Warehouses can be challenging spaces to light thoroughly because there are multiple factors to consider. An optimized lighting system is only possible if the following are considered:

• The building’s size and layout
• The number of workers and level of activity in the warehouse
• The presence of machinery or hazardous materials
• The building’s energy usage
• Compliance with long-term lighting goals and regulations

Though extensive planning should go into any commercial or industrial lighting project, no matter the scale, it’s especially important for a large space like a warehouse.

Four Things to Consider When Setting Up Warehouse Lighting

Expanding on the above factors further – here’s what to consider and plan around when designing a warehouse lighting system:

• The warehouse’s size and ceiling height – Warehouse fixtures are available in a variety of distribution options, so designers can shape the system to fit a particular facility. And when it comes to picking the right distribution pattern, the building’s size and ceiling height are the biggest considerations. For example, bay lights are designed to either work with low or high ceilings, as they’re designed with different optics.
• Worker safety – Within reason, the brighter the fixtures, the safer the warehouse. Brighter lighting improves visibility at a distance, allowing workers to anticipate potential safety risks before they become a threat. Forklift operators will notice pedestrian traffic sooner and will be more likely to detect people around corners. Lights that provide excellent color rendering are also better at improving visibility over longer distances.
• The facility’s energy efficiency needs – Warehouses rely on high lumen counts to ensure adequate brightness throughout the building. This high-powered setup can drive up energy costs if the warehouse relies on inefficient lighting products.
• Whether the new lighting system is future-proof – Power usage isn’t just an operational cost concern. Commercial facilities are facing an increasing wave of lighting regulations, many of them targeted at energy efficiency. When considering warehouse lighting options, it’s a good idea to consider the track of lighting regulations. It’s likely that power efficiency will continue to be a pressure point for lighting solutions.

Bays, Linear Lights and Troffers – the Go-To Fixture Options for Warehouses

With the above considerations in mind, the most common warehouse fixtures are bays (low and high), linear fixtures and troffers. Here’s how each can serve in a warehouse setting:

• High and low bays – Bay lights are purpose-built for illuminating large spaces like warehouses, department stores, and other massive commercial buildings. Bays can be mounted directly to the ceiling or suspended from chains or cables. The primary differences between low and high bays are their lumen output and optics. Low bays are built for lower ceilings (between 12 and 20 feet high), while high bays are built for higher ceilings (between 20 and 45 feet high).
• Linear and UFO bays – Bays are also available in a couple of fixture designs, including linear and UFO bays. The name indicates the shape and intended applications. Linear bays are better for illuminating aisles, while UFOs distribute their light over a larger area, which is better for open locations.
• Troffers – Troffers are an alternative warehouse lighting choice and can also be mounted or suspended from the ceiling. If mounted, troffers are recessed into the ceiling and provide even, diffused illumination that minimizes glare. In the past, fluorescent tubes were the primary option for troffer fixtures, but LED linear tubes are now available as an alternative.

Whether it’s a bay, linear or troffer fixture, focus your search on fixtures built with a modular design. Modular fixtures are designed for simple maintenance and lamp replacement, as the fixture’s components are interchangeable. Given the inherent difficulty involved in replacing warehouse lights, simplifying lamp replacement can be a cost-saver and risk-reducer.

LED vs. HID vs. Fluorescent Lighting – Which Works Best in Warehouses?

We’ve addressed the fixture part of the lighting equation, but what about the lamp? Until recently, warehouses were almost always lit with HID or fluorescent lamps. Today, LED lighting technology is replacing both in most applications, including warehouse lighting.

Here’s how the three stack up:

• Energy efficiency – LED lighting is the most energy efficient lighting technology on the market, with significant efficiency advantages over HID and fluorescent fixtures. This efficiency advantage is realized at both the lamp and system level, as LED bulbs are better at converting power to light, and better at distributing that light where it’s needed most – at ground level.
• Ease of maintenance – LED fixtures require practically zero maintenance once installed, as long as installation is handled properly. It’s common for LED lights to provide several years of reliable illumination before lamp replacements are necessary. Contrast this with HID and fluorescent lamps, which both need to be replaced several times during a single LED lifecycle.
• Lighting performance – LEDs emit high-brightness, high-CRI (color rendering) illumination that’s easier to distribute than fluorescent or HID lighting. As such, LED lighting solutions are characterized by their excellent illumination quality. Further, LEDs emit light across the entire visible light spectrum, giving them a natural sunlight-like quality that people respond to better.
• Reliability – LED lighting is also characterized by its reliability. LEDs last for years, can be operated continuously with little concern, emit minimal heat, are unaffected by rapid on/off cycling, and fail gradually instead of suddenly. On top of that, LED lighting is also the most controllable on the market and can be used with dimmers, timers, photocells, and motion sensors to improve its reliability further.

It’s no surprise that LED has the advantage in almost every respect. LEDs are far more sophisticated than the filaments and pressurized gas chambers of yesteryear. Built on semiconductor and solid-state technology, LEDs are designed to make the most of every watt – and do it reliably.

Optimize Lighting Efficiency and Performance with a Photometric Analysis

LED lighting is the pinnacle of the industry, but LED systems perform even better when they’re backed by photometric analysis.

Lighting professionals can provide this analysis, which is used to model the pattern and intensity of lighting systems. Photometric software includes a deep library of luminaire data that designers use to visually and mathematically model lighting projects. While modeling the system, the lighting designer can experiment with different fixtures and different placement options, with the goal being to meet both efficiency and performance thresholds. In other words, get the most light possible at the lowest operating cost possible. This is possible because photometric analysis calculates the amount of illumination at each square foot, so there’s no guesswork or eyeballing involved.

Lighting is an Essential Part of Warehouse Operations – Make Sure Your Facility Has the Right Solution in Place

Warehouse lighting must meet several specifications. It must be bright enough, render color well, remain unobtrusive to workers, operate efficiently, and perform as a reliable, long-term solution.

