A photometric drawing (also called a photometric lighting plan or design) is essential for any lighting design as it allows lighting professionals to visualize a system before it is installed. Photometric plans are often used in tandem with an AGi32 calculation tool for accurately predicting the photometric design. This is essential before breaking ground on a lighting project, for several reasons. The lighting industry uses photometric plans to arrange fixtures and ensure output intensity is distributed evenly.

There’s a lot of data included with every photometric study, and this data can be presented as raw numerical values or as a visual example. To generate this photometric report, lighting specialists use software such as AGi32, which is designed for the task.

How Do Lighting Designers Use Photometric Software?

Every light comes with its own photometric properties. Some lights emit directionally, while others radiate in every direction. Some lighting fixtures spread illumination further than others. This data is collated and provided to lighting professionals by the manufacturer.

During a photometric analysis, the lighting designer arranges each fixture inside the software, placing them in a rendered version of the client’s property. Fixture-specific photometric data is plugged in for each fixture and the software does the heavy number crunching. This includes taking measurements of lighting levels at every point in space.

What Does a Photometric Plan Look Like?

Photometric plans can be presented in many ways. One way is to analyze the system with nothing but numerical data. The software will compute how much light, in lumens, is present at each location. As the fixtures are changed or rearranged, the software will recompute light levels at each area. Lighting designers can study this data on its own to spot potential issues.

It’s more common, though, for lighting professionals to visualize the system using photometric software. Some professionals will produce a 3D rendering of the client’s property and simulate the distribution of light as the human eye would see it.

Photometric software can also generate wireframes or heat maps to detect areas that are receiving too much illumination and spaces that are too dark.

When is a Photometric Lighting Design Needed?

In most cases, property owners are not required to get a photometric analysis before starting a commercial lighting project, but it’s strongly recommended for several reasons, including:

• Commercial lighting systems must meet lighting safety codes – Commercial properties must maintain a minimum lighting threshold if they operate during evening or nighttime hours. Failure to do so could expose the property owner to legal action if an injury occurs due to poor lighting. Photometric analysis ensures your property meets those lighting codes without anything left up to chance.
• They also have to follow light pollution regulations – On your property, you’ll want to optimize your system’s output. Off your property, you’ll be required to minimize any lighting trespass or pollution. In other words, keep the light you produce on your property. There are additional lighting codes that require this and violating those codes can result in hefty fines.
• You’ll get maximum return on your investment with a photometric plan – Ideally, your lighting system will provide all the illumination you need with as few fixtures as possible. Too many fixtures are a waste and too much light is both uncomfortable and wasteful.
  Photometric plans allow designers to experiment with a variety of system layouts and fixture options. The goal is to find the best combination of layout and lamp to meet all project requirements. This degree of optimization is impossible without photometric software.

What Information Can a Photometric Analysis Provide?

A photometric analysis can answer a lot of questions about your lighting system’s projected performance. For instance, a photometric analysis can provide insight into the following:

• The angle and distance of light emission – Using manufacturer data, typically IES files, photometric software can measure the angle each fixture is emitting at, and how far that light is reaching. This is critical for determining if light pollution is a problem.
• The amount of light at every spot – Lighting intensity, as detected by the human eye, is measured in lumens. Photometric software prefers lumens when calculating how much light is reaching every part of the environment.
  That means photometric software can visualize how intense the light will be perceived at every point. This ensures the system meets all visibility, safety, and security requirements. It also helps designers spot overly intense or underlit areas.
• Footcandle levels – Some projects require minimal footcandle levels, and a proper design plan is essential for determining the ideal footcandle calculation. This ensures the area is evenly lit with the proper intensity.
• The ideal system layout – The goal of most commercial lighting systems is to produce enough illumination and even illumination. Photometric software makes it easy for designers to achieve both. The software responds to changes in fixture arrangement, so the designer can play around with fixture positioning to create an optimal system layout.
• Which fixtures will work best – Photometric analysis can be used with nearly every type of lamp in existence, as long as there is data on it. The designer can cycle through all of the available luminaires and pick one that provides the best performance and appearance.

