Category: Security Lighting

How to Choose the Right Barn Lighting

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

 

Are you considering investing in the rustic, vintage charm of barn lighting? Here are some considerations on how to choose the right barn lighting:

  • Consider your space and application
  • Model your lighting goals with photometric analysis
  • Determine the right fixtures and style for your project
  • Bring in the lighting installation professionals when it is time to set your lights up

Barn lighting is prized for its old-world aesthetic and effectiveness in many applications. By following the process above, you will choose the right barn lighting for your setting.

Choose the Best Barn Lighting for Your Application

Barn lighting has been around in some form for more than a century, so there are plenty of fixtures to choose from. Modern barn lights are also compatible with LED lighting technology, which provides superior energy efficiency, longevity and performance. If you are considering LED barn fixtures for your home or business, here are the details on how to choose the right lights:

  • Consider your space and application – What will you use your barn lighting for and where will it be installed? If you are putting together a residential lighting project, you are likely installing barn lighting for their aesthetic qualities and to add accent or decorative illumination to your space. If your barn lights are intended for a commercial application, aesthetics may still be a concern, but you will also need to factor in the light’s performance in various applications, such as security or signage lighting applications. Some barn lights are a better fit for accent, signage or security applications than others.If you are unsure whether a particular barn light will meet your lighting project’s needs, an expert lighting company can provide valuable insight into your fixture and lamp selection. However, before a lighting professional can expertly guide your project, you will need to roughly map out your lighting objectives.
  • Model your lighting goals with photometric analysis – Lighting professionals utilize photometric analysis to precisely model projected lighting values throughout the space once the barn lights are installed. This process provides an advance look at what your barn lighting system will look like, and how it will illuminate the space.This software-based analysis is used to build a computerized model of the project area. Various LED fixtures are positioned in the model to see how they would perform in real life. Photometric analysis derives its lighting data from the manufacturers themselves, so it is accurate and precise.

    If your professional lighting partner uses photometric analysis for its projects, they will be able to optimally position and aim the barn lights for your application. This approach is particularly important for commercial and industrial settings, where maximizing lighting efficiency and coverage while also minimizing lighting trespass and pollution onto neighboring properties. Photometric analysis guarantees your barn lighting project will not violate local lighting ordinances.

  • Determining the right size and style for your project – Part of choosing the right barn lighting is selecting the appropriate fixture size and design for the application.Barn lighting is available in several fixture designs and in a staggering array of styles. Contemporary, modern, rustic and geometric are some of the options, and the right choice here will come down to aesthetic preference or to ensure a visual match with your facilities and existing fixtures.

    The options between different types of barn fixtures include gooseneck fixtures, pendant fixtures, ceiling-mounted fixtures and wall-mounted fixtures. Each one is designed for different applications.

    Gooseneck fixtures are so named because the fixture features a curved “neck” that resembles a goose’s neck. These barn lights are typically used in sign lighting or accent lighting applications, as they are closely associated with a vintage aesthetic that attracts attention. They are also effective at illuminating a small target like a sign.

    Pendant fixtures are suspended from the ceiling using a long chain or cable, so they are usually installed right over the intended target. These fixtures are used exclusively for task or accent lighting applications, and they are also ideal for illuminating smaller areas. Pendant fixtures, like gooseneck fixtures, are available in an impressive array of aesthetic designs, so they can be matched to any space or facility.

    Ceiling-mounted fixtures are attached directly to the ceiling and are therefore placed further away from the intended target. Also termed bay lights, ceiling-mounted fixtures are the right barn light for workshops and areas where visibility and even lighting coverage are the priorities. A lighting expert can help determine which bay lights to choose to ensure adequate lighting coverage for your project.

    Wall-mounted fixtures, also known as wall pack lights, are typically used in security or general lighting applications. As the name suggests, they are mounted to walls – interior or exterior – and can therefore be placed nearly anywhere. When choosing the right barn lights for your application, wall pack lights can boost visibility in areas where it is important, but they are not considered the first choice where aesthetics are a concern. As such, wall pack fixtures are often combined with other barn lights to create the desired look.

Lighting Experts Can Help with Choosing or Installing the Right Barn Lights

Barn lights bring classic charm and excellent versatility to any residential or commercial application. The question is: Which barn lights are the right choice for your project? Another important consideration is who will install them? A professional lighting crew can assist with both, with expert insight and photometric analysis that will optimize your barn lighting system.