LED lighting technology is built to provide all of the above, along with the future-proofing that building owners are looking for in today’s lighting solutions. Considering a switch to LED lighting or developing a new lighting solution from scratch? An experienced lighting company can provide a photometric analysis, along with the ideal fixtures and LED lights for the job.

In 2018, almost half of U.S. commercial buildings were fitted with LED lighting. Five years later, LED is now the nation’s leading lighting technology. No matter the industry or the facility, LED lighting offers several benefits, and it’s as accessible as ever with so many retrofitting options.

It wasn’t too long ago that facility managers were caught in a tough dilemma: Keep relying on an inefficient, outdated lighting system, or invest in a new solution.

As LED lighting engineering scales up – and LED products become less expensive – new solutions are offering better and better ROIs. Investing in such a solution makes sense for new construction.

But for existing facilities with existing lighting solutions? There’s a cost effective third option – retrofitting. It’s a term you may have encountered while researching commercial lighting options, but what does it include and why is it a popular alternative to a new LED lighting system? Read on.

What Does an LED Lighting Retrofit Include?

A from-scratch system may include building out a frame for the lights, installing canopies, installing electrical components like junction boxes, placing fixtures, and matching the right LEDs to those fixtures. That’s a lot of material and labor, which drives up the project’s cost.

During an LED lighting retrofit, though, the existing frame and canopies (and perhaps some of the electrical components) can remain in place. The only part of the system that is replaced is the lamps. In many instances, it’s also beneficial to replace existing ballasts with LED drivers, as these are purpose-built to regulate electrical flow into LED lights. That usually means better efficiency, performance, and controllability.

The LED lighting industry has exploded with product offerings, to the point where there is now an LED lighting alternative for nearly every popular lighting application or fixture design. Residential, commercial, industrial – LED lighting technology has been adapted for each setting.

Here are some examples of LED retrofit options:

• LED panels and troffers
• LED linear tubes and panels
• LED downlights, including recessed downlights
• LED high and low bays
• LED stadium and sports lighting
• LED parking lot lighting
• LED street lighting
• LED cove and cabinet lighting

It’s rare for any technology to be adapted for so many applications so quickly. What’s driving this march toward LED dominance? Building owners have several compelling incentives to switch to LED lighting, and that drives demand.

Five Reasons to Consider an LED Lighting Retrofit

What, exactly, is pushing the LED retrofit revolution? LED lighting offers several notable advantages to any facility, including:

• Superior energy efficiency – LED’s energy consumption advantage is a well-worn topic. The first, most heavily advertised benefit of LED lighting was its excellent energy savings, and that benefit remains true.LED bulbs have a huge advantage over incandescent lights, but it’s rare for a commercial facility to rely on those. What’s more common is fluorescent lighting, which was still in use in 68 percent of buildings back in 2018. That’s according to the Department of Energy. That number has surely dropped since, and part of the reason is because an LED light is simply more efficient.

  Compared to fluorescent lamps, an LED light requires about 20 percent less power to produce the same amount of light. That’s a per-lamp energy savings, so the more fixtures being retrofit, the greater the return on investment.

• Minimal replacement and maintenance costs – Energy efficiency is LED’s primary calling card, but a close second is its extended lifespan and low-maintenance design. Built on solid state technology (and not wire filaments or gas chambers), there are few failure points in LED lighting engineering. And fewer failure points mean fewer failures.Add it up, and LEDs last much longer than other lighting technologies. Again, compare LEDs and fluorescent, and there’s a clear winner. LED lamps, on average, provide 50,000 hours of high-quality illumination, and often much more. Fluorescent bulbs, though, tend to fail around the 10,000-hour mark. Fluorescent tubes may be cheaper upfront, but that cost advantage is quickly washed out by repeated replacements and reduced lighting performance.

  Since LEDs last much longer, facilities can reallocate much of their lighting material and labor costs.

• Improved lighting performance – LED retrofit lighting offers full-spectrum, high-CRI options that emit brilliant, flawless illumination.This is especially important in exterior settings, such as parking lot lighting, street lighting, and security lighting applications.

  LED lighting is directional lighting. In other words, it can be aimed without relying on heavy, expensive reflectors. And because it can be aimed, it’s easier to distribute the light and easier to ensure more of that lighting reaches ground level. Older lighting technologies, such as metal halides, emit omnidirectionally and don’t enjoy this advantage.

  In practice, this improved system efficiency means LED lighting systems are brighter and emit more evenly. That enhances long-range visibility for people on the ground and helps light up areas at night.

• Improved employee performance – Office buildings running fluorescent lighting expose employees to low-quality illumination for hours at a time. This can cause issues like fatigue and headaches, both of which employees are more likely to report when working under fluorescent light.LED illumination, by contrast, is similar to natural sunlight in spectral emission (the exact wavelength pattern that a source emits). Unsurprisingly, facilities with LED retrofits tend to report modest improvements in productivity among their staff. And while the effect may be modest per worker, the effect scales up like it does with LED’s energy efficiency per fixture.
• Cost-reducing tax incentives – There are also a few tax incentives on the books to speed up a project’s ROI.For example, under Sec. 179D, facility owners may qualify for a deduction up to $0.60 per square foot by improving the building’s energy efficiency. Specifically, the building’s power consumption must be cut by at least 25 percent to qualify. But, as lighting tends to be one of the largest sources of commercial energy consumption, an LED lighting retrofit can get buildings most of the way there.

  This is just one example, too. There are additional tax-saving tools, such as creative ways to carry losses forward or to factor in depreciation. Together, these can significantly reduce ROI times.

LED lighting also minimizes a facility’s energy footprint and ensures compliance with future lighting regulations – many of which are already having an impact on fluorescent lighting supplies. The future appears headed toward an LED-only future, and retrofitting now ensures those facilities are ready.

Ready to Retrofit? Talk to an LED Lighting Expert to Make the Upgrade

LED lighting retrofits can be quick and relatively simple to pull off, but most commercial projects should be closely overseen by a certified electrician and lighting expert. Depending on the facility’s age and the condition of its existing lighting system, significant electrical work (including rewiring) may be necessary to safely retrofit LED lighting.

