Guide to LED High Bays

Is it time to make the switch to LED?

It’s a common question these days, especially as the cost of LED is now low enough to deliver an attractive payback.

If the answer is yes, you’ll need to know what to look for.

Time to Upgrade Your High Bay?
Answer these five questions to help determine if you should start looking for new high bay lighting.

1. What type of high bay lighting do you currently have?
If you have HID or fluorescent high bays, it’s time to upgrade because you’re missing out on the benefits of LED lighting.

• Energy Savings: LED uses at least 50% less energy than traditional sources.
• Maintenance Savings: Quality high bay LED solutions can last 100,000 hours or more. That’s over 10 years of 24/7 usage.
• Code Compliance: As building energy codes become more restrictive, high bay LEDs support compliance.
• Controllability: high bay LEDs can easily be integrated with automated digital controls that dim or turn lights on and off based on time of day, available daylight, occupancy, load shedding events and more.
• Integration with Other Systems: because high bay LEDs are digital, they can be linked with other BMS systems to create a single building system.

2. Are your high bays always on?
If they’re always on, it’s time for an upgrade. You can reduce your energy consumption by up to 80% in some cases by adding controls that will ensure your lights only stay on when you need them to.

3. Are your high bays controlled via manual switch?
If the only way to turn off/on you high bays is with a manual switch, it’s time for an upgrade. Automated controls can dim and turn lights on and off based on time of day, available daylight, occupancy, load shedding events and more so you can realize energy savings, stay compliant with building energy codes and save time.

4. Are any of your high bays out right now?
If yes, it’s time for an upgrade. Dysfunctional high bays can result in poor productivity because your crew cannot see properly to get the job done quickly. But more importantly, insufficient light can result in safety hazards.

5. Are your light levels low making it difficult to see?
If your crew can’t easily see lot numbers from the top rack to the bottom shelf, or with the clarity they need around dangerous machines, it’s time for an upgrade.

HID and fluorescent high bays dull quickly requiring maintenance and bulb replacements. But while you’re waiting for a handful to go out, your production floor can get dark.

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommends anywhere from 20 - 100 foot candles for most industrial high bay applications to ensure adequate lighting and safety for workers.