How to Choose Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

How to Choose Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

There are almost as many outdoor lighting fixtures as there are outdoor lighting projects. Whether used for safety, security, efficiency or aesthetic reasons, exterior lighting fixtures are available in many forms, including the following:

  • Parking lot and street lighting
  • Sports arena and sports court lighting
  • Wall packs and other security lighting options
  • Landscaping lighting
  • Sign lighting fixtures, like gooseneck lights

These are only a small portion of the exterior lighting applications that an expert lighting company can assist with. The impressive versatility and performance that LED lighting technology offers means that a lighting expert can source LEDs for any outdoor lighting project.

The challenge is choosing the right outdoor lighting fixtures for your project, as there are many to pick from. Read on to learn how to identify the best LED lights for your exterior lighting project.

A Practical Guide for Choosing the Right Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Whether you are installing new fixtures for safety, security or productivity reasons, the goal is to choose a set of exterior lights that offer the best combination of performance, reliability and cost effectiveness. Which lighting fixtures fit the job? That will depend on your application. Here are some examples:

  • Parking lot and street lighting fixtures – If you are setting up a new set of parking lot lights, LEDs are now the industry standard. LED parking lot fixtures are less expensive to operate and maintain than all other lighting technologies. They also outperform metal halides and high-pressure sodium fixtures in both lighting quality and consistency. LEDs render colors better, distribute illumination more evenly, start up much faster and are easier to control with dimmers, occupancy sensors and other advanced control options.
    When choosing LED parking lot fixtures, the primary consideration is light distribution. How will the light be shaped and sized to fit your property? LED parking lot fixtures are available in several distribution patterns. Some throw light forward and some distribute light around and near the pole.
    Experienced lighting companies utilize specialized software known as photometric technology to visualize outdoor lighting projects before installing fixtures. Lighting designers use photometric analysis to plug in lamp and fixture data, and use it to position those fixtures in a software-generated model of your property. This process identifies the ideal fixtures, lighting poles and fixture positioning with precision. If your business is trying to choose the right outdoor lights for your parking lot, consider partnering with a lighting professional who offers photometric analysis.
  • Sports arena and sports court lighting fixtures – LED lighting has also taken over sports lighting applications, from small neighborhood parks to massive outdoor arenas. When choosing outdoor lighting fixtures for a sports arena or court, lighting distribution is also important, but consistency is paramount. Whether it’s a tennis court, a baseball field, a soccer pitch, a rodeo arena, or a pickleball court, it is critical that the lights produce even illumination across the entire playing area.
    This is measured using a min/max ratio, which describes the difference in lighting intensity between the darkest and brightest parts of the court or arena. The smaller the number, the less difference between these endpoint values.
    Some sports, like pickle ball and baseball, require tight min/max ratios to ensure safe play (think small ball moving fast). When setting up sports lighting, make sure your outdoor fixtures meet or exceed this min/max ratio for optimal lighting consistency.
  • Wall packs and other security lighting fixtures – LED lighting is ideal for security applications as the technology is prized for its instant-on functionality, controllability and excellent color rendering.
    Wall pack fixtures are a popular security lighting option as they can be installed just about anywhere. Flood lights are another proven option for security fixtures.
    The primary concern with outdoor security fixtures is controllability. The LED lights will need to light up instantly when they are needed, and lighting controls make that happen. When choosing outdoor security lights, pick LEDs that are compatible with modern lighting controls, such as occupancy sensors which can be tied to the fixtures and used to instantly switch them on as soon as movement or activity is detected.
    Another important consideration is color rendering. Prioritize high-CRI LEDs when setting up security lights to ensure high quality surveillance images or video recordings.
  • Landscaping lighting fixtures – When choosing outdoor lighting fixtures for landscaping purposes, the shape of the fixture’s output beam matters and will have a big impact on how your landscape lighting looks.
    For example, if your landscaping includes accent pieces like a fountain or sculpture, a bullet fixture will provide the spot-like pattern that is ideal for a single subject. If you are lighting trees or walls, uplights and wall washers are ideal fixture options. If you are illuminating bushes, shrubs or other large, landscaped areas, flood lights may work best.
  • Sign lighting fixtures – Effective sign lighting ensures your business is visible at night. LED outdoor fixtures are the choice for signage applications as they render color well and provide 5-10x the lifespan of other lighting technologies.
    When choosing exterior LEDs for signage, reliability is essential. Choose a gooseneck or signage fixture that is rated for an extended lifespan, and one that is IP-rated for your application environment.
    IP (ingress protection) ratings specify the fixture’s ability to withstand exposure to dust, dirt and water. The IP rating is expressed as a two-digit number, with the first number (from 0-6) describing its protection against solids (dust) and the second (from 0-9) describing its protection against water intrusion. Aim for signage fixtures with at least a listed IP65 or IP66 rating to ensure they will handle the elements without incident.

