Frustrated by frequent maintenance, poorly lit areas, and high-energy consumption, you’ve decided to upgrade your facility’s lighting. You’ve obtained the manager’s approval for the retrofit and are eager to begin the switch to LEDs, but before you purchase the luminaires and jump into installation, consider the following factors.
1. Request sample units. Have you evaluated a sample luminaire? If not, always request a sample prior to settling on a design. Nothing compares to seeing a luminaire hung in the actual application, and most manufacturers have a sample program to “try out” a unit prior to making a large investment. Enhancements in color rendering — and a variety of choices in color temperatures, optics, and brightness levels — allow you to truly customize your lighting design to meet the needs of your specific application.
2. Research rebates and incentives. Are there rebates available in your area? Do the luminaires you’re considering appear on the DesignLights Consortium’s Qualified Products List (DLC QPL)? Most agencies require a luminaire to appear on this list in order to be considered eligible for state and utility energy efficiency program incentives. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) is another great resource tool for finding incentives in the United States.
3. Consider reliability and lifespan. How long do you plan on keeping your luminaires? How often are you willing to perform maintenance tasks, such as driver replacement? For many, the ultimate objective is to upgrade their lighting — reducing maintenance and manpower requirements while maintaining or increasing levels of uniformity and comfort. When evaluating new lighting systems, consider both the total system power consumption and the expected luminaire life in order to evaluate energy and maintenance costs and savings.
4. Don’t forget about color temperature options. Do you have a color temperature preference for your facility? What type of work is being performed, and what are the mounting heights of the luminaires? It is important to remember different color temperatures create different effects. Cool white has a crisp, bluish appearance, with the highest perceived brightness. It is a great choice for floodlights, especially at higher mounting heights. However, a warmer or neutral color temperature LED luminaire produces a softer glow and might be a better choice for lower mounted task lights.
5. Double check the power system requirements for your facility’s lighting. What voltages are your lights running on? Is your power clean, or is it affected by surges and dips from nearby equipment? New IEEE standards recommend a minimum of 6kV of surge protection for outdoor solid-state lighting with a recommendation of 10kV for high-risk areas.
6. Research true 1-for-1 retrofit solutions. Is the LED solution you’re considering a true 1-for-1 retrofit for your facility? If not, do you have enough circuits available to add more luminaires? Labor costs are a key factor in any retrofit project. Can you mount directly to the existing mounting hoods? If so, this can save a significant amount of labor and cost.
7. Reconsider facility obstructions. Are there any obstructions in the ceiling that might block light or prevent access to the luminaires? Consider alternate mounting means for the luminaires, such as pendant mount. For example, many task luminaires have multiple mounting hoods to ensure the luminaire is installed in the ideal location to properly light the area.
8. Review light levels (IES, RP540). What illumination level are you targeting? Are you following a standard such as IES RP7 for industrial lighting, or API RP540 for petroleum applications? Make sure your layout provides the appropriate illumination level. Most luminaire manufacturers have a variety of lumen outputs, so choose the right illumination level to meet the needs of the area. Too much light can be just as debilitating as not enough. Also remember that LEDs are directional, which means you can achieve required light levels with much fewer lumens and watts. For example, a 5,000-lm LED task light can replace a luminaire with a 150W HPS lamp, which generates about 15,000 lm of light.
9. Evaluate mounting heights. How high do you intend to hang your luminaires? For higher mounting heights, high-lumen floodlights are a great choice. When mounted higher up on a structure, these floodlights can be used to “wash light” over lower areas, providing uniform general illumination while minimizing the need for task lighting.
10. Assess area locations. Do the locations of your retrofit have hazardous or environmental ratings? What are the area classifications for your retrofit? Are there other certifications or environmental considerations, such as damp locations, marine ratings, or elevated ambient temperatures that the fixtures need to address? When you purchase lighting for a harsh or hazardous industrial location, you need to know that your lights are going to hold up against the environment. Products should be rugged and durable, in addition to meeting all of the certifications and requirements appropriate to your environment, whether it be wet location, marine, hazardous, or harsh industrial.
Helm is director of Emerson Automation Solutions, Rosemont, Ill. She has nearly two decades of experience in electrical and lighting technology, and holds a BSEE from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the University of Colorado. She can be reached at [email protected].