With all of these factors accounted for, construction on your lighting project can begin with a clear plan in place. This will save your build teams some valuable time, which saves you money.

Photometric drawings are vital for ensuring lighting plans will provide the intended illumination. They are useful for exterior lighting systems, including solutions for parking lots, commercial campuses and parks. Be sure the company you work with will follow strict lighting codes and has extensive experience with photometric analysis to provide a clear picture of how your new lighting solution will look long before it becomes reality. At LED Spot, our basic photometric plans begin at a modest cost of $250, which is an affordable way to ensure your lighting project performs as intended.

Although home automation technology has been around for decades, only recently has LED light automation become a viable solution for all home and business owners. LED engineering has improved greatly in just the last 10 years and many of the technologies required for effective lighting automation have also improved.

That’s great news for people seeking better efficiency and performance from their lighting solution. With LED light automation it’s possible to achieve new heights in energy savings, occupant comfort and security.

What Are Some Effective LED Light Automation Products?

One of LED lighting’s many benefits is its controllability. No other lighting technology can be controlled as easily or with as much versatility as LED lighting. This extends to full LED lighting automation, as your LED fixtures can be controlled using the following automation technologies:

Timers

Timers are used to define when the light’s settings should change. This could be a change in output level or when the light is switched on or off.

Occupancy Sensors

Occupancy sensors detect when people are in the immediate area and switch the lights on in response. They also switch the lights off when the area is clear. Most occupancy sensors rely on motion to work, though some can also detect heat.

Photocells

Photocells are essentially light sensors. When they detect light, they react. When used with LED lighting, photocells can be used to switch the fixtures off when ambient light is present and switch them on when ambient light is absent.

Dimmers

Dimmers can be used to make precise adjustments to the lamp’s output. Dimmers come in many forms, from tactile control knobs to programmable solutions that bring the lights up or down at predetermined times.

Color Controls

Unlike other forms of lighting LED lights can output a full spectrum of colors depending on the chemical substrate that powers the LED’s semiconductor. With automated color controls users can specify what colors to display at any given time.

LED Light Settings Can Be Programmed In Advance

LED light automation isn’t just effective, it’s convenient. As the term suggests light automation technology is designed to run with minimal input. Once you’ve determined what your lighting controls should be set at those preferences just need to be programmed in. Set dates, times and your lighting’s configuration and the system handles the rest.

Modern lighting controls can even be programmed from your own device. This greatly simplifies management and is particularly useful for people responsible for managing a lot of LED lighting at once.

What Are The Benefits Of Automating An LED Lighting System?

Home automation has always promised compelling benefits for those willing to invest in the technology, but the technology has only become viable recently. Now that lighting automation solutions are now feasible for home and business owners there’s a lot to like about the technology. For example, with LED lighting automation you can look forward to the following:

Enhanced System Efficiency

Lighting is a primary energy expenditure for homes and businesses alike. If that lighting is on when people don’t need it, it’s a waste. Lighting automation technology ensures that your LED lighting is only on when people are present, minimizing waste and operating costs.

Improved Security

LED lighting automation can be used to switch the lights on when they are needed most for security purposes—at night. Photocells switch the lamps on when the sun is down. Timers can fill the same role. Motion sensors detect when potential intruders are nearby and switch the lights on as a warning. Lighting automation technology can also be used to power all the building’s lights on at once when someone is trespassing, and this can help law enforcement quickly respond to a potential break-in.

Reduced Maintenance And Manpower Needs

LED lighting automation extends each lamp’s life by powering them down when they aren’t needed. LED lighting already exhibits an impressive lifespan, but lighting automation enhances this and further reduces maintenance costs. Automation technology is also set-and-forget by design, so your LED lighting will require minimal babysitting once automation is in place.

