Commercial spaces are particularly active spaces around the day. They tend to accommodate various businesses and other activities indoors. Such spaces are open to the public and hence require a lighting setup that facilitates people working or carrying out any other activity there. Each commercial space has different needs and the lighting setup or layout greatly differs accordingly and yet there are specific lighting fixtures for commercial spaces.
What is a lighting layout?
A lighting layout refers to the setup of any commercial, residential or industrial building and it helps determine the total lighting needs of the space while it’s functional. It is quite necessary to determine prior to the purchasing and installation of fixtures as it helps in determining the following parameters:
- Total lumen output for the building
- Type of fixture compatible with the space
- Number of fixtures required
- Placement of the fixture
It is quite easy to calculate but technical assistance is important as lighting contractors have the basic knowledge of various layouts and have the most efficient methods for all applications.
It is calculated by determining the following:
- Ceiling height of the room
- Area of the room
- Purpose of the room
An average commercial space has a ceiling height of around 15-35 feet but it varies and some have larger requirements. These spaces are stores, offices, hospitals, schools, gymnasiums, etc. All such spaces are accessible to the general public the entire day for different reasons and that’s why they must have a generally bright and ambient lighting layout.
What are commercial lighting fixtures?
Commercial lighting is largely purpose-oriented; it must be powerful and bright to fill the space with light. All commercial spaces have similar ceiling designs unless improvised, the most common being the modular grid ceiling design. The modular grid ceiling is mostly common in offices, hospitals, departmental stores and the common fixture for this design are troffer lights. Light manufactures have introduced many other commercial light fixtures to facilitate the lighting setup and now there are several different types of fixtures available for commercial spaces with various ceiling designs.
Troffer lights
Troffer lights are the traditional lighting fixtures for modular grid ceilings which are common in offices, hospitals, stores, etc. These lights feature fluorescent T8 tubes and are rectangular in shape. They are relatively cheaper to install as they carry more than one fluorescent lamp in one fixture but are quite inefficient in the long run.
Now LED manufacturers have introduced LED troffer lights which have relatively better function and life. They come with Integrated LED lamps and have parabolic, prismatic reflectors which accommodate the surface mount or recessed mount troffer lights for ambient light spread.
Shop lights
Shop lights are the most economical light fixture available in the market for various commercial spaces. They carry linear lamps available in different sizes for different spaces. The fixture features a housing made up of aluminum which carries one or two linear fluorescent lamps covered by a lens. They have mounting brackets for different mounting options as well.
Nowadays many different forms of shop lights are available in the market with integrated LED options which are much more efficient and economical than usual fluorescent fixtures as they have a wider range of applications and are available in enhanced designs. There are many different forms of LED shop lights available in the market which facilitate the lighting conditions in all spaces such as LED wraparound lights, Vapor tight LED lights, etc.
LED panels
Panel light fixtures are the most modern lighting technology by lighting manufacturers. Their advanced technology makes them compatible in almost every space there is with such ease that the use of any other light fixture in commercial spaces has become debatable.
This fixture features very slim rectangular, square, or round panels. It is made up of three thin plates one being the LED grid plate, the second being the reflector plate and the third, being the diffuser plate. The light from LEDs crosses the diffuser bypassing the reflector plate where it undergoes total internal reflection. In this way, the light is emitted from all over the surface of the panel light fixture. The body is made up of aluminum and is IP rated against dirt, moisture, and fluctuating temperatures.
Advantages of using LED lights in commercial spaces
LED technology is advanced and equipped to combat the various challenges to meet the lighting demands of any productive space. They feature efficiency and allow the user more swift control over the kind of lighting they are trying to achieve in the following ways:
Ambient lighting
LED lighting offers more control over the kind of lighting one would want for their space. They feature selectable Correlated color temperatures on a Kelvin scale ranging from 2500K to 6000K which produces warm yellow, bright yellow, cool white, and daylight-like light. In commercial spaces, the preferred CCT is around 3500-4500K which is essential for bright light enhancing productivity while also not causing any interruptions in the working environment. The color rendering Index of LEDs is adjustable which makes them highly adaptable in office spaces where most lights often produce glare and it is quite inconvenient.
Most traditional lamps have 80 CRI which only produces cool blue light whereas LEDs can produce light on the entire RGB spectrum.
Eco- friendly
LEDs function on green lighting technology which reduces carbon emissions and does not interact with UV or IR radiation. The light, despite being bright, is quite ambient and easy on the eyes. The fixtures are IP rated and can provide backup in emergency situations as well but they also are efficient at work as usual as they do not flicker, produce humming sounds, and are dimmable according to the needs of the place. They keep the environment cool due to low heat emission and more light production.
Higher and uniform light output
The performance of LEDs is remarkable due to this main factor; they produce more lumens and consume less energy. They are 80% more efficient than traditional options which produce 80% heat and only 10% light. The light from integrated LEDs is quite uniform and adjustable, unlike most traditional lights they do not disperse light in the surroundings.
The light is adjustable for different elevation levels and allows adequate lighting at all elevation levels.