For this reason, the strong recommendation is for commercial property owners to speak with a trusted lighting team before choosing any fixtures or system components. Not only will this ensure best safety practices are observed during installation, a lighting expert will also speed up the fixture/lamp selection and acquisition process, which can reduce lead times and optimize the return on investment.

LED lights are improving all the time, with more efficient, longer lasting and better performing fixtures constantly being introduced. LED lighting represents more than half of the lighting market already, so it’s safe to say that LED lighting solutions are here to stay.

Most business owners recognize the benefits of adopting an LED lighting system, but accounting for procurement and installation costs is less clear. If your organization doesn’t have the funds for a new lighting system, retrofitting LED bulbs is a viable option. Through retrofit solutions, facility managers can attain the advantages of an LED lighting system without the cost of total replacement.

What the LED Lighting Retrofit Process Looks Like

If your organization works with an experienced lighting installer, then the retrofit process is fairly straightforward and looks like this:

1. The lighting team performs an audit and site survey – It’s impossible for lighting installers to know what they’re up against until they review the organization’s facilities. This may include studying the building’s drawings for where fixtures are placed, along with performing a physical inspection of existing fixtures.

With this information, the installation team can perform an energy audit and ascertain how much money the company can save with a retrofit. An energy audit will also reveal where power is being wasted by the existing system, so targeted improvements can be made.

2. A photometric plan may be developed for the building – Commercial and industrial facilities must meet certain lighting requirements when installing new fixtures. This includes minimal lighting levels (measured in foot candles), depending on the application. Lighting an office building, for example, requires a different set of fixtures and different lamp positioning than a grocery store.

To account for a building’s unique size and space layout, lighting installers may produce photometric drawings for the project. Photometric modeling allows lighting designers to simulate various lighting solutions for their client. During the system design, the designer can move lights around and try out different lamp models to see which approach works best.

Once complete, the designer will provide photometric drawings to the client and project management team so they can verify the project’s details. This includes which fixtures will be used for the project and how many fixtures will be installed.

3. The retrofit fixtures and lamps are installed – With a plan in hand, the installation team can get to work accessing the fixtures and installing the new lamps. Depending on the exact fixture model being used, the fixtures themselves may need to be switched out. Additional wiring may also be necessary, and this may greatly increase the project’s complexity. If wiring is required, working with lighting professionals is highly recommended.

A Few Reasons More Facility Managers are Retrofitting LED Lighting

Switching to a new lighting solution is a significant commitment, so why are many facilities transitioning to LED lighting? There are several reasons, including:

• Improved energy efficiency – LED lighting is the most energy efficient on the market. Compared to legacy lighting technologies like incandescent and fluorescent, LED lamps generate more light per watt. In some cases, this can be a difference of 70 percent or more, depending on what type of lights are being replaced.

With lower electricity consumption, organizations can recoup their investment quickly while transitioning to greener lighting solutions.

• Reduced maintenance costs – LEDs are a product of modern engineering and are built to be more durable and reliable than previous lighting technologies. While the typical fluorescent tube is rated for around 10,000 hours of performance, LED lamps offer 50,000 hours of light, or more.
• Added controllability – While retrofittable LEDs aren’t as controllable as a brand new LED fixture and lamp, they can still be used with dimmers and some other controls. Compared to legacy systems, LEDs can be controlled with greater precision and without placing additional stress on the lamp – which is often the case with fluorescent lamps. With better controllability, your new LED lights can be configured to output at varying levels, saving money when lighting isn’t needed in certain areas.

What is the Typical ROI for a Retrofit LED Lighting System?

With the above advantages, LED retrofitting can offer a quick ROI, though it depends on the scale of your project. When assessing potential savings, many facility managers focus solely on energy efficiency.

Another major factor to consider is the reduction in maintenance. Since LEDs allow facility managers to control their maintenance costs, an organization’s ROI may be as brief as a couple of years. Typically, the ROI attached to a retrofit solution is between three and five years, but even then, that’s a rapid return compared to other facility upgrades.

And once a company reaches the ROI threshold with their LEDs, the system will continue to save the organization money year after year.

The Cost of LED Retrofitting Depends on a Few Different Factors

It’s impossible to accurately estimate the cost of an LED retrofit without first surveying the organization’s facilities. During the site survey, the installation team will take note of a few important cost-related factors. These factors include:

• The number of fixtures to retrofit – Part of the project’s cost is related to the number of fixtures to procure and install. The more fixtures the organization needs, the more the retrofit will cost.
• Whether the existing fixtures can take retrofit LEDs – Some existing fixtures are not compatible with retrofit LED lamps, though many are. During the site survey, the lighting team will note what fixtures are present and whether they can be used with a retrofit installation.
• The impact of utility rebates – Organizations are incentivized to modernize their lighting systems through utility rebates. These rebates may be offered per-fixture, which means they can add up quickly for large projects. Once rebates are factored in, the ROI time may be reduced by several months or more.

LED Lighting Retrofits are an Ideal Option for Lighting Upgrades

If your organization is interested in LED lighting technology, but not in the cost of a brand new solution, retrofitting the LEDs offers an ideal compromise. LED light retrofits require minimal alterations to your existing infrastructure, and they offer comparable performance to a new system.

Unsure which type of retrofit fixture to target? An expert lighting supplier and installer can help. There are many LED retrofit lamps to choose from, including retrofit T4 and T8 tubes. Some retrofittable LED fixtures are also designed to work with an existing ballast or with no ballast at all. In short, there are many retrofit lighting products to choose from, and an experienced lighting team can help find the right solution for your retrofit.

Obsolete, inefficient lighting is always being replaced by newer technologies, and it appears that fluorescent tubes are next in line. This is nothing new – incandescent bulbs are nearly extinct – but with the rise of high-efficiency options like LED lighting, fluorescent tubes are now a target for regulators.

In fact, some fluorescent lighting is already banned from manufacturing. If your facilities rely on it, you may be having issues sourcing fluorescent fixtures. In “light” of this, many facility managers are transitioning to LED lighting technology.