Improved Lighting Performance And Aesthetics

No other lighting technology can be controlled as well as LED, down to the aesthetic level. With color controls, for example, users can change the lighting’s appearance in one room while leaving another room untouched. With dimmers, users can set their LED lights to slowly come up in the morning or slowly taper off in the evening for comfort or aesthetic reasons.

Compliance With Local Lighting Ordinances

LED lighting automation is also an effective solution for exterior applications, such as neighborhood parks and parking lots. Excess light pollution can be a problem for these settings, but automated lighting controls keep it under control. To keep nearby neighbors happy a neighborhood park could tie its LED lighting to timers that switch off when the park is closed. Dimmers, photocells and occupancy controls can also be used to control light spill in this way.

LED Lighting Automation Is A Wise Investment For Residential And Commercial Buildings

Automating your LED lighting will provide a compelling array of benefits—the kind of benefits that a residential or commercial property could benefit from.

In an office, LED light automation reduces waste and provides optimal illumination for productivity. In a warehouse or industrial facility LED light automation enhances security and safety with better color rendering and lighting performance. At the park LED light automation minimizes light pollution and ensures the park remains a good neighbor.

In the home LED light automation can do it all—reduce energy expenditures, ward off potential intruders, minimize lamp replacement and provide the kind of light that people are happy with.

That means LED light automation is no longer a far off, futuristic fantasy. Instead, it’s a viable present-day option for any home or business owner that wants more from their lighting solutions.

Well-designed commercial lighting systems enhance a property’s function and appearance, especially when they leverage LED technology. More and more commercial properties are turning to LED fixtures for their lighting needs, whether for a retrofit or for a brand new system. It’s easy to see why LED commercial lighting is so popular, as it represents an upgrade over fluorescent and HID fixtures in nearly every conceivable way.

What Should A Commercial Lighting System Consist Of?

Commercial lighting comes in many forms, and no matter what the property looks like or how it is arranged there is a commercial lighting system that makes sense.

Here are the most common commercial settings, and the lights that make the most sense for each:

1. Office buildings – Traditionally, office buildings have been fitted with panel and troffer fixtures, most of which utilize fluorescent technology. Troffers and panels are still the dominant fixture options, but LED technology is now the light engine of choice for offices. LED fixtures can emit close to neutral white light, while fluorescent tends to leave a greenish, pale cast over everything. Because LEDs emit in a color range more similar to natural sunlight, they help workers stay focused and alert. Several studies have confirmed the impact of natural light on employees, and have noted a productivity boost among those regularly exposed to it. LED technology offers the best and most cost-effective match to sunlight so companies can invest in their employees’ well-being while also getting efficient, reliable lighting.

   Some offices are doing away with the panel and troffer fixtures and are installing commercial lighting systems that are more appropriate for an open office layout. Open offices are gaining in popularity, as they are seen as a way to unify departments and encourage collaboration. Commercial lighting systems in open offices should enhance this approach, with extended rows of linear suspended lighting and some strategic pendant fixture placement.

2. Warehouses and storage facilities – Warehouses need maximum visibility and worker comfort more than anything else. When selecting warehouse lights the first decision is between high bay or low bay fixtures. High bay lighting is more appropriate for any building interior where the ceiling is at least 20 feet high. At this height the lighting must be specialized so that it can adequately illuminate the ground. This usually means adding a bulky reflector to the fixture, but in LED’s case only an angled lens is necessary.

   Some warehouse facilities still have HID lighting in place, and these facilities need an update. When updating from HID, it’s T5 fluorescent fixtures or LED fixtures that make the most sense. Increasingly, lighting experts are recommending LED high bay lights as they offer greater energy savings and require almost no maintenance for years after installation. This can keep operating costs down to a minimum, and makes up for the greater upfront cost of LED.

3. Restaurants and shops – Businesses that rely on attracting patrons have a different goal in mind with their lighting. Restaurants and shops have to draw people in with attractive lighting, ensure the property is easy to traverse and use the lighting to encourage a purchase. The best way to accomplish this is with sophisticated, coherent design.

