When compared to other types of commercial spaces, warehouses have special lighting needs. Warehouses are large structures that may house hundreds of employees and thousands of items of inventory and equipment. They are typically lit by fixtures that are difficult to access. To avoid injuries, mistakes, and accidents due to the high volume of foot traffic and the use of potentially harmful machinery and logistical equipment, proper lighting is essential. In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s crucial to have well-lit warehouses.

Complexities of Warehouse Lighting

A lighting installation that is not organized effectively can result in a waste of energy. There is a chance that the way the fixtures are placed and set up will cause the light to be spread in the wrong way. Often, older warehouses don’t consider racking and shelving before installing lighting. Worker safety is compromised when excessive glare makes it difficult for them to read labels, locate products, or operate machinery due to poor design. There is a serious risk to both employees and stock without adequate lighting in a warehouse. To guarantee that all employees have unimpaired vision across the entire property, the color rendering index (CRI) must also be taken into account. Warehouse lighting systems with a color rendering index (CRI) of less than 85 should be avoided in general.

Since many storage facilities are open around the clock, they require lighting that will last as long as possible and consume little energy. If not, lights will burn out rapidly, necessitating frequent and expensive replacement. LED warehouse lighting has an expected lifespan of about 50,000 hours or about seven years of constant use. LEDs can be paired with many different features to increase durability and decrease energy consumption when the lights are not in use. Large properties, such as warehouses, can benefit greatly from an LED lighting system because it provides adequate lighting throughout the entire building while decreasing energy waste and costs.

What Do You Need to Know About OSHA’s Warehouse Lighting Requirements? 

In many warehouses, potentially harmful machinery is used on a daily basis. This is why the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has issued guidelines for warehouse lighting. These regulations are aimed at protecting workers from visual impairment-related accidents and injuries. lux and lumens are two units of measurement to keep in mind when discussing adequate lighting for this purpose. Illuminance refers to the amount of light falling on a surface and is measured in lux. The amount of visible light emitted by an illumination source is measured in lumens. OSHA mandates the following in storage facilities:

• Heavy equipment areas should have 2 lumens per square foot
• Warehouse loading bays should have a light level of 300-400 lux
• Warehouse aisles should have 100-200 lux
• For lobbies, stairwells, and corridors, 200 lux
• For factories and workshops, 750 lux 
• For laboratories, offices, and showrooms, 500 lux is recommended

OSHA also mandates the following lighting fixture safety standards:

• There should be no exposed live parts.
• stable wall fixings
• No openings large enough for a finger to enter
• Mounted no lower than 7 feet from the floor or protected by a shatter-proof screen that complies with OSHA regulations

Warehouses and other commercial businesses need to know the OSHA rules that apply to their industry so they don’t get fined a lot of money.

Lighting is often overlooked as a potential life-saving factor in emergency situations, but it can play a crucial role in minimizing injuries and maximizing survivability. OSHA suggests following the NFPA’s recommendations for emergency lighting, which include the following:

• Workers with normal vision should be able to see all exit signs from a safe distance
• There should be an “exit” sign at each door
• Exit signs must be visible for 90 minutes in a blackout
• Emergency exit lighting must be at least 10.8 lux
• Brightness and battery life must be tested every 30 days
• Battery-powered emergency lighting must be tested annually for 1.5 hours

Energy-efficient Warehouse Lighting:

The cost of lighting a warehouse accounts for the majority of its overall energy consumption. The most significant way warehouse owners and managers can reduce energy costs is by upgrading their commercial lighting fixtures with the help of industrial LED lights. Many warehouses have old fluorescent high bays, metal halides, and other fixtures that use a lot of energy and cost a lot to maintain. Due to advancements in LED technology, it is now much simpler to set up long-lasting lighting that requires less maintenance and produces better lumen output. The conversion to LED lighting has been shown to reduce warehouse energy costs by as much as 61%. Long-term energy savings can be increased by as much as 70% when using compatible motion sensors and other features, and your lighting service can help you find energy-focused rebates from local utility companies. Warehouse lighting upgrades are a cost-effective way to cut down on emissions and save money.

Suggested Warehouse Lighting Solutions:

Lighting in a warehouse must meet certain specifications. Any warehouse can be modernized to be safer and more productive with the help of products like LED linear lamps, LED high bay fixtures, LED emergency lights, and LED exit signs. Warehouses that are open around the clock should also install control systems like timers and dimmers. When choosing warehouse lighting, you need to think about the workers’ safety, how long the lights will last, and how good the lights are. Warehouse lighting recommendations:

• Explosion-proof LED Lights
• High Bays LED Lights 
• Vapor Tight LED Lights
• Linear High Bay LED Ceiling Lights

Get in touch with Maes Lighting right away if you’re considering a warehouse lighting upgrade. We install cutting-edge lighting systems in warehouses located in the United States, which serve to enhance the existing level of security as well as the overall level of productivity. Simply dial 866-860-6399 to get the ball rolling.