Compliance isn’t the only benefit, either. LED lighting has significant efficiency and longevity advantages that can help control operating costs.

What Fluorescent Tubes are Being Phased Out?

In 2009, the Department of Energy (DOE) instituted a ban on T12 tubes that was put in effect starting on July 14, 2012. Manufacturers were allowed to exhaust their remaining raw materials to produce and sell T12s, and extensions were handed out to a couple of major manufacturers.

Also, the DOE’s ban did not include high-CRI T12 fluorescent tubes, but several states have already extended the ban to include them. These states include:

• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Maryland (starting in 2024)
• Massachusetts (starting in 2023)
• Nevada (starting in 2024)
• New Jersey (starting in 2023)
• Oregon (starting in 2023)
• Vermont
• Washington (starting in 2023)

In addition to high-CRI T12s, these bans also include high-CRI T8 tubes. It’s likely that as LED tubes become more popular, additional states will institute their own extended restrictions on fluorescent tube manufacturing.

What are the Replacement Options for Fluorescent Tube Lights?

We’re in the middle of a major lighting transition, and the number of LED replacement options is growing all the time. A few of those options include:

• LED retrofit tubes – Retrofit tubes are a popular choice for property owners because they cost less than a full fixture replacement, while still providing most of the benefits that come with LED lighting.
  LED retrofit tubes are designed to fit into existing fluorescent fixtures, and they come in a few varieties. Type A tubes are designed to wire into the existing fluorescent ballast. Type B tubes are wired directly to the mains and bypass the ballast altogether. Type C tubes come with an integrated driver that’s used instead of fluorescent ballasts.
  There are advantages and limitations with each retrofit tube type. Type A tubes are quick to install but may have compatibility issues with the existing ballast. Poor ballast/lamp compatibility isn’t an issue with Type B tubes, but installation is considerably more difficult and subject to more risk. Type C tubes provide the best performance but are the most expensive retrofit tubes on the market.
  In all three cases, though, retrofit LED tubes are less expensive than full fixture replacements and provide the energy efficiency that LED lights are known for.

• LED T8 fixtures with an LED tube – There are also full fixture replacement options that incorporate the LED tube and fixture together. While these are more expensive than retrofit options, a full fixture replacement also unlocks the full capabilities of LED lighting technology. This means two things:

1. 1. Full fixtures replacement means there’s no fluorescent ballast involved. That improves energy efficiency further because the ballast is responsible for some of the power draw.
   2. Full fixture replacement are also compatible with modern lighting controls. This includes dimmer and occupancy controls, both of which can improve lighting performance and energy efficiency further.

• LED panels or troffers – LED panels and troffers can also replace your fluorescent tube fixtures while retaining the same footprint. Panels lie flush with the ceiling and provide frame-to-frame illumination while LED troffers are much like fluorescent troffers – recessed into the ceiling and finished with a tube fixture.
  LED panels and troffers provide the advantages of LED lighting with the modern aesthetic that comes with these fixtures.

How Can LED Tube Lights Improve Facility Operations?

For availability reasons, facility managers will eventually need to transition to LED lighting. As long as there is budget room, there’s no reason to wait. Compared to fluorescent lights, LED tubes are an improvement in nearly every way. For example, LED lighting can:

• Reduce operating costs – LED lighting is the most energy efficient lighting technology available, which is why the DOE and state regulators favor it. That energy efficiency can also bring a facility’s energy costs down considerably. LED fixtures also last much longer than other lights. That means lower lamp replacement and maintenance costs. Together, these savings mean LED retrofits provide a quick ROI.
• Allow for better control – LED lighting is the best fit for advanced lighting controls. These controls can improve efficiency, sure, but they can also enhance security and productivity by providing illumination where it’s needed most, when it’s needed most.
• Produce higher quality illumination – LED lights have come a long way in quality since they were first introduced decades ago. As a replacement for fluorescent tubes, LED fixtures provide light that’s closer to natural sunlight in emission range. People tend to feel comfortable when subjected to natural light, compared to the greenish cast that fluorescent lights produce.

Need a Replacement Option for Fluorescent Tube Lighting? Consider an Upgrade to LEDs

T12 fluorescent tubes will soon be removed from the market entirely, and it likely won’t be long until T8s and T5s follow suit. Facility managers have decisions to make with their lighting, and many are deciding to upgrade to LED fixtures.

With rapid advancements in LED fixture technology in recent years, LED lighting is now accessible to most properties. That’s true even if you are operating with a tight budget. Retrofit tubes mean you don’t have to start from scratch, and LED lamps soon pay for themselves with their minimal energy and maintenance costs.

For years, local, state, and national governments have placed additional regulations on the lighting industry and its products. This process continues pace, and while in the past these regulations were aimed at incandescent and halogen lamps, now fluorescent lighting is in the crosshairs.

For nearly a century, fluorescent light bulbs were the undisputed leaders in energy efficiency. This was true when CFLs were introduced in 1976, and it was still true when LED lighting was just being introduced by manufacturers.

That’s no longer the case, though. Modern LED fixtures have passed fluorescents in terms of energy efficiency, along with safety, maintenance costs and lighting quality. With these facts in mind, some governments are limiting, or outright banning, the manufacturing of some fluorescent lamps.

What Types of Fluorescent Lighting are Being Targeted for Discontinuation?

At the national level, the Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for lighting regulations. In 2009, it announced a phaseout of T12 fluorescent tubes. According to the DOE, after July 14, 2012, T12 fluorescent tubes could no longer be manufactured, though manufacturers could exhaust their existing material stock to manufacture T12s before discontinuing them permanently.

However, there were some exceptions to the rules. Major manufacturers like Phillips were given an extension on the ban, but the DOE’s objective has been met. As soon as the DOE’s intention to ban T12s was clear, production plummeted. If your facilities rely on T12 fluorescents, you’ve likely had difficulty sourcing lamps or T12-related accessories, like ballasts.

