Explore the 4 common industrial lighting types for optimal workplace illumination. Enhance productivity with expert insights on lighting solutions.
Installing the right lighting in workspaces like factories, stores, or warehouses is crucial, as it impacts safety, work output, and power usage. One of four lighting types is often chosen: LED, incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen.
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Energy Saver is an initiative proudly funded by the NSW Government Each of these options has a number of pros and cons, affecting energy use, efficiency, costs, and more. We will explore these four types of lighting in this article, and will examine their relevance to the various tasks and spaces.
1. LED (Light Emitting Diode)
LED lighting falls under the category of semiconductors. These diodes light up when electricity flows through them. LED lights are very energy-efficient, they consume up to 90% less energy than incandescent lights and up to 50% less than fluorescent lights.
LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours. This can decrease the need for regular maintenance and changing.
They are also sturdy and can handle shocks, shakes, and extreme heat or cold. Moreover, they’re good for the earth, as they don’t contain mercury or other dangerous elements and they give off less heat and carbon than other lights.
However, LED lights do have disadvantages. They cost more than other lights, especially high powered ones. They also require special gear to operate, which additionally increases installation and wiring bills.
You can use LED lights in different industry settings and types, like high bay, low bay, strip, vapour-tight, shop, and even explosion-proof lighting.
These lights work great where you need bright, constant, high-quality light, such as a warehouse, factory, office, retail store, or even a parking garage.
LED lights also work well where lights are maintained for long periods of time, where they are switched on and off frequently, or in spaces with rough conditions. This includes cool storage areas, outside, potential danger zones.
2. Incandescent
Incandescent lighting uses a string called a filament. This filament lights up when it receives electricity. Incandescent lights have a rather long history, as they’ve been around for more than 100 years.
They offer two major advantages over other types of lighting. One is that they’re cheap. Two is their ease of installation. You don’t need expensive or fancy equipment to install them, and they can be used in most common light sockets.
They also produce a warm and cozy light, with a high colour rendering index (CRI) that reflects the true colours of objects.
However, in general,, incandescent lights aren’t the best option. They use too much energy and generate very high heat.
From the total energy they consume, incandescent lights generate only about 10% of it in the form of light ; the rest just dissipates as heat. Moreover, they don’t last long – only in the range of 1,000 hours, which means more repairs and replacements.
Additionally, incandescent lights aren’t sturdy. Shocks, vibrations, even temperature changes can break them. They’re even bad for the environment, as they contain materials like mercury which is dangerous to health, and they generate more carbon emissions than other lights.
They are generally not a good fit for industrial applications, as they are inefficient, they have high costs, and are not very reliable.
3. Fluorescent
Fluorescent lighting is basically a tube filled with gas, buzzing with electrical energy.. When electricity runs through, the gas gives off UV rays. These UV rays bump into a special coating inside the tube which shines visible light.
There are several advantages to this type of light. ! For starters, it’s an energy-saving super-hero. It uses 75% less power than old-school light bulbs, and it doesn’t emit a high amount of heat.
Moreover, these lighting tubes last up to 10,000 hours or more, which greatly reduces maintenance and replacement times.. Even more, fluorescent lights are available in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes. All of these features give you plenty of choices to suit your needs.
Fluorescent lights do have some disadvantages though. They cost more than simple incandescent lights, particularly in low-energy uses.
They require unique ballasts and fixtures to work, which could increase the expense of installation and wiring. The quality and manufacturing process of the ballasts and tubes might cause the fluorescent lights to flicker, hum, or become dimmer over time.
There are certain industrial uses, like high bay, low bay, strip, vapor-tight, and workshop lighting, where fluorescent lights would be a good fit.
Places that require regular, bright light are a great fit for these types of lights including offices, classrooms, hospitals and factories. Fluorescent lights also work well in spots that need illumination for long periods of time and that are not frequently turned on and off, such as corridors, stairs, or stockrooms.
4. Halogen
Halogen lighting is a unique type of light, which uses a special tungsten element and a unique halogen gas. When electricity flows through the element, it creates light. Halogen lights are better than traditional lights as they use up to 30% less power and give more light per watt.
Another major advantage is they last longer too for up to 3,000 hours! So you spend less time and money on maintenance and replacement.
Additionally, the light output is really bright and clear, showing off the real colors of things with a high color rendering index (CRI).
Despite their benefits, halogen lights have some disadvantages. Compared to ordinary bulbs, they cost more, especially if you need them for a big project.
They also emit a lot of heat, forcing your AC to operate at a higher capacity and your AC costs to go up, and they also could pose a fire risk. Moreover, they are delicate as shocks, vibrations, even changes in temperature can damage them or make them burst.
However, for certain commercial spaces, they are perfect, including high bay, low bay, and explosion-proof lighting types. Places that require spotlight quality brightness could also benefit from their bright light output, such as workshops, laboratories, or even places with display cases .
What are the benefits of LED lighting over incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lighting?
LED lighting is more energy-efficient, durable, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly when compared to incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lighting. LED lighting can also offer more flexibility and functionality, in terms of color and brightness control, smart connectivity, and sensor integration.
How can I choose the right type of industrial lighting for my application?
The choice of industrial lighting depends on several factors, including the size, the shape, and the layout of the space, the level and quality of illumination required, the hours of operation and frequency of switching, the ambient temperature and humidity, the safety and health regulations, and the budget and maintenance costs.
You can consult a professional lighting designer or engineer to help you select the most suitable type of industrial lighting for your application.
How can I calculate the energy savings and payback period of switching to LED lighting?
You can use online calculators or tools to estimate the energy savings and payback period of switching to LED lighting. You will need to input some information, such as the number and type of existing lights, as well as the wattage and lifespan of the LED lights, the electricity rate, and the installation and maintenance costs.
The calculator or tool will then compare the energy consumption and costs of the existing LED lights and show you the potential savings and payback period.
How can I dispose of or recycle my old industrial lights?
You should follow the local and national regulations and guidelines for disposing of or recycling your old industrial lights.
Some types of industrial lights, such as fluorescent and halogen lights, contain mercury and other hazardous substances, which pose a risk of environmental contamination and human exposure.
You should handle them carefully and avoid breaking them. You should also contact a licensed waste management company or a recycling center to collect and process your old industrial lights.
How can I maintain and optimize the performance of my industrial lights?
You should regularly inspect and clean your industrial lights to ensure they are working properly and efficiently. You should also replace any damaged or defective lights as soon as possible.
Moreover, you can use lighting controls, such as dimmers, timers, or sensors, to adjust the light output and save energy. You can also monitor and analyze the data from your connected or smart industrial lights to optimize the lighting design and operation.
Conclusion
To summarize, LED, incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lights are the 4 common types of industrial lights. Each type offers benefits and has particular disadvantages in terms of energy use, practicality , cost, and others. Users should select their favorite option , based on their own needs and criteria.
However, between the 4 types the LED usually is the most desired. It’s the go-to choice as it provides the best mix of efficiency, trustworthiness, and longevity.