   LED technology is a natural fit into a modern commercial lighting design as it can be paired with most fixture housings. Further, LED technology is easily controlled so property owners can fine tune how the system looks at all times.

   Although there are plenty of ways to light a shop or restaurant, strong lighting design uses layering to get the most out of the space. Good layering would combine ambient, accent and decorative fixtures to bring cohesion to the property. For example, ambient lighting provides general visibility in the space using linear suspension fixtures, track fixtures, recessed fixtures or something similar. Accent lighting draws attention to points of interest, like restrooms, changing rooms or the checkout area, and it often consists of LED strip fixtures or pendant fixtures to stand out. Decorative lighting can be built into dramatic pendants or chandeliers or even custom designed for something one-of-a-kind. Whatever the choice, decorative lighting with LED technology is ideal, because it can be brought up or down so it always looks perfect.

The Importance Of Photometry In Commercial Lighting

When lighting experts plan out a commercial lighting project they observe photometric principles to ensure the system looks exactly like it should.

What is photometry? Put simply, it’s a way of measuring light so that the human eye is taken into account. Light emits across an entire wavelength spectrum, and our eyes do not perceive them all with the same sensitivity. In other words, some wavelengths (colors) of light are easier for the eye to detect, which means those wavelengths appear brighter in certain settings. Lighting experts consider this when setting up fixtures, because it more accurately represents what people will actually see when the fixtures are powered on.

Photometry is a critical consideration for most lighting projects, and is particularly important for commercial, industrial and artistic applications. For this reason, lighting experts will diagram the system prior to installation, and this provides some valuable information to the installers. For example, photometric diagramming offers clarity on:

• How the entire system will be perceived, at every angle and from every spot on the property.
• Where the light will be most intense and where it will be least intense.
• Potential problem areas where too much or too little lighting is available.
• How far apart the lights should be spaced to ensure even coverage.
• What lighting technologies make the most sense for a particular project.
• How many fixtures will be required, which makes it easier to provide an estimate for the project.

Because photometry is so fundamental to proper commercial lighting design, commercial property owners should prioritize lighting providers and installers that utilize it.

Commercial lighting systems function best when they are designed with the space in mind. A proper commercial lighting system can bring maximum visibility, worker comfort and safety, or smart design to a property. In each case, LED technology offers the best combination of efficiency, reliability and functionality.

Seven Reasons Your Organization Should Switch to LED Lighting

LED lighting has gone from a niche product to a market favorite in just 10 years, and there’s no sign that this trend is slowing down. According to the International Energy Agency, 2021 marked the first year that LED technology was present in more than half of major lighting markets.

Residential, commercial or industrial – LED lighting is a frontline choice for a variety of applications. The question is, why have LEDs captured so much of the market so quickly? There are lots of reasons, but here are seven of the most prominent:

Bring Operational Costs Down With Improved Energy Efficiency

Energy efficient lighting is cost efficient lighting and LED leads in this category by a significant margin. Compared to linear and compact fluorescent fixtures, which are the most popular lighting options behind LED, LED lighting is around 50 percent more efficient. This number may be a little higher or lower depending on how your fixtures are arranged, but the bottom line is that LED technology can shave thousands off your organization’s operating costs over time.

This efficiency bonus is more pronounced over older lighting technologies like HID and halogens. You can expect to drop more than 80 percent of your lighting costs if switching from HID to LED.

LED’s Enhanced Lifespan Lowers Maintenance Costs

The more often your organization has to replace its lighting components, the more expensive it will be to maintain the system. Targeting lamps with a longer lifespan is one way to extend your system’s performance and LED lighting is also the frontrunner here.

The typical LED lamp will last more than 50,000 hours and may provide 100,000 hours of quality light before it needs to be replaced. That means if left on 24/7, an LED light will last for nearly 10 years at the minimum. Compare this to fluorescent tubes, which only remain functional for three to five years before they need to be replaced. Halogens, HIDs and other older technologies may burn out in a year (or even less).