A notable exception in the DOE’s regulation was high-CRI fluorescent lighting, specifically lamps with a CRI rating of 87 or higher. This exception buoyed the production of T12s for a while, but several states have already passed their own laws banning the sale or manufacturing of high-CRI linear fluorescent lighting. This essentially bans all T12s from those states, which include:

• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Maryland (effective January 1, 2024)
• Massachusetts (sales may continue until January 2023)
• Nevada (effective January 1, 2024)
• New Jersey (effective January 18, 2023)
• Oregon (effective January 1, 2023)
• Vermont
• Washington (effective January 1, 2023)

Some T8 tubes are also considered high-CRI lamps and would therefore fall under these bans as well.

Why are States and National Governments Considering a Ban on Some Fluorescent Tubes?

Fluorescent tubes are available in a variety of sizes, denoted by the number following the “T.” The largest among them, by diameter, is the T12. T12 tubes are 1.5 inches in diameter, and their larger size means they must rely on electromagnetic induction to generate light. This is inherently less energy efficient (T12s require about 40 watts per hour to operate) than the more sophisticated circuitry built into T8s and T5s. A typical T8 tube, for example, requires between 25 and 30 watts an hour to run.

The DOE’s T12 phaseout was predicated on the T12’s poor energy efficiency, but there are other reasons why there is momentum behind a T12 ban. For example:

• Lower quality illumination – Lamps aren’t generally phased out because they lag in output quality, but because T12s do produce lower quality illumination than T8s or T5s, this is one less defense for the fixture.
• Contains higher amounts of mercury – A T12 lamp contains between 20 and 25 milligrams of mercury, which is much higher than newer fluorescent bulbs. Proper fluorescent tube recycling can prevent some of this mercury from reaching landfills, but only a small percentage of fluorescents are recycled.
  Fluorescent’s mercury content is relevant because mercury is an extremely toxic substance to contact or ingest. In developed countries like the U.S., a large amount of polluting mercury is a result of improper fluorescent tube disposal.
• Must be replaced more often – Compounding the above issue is the fact that T12s must be replaced more often than other types of fluorescent fixtures. More frequent replacement means more opportunities for mercury to escape into the environment. More frequent replacement means higher costs over time.
  More efficient alternatives, including smaller fluorescent tubes, are also lower maintenance options.

What Lighting Alternatives are Available for Consumers and Companies?

The fluorescent phaseout is underway and will likely continue as long as even more efficient alternatives like LEDs gain market momentum. While T8 and T5 tubes aren’t targeted by the DOE’s 2009 Act, some T8s are already limited by high-CRI linear fluorescent lighting bans.

Facility operators and lighting experts can see which way the industry is headed. LED lighting has come a long way since it was introduced decades ago, and it’s quickly being adapted for a variety of lighting applications. LED lamps and bulbs offer several benefits compared to older lighting technologies, including:

• Unsurpassed energy efficiency – Quality LED T8s require about half of the wattage that a fluorescent T8 needs. As lighting regulations tighten further, LED’s efficiency advantage may become more and more relevant.
• Longer life – An LED tube lasts a lot longer than a comparable fluorescent tube. The typical LED tube is rated for about 50,000 hours of quality performance while a fluorescent T8 will only function for about 15,000 hours. With their extended lifespan, LED fixtures don’t need to be replaced or disposed of as often.
• No mercury content – LED bulbs do contain a tiny amount of arsenic and some heavy metals, but the amount is so low that LEDs are not considered toxic by regulators. They don’t have to be disposed of in a particular way, as a result.
  Most importantly, LEDs contain zero mercury. Their environmental impact is greatly reduced as a result.

Modernize Your System with High Quality LED Lighting

In just the last couple decades, focused phaseouts of several older lighting technologies have changed the way the industry operates. With incandescent, halogen, and now fluorescent lights quickly becoming history, lighting manufacturers, facility managers, and even residential consumers are making the switch to LED lighting.

Many home and business owners are choosing LED retrofit kits to replace their existing fluorescent lighting. These kits bypass existing ballasts and snap in LED linear strips so that the fixture will be completely LED. This is a great economical solution, saving on kilowatts and requiring little maintenance.

If you’re considering the same for your property, work with a company that has a comprehensive selection of LED lighting products available, including LED retrofit options that can be quickly installed with your existing lighting infrastructure. Not only is LED lighting the energy efficient choice, it’s also quickly becoming a convenient one as well.

Warehouses are a challenge to light due to their size and because of the activity inside. Warehouses are busy places where workers are frequently engaged in high-risk tasks. To ensure they can do their jobs safely, you’ll need a high-output lighting system that renders color well and provides even coverage.

LED fixtures can provide that and more. As a result, you’re likely to see LED lights more often in warehouses these days. They’re quickly replacing high intensity discharge (HID) fixtures for several reasons.

High Bay And Low Bay Fixtures Are The Choice For Lighting A Warehouse

Most warehouses feature extremely high ceilings, ranging up to 40 feet or more. In spaces like these, where verticality is the defining feature, high and low bay fixtures are the standard.

In the lighting industry, the word “bay” refers to illuminating a large space. That means they’re designed for a large area like a warehouse.

There’s only a couple of differences between low and high bay fixtures. They are:

• Mounting height – Low bay fixtures are intended for ceilings between 12 and 20 feet high. High bay fixtures can be mounted to ceilings between 20 and 45 feet high.
• Output volume – Low bay fixtures don’t output as much light as high bay fixtures, given their shorter throw distance. Because of this, low bay fixtures consume a lower amount of power than high bays.

You’ve got plenty of flexibility in mounting bays. They can be mounted directly to the ceiling or suspended at varying heights. This gives facility managers layout flexibility when setting up the bays.

There are also bay lights sealed against water and solid intrusion. They’re ideal for warehouses where high dust and humidity levels are common, and feature IP65 ratings or better. Further, bay fixtures come with anti-glare features that improve comfort and visibility at ground level.

