Practical answer
Coordinate the below-ground system before placing the luminaire
Overlay irrigation heads, spray arcs, drip lines, drainage falls, root protection, mature planting size, foundations, sleeves, joints and maintenance paths. Move the light or water system before construction where conflicts exist. This avoids treating an IP rating as permission to place joints in pooling soil or fixtures inside future plant growth.
Decision matrix
| Site condition | Specification response | Approval evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spray or pooling near a fixture | Move the spray, improve drainage or redesign the mounting and joint | Irrigation overlay, level detail and enclosure evidence |
| Root zone or growing planting | Protect roots and allow the optical path and access to change over time | Planting maturity plan, sleeve route and access envelope |
| Foundation near hardscape edge | Coordinate excavation, drainage, conduit bend and replaceable fixing | Civil detail, conduit schedule and installation inspection |
Selection and verification workflow
- Overlay irrigation, drainage, planting and lighting drawings.
- Mark spray, pooling, roots, mature canopies and maintenance routes.
- Resolve foundation, sleeve and joint conflicts before excavation.
- Verify mounting and sealing for the remaining exposure.
- Inspect installation and record final aiming after planting.
Limits and responsibility boundaries
- An IP rating does not justify a cable joint in standing water.
- Plant-growth and root-protection decisions remain with the landscape team.
- Pool and underwater zones require their own specialist electrical scope.
Evidence to request before approval
Treat a model name or brochure statement as a starting point. The supporting files must describe the same offered optic, construction, driver, finish and control configuration.
- Coordinated irrigation, drainage and lighting overlay.
- Foundation, sleeve, joint and cable-entry detail.
- Product ingress evidence for the installed orientation.
- Plant maturity, shielding and optical-clearance review.
- Installation inspection, aiming and maintenance-access record.
RFQ input checklist
Comparable quotations require the same site inputs, document scope, exclusions and commercial assumptions from every bidder.
- Country, city, project stage, site plan and application-zone schedule.
- Quantities, mounting details, voltage, CCT, optic and control requirements.
- Heat, dust, salt, water, irrigation, public-access and maintenance exposure.
- Datasheet, photometric file, drawing, material, finish and test-evidence requirements.
- Sample, mock-up, packing, spare-parts, delivery and warranty expectations.