A Longer Life And Strong Durability Means LEDs Are Extremely Reliable

LEDs are also more durable than other lights and are capable of dealing with rough handling. Unlike other forms of lighting, which use flimsy filaments or fragile gas chambers, LED lights are built on solid state circuitry. There’s no weak spot that could result in early failure. This advantage is notable during installation, where the occasional bump and knock is likely to occur. Because LEDs can deal with a little punishment, they are more likely to perform as long as they are rated. That’s additional cost savings.

LED Lighting Is Easy To Pair With Modern Controls

LED lighting has been designed with modern engineering processes, so it is designed to work with modern lighting controls. With dimmers, you can control the exact amount of illumination the lamp outputs. With occupancy sensors, the lights will switch on as soon as someone is nearby. With a photocell, the lights will switch on and off with the sun’s presence. With timers, you tell the LEDs when to operate and when to shut off.

All of this is simple to do with LED’s solid state engineering. It’s not as simple with fluorescent or halogen technology, so LEDs are the choice if controllability is a concern.

LEDs Can Also Be Paired With Existing Fixtures During A Retrofit

LED fixtures have come a long way in a decade. It wasn’t too long ago that installing LEDs meant ripping out the old system and replacing it with something completely new. That was expensive, but it’s no longer the only choice. Now many LED fixtures are designed specifically for retrofit applications and are compatible with most existing lighting systems. Retrofits are possible in most facilities and are a quick, less expensive way to get the benefits of LED without the upfront cost of a new system.

Modern LED Lamps Generate Brilliant Light That Renders Color Well

Much of the discussion around LEDs focuses on efficiency and longevity, but the illumination that LED lights produce is also impressive. LED fixtures output high quality, high clarity light that appears brighter and more neutral than HID or incandescent. Also, while LEDs once lagged behind other lights in their ability to render color, that’s not the case anymore. High-CRI LED fixtures are available and are ideal for either exterior or interior applications. Inside, high-CRI lamps can faithfully represent colors in clothing and artwork. Outside, high-CRI LEDs can help people see better at night, or they can be paired with security cameras for better imaging.

Aim Light Where You Need It With LED’s Directionality

Most lamps emit illumination omnidirectionally. That means they cast light in all directions at once. This can be of benefit in some settings, but it frequently results in a lot of light that’s wasted on the ceiling and low priority surfaces.

LED lamps are directional due to their engineering and can be aimed with precision. There are a couple of benefits to this. One, more light is directed to where it is needed which improves performance and efficiency. Two, LEDs can be targeted at a particular object or area, which can be used in display and security applications.

The Future And Present Of Lighting Is LED

With clear advantages in efficiency, longevity, performance and versatility, LED lighting is poised to dominate the market for the foreseeable future. That’s great news for organizations looking to make the switch to solid state lighting. Like with most technologies that have come before, economies of scale are driving down the cost of LED lights and driving up the quality of engineering. The result is a lighting technology that is across-the-board better than its competitors.

LED canopy lighting offers everything property owners need in a fixture. It is intense, energy efficient, reliable and long lasting, beating out long time options like HIDs and fluorescents in every way. It won’t be long before LEDs are the first choice in canopy lighting, and lighting experts are so impressed with the technology that many are now recommending it for a wide range of applications. The time has never been better for property owners to consider the benefits of LED fixtures.

What Is Canopy Lighting Used For?

Canopy lighting can be installed on residential properties, but it is usually found in front of businesses or in areas that are frequented by people or vehicles. They are always installed in areas that are likely to be active at night, like over a gas station or warehouse. Vertical lighting capabilities, lighting intensity, low operating and maintenance costs and reliability are all essential qualities to have in canopy lighting.

Like the term suggests, canopy lighting is installed directly above the target area offering an intense pool of illumination to ensure visibility and safety. Although canopy lighting can come in pendant, recessed or surface mount forms it is always placed on the underside of an overhang or soffit.