Bay Fixtures Are Available In Linear Or UFO Designs

The other major difference between bay designs is shape. Bay lighting products are available in linear or UFO designs, and both are common options for warehouse applications. Here’s a quick look at each:

• Linear bays – Linear lighting is rectangular shaped and therefore suited for illuminating aisles, reception, and dispatch areas.
• UFO bays – UFO bays are called such because they look like little round flying saucers. Because of their circular shape, UFO bays emit in a circular pattern. This is an effective choice for general lighting purposes or for loading bay areas.

The Problems With HID Lighting

HID lighting was the warehouse lighting technology of choice for a long time. HID bulbs output a lot of illumination, making them one of the best options for lighting outdoor areas or a large indoor space.

However, this high output comes at a cost. Specifically, high energy costs. HID fixtures like metal halides and high-pressure sodium lamps require a lot of power to function. At the source, metal halides aren’t too bad, though they’re still behind LED light bulbs in source efficiency.

It’s at the system level where metal halides waste a lot of electricity. That’s because of how a metal halide fixture emits light. Metal halides emit omnidirectionally, so a lot of their output never reaches the floor level where it’s needed most. They emit a lot of light, but much of it never reaches the intended target. Reflectors can mitigate this to some extent, but they’re heavy, expensive, and still not as effective as LED fixtures.

HID lighting tends to degrade quickly, too, and you can expect the typical metal halide to fail around 10,000 hours. Many will need to be replaced early because metal halides tend to decline in color rendering or output as they age.

Four Reasons Why LED Lighting Is Ideal For Illuminating Warehouses

LED is quickly emerging as the first choice in warehouse and bay lighting. LEDs come with several advantages over other lighting technologies, four of them including:

1. Better energy efficiency – No other form of lighting offers the energy efficiency that LED does. LED fixtures have the best watt-to-lumen ratios on the market, and because they emit directionally by design, LEDs are able to get more of their illumination to workers below.
   Even compared to efficient technology like fluorescent lighting, LED excels. It’s common to find an LED equivalent to a fluorescent tube that requires half the wattage.
   Further, LED lighting emits extremely low amounts of heat and won’t stress your HVAC systems in the process. That way, your energy costs are minimized further.
2. Extended lifespan and low maintenance design – Maintenance is one of the most important factors to consider when installing warehouse lighting. When warehouse lamps fail, you’ll need special equipment (like a bucket truck) and expertise to replace them.
   Compared to other forms of lighting, LED fixtures require the least amount of maintenance. It’s common for LED lights to go years without a single issue. They also last far longer than other fixtures. The typical LED bay will provide upwards of 50,000 hours of quality illumination. Metal halides (which are quickly becoming obsolete) only provide 10,000 hours, and even fluorescent tubes are only rated for half as long as the average LED light.
3. High quality output and color rendering – LED lighting technology has come a long way since it was introduced decades ago. The biggest gains have come in lighting quality, to the point where LED fixtures emit light that is comparable or superior to HID and halogen.
   LED lighting is extremely bright and makes for an ideal overhead source. It’s even as well, with no dim or dark spots, and no shadows resulting from fixture design. It’s also available in range of color temperatures, including neutral hues in the 4000K to 6000K range.
   Further, LED warehouse lighting is available with high CRI-ratings, so it represents colors very well. That’s important for safety and productivity reasons.
4. Excellent controllability – Nearly every lighting control in existence is built for use with LED lighting. Attach dimmers to the bays to adjust output exactly where it’s needed, balancing brightness and energy usage. Pair timers or occupancy controls with your bays, and they’ll only switch on when needed.
   There are LED drivers that can facilitate instant start as well, which is valuable for facilities where time is money. That includes warehouses.

LED Spot Is Your Warehouse Lighting Source

If you’re overseeing a warehouse lighting project, you’ve probably got questions about what type of lighting to choose. The LED Spot team can help with those questions and help with everything else regarding your warehouse lighting project. We carry a deep inventory of lighting, including many types of LED warehouse lighting.

Whether you’re updating an existing system or preparing a system for new construction, we’re the experts to call.

A photometric drawing (also called a photometric lighting plan or design) is essential for any lighting design as it allows lighting professionals to visualize a system before it is installed. Photometric plans are often used in tandem with an AGi32 calculation tool for accurately predicting the photometric design. This is essential before breaking ground on a lighting project, for several reasons. The lighting industry uses photometric plans to arrange fixtures and ensure output intensity is distributed evenly.

There’s a lot of data included with every photometric study, and this data can be presented as raw numerical values or as a visual example. To generate this photometric report, lighting specialists use software such as AGi32, which is designed for the task.

How Do Lighting Designers Use Photometric Software?

Every light comes with its own photometric properties. Some lights emit directionally, while others radiate in every direction. Some lighting fixtures spread illumination further than others. This data is collated and provided to lighting professionals by the manufacturer.

During a photometric analysis, the lighting designer arranges each fixture inside the software, placing them in a rendered version of the client’s property. Fixture-specific photometric data is plugged in for each fixture and the software does the heavy number crunching. This includes taking measurements of lighting levels at every point in space.

What Does a Photometric Plan Look Like?

Photometric plans can be presented in many ways. One way is to analyze the system with nothing but numerical data. The software will compute how much light, in lumens, is present at each location. As the fixtures are changed or rearranged, the software will recompute light levels at each area. Lighting designers can study this data on its own to spot potential issues.

It’s more common, though, for lighting professionals to visualize the system using photometric software. Some professionals will produce a 3D rendering of the client’s property and simulate the distribution of light as the human eye would see it.

Photometric software can also generate wireframes or heat maps to detect areas that are receiving too much illumination and spaces that are too dark.

When is a Photometric Lighting Design Needed?