There is a Lot to Consider When Choosing Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Durability, reliability, performance, controllability and appearance are all critical considerations when choosing exterior lights. How these factors are weighed and applied will depend on your outdoor application, and this can make the decision difficult.

If the selection process feels overwhelming, an experienced lighting company can provide an optimal lighting solution for your property and application.

Gooseneck Lighting for Outdoor Spaces

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

Gooseneck Lighting for Outdoor Spaces

Gooseneck lighting has been used in outdoor spaces for decades, initially for barns, warehouses and industrial areas. Today, it remains a popular choice for property owners, but it’s no longer confined to the above rustic settings. Now, gooseneck lighting can be found in the following applications:

  • Exterior signage lighting
  • Entrance lighting
  • Security lighting
  • Warehouse and loading dock lighting
  • Path and walkway lighting

There are several benefits of gooseneck lighting for outdoor spaces, but the technology is at its best when paired with LED luminaires.

Advantages of LED gooseneck lights for outdoor areas

Gooseneck fixtures bring several benefits to every commercial property, including:

  • Targeted illumination – Gooseneck fixtures are defined by their curved stem that’s shaped like a goose’s neck. A primary advantage of this stem shape is how it aims illumination. Gooseneck fixtures emit tight spots that can be targeted at signs, entrances and other important exterior elements, with minimal excess. The result is an aesthetically pleasing look that gets attention.
  • Modern or vintage appearance – The curved stem of a gooseneck light gives away its mid-20th century origins, but it’s a timeless look that is equally appropriate in modern or vintage applications. With its versatile aesthetic, gooseneck fixtures offer a visual boost wherever they’re placed.
  • Easy, anywhere installation – Gooseneck fixtures are made with a compact, simple design that can be installed anywhere they’re needed. This includes exterior facades, overhangs, billboards, door frames and more. Gooseneck lighting’s installation versatility means it can go where many other fixtures can’t.

Overall, gooseneck lighting improves a business’s curb appeal, draws attention to where it’s needed and does so in a versatile fixture package.

And with LED lighting, gooseneck fixtures are even more effective.

How LED lights improve gooseneck fixtures

LED lighting technology is now adapted for an impressive range of lighting fixtures, including gooseneck fixtures. When paired together, here’s how gooseneck fixtures and LEDs can improve exterior lighting applications:

  • Superior lighting performance – LED lighting is known for its energy efficiency, and for good reason. Switching from older lighting options to LEDs can save a business hundreds or thousands every year in utilities.

    What doesn’t get as much attention is LED lighting’s performance. LED lights are characterized by their even, flawless illumination that isn’t marred by hotspots or dead spots. It’s a clean look that improves the appearance of anything it’s aimed at.

  • Excellent color rendering – Some LED lights are available in high-CRI models that render color with precise accuracy. This is important for outdoor signage or displays, or for billboards, where accurate color rendering can greatly improve the way a sign looks.
  • Long-lasting lighting solution – LED gooseneck lights last much longer than fluorescent, incandescent, metal halide or high pressure sodium lights. On average, property owners can expect 50,000 hours or more from their LED gooseneck lamps before they need to be replaced. LED’s closest competitor in this area – fluorescent lights – only provide around 20,000 hours of illumination before replacement, on average. With fewer lamp replacements to invest in, property owners can limit their maintenance-related overhead.
  • Instant lighting availability – LED lighting technology is also distinguished from other lighting options because of its instant-on functionality. As soon as LED fixtures receive power, they provide illumination, which is valuable for outdoor applications that call for instant light when it’s needed – like in security lighting applications.
  • Complete controllability – LED lighting is designed for total compatibility with modern lighting controls – including dimmers, timers, photocells and various occupancy sensors. This controllability is useful for reducing waste, as gooseneck lighting systems can be configured to shut off during the day or dim down when no one is nearby. Occupancy controls can also limit waste when used with walkways and other outdoor spaces.