There are numerous applications of canopy lighting. In addition to gas stations, covered walkways, garages, warehouses and industrial facilities, product showrooms are also ideal spots for these fixtures.

Why Should Property Owners Update Their Canopy Lighting?

High intensity discharge, or HID technology was the canopy lighting option of choice for decades, along with fluorescent fixtures. This is a quickly changing trend though as property owners are realizing a boost in savings and performance by switching to LED fixtures. LED technology has replaced HID, fluorescent and other fixtures in many applications including canopy lighting applications.

Why has LED become a compelling choice for property owners? There are several reasons, including:

1. Low energy costs – Canopy lighting must be on for hours at a time, and in some settings it’s better to keep it on even when no one is taking advantage of it. For example, gas stations will keep their fixtures on from sundown to sunrise, because it encourages people to stop and patronize the business. In this instance, canopy lighting provides that sense of comfort and safety that people look for at night.

Low energy and maintenance costs are essential, and LED is far superior to all other technologies in both respects. The advantage is particularly noticeable when comparing LED and HID technology. The important metric here is the watt-to-lumen ratio. The greater the number of lumens per watt, the more efficient it is at converting energy to light.

LED fixtures regularly achieve ratios in excess of 100 lumens per watt, which is impressive. HID manufacturers may advertise similar ratios, but the listed watt-to-lumen number is often way off once the HID fixture is put in practice. That’s because HID fixtures tend to radiate in all directions, so only some of those lumens make it to the ground. Reflectors can offset this, but reflectors are heavy and are not 100 percent efficient. LED, by contrast, does not radiate but is naturally directional. This makes it easier to direct all of the LED’s output toward the ground and achieve a brighter result.

Further, HID lamps degrade faster in performance compared to LED. It’s common to see somewhere close to a 20 percent output reduction after the HID fixture has operated for about 8,000 hours. At this mark, LED fixtures will still be operating near peak output levels. If the lights are kept on for 12 hours a day, it will only take a couple years before the HID fixtures are noticeably dimmer than LED lights with the same watt-to-lumen ratio.

2. Longevity and low maintenance costs – These two go hand in hand, as most of the associated maintenance costs are due to replacement. In this respect, LEDs are often maintenance free for years after installation. That’s because most LED canopy lighting is rated for at least 50,000 hours of performance, and some are rated for twice as long. HID fixtures are only rated for 15,000 to 25,000 hours of performance, but declining performance means HIDs usually have to be replaced before that mark.

LEDs can go for years without being addressed, while HIDs may need to be switched out two or three times during that span. Also, HID fixtures have to be regulated with an onboard ballast and that has to be replaced separately adding to maintenance expenditures. The cost advantage here is clearly in LED’s favor.

3. Controllability – LEDs are built on top of solid state circuitry, while HIDs and fluorescent lights use reactive gases to output illumination. Solid state circuits are far easier to control, responding to the same electrical impulses that a computer utilizes. This added controllability gives LEDs a lot more utility in a few ways.

For instance, LED canopy lighting switches on instantly and does not need to be warmed up even in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider HIDs, which need several minutes to reach full intensity. LEDs also do not flicker and can be aimed with greater precision than HIDs. The result is more consistent, more even and more comfortable lighting.

Most LED canopy lighting can be dimmed when necessary, and dimmers can be tied to occupancy controls so intensity drops slightly when no one is around. The drop off is minor and as soon as someone enters the area the lights return to full intensity immediately. Occupancy controls and dimmers, though, ensure operating costs are kept to a minimum. They also extend the fixture’s life, offering more performance out of every fixture.

Canopy lighting pushes back the darkness and provides a sense of safety. It’s a must-have for businesses that remain open around the clock, so property owners should carefully consider their lighting options. LED fixtures are the superior option over HIDs, fluorescents and other technologies, and aren’t just the future of canopy lighting, but the present as well.