In most cases, property owners are not required to get a photometric analysis before starting a commercial lighting project, but it’s strongly recommended for several reasons, including:

• Commercial lighting systems must meet lighting safety codes – Commercial properties must maintain a minimum lighting threshold if they operate during evening or nighttime hours. Failure to do so could expose the property owner to legal action if an injury occurs due to poor lighting. Photometric analysis ensures your property meets those lighting codes without anything left up to chance.
• They also have to follow light pollution regulations – On your property, you’ll want to optimize your system’s output. Off your property, you’ll be required to minimize any lighting trespass or pollution. In other words, keep the light you produce on your property. There are additional lighting codes that require this and violating those codes can result in hefty fines.
• You’ll get maximum return on your investment with a photometric plan – Ideally, your lighting system will provide all the illumination you need with as few fixtures as possible. Too many fixtures are a waste and too much light is both uncomfortable and wasteful.
  Photometric plans allow designers to experiment with a variety of system layouts and fixture options. The goal is to find the best combination of layout and lamp to meet all project requirements. This degree of optimization is impossible without photometric software.

What Information Can a Photometric Analysis Provide?

A photometric analysis can answer a lot of questions about your lighting system’s projected performance. For instance, a photometric analysis can provide insight into the following:

• The angle and distance of light emission – Using manufacturer data, typically IES files, photometric software can measure the angle each fixture is emitting at, and how far that light is reaching. This is critical for determining if light pollution is a problem.
• The amount of light at every spot – Lighting intensity, as detected by the human eye, is measured in lumens. Photometric software prefers lumens when calculating how much light is reaching every part of the environment.
  That means photometric software can visualize how intense the light will be perceived at every point. This ensures the system meets all visibility, safety, and security requirements. It also helps designers spot overly intense or underlit areas.
• Footcandle levels – Some projects require minimal footcandle levels, and a proper design plan is essential for determining the ideal footcandle calculation. This ensures the area is evenly lit with the proper intensity.
• The ideal system layout – The goal of most commercial lighting systems is to produce enough illumination and even illumination. Photometric software makes it easy for designers to achieve both. The software responds to changes in fixture arrangement, so the designer can play around with fixture positioning to create an optimal system layout.
• Which fixtures will work best – Photometric analysis can be used with nearly every type of lamp in existence, as long as there is data on it. The designer can cycle through all of the available luminaires and pick one that provides the best performance and appearance.

With all of these factors accounted for, construction on your lighting project can begin with a clear plan in place. This will save your build teams some valuable time, which saves you money.

Photometric drawings are vital for ensuring lighting plans will provide the intended illumination. They are useful for exterior lighting systems, including solutions for parking lots, commercial campuses and parks. Be sure the company you work with will follow strict lighting codes and has extensive experience with photometric analysis to provide a clear picture of how your new lighting solution will look long before it becomes reality. At LED Spot, our basic photometric plans begin at a modest cost of $250, which is an affordable way to ensure your lighting project performs as intended.

Although home automation technology has been around for decades, only recently has LED light automation become a viable solution for all home and business owners. LED engineering has improved greatly in just the last 10 years and many of the technologies required for effective lighting automation have also improved.

That’s great news for people seeking better efficiency and performance from their lighting solution. With LED light automation it’s possible to achieve new heights in energy savings, occupant comfort and security.

What Are Some Effective LED Light Automation Products?

One of LED lighting’s many benefits is its controllability. No other lighting technology can be controlled as easily or with as much versatility as LED lighting. This extends to full LED lighting automation, as your LED fixtures can be controlled using the following automation technologies:

Timers

Timers are used to define when the light’s settings should change. This could be a change in output level or when the light is switched on or off.

Occupancy Sensors

Occupancy sensors detect when people are in the immediate area and switch the lights on in response. They also switch the lights off when the area is clear. Most occupancy sensors rely on motion to work, though some can also detect heat.

Photocells

Photocells are essentially light sensors. When they detect light, they react. When used with LED lighting, photocells can be used to switch the fixtures off when ambient light is present and switch them on when ambient light is absent.

Dimmers

Dimmers can be used to make precise adjustments to the lamp’s output. Dimmers come in many forms, from tactile control knobs to programmable solutions that bring the lights up or down at predetermined times.

Color Controls

Unlike other forms of lighting LED lights can output a full spectrum of colors depending on the chemical substrate that powers the LED’s semiconductor. With automated color controls users can specify what colors to display at any given time.

LED Light Settings Can Be Programmed In Advance

LED light automation isn’t just effective, it’s convenient. As the term suggests light automation technology is designed to run with minimal input. Once you’ve determined what your lighting controls should be set at those preferences just need to be programmed in. Set dates, times and your lighting’s configuration and the system handles the rest.

Modern lighting controls can even be programmed from your own device. This greatly simplifies management and is particularly useful for people responsible for managing a lot of LED lighting at once.

What Are The Benefits Of Automating An LED Lighting System?

Home automation has always promised compelling benefits for those willing to invest in the technology, but the technology has only become viable recently. Now that lighting automation solutions are now feasible for home and business owners there’s a lot to like about the technology. For example, with LED lighting automation you can look forward to the following:

Enhanced System Efficiency

Lighting is a primary energy expenditure for homes and businesses alike. If that lighting is on when people don’t need it, it’s a waste. Lighting automation technology ensures that your LED lighting is only on when people are present, minimizing waste and operating costs.

Improved Security

LED lighting automation can be used to switch the lights on when they are needed most for security purposes—at night. Photocells switch the lamps on when the sun is down. Timers can fill the same role. Motion sensors detect when potential intruders are nearby and switch the lights on as a warning. Lighting automation technology can also be used to power all the building’s lights on at once when someone is trespassing, and this can help law enforcement quickly respond to a potential break-in.

Reduced Maintenance And Manpower Needs

LED lighting automation extends each lamp’s life by powering them down when they aren’t needed. LED lighting already exhibits an impressive lifespan, but lighting automation enhances this and further reduces maintenance costs. Automation technology is also set-and-forget by design, so your LED lighting will require minimal babysitting once automation is in place.

Improved Lighting Performance And Aesthetics

No other lighting technology can be controlled as well as LED, down to the aesthetic level. With color controls, for example, users can change the lighting’s appearance in one room while leaving another room untouched. With dimmers, users can set their LED lights to slowly come up in the morning or slowly taper off in the evening for comfort or aesthetic reasons.

