Lighting plays a huge role in the safety, efficiency and atmosphere of any commercial space. The right commercial lighting depends on several factors, like the type and size of the space and your lighting goals. When it comes to choosing the right lighting, considering all of these factors is essential, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. Here’s a guide to choosing the right commercial lighting for your facility:
Understand Your Space and Consider Your Lighting Needs
Every commercial space serves a specific purpose. It’s important to consider what happens inside the space. Are there a lot of harsh chemicals and debris in the air? Are there products on display? An industrial factory serves a different purpose than a retail store; therefore, the lighting needs will vary.
Within each commercial space, there are different functional zones, including workspaces and task areas, walkways, storage spaces, outdoor areas and breakrooms. Each of these functional zones has unique lighting needs. Proper lighting also hinges on the size of the space. A small area won’t require the same lighting solutions as a large area. Take all of these factors into consideration when choosing commercial lighting for your facility.
Determine Your Lighting Goals
Similar to how each facility has different lighting needs, you’ll also have different lighting goals. Depending on the work that happens in the space and your goals for the space, determine what you want your lighting to accomplish and how it can help you achieve those goals.
Are you trying to enhance safety and visibility in outdoor loading docks or walkways? Are you trying to boost efficiency in an industrial warehouse or manufacturing plant? Or are you trying to create a calm, welcoming ambiance in a restaurant or reception area? When determining your lighting goals, consider the comfort of visitors and employees, as well. Comfort affects how customers receive your space and how productive your employees are, so it should always be a priority.
Choose the Right Fixtures
Once you’ve considered the facility’s function and determined its lighting needs and goals, it’s time to select light fixtures. Choosing the right fixtures is pivotal in ensuring your lighting functions the way you want it to. The wrong fixtures will struggle to meet your facility’s needs and may end up doing more harm than good.
For example, you wouldn’t use floodlights, which are used to illuminate large outdoor areas like parking lots and stadiums, in a commercial office. Instead, you’d use panel lights or wrap around fixtures. In a facility where there are harsh chemicals and debris in the air, you’d want to choose vapor tight fixtures or high bay fixtures over low bay fixtures. This is also the time to consider mounting options as well as tunable and selectable features to ensure functionality and flexibility.
Consider Brightness Levels and Color Temperature
Not all light fixtures are built the same. Each model has unique specs that need to be considered. In commercial lighting, brighter isn’t always better. Light output, measured in lumens, plays a huge role in the efficiency of your space. Be careful not to select fixtures that overlight or underlight your space. Overlit areas can put strain on the eyes and cause discomfort, reducing productivity and leading to unnecessary energy consumption. Underlit areas pose similar problems: eye strain, low productivity and safety hazards.
Color temperature, measured in Kelvins, is just as important. In workspaces and production areas, a cooler or more neutral color temperature tends to help employees stay alert and productive. In breakrooms, a softer, warmer color temperature creates a comfortable atmosphere where employees can relax. For example, in the kitchen of a restaurant, the lighting should be brighter and cooler to maximize safety and efficiency, while the lighting in the dining area should be softer and warmer to create an inviting atmosphere.
Prioritize Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
When choosing commercial lighting, energy efficiency and cost savings are major priorities. LED lighting solutions offer both. LED lighting uses significantly less energy than traditional lighting solutions, like incandescent and fluorescent. They have longer lifespans, which reduces maintenance and replacement costs. LED lighting also supports businesses’ sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption and waste without sacrificing quality. When you choose LED lighting, you reap the benefits of high-performance lighting that provides consistent illumination while lowering your facility’s operating costs.
Work With a Knowledgeable Lighting Partner
Finding the right lighting for your commercial facility takes time and knowledge, and it’s not always easy to do alone. That’s why it’s important to work with a knowledgeable, trusted lighting partner who understands the full picture. Choose one that educates and provides expert guidance, instead of just selling you their products. From manufacturing to application, Commercial LED is here to support you every step of the way. Using over 30 years of industry experience, we’ve developed an extensive line of high-performance LED lighting solutions designed to meet your facility’s needs. Explore our products by visiting our website, or get started with Commercial LED by contacting your supplier.
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