Department Store Fixtures – Upgrade Your Warehouse Lighting

Never underestimate the impact that great lighting can have on your business. No place is this truer than in a department store warehouse. If you have flickering lights in your warehouse, it’s time to talk to a commercial fixture manufacturer like Midwest Store Fixtures for the best department store fixtures for your warehouse.

When shopping around for new commercial fixtures for better lighting, you will need to consider the following:

• Type of Light Source
• Brightness Needed
• Color Temperature of Lights
• Type of Light Distribution
• Fixture Positioning

Type of Light Source

When it comes to warehouse lighting, you have three options, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

HID or High-Intensity Discharge – HID lamps have the highest rate of lumen depreciation or luminous flux lost over time. In other words, they can lose their brightness pretty quickly. Still, they are widely used in warehouses and are low cost. They are also limited in the color temperature range.

Fluorescent – Fluorescent lights are more energy-efficient than HID and offer a wider range of color temperatures. The problem with fluorescent lights, however, is that they do not operate well in extreme temperatures. Warehouses that can get very hot or very cold will have a lot of problems with these lights.

LED – The most versatile and most energy-efficient choice for commercial lighting in your warehouse is the LED light fixture. LED uses less energy while emitting exceptional Lumen outputs. They also last a long time, up to 100,000 life hours. LED lights work well in cold temperatures but can be a problem in warehouses with high heat.

Brightness Needed

The brightness of the lighting you need is greatly dependent on the color of your walls and ceiling. Walls and ceilings with a light color will have higher reflectance than dark colors. This means you can use lighting fixtures with a lower Lumen output. They also will consume less power, saving your bottom line on energy costs.

Also, be mindful if your warehouse has skylights. Though you will be able to get away with fixtures that have a lower Lumen output, your fixtures will need to be adjusted to be able to turn on fewer lights during sunny days. Also, take into consideration your lights don’t cause a lot of glare.

Color Temperature of Lights

The best color temperatures for warehouse visibility and productivity are between 4000K and 5000k. These light fixtures emit a cool, white, sometimes blueish tint.

Type of Light Distribution

Depending on the layout of the warehouse facility, warehouses typically need one of two types of light distribution: I and V. If your warehouse space has tall shelving units, then type I distribution is the best option. Type I distribution has a very long and narrow light pattern to ensure none of the light is blocked or lost by the tops of the shelves. Type V distribution is best for warehouses that have an open floor plan. Type V distribution emits light from all sides in either a square or circular position

Fixture Positioning

To reduce hot spots and glares from fixture overlaps or drops in illumination, having the right spacing between your light fixtures is critical. If your fixtures are too close together, your warehouse will have glare from one light fixture overlapping with another. If your fixtures are spread too far apart, your warehouse will have dark areas.

If you have any questions about commercial fixtures for your warehouse, Midwest Store Fixtures is here to assist you.