Perhaps you are building a warehouse from the ground up and must decide on a lighting scheme or are remodeling your factory and require a lighting contractor for illumination upgrades. No matter your plans for an industrial building, proper lighting is key to maintaining safe work premises. The following are points to keep in mind when making your selection.
What Features Should I Account for When Choosing Industrial Lighting?
1. Noise Level
Some lighting options produce noises, such as fluorescent lights that make humming or buzzing sounds. While industrial environments are often noisy, lights that continually buzz or hum can distract employees, depending on placement. Think about where you will install your selected lights to determine if noise pollution will be an issue, and look for quieter options, such as LED lights, if necessary, to reduce noise pollution.
2. Heat Generation
Choose lights based in part on the heat they produce. Light bulb heat production varies, with LED lights generating little heat compared to compact fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen bulbs. For example, incandescent bulbs use 5% of their energy to produce light, while the other 95% creates heat. Halogen bulbs are not much better, as they utilize 10–20% of their energy for light, with the remaining 80–90% becoming heat. CFL bulbs weigh in at 25–35% and 70–75% on the light and heat scales, respectively.
If maintaining cooler temperatures is an ongoing issue in your industrial facility due to heat-generating machines and appliances, your lighting contractor can suggest LED options that suit your environment.
3. Eco-Friendliness
Consider the environmental impact of your industrial lighting scheme, primarily if you oversee a large facility requiring illumination throughout the premises. By selecting bulbs that offer greater energy efficiency, such as LED or CFL options, you’ll enjoy lower monthly utility costs and a reduced carbon footprint. Eco-friendly lights also let you market your industrial complex as green-minded, which can help attract new clients or distributors.
4. OSHA Standards
Ensure your chosen lighting scheme complies with OSHA standards to avoid fines. OSHA measures light bulbs in terms of foot-candles, or the amount of light a “candle” (bulb) produces from 1 foot of distance. General construction plants require at least 10 foot-candles, while warehouses and loading platforms need at least 5 and 3 foot-candles, respectively. The administration also requires emergency lighting installations since any facility needs backup lights in the event of a power outage.
Discuss your industrial needs with the lighting contractors at J.R. Electrical LLC. The electrical service provides commercial solutions for clients throughout the Metro Atlanta, GA area, including Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb counties.
