Five essential points when sourcing suitable industrial LED products


1. Are you getting the optimum lighting efficiency?

Lumen per circular power (lm/W)

When fitting new LED industrial lighting, some clients have the misconception of the phrase ‘wattage equivalent’. For example, 150w/200w LEDs fittings are able to replace 400W SON fittings. However, it is not always economically efficient to re-fit lighting using wattage equivalent products.

LED lighting efficiency differs according to each brand, meaning higher output brands are able to consume less power. The current market average for LED lighting efficiency is 120lm/W.

The latest products provide 140-170lm/W meaning these fittings are more efficient than the older generation of LED products. Interestingly, for some highly efficient LED products, you will only require a 100W fitting instead of using a 150W product.

Additionally, if the LED products use sensor solutions, they will further reduce your lighting running costs. These are most viable for warehouses and factories with low to medium occupancy levels.


2. Are your beam angles offering you efficient light dispersion?

The beam angle is particularly important when illuminating narrow or non-open spaces. The majority of LED products have a 120-degree beam angle which is ideal for more open areas. However, some facilities have particularly high ceilings of between 12-15m, products with narrower beam angles are more efficient here. This is because a 120-degree beam angle product wastes a high proportion of its output on walls and other surface reflection from such a height.

A typical example of this is warehouse aisle lighting. By using narrow beam angle products that concentrate light where it is needed, it increases ground lighting levels and reduces waste output. A 100W LED fitting with a 60-degree beam angle provides a more efficient output compared to a 150W fitting with a 120-degree beam angle.

An image of warehouse lighting aisle designs
Example of good warehouse lighting design – light (brighter colours) is dispersed where needed


3. Are you able to receive tax relief?

Our industrial lighting products provide clients with tax relief with under the government’s ECA scheme. We have met the criteria and been certified to provide each of these offers as our products’ efficiency exceeds the requirements of the Energy Technology List (ETL). Make sure you do not ignore this funding benefit as you could be saving 20% on the overall project cost (including labour). Furthermore, schools and public sector bodies can also receive zero interest financing to ease your cash flow.


4. Are you able to obtain precise lighting designs and payback projections?

Does your LED lighting supplier provide precise lighting designs and payback projections for your facility? There are industry lighting level standards for various types of facilities, as follows;

Activity Locations/types of work Optimum lux level Minimum lux level
Movement of people, machines and vehicles Lorry park, corridors, circulation routes 20 5
Movement of people, machines and vehicles in hazardous areas; rough work not requiring any perception of detail Construction site clearance, excavation and soil work, loading bays, bottling and canning plant 50 20
Work requiring limited perception of detail Kitchens, factories assembling large components, potteries 100 50
Work requiring perception of detail Offices, sheet metal work, bookbinding 200 100
Work requiring perception of fine detail Drawing offices, factories assembling electronic components, textile production 500 200

It is vital for businesses that the correct level of lighting is utilised to ensure good levels of productivity. Because of this, a lighting software simulation is essential when considering a lighting refit. It also enables for highly accurate and bespoke lighting requirements.

It is vastly more efficient and effective compared to like for like replacement and wattage equivalent replacement. By using this lighting design method, you will get the best payback projection as it uses the minimum number of products whilst meeting the required industry lighting level.


5. Does your facility require specific product accreditations?

Does your facility require specific products? For example, explosion proof lighting or BRC accredited lighting for food related facilities? This must be put forward to your lighting provider in order for the fittings to meet all the relevant regulations and eliminate health and safety issues.