- Names used in Saudi Arabia
- Light towerMobile lighting towerFloodlight towerLighting towerTawir lait (Saudi term)Burj inara
- Formal name
- برج إنارة متنقل
- English name
- Mobile light tower
- Family
- Heavy equipment · Power & lighting
- Measured by
- Operating hours
01Definition and uses
The light tower is a mobile machine that carries one or more high-intensity lamps on a mast, and the mast is mostly mounted on a trailer with an electric generator that feeds the lamps. It is used when lighting is needed and is not available on site, indoors or outdoors, mostly for a temporary period. Knock-down sets are available that separate the generator from the trailer, the lamps and the mast, and towers with an inflatable mast bring the lamps closer to the ground and a soft light diffuser may be used with them. It is measured in generator operating hours. In the Saudi market “tawir lait” and “burj inara” are said for it.
Uses
- Night lighting on construction sites, roads and bridges.
- Lighting in mines, quarries and demolition areas.
- Lighting in emergencies, accidents and rescue.
- Sports events and film shooting.
- Night agricultural work.
- Lighting training sites and military facilities.
- Lighting storage and loading yards and night projects in ports.
- Lighting field maintenance stations and network work.
02Classes and sizes
Towers are classified by power type, lamp type, the method of raising the mast and the number of lamps, with the details of each model in the specification bulletin. The reference states that the lamps are usually of the metal halide type and the generator runs on diesel, with battery, solar or hydrogen models available.
| Class | Description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel generator tower | A mast on a trailer and a diesel generator | Long sites and continuous lighting. |
| Battery tower | Runs on batteries instead of a diesel generator | Places sensitive to noise and exhaust. |
| Solar tower | Runs on solar power | Remote sites and long lighting. |
| Inflatable mast tower | An inflatable mast with lamps close to the ground | Soft lighting and filming. |
| Knock-down set | The generator, trailer, lamps and mast separate | Transport to places a trailer cannot enter. |
03Main components
- 01The trailer with its frame, axle, wheels and tow arm.
- 02The electric generator, mostly with a diesel engine.
- 03The mast that can be raised by hand or hydraulically.
- 04The high-intensity lamps with their floodlights.
- 05The control panel, the operating switches and the sockets.
- 06The fuel tank and the fuel and air filters.
- 07The battery and its charger.
- 08The two outriggers or stabilisers that fix the trailer during raising.
- 09The lifting cable and the winch or the hydraulic cylinder.
- 10The locked, sound-insulated generator enclosure.
04Periodic maintenance schedule
The usual ladder for a small generator and trailer, and the model manual sets the intervals and tasks that apply. The lamps need their glass cleaned and their ages and reflectors checked periodically according to type, since the light of metal halide lamps weakens with use.
| Interval | Typical tasks |
|---|---|
| Every 10 hours / daily |
|
| Every 50 hours / weekly |
|
| Every 250 hours |
|
| Every 500 hours |
|
| Every 1000 hours |
|
| Every 2000 hours |
|
The manufacturer’s manual governs. The actual intervals and tasks are set by the operation and maintenance manual for your machine’s model, and they are shortened in heavy dust, high heat and continuous operation. This table shows the general order only and does not replace the manual.
05Daily pre-start checklist
14 items
06Common operating mistakes that cause breakdowns
- Raising the mast in strong wind or under overhead power lines.
- Setting up the tower on sloping or soft ground without fixing it.
- Towing the trailer with the mast raised or unlocked.
- Running the generator in an enclosed place, so exhaust gathers.
- Letting the fuel run out during the night, so the lighting goes out and air may enter the system.
- Leaving the engine running at a very light load for long periods.
- Aiming the lamps at traffic or at the workers’ eyes, which causes glare.
- Touching hot floodlights or leaving them running with dust on the glass.
07Regulatory requirements
Regulatory procedures to check when owning or operating this machine in the Kingdom.
08What to weigh when renting or buying
- The mast height and the number and power of the lamps to cover the site area.
- The lamp type and the intensity and distribution of the light.
- The power source: diesel, battery or solar according to the duration and place of use.
- The fuel tank capacity and the continuous run time declared in the model’s bulletin.
- The condition of the mast, the lifting cable and its locks.
- The condition of the trailer, its tyres, axle and tow arm.
- The generator hours on the meter and its maintenance record.
- Ease of transport and set-up on the type of ground at the sites.
- When renting: who supplies the fuel and bears night operation and guarding the machine.
Settle these factors first, then enter your own numbers in the Own vs rent calculator or the Equipment operating cost per hour calculator.
09Frequently asked questions
The Saudi terms are “tawir lait” and “burj inara”. The English name is in the name field above.
A trailer, a mast, lamps and a generator that feeds them, and a control panel.
They are usually metal halide, and electrodeless lamps exist. Light-emitting diode lamps are widespread today.
Mostly by a diesel generator, and there are battery, solar and hydrogen towers.
In construction, mining, film shooting, demolition, emergencies, sport and agriculture.
The generator produces electricity for the equipment connected to it, and the tower is a generator combined with a mast and lamps to light the site itself.
Yes, the reference regulation sets a table of minimum illumination that differs by area or work, and the limits vary between general construction areas, factories and workshops.
By registering each tower as an asset with its generator hours, assigning it to a project, tracking its movement between sites, a maintenance plan by hours, and a daily inspection before operation.
