By Cory Peterson

Commercial lighting projects like offices, stores, and workshops, need efficient lighting solutions that can uplift their ambiance, thereby enhancing customers’ and staff’s experience. Industrial lighting projects like factories, refineries, and chemical plants need rugged light fixtures to stand up to harsh environments.

The light fixtures should be durable, energy-efficient, vapor tight, and provide a high degree of illumination.

Industry experts suggest that LED light fixtures are rugged, provide high lumen output, and consume less energy than traditional metal halide and high-pressure sodium lighting. These functionalities and characteristics make them ideal for commercial and industrial projects, especially for facilities like workshops where they need bright lighting for performing potentially dangerous and precision tasks.

As a contractor, you need to consider various factors when lighting up commercial and industrial spaces. If you are looking for lighting and an energy-efficient solution, we recommend opting for LED lighting. There’s more to what LEDs can offer.

In this post, we will share six reasons why you should consider LEDs for commercial and industrial projects.

#1: Ensures High Efficacy

Efficacy indicates the amount of illumination a light source produces and is calculated as lm/W (lumens per watt). The higher the efficacy (lumens/watt), the less the power consumption to generate bright light levels.

When it comes to commercial or industrial facilities, the light fixtures’ efficacy and wattage consumption are clients’ prime concerns.

This is where commercial and industrial LED lights can help.

A commercial LED high bay lighting can generate brightness levels ranging from 15000 to 30000+ lumens with minimal energy consumption, which is much higher than any traditional fixtures.

The best part is they don’t flicker or produce a noisy ballast hum. This makes them highly suitable for commercial or industrial lighting needs.

#2: Cuts Energy Costs

Although the upfront costs of commercial and industrial LEDs are higher than metal halide light fixtures, their energy consumption is much less. As a result, they last longer with reduced energy costs.

Research reveals that LEDs last up to 5 times longer than traditional metal halide lighting.

What’s more?

Switching to motion sensor-capable LEDs can further reduce carbon footprint as they operate only when sensing motion. When placed strategically, these specialized LEDs can serve as a deterrent to accidents, thereby ensuring the safety of the industrial facilities.

#3: Offers an Array of Options

LED lights offer an array of options, which is a big plus for facilities that need varying light setups.

For instance, a manufacturing warehouse’s administrative office may need a softer light with medium brightness to build a dynamic work environment and boost employees’ productivity. On the contrary, the warehouse and manufacturing areas need high luminosity lighting. LEDs offer several options that can serve these unique requirements.

Here are a few commercial LED options to consider.

LED High Bay Lights

These LEDs can have broad or tight beams and are used to illuminate large spaces, such as factories, warehouses, and showrooms. They can be hung from high ceilings ranging from 20 feet to 40+ feet via chains or hooks to achieve optimal illumination.

Hardwired Shop Lights

These LEDs are used to light up shops with lower ceilings ranging from 8 feet to 20 feet. They are most suitable for commercial facilities like garages, pole barns, and shops.

Explosion Proof Lights

These LEDs can serve as the best option for an industrial space where dangerous chemicals or liquids are used. Common use cases of LED explosion-proof lights include power plants, oil refineries, and paint booths.

#4: Gives Contractors a Wide Choice in IP Ratings

The International Protection Marking (IP / Ingress Protection) is a standard of the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) that defines the effectiveness of lighting from water and dust.

The first digit of the IP rating indicates dust protection, whereas the second is water protection. These ratings are crucial for commercial and industrial light fixtures that need utmost protection from the environment. For instance, lighting in warehouses may get damaged due to the dusty environment. Contractors should ensure the LEDs have the necessary protection level or IP rating.

Choosing LEDs with suitable IP ratings can help withstand harsh conditions, thereby protecting clients from safety hazards.

Here’s a range of commercial LEDs IPs to consider:

  • IP65 – Protection from dust and water jets with low pressure
  • IP66 – Protection from dust and water jets with high pressure
  • IP67 – Protection from dust and immersion to 1M
  • IP68 – Dust-tight immersion
  • IP69K – Protection against jets with pressure and heat

#5: Provides High Voltage Capacities

Commercial and Industrial facilities may need high voltage fixtures. However, the voltage requirements are not always fixed throughout an entire facility.

For instance, a food processing unit may need a high voltage in the production section of the building compared to its product packaging zone which uses 100v-277v. Contractors need access to lighting drivers that can meet both requirements.

Analyze the power requirements and choose a suitable driver to fit the energy requirements across a client’s facilities, ensuring an efficient energy supply.

#6: Comes in Several Color Temperatures

Color temperature indicates the appearance of light and is calculated in degrees of Kelvin (K).

LEDs come in several color temperatures as follows:

  • Warm white lights: 2700K to 3500K – Red, yellow, or orange hue
  • Cool white lights: 4000K to 5000K – Daylight
  • Combination of warm and cool lights: 5300K to 6500K – Daylight blue hue

What is the right color temperature for commercial and industrial facilities?

Cool white lights can be ideal for office and manufacturing environments. On the other hand, warm white lights can best illuminate spaces like restaurants and malls.

Use lighting fixtures in the range of 4000-5000K to achieve the best lighting results.

CLOSING THOUGHT

Delivering top-quality commercial projects needs appropriate analysis, planning, and execution.

When it comes to lighting, commercial and industrial facilities need energy-efficient and durable lighting fixtures.

Commercial and Industrial LEDs are cost-effective and offer high-quality lighting options to fulfill these requirements. No wonder, 50% of light sources in the world were LEDs in 2019, and the number is projected to reach 87 percent by 2030. LEDs don’t release pollutants that can impact employees’ or customers’ health.

Opt for LEDs to execute the best project for your clients’ commercial and industrial facilities.

About the Author

Cory Peterson is director of sales & marketing at LED Lighting Supply where he focuses on improving customer experience and revenue operations. Cory writes about commercial & industrial lighting, along with topics important to contractors and facility managers. In his free time, Cory enjoys traveling, snorkeling, exercise, and cooking.