    LED’s controllability is also valuable for security lighting applications, where linking occupancy controls to security fixtures can provide instant-anywhere illumination.

An experienced lighting company can provide effective gooseneck lighting solutions for outdoor spaces

Gooseneck lighting is purpose-built for outdoor spaces, providing quality illumination and improved aesthetics for commercial applications. It’s more than a good-looker, too, because gooseneck fixtures can provide targeted lighting for task or general lighting purposes in exterior areas.

Given its versatility, gooseneck lighting can serve in a variety of roles for commercial or industrial properties. The challenge is proper lamp selection and proper fixture positioning. This is where an experienced lighting professional can prove valuable.

Lighting experts have access to a deep inventory of LED lamps and gooseneck fixtures, but more importantly, they have access to design technology and processes that ensure an optimal result.

For example, reputable lighting companies utilize photometric software to visualize installation projects before a single light is placed. With photometric software, lighting designers can simulate the project space and experiment with different LED gooseneck lamps and fixture positionings. During this process, photometric analysis software provides exact readings of lighting intensity at every square foot of the property, so your lighting team will know exactly how the lighting system will look before work begins.

If gooseneck lighting could improve your property’s look or function, consider consulting with a proven lighting installer to see where gooseneck fixtures could make the biggest impact on your property.

The Advances in Parking Lot Lighting

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

The Advances in Parking Lot Lighting

Parking lots have been a vital part of the American landscape for many decades, and parking lot lighting has improved greatly over the years. Some of the most recent advancements in parking lot lighting include:

  • LED parking lot lights
  • Fixture shielding for LED lights
  • Smart controls for parking lot lighting systems
  • Photometric analysis for parking lot lighting design

Together, these advances in parking lot lighting provide a wealth of benefits to property owners, including better efficiency, improved performance, enhanced security and clearer visibility.

1. LED Parking Lot Lighting Improves Energy Efficiency, Reliability, Performance and Cost Effectiveness

LED lighting is the most important advancement in lighting over the past few decades. It appears that commercial property owners agree, as LED lighting solutions have replaced metal halide, fluorescent and other options as the primary lighting technology in the country. This trend will likely continue until LED lights are found in nearly every commercial lighting application imaginable, including parking lots.

In parking lot applications, LED lighting offers the following advantages:

  • Better energy efficiency – From its introduction, LED lighting has developed a reputation for being the energy efficient lighting option. Specifically, LEDs can output greater than 50 lumens per watt at the system level. Metal halides struggle to reach 30 watts per lumen. Put simply, LED parking lot lights generate more light per unit of energy.LEDs are able to achieve this for two reasons. One, the illumination-generating engine inside of an LED is far more precise, as it utilizes semiconductor technology instead of a heated filament. Two, LED lights produce directional illumination that can be aimed at the target without bulky reflectors. That means more light reaches the target. Metal halide fixtures emit light omnidirectionally, so much of it is wasted and often interferes with dark sky initiatives.
  • Extended lifespan and reduced maintenance – LED lighting products are the longest-lived lighting technology available. Whereas a metal halide will only provide around 10,000 hours of illumination before replacement is necessary, LEDs provide 50,000 hours (or more) of reliable, low-maintenance illumination. Newer high-performance LEDs can last even longer – up to 100,000 hours in some instances.A longer-lasting light provides longer-lasting value, which reduces replacement and maintenance costs.
  • Improved lighting performance and visibility – The initial challenge for LED lights was overcoming the performance advantage that other lighting technologies had over LEDs. That’s changed greatly in recent years and LED lighting systems now offer comparable or superior performance to metal halides and others. LED lighting solutions emit illumination evenly across the targeted surface, with minimal hotspots and shadows that could interfere with visibility.LEDs are also available in high-CRI models that can accurately render color, improving visibility at a distance and, by extension, safety for pedestrians and motorists.
  • Better controllability – As a product of modern engineering, LED lighting is built for compatibility with a range of modern lighting controls. This includes dimmers, timers, photocells and occupancy controls. In parking lots, this control allows property owners to dictate exactly how their LED lights are used. When no one is in the parking lot, the LEDs can be dimmed down, and vice versa. When motorists or pedestrians do walk nearby, the LEDs can brighten up.LED lighting has more specialized uses as well, which may be useful for parking lots. For example, LEDs can be programmed to change color when a vehicle enters a parking space, which can help motorists identify an open space from a distance.

