Lighting is one of the basic infrastructures for any organization. It helps set up the essential element in any workspace that is visibility and ambiance. The lighting industry has progressed over the past few years and introduced many different light fixtures for various applications.
In industrial environments having general and task-based lighting, the layout is the foremost priority as these spaces are huge and accommodate several tasks under one roof.
In a high-paced and high ceiling environment like that of industries, the most suitable light fixtures are high bay lights. These lights are powerful light fixtures specifically for industries and other high bay areas. Every other light fixture is incompatible in such spaces for various reasons. To understand the concept of high bay lights it is important to learn about their specifications which are as follows:
Structure of High bay lights
It is important to consider the various requirements of large indoor spaces which are particularly isolated and the tasks which they accommodate require a specific set of standards for light fixtures which do not malfunction in case of emergency. The structure of a high bay light relies on:
Housing/ frame:
The housing of the high bay light fixture must be able to resist all the extreme temperature conditions prevalent in the environment. Since industrial or high bay areas have ceilings extending above 40 feet they rarely have a natural source of lighting and hence require powerful illumination which reaches the ground levels. The waste toxins etc are present in the environment so they have a direct impact on the function of most traditional fixtures. High bay light fixtures must be standardized to be able to withstand these elements and hence the structure or frame of the high bay light is made up of aluminum. It is a highly stable element and provides structural integrity. This is also IP rated ( Ingress protected) against all these harmful elements. It holds the lamp and also has mounting brackets which allow different mounting options.
Lamp:
The lamp in high bay light fixtures must be much brighter than conventional options in domestic applications or low ceiling areas. The light must be able to illuminate every inch and corner from the ceiling to the ground surface. For this very reason, HID and HPS lamps were the viable choice instead of fluorescent lamps. These were although, bright, quite inefficient for various reasons. Statistically, they consume 80% energy in producing heat and only produce 10% light. In a high-end environment like industries, other processes require as much energy as these fixtures which is quite an imbalance. To overcome this light manufacturers introduced LED lighting technology. LED light fixtures are far more convenient than just producing more lumens. They are quite beneficial and reduce the per capita cost of maintaining and installing light fixtures.
Lens/ Reflector:
The Lens or reflector is the outermost part of the fixture. Most of these high-powered lights are downlights and the lens and reflectors allow a convenient spread of lighting at all levels. There are many different kinds of reflectors that allow the easy spread of light at all levels. There are acrylic, parabolic, glass, and many different types of reflectors for different types of high bay lights.
Regardless of the many benefits of installing LED high bays, it is essential to learn which high bay light is suitable for which application as there are many options available in the market.
With LED lighting it is also important to learn several aspects of quality lighting and it sticks to the lighting layout which is particular to each industry. Planning a layout is necessary to eliminate any risks of unconventional damage and ensures the long-lasting activity of the fixture.
Advantages of using LED high bay fixtures
There are several advantages of using LED high bay lights in industries considering the high-end requirements. The few upfront benefits are:
Higher illumination levels
LED high bay lights to carry integrated LEDs and these microchips produce high levels of illumination without consuming much energy. The light is powerful enough to illuminate every inch of space uniformly. The power consumption is drastically lower than traditional options which allow room for other machines and help set up an energy-efficient layout for industrial areas. Statistically LED light fixtures produce 90% light and only 10% is dissipated in the surroundings by an efficient built-in heat sink.
Directional lighting
LED light fixtures are pairable with various lenses and reflectors for any kind of layout. The beam angle is also adjustable and it allows light to spread at various elevation levels. Specifically, in industries, the light must be bright for the general layout and brighter for task areas. It is created by reducing the beam angle and focusing the light on the task zone. The layout is easy to design and execute with the help of a lighting contractor.
Low maintenance cost
LEDs generally have a long life span and they remain unfazed by most of the power interruptions. They have an emergency backup as well. They only require annual or bi-yearly maintenance which is much less frequent in comparison to traditional lamps which require more maintenance and cost a lot. They heavily reduce the costs and add up to creating ambient and sustainable lighting layouts.
Environment friendly
LED light fixtures are created on green lighting technology which particularly is healthy for humans. This light is glare-free, optimizable, and allows room for enhancements. The light can be set up according to the ambiance and it does not produce or interact with UV or infrared radiation so heavily safe in industrial environments, they are recyclable as well which allows more room for sustainability and reducing carbon footprint.
