Main uses of LED industrial high bays
Traditionally, the industrial hoods Discharge lamps have been used, either mercury vapor or sodium vapor. These types of facilities are characterized by their large dimensions (both horizontally and vertically) so it is essential to have a level of lighting for work reasons and for the safety of the employees who carry it out.
1 Traditional Industrial Hoods. Discharge lamps
As we mentioned previously, discharge bulbs have been a great option when we had to provide lighting to facilities with very high ceilings. With the development and introduction of LED technology into the market, these types of luminaires have become obsolete due to their high consumption and intermediate elements that are needed for their implementation. The most typical powers that can be found in industrial warehouses are 250 W for ceilings between 5-6 meters high and 450 W for ceilings with higher heights (for example 9 meters). Furthermore, in this type of lamps, the amount of illumination is considerably reduced over time due to the deterioration of the gas found inside. Also, the fact of the reduction in lighting affects consumption, causing it to increase. In some cases, we can even see changes in tones. On some occasions, we can find industrial warehouses with fluorescent tube installations. This type of installation can be found on low ceilings or at specific points in production processes.
2 LED Industrial Hoods. Efficient and effective solution
As we mentioned previously, the introduction of LED technology in the world of lighting meant a revolution and a new way of understanding things. LED high bay lights have a series of advantages that make them a very attractive product. These are the following: Quick start-up High performance Lm/W Long useful life (50,000 hours for LED hoods compared to 10,000 hours for discharge hoods) Energy Savings Quick return on investment Homogeneous distribution of lighting No changes in the tone or quantity of lighting Protection IP65-66 Once we have seen the very attractive advantages that LED hoods offer us, we are going to recommend the replacements proposed in depending on the height or the hoods that we have previously installed. If the warehouse we want to illuminate is newly built and we do not have any lighting system, we will have to follow the following advice. If the height of the warehouse is between 5-6 meters, the recommended LED high bays are 100 W. For heights greater than 8-9 meters, the recommendation is 200 W in LED technology. For intermediate heights, the recommendation is to install 150 W hoods. If, on the other hand, the warehouse already has lighting with discharge hoods, the equivalence/replacement is very simple. The 250 W hoods are replaced by 100 W and the 450 W hoods are replaced by the 200 W hoods. Before following this rule strictly, it is advisable to know the type of bulb installed and know the lumens it supplies. In this way we can choose an LED high bay with the same lumens and offer a replacement with all the guarantees of success.
3 European standard on indoor lighting (UNE 12464.1)
The requirements established in this standard are based on three factors of satisfaction of basic human needs, how they are. Visual comfort. Workers must have a feeling of well-being so that the correct performance of their duties is guaranteed with complete safety. Visual benefits: Workers will be able to perform their visual tasks without any disturbance and without difficulties in doing so. Security. In this standard we can find established parameters that must be guaranteed in all areas where any activity is carried out. The main parameters that have to be measured and taken into account are the maintained illuminance (Em), the glare index (UGR) and the color rendering index (Ra). Of all these parameters, the most important is the column corresponding to the illuminance levels measured in luxes since it will be the parameter that will indicate whether an area is properly illuminated or not. Continuing with the theme of industrial warehouses and their lighting possibilities, the standard that we have mentioned above stipulates a series of illuminance in different areas. For example, in areas where high precision work is carried out, the standard stipulates that there must be an amount of 1000 – 3000 lux, while for packaging areas only between 100 and 400 lux are needed. As we have mentioned previously, the level of lighting is a very important favor and on countless occasions it is not given the importance it deserves. Guaranteeing a level of lighting in accordance with the task being carried out increases safety, as well as the level of production. In conclusion we can say that by replacing the discharge hoods with those that use LED technology we are guaranteed savings in maintenance costs because the bulbs do not have to be changed so frequently and the hours of useful life of the LED technology guarantee us between 30,000 - 50,000 hours of life without any type of problem. Furthermore, with the change, we improve the quality of light and better perception and recognition of colors. Also, a correct and efficient distribution of lighting is guaranteed, improving the levels of productivity, safety and the work environment.
