For an industrial facility manager, choosing the right lighting fixtures is crucial for the business. Lighting not only impacts employee output but also determines your annual electrical costs. Thus, finding the right fixtures can reduce operational costs and promote employee productivity. With this in mind, here are three essential issues you should look into when buying commercial lighting fixtures for the facility.
Heat emission
When buying indoor lights for an industrial facility, consider the heat load of the fixtures. Traditional bulbs emit a lot of heat, which can adversely affect comfort levels in the facility. Heat-emitting bulbs installed near working stations can lower worker productivity, especially if the facility doesn't have adequate air conditioning. Even when there's an AC system, the heat produced by these bulbs can increase the need for air conditioning in the facility, which translates into higher energy costs.
LED lighting fixtures can resolve heat load issues with traditional lights. While they do produce heat, the amount released is insignificant compared to incandescent bulbs. For this reason, they can help maintain comfort levels around working areas. Also, these bulbs consume less energy, which translates into lower annual electrical costs.
Lighting levels and productivity
Some tasks in an industrial facility are heavily dependent on proper illumination. The output quality of jobs such as equipment and product inspection, manual engraving and sewing depends on sight. Thus, if your bulbs don't produce enough light, they can hurt productivity and output quality. When buying your lighting fixtures, pay attention to the quality of the product.
Some lights have quality lighting at the start. However, the illumination levels decrease over the years. Quality lighting fixtures should maintain lighting levels over the projected lifespan. Thus, it's crucial to conduct routine testing to determine illumination levels after a year or two or use. Regular testing helps identify lighting problems that could impact productivity and increase human error in production.
Durability and maintenance
Quality commercial lighting should have a long lifespan. Replacing fixtures every often can be a costly affair, especially since most industrial facilities have tens, if not hundreds, of lighting fixtures. When assessing lighting durability, check both the technology and product model.
LED technology produces more durable bulbs than traditional technologies. Part of this is because the heat produced by incandescent bulbs can shorten filament life. Also, find reputable manufacturers with a track record in producing durable LEDs.
Finally, assess the maintenance requirements as well. Quality bulbs should be low-maintenance. Lighting fixtures that often blow up or dim can increase downtime, increase human error, reduce worker productivity and cause a spike in work-related injuries.
Consider the above issues when buying lighting fixtures for your industrial facility. For professional assistance, consult an electrician!