Among all the available lighting improvements on the market, switching from an older technology to LED lighting provides the greatest impact.

2. Fixture Shielding Minimizes Light Pollution and Glare on Parking Lots

Parking lot lighting fixtures must meet increasingly strict lighting ordinances, including ordinances limiting light pollution. The goal for lighting designers – and parking lot owners – is to minimize any illumination trespassing onto neighboring properties.

Fixture shielding is a proven way to do this, and LED fixtures are a good fit for shielding. LEDs can be paired with full cut-off fixtures that screen out any illumination aimed above the horizon, without loss of performance. Again, this is due to LED technology’s directional nature, as the light can be aimed downwards.

By pairing fixture shielding with LED lights, parking lot owners can guarantee minimal uplighting (a primary driver of light pollution), glare and light trespass, making it easier for property owners to stay within ordinance requirements.

3. Photometric Analysis Maximizes Lighting System Value and Performance

During photometric analysis, lighting designers use visualization software to model a client’s parking lot and simulate a variety of lighting layouts. This enables the property owner to see how the system will look and perform once installed and in use.

The primary advantage with photometric analysis is that it ensures the lighting solution meets the client’s needs in terms of performance, efficiency and compliance with local lighting ordinances. Photometric analysis can tell the lighting designer exactly how much light each part of the parking lot is receiving, down to the square foot and footcandle.

Photometric analysis software also simulates using lighting data direct from the manufacturer. In other words, there is no guesswork involved, as each fixture behaves in the software as it would in a real-world application. The result is optimal energy efficiency and performance before a single fixture is installed.

LED Lights are Leading the Way in Parking Lot Lighting Advances

Parking lot lighting has taken major steps forward in recent decades, with LED lighting foremost among those advancements. Compared to parking lot lights from just a few decades ago, modern parking lot fixtures perform better, require less energy to operate, are easier to control and produce minimal lighting pollution. If your business is ready to improve its parking lot lighting, work with a reputable lighting expert for a photometric analysis that will ensure the best results for your property.

How LED Lighting Improves Security and Safety

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

How LED Lighting Improves Security and Safety

As the most energy efficient lighting technology on the market, many home and business owners are interested in learning how LED lighting improves security and safety. It all starts with better system performance.

LED Lighting Improves Security with High Quality Illumination

No technology’s performance is optimized when it is first introduced, and this was also the case for LED lighting. The first LED lights couldn’t match the performance of established options like fluorescent, incandescent, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights.

That’s no longer the case, to the point where modern LED bulbs provide superior lighting quality, compared to the alternatives. The difference is obvious when comparing LEDs side-by-side with legacy lighting options, and it comes down to a few factors, including:

  • Lumen output – LED lights emit more lumens per watt than every other lighting option. In other words, they make more light per unit of energy. This means brighter, more even illumination. Since LED lamps output more light, you can select lower wattage fixtures and get the same output as a legacy fixture.
  • Color rending accuracy – Lights are rated for their color rendering capabilities on the color rendering index (CRI). The CRI index scores lamps from 0 to 100, with higher scores for lights that render colors more accurately.High-CRI LED lighting is available for most applications, including parking lot, garage, commercial and security lighting applications. With high-CRI lamps in place, it is easier to identify colors at extended ranges, which has significant safety implications at night.
  • Color temperature – LED lighting is also available in a full range of color temperatures, which isn’t the case with legacy technologies. This includes warm, cool, and neutral white color temperatures, which are ideal for visibility purposes.

Add it up and the result is a light that provides better long-range visibility and color visibility at night. That adds up to better safety for pedestrians and motorists. It also supports other security system elements, like surveillance cameras and security patrols. With high brightness security lights in the area, criminals will find it more difficult to avoid detection.

LED Lights Are Durable and Resist Impact Damage and Tampering

LED lamps and fixtures are the most durable on the market and do not include sensitive components like filaments or glass chambers. The bulb is a tiny diode shielded by an optic, and the optic is made from durable polycarbonate or acrylic. This sits on a piece of solid-state circuitry that’s housed by an impact-resistant fixture.

