizing uplight in commercial lighting fixtures can
make the stars more visible at night.
•Glare – Have you ever driven past a really bright streetlight that almost seemed to blind you for a moment? That’s glare. Light glare is the
amount of front light in the forward zones but happens when the light is too strong or concentrated. Glare is a safety issue as well as a
light trespass issue near adjacent properties.