Compliance With Local Lighting Ordinances

LED lighting automation is also an effective solution for exterior applications, such as neighborhood parks and parking lots. Excess light pollution can be a problem for these settings, but automated lighting controls keep it under control. To keep nearby neighbors happy a neighborhood park could tie its LED lighting to timers that switch off when the park is closed. Dimmers, photocells and occupancy controls can also be used to control light spill in this way.

LED Lighting Automation Is A Wise Investment For Residential And Commercial Buildings

Automating your LED lighting will provide a compelling array of benefits—the kind of benefits that a residential or commercial property could benefit from.

In an office, LED light automation reduces waste and provides optimal illumination for productivity. In a warehouse or industrial facility LED light automation enhances security and safety with better color rendering and lighting performance. At the park LED light automation minimizes light pollution and ensures the park remains a good neighbor.

In the home LED light automation can do it all—reduce energy expenditures, ward off potential intruders, minimize lamp replacement and provide the kind of light that people are happy with.

That means LED light automation is no longer a far off, futuristic fantasy. Instead, it’s a viable present-day option for any home or business owner that wants more from their lighting solutions.

Well-designed commercial lighting systems enhance a property’s function and appearance, especially when they leverage LED technology. More and more commercial properties are turning to LED fixtures for their lighting needs, whether for a retrofit or for a brand new system. It’s easy to see why LED commercial lighting is so popular, as it represents an upgrade over fluorescent and HID fixtures in nearly every conceivable way.

What Should A Commercial Lighting System Consist Of?

Commercial lighting comes in many forms, and no matter what the property looks like or how it is arranged there is a commercial lighting system that makes sense.

Here are the most common commercial settings, and the lights that make the most sense for each:

1. Office buildings – Traditionally, office buildings have been fitted with panel and troffer fixtures, most of which utilize fluorescent technology. Troffers and panels are still the dominant fixture options, but LED technology is now the light engine of choice for offices. LED fixtures can emit close to neutral white light, while fluorescent tends to leave a greenish, pale cast over everything. Because LEDs emit in a color range more similar to natural sunlight, they help workers stay focused and alert. Several studies have confirmed the impact of natural light on employees, and have noted a productivity boost among those regularly exposed to it. LED technology offers the best and most cost-effective match to sunlight so companies can invest in their employees’ well-being while also getting efficient, reliable lighting.

   Some offices are doing away with the panel and troffer fixtures and are installing commercial lighting systems that are more appropriate for an open office layout. Open offices are gaining in popularity, as they are seen as a way to unify departments and encourage collaboration. Commercial lighting systems in open offices should enhance this approach, with extended rows of linear suspended lighting and some strategic pendant fixture placement.

2. Warehouses and storage facilities – Warehouses need maximum visibility and worker comfort more than anything else. When selecting warehouse lights the first decision is between high bay or low bay fixtures. High bay lighting is more appropriate for any building interior where the ceiling is at least 20 feet high. At this height the lighting must be specialized so that it can adequately illuminate the ground. This usually means adding a bulky reflector to the fixture, but in LED’s case only an angled lens is necessary.

   Some warehouse facilities still have HID lighting in place, and these facilities need an update. When updating from HID, it’s T5 fluorescent fixtures or LED fixtures that make the most sense. Increasingly, lighting experts are recommending LED high bay lights as they offer greater energy savings and require almost no maintenance for years after installation. This can keep operating costs down to a minimum, and makes up for the greater upfront cost of LED.

3. Restaurants and shops – Businesses that rely on attracting patrons have a different goal in mind with their lighting. Restaurants and shops have to draw people in with attractive lighting, ensure the property is easy to traverse and use the lighting to encourage a purchase. The best way to accomplish this is with sophisticated, coherent design.

   LED technology is a natural fit into a modern commercial lighting design as it can be paired with most fixture housings. Further, LED technology is easily controlled so property owners can fine tune how the system looks at all times.

   Although there are plenty of ways to light a shop or restaurant, strong lighting design uses layering to get the most out of the space. Good layering would combine ambient, accent and decorative fixtures to bring cohesion to the property. For example, ambient lighting provides general visibility in the space using linear suspension fixtures, track fixtures, recessed fixtures or something similar. Accent lighting draws attention to points of interest, like restrooms, changing rooms or the checkout area, and it often consists of LED strip fixtures or pendant fixtures to stand out. Decorative lighting can be built into dramatic pendants or chandeliers or even custom designed for something one-of-a-kind. Whatever the choice, decorative lighting with LED technology is ideal, because it can be brought up or down so it always looks perfect.

The Importance Of Photometry In Commercial Lighting

When lighting experts plan out a commercial lighting project they observe photometric principles to ensure the system looks exactly like it should.

What is photometry? Put simply, it’s a way of measuring light so that the human eye is taken into account. Light emits across an entire wavelength spectrum, and our eyes do not perceive them all with the same sensitivity. In other words, some wavelengths (colors) of light are easier for the eye to detect, which means those wavelengths appear brighter in certain settings. Lighting experts consider this when setting up fixtures, because it more accurately represents what people will actually see when the fixtures are powered on.

Photometry is a critical consideration for most lighting projects, and is particularly important for commercial, industrial and artistic applications. For this reason, lighting experts will diagram the system prior to installation, and this provides some valuable information to the installers. For example, photometric diagramming offers clarity on:

• How the entire system will be perceived, at every angle and from every spot on the property.
• Where the light will be most intense and where it will be least intense.
• Potential problem areas where too much or too little lighting is available.
• How far apart the lights should be spaced to ensure even coverage.
• What lighting technologies make the most sense for a particular project.
• How many fixtures will be required, which makes it easier to provide an estimate for the project.

Because photometry is so fundamental to proper commercial lighting design, commercial property owners should prioritize lighting providers and installers that utilize it.

Commercial lighting systems function best when they are designed with the space in mind. A proper commercial lighting system can bring maximum visibility, worker comfort and safety, or smart design to a property. In each case, LED technology offers the best combination of efficiency, reliability and functionality.