There are no obvious weak points with an LED fixture, so they are much tougher to vandalize.

LED Lights Are Reliable and Always Ready

LED lighting is also more reliable than legacy technologies in several ways. For example:

  • LEDs last longer – On average, an LED light will provide 30,000 to 50,000 hours of reliable illumination before the lamp requires replacement. During its life, lumen loss is also minimal, compared to legacy options. With their extended lifespan and steady output, LED lamps offer better reliability than previous technologies.
  • LED lights can be instantly switched on and off – LED lighting doesn’t require a warm-up period before it’s switched on, and rapid cycling does not damage the lamp. This makes it ideal for security applications, where lights are kept on permanent standby.
  • LED lighting systems can be paired with advanced controls – LED technology is built on modern engineering, so it can be used with a variety of lighting controls. This includes photocells (which power the lights down during the day), timers, and most importantly, occupancy controls. Occupancy controls like motion sensors are particularly valuable for security applications, and because LEDs can be rapidly cycled without issue, you can install occupancy controls wherever you have LED lights in place.

This added reliability means that when your LED lights are needed during a critical moment, they’ll be available.

LED Fixtures are Designed for Minimal Lighting Pollution and Glare

At night, excess glare and light trespass can produce unsafe conditions for people nearby. Excess light pollution also has notable health effects on people and behavioral effects on animals. This includes attracting wildlife into populated areas.

Light pollution and trespass are safety concerns, but LED fixtures are designed to minimize their impact. There are a couple of features that LED fixtures come with to help them do this, including:

  • Shielding – Modern LED fixtures are designed with shielding that blocks any light from being emitted into the sky. Shielded fixtures also emit minimal illumination toward the horizon, which reduces glare and light pollution further.
  • Directional optics – Unlike other lighting technologies, LED lighting emits directionally. Lighting designers can leverage this advantage, ensuring the fixture only emits in desired directions, such as toward ground level. When used in street lighting applications, for example, LED lights can be aimed away from residential properties and at angles that produce less glare.

With these features, facilities can confine their security lighting to where they need it most, without creating unsafe conditions with excess light pollution.

LED Lamps Are Engineered to Emit Minimal Heat

LED’s safety also has to do with its engineering. LEDs operate using extremely efficient semiconductors that don’t waste energy emitting heat. In fact, many LEDs produce so little heat that they are safe to touch. On the other hand, all other forms of lighting emit enough heat to cause burn injuries.

LED bulbs also contain zero mercury, unlike fluorescent tubes. Mercury is toxic to touch or inhale, and if a fluorescent tube breaks, mercury is immediately released into the environment. That’s why fluorescent lights require a special waste stream for disposal purposes.

Because LEDs contain no toxic chemicals, they do not represent a potential health hazard if one does break.

LED Lighting is Unmatched in Security and Safety

To summarize, LED lighting represents an upgrade over legacy technologies in almost every conceivable way. That includes advantages in security and safety. With their superior lighting performance, reliability, controllability, design and engineering, LED lights provide excellent value when used in security applications. Please contact the experts at LED Spot with any questions.

Exterior LED Wall Packs Provide Better Safety, Security and Visibility

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

Exterior LED Wall Packs Provide Better Safety, Security and Visibility

Exterior LED wall packs are a simple, cost-effective way to enhance outdoor light quality. Outside, they’re everywhere. If the goal is to boost outdoor illumination around the building for pedestrians and vehicles, LED wall packs are the fixture of choice.

LED wall packs have been around for a while, so they’ve been powered by different lighting technologies over the decades. High intensity discharge (HID) lamps and mercury vapor lights were the standard for a long time, but they’re quickly being replaced by LEDs.

Where Is Wall Pack Lighting Usually Installed?

There are many applications for wall pack lights, though you’ll usually see them in outdoor areas. Here’s where they fit best:

  • Building facades and exteriors – You’ll most often see wall pack lights hanging from a building. From this position, LED wall packs are in a perfect position to illuminate pedestrian walkways below. Wall pack lighting can also be used to illuminate features of interest, like a sign or a store window.
  • Parking lots and garages – Security is a major need for parking lot and garage owners. To meet this need, many opt for wall pack lighting. Wall pack LED fixtures can be mounted to garage overhangs or nearby buildings to provide a large amount of high-quality illumination.
  • Warehouses – Wall packs can be installed inside or outside a warehouse. Outside, LED wall packs can be used to illuminate entrances and loading dock areas, where they provide additional visibility for workers and help with security.
  • Industrial and commercial campuses – If you have a large area to account for, like a sprawling work campus, wall pack lighting can provide a bright layer of general illumination on walkways.

LED wall packs are an extremely versatile lighting solution, as they can be adapted for nearly any location and remain effective.

Five Reasons Why LED Lighting Is The Best Option For An Outdoor Wall Pack

LED lighting is quickly becoming the industry’s frontrunner and replacing older forms of lighting in a multitude of applications. Wall pack lighting is one example, as LED technology is a good fit. Here are five reasons why:

  1. Superior energy efficiency – LED light bulbs are the most efficient on the market, outclassing all other fixtures. Lighting efficiency is measured using a lumen-to-watt ratio. The more lumens per watt created, the more output you’re getting per unit of energy.
    LEDs have a lumen-per-watt ratio between 75 and 110. Metal halides emit 75 to 100 lumens per watt, and mercury vapor fixtures between 35 and 65 lumens per watt. LED’s efficiency advantage is even greater when considering system efficiency, and not just source efficiency. Because LED fixtures emit directionally instead of radiating in all directions, most of their illumination can be aimed where it’s needed – at the ground. This gives LED a major system efficiency advantage over metal halide fixtures.
    With excellent energy efficiency, LED lighting can be powered around the clock at a reduced operating cost. Eventually, lower operating costs more than make up for the slightly higher price of LED fixtures.
  2. High quality output – In the past, LED lighting was unable to compete with the quality of HID illumination, but that’s no longer the case. Now LEDs generate extremely high-quality lighting that is brilliant and evenly cast.
    Enhanced visibility also enhances feelings of safety. That’s important if your business relies on foot traffic. Potential customers aren’t going to shop at a business that’s poorly lit – and that’s just not a problem with LEDs.
    Also, some LED lights are designed to render color with excellent accuracy. These high-CRI fixtures improve visibility further by displaying colors in their true hues.
  3. Unmatched lifespan and reliability – LED wall lights last much longer than other wall lighting fixtures. On average, an LED wall pack will provide 50,000 or more hours of excellent quality illumination. Compare this to metal halides, which provide about 10,000 hours before failure.
    With fewer replacements needed, you’ll get more value from your LED lighting investment.
  4. Better durability and safety – LED fixtures are built on solid state circuitry instead of glass bulbs, metal filaments, or pressurized gas chambers. As a product of modern engineering, LEDs are built with durability in mind, and can take the occasional bump without issue.
    They’re also shatter resistant and contain no toxic chemicals, like mercury. This means if they do break, they won’t become a health or environmental hazard.
  5. Extensive controllability – With solid state circuitry underpinning their functions, LEDs are compatible with a wide range of lighting controls and accessories. For example, installing a photocell on your LED lighting will automate on/off switching based on the level of ambient light. Timers use pre-programmed times to automate on/off switching while occupancy controls trigger when someone walks by.

A Couple Features To Look For In Your Outdoor LED Wall Pack

Outdoor LED wall packs are built for rugged outdoor use, and to ensure that they can handle the elements, look for the following:

  • IP rating – Electronics, including light fixtures, are given an IP rating based on their resistance to water and dust intrusion. This rating is expressed as a pair of numbers, from zero to seven. The higher the number, the better the protection, and ideally, the wall pack lighting you pick will have an IP rating that’s strong enough to protect from rain and wind-blown dust. Anything with an IP rating of 65 or above is sufficient for outdoor use.
  • Aluminum housing – Aluminum is corrosion-resistant and handles exposure to rain and heat well. As such, it’s a popular option for exterior wall pack lighting, especially in areas with high airborne salt content. That’s why you’ll find aluminum fixtures along the coast and in locations of high humidity.
  • Polycarbonate refractor lens – A polycarbonate lens will not shatter even if the entire fixture falls from its mount to the ground below. They are also resistant to impact, so polycarbonate is the right choice for wall pack fixtures that are close enough for people to reach.

LED outdoor wall packs come in a huge variety of designs and specifications. As such, you’ve got a lot of options, and it can be a challenge matching the right design to your application. With so many types of LED wall packs to choose from, consider working with a knowledgeable lighting expert.