There is a lot of buzz (excuse the pun) around LED lighting (light-emitting diode) and for good reason. LED lighting is brighter and lasts much longer than fluorescent or halogen bulbs. But how else can they benefit your warehouse?
Safety
Safety is always the number one priority when thinking of making changes to your warehouse. Changing your lighting to LEDs can help keep the warehouse a safe place to work. Keeping the warehouse well-lit with a ‘good quality’ of light means your staff can always see what they are doing, which is especially important for machine operators and reducing the risk of accidents. The focus should not just be on workspaces. Walkways, stairwells and fire exits should be well lit at all times to meet building regulations requirements. Ideally, Exit sign lights are fitted with LED bulbs as they last for years and remain bright no matter their age. LED bulbs also do not emit heat like halogen bulbs while they are in use. Over time, halogen bulbs have been known to melt the protective coating of their wires and cause electrical fires when not correctly maintained. You should regularly have electrical fittings checked to minimise the risk of electrical fires.
Productivity
If your staff have been complaining about lighting in your warehouse, changing to LED light fittings could be the perfect solution for you. Essentially, the better your team can see the better they can perform tasks, and fewer mistakes can be made, saving your business time and money. Studies* have also shown that poor lighting can actually affect psychological moods. This can occur when we do not get enough natural light. Most LED lighting systems to combat this problem with adjustable settings, which bathe your warehouse in a mood-lifting light that can be adjusted throughout the year to keep productivity at an all-time high. Well-lit workspaces can also reduce headaches, eye strain and fatigue for your team.
Economic & Environmental
LED lights do carry a larger upfront cost than other lighting options, but they will save you money in the long run. LED light bulbs do not need as much power to run as others do, they can also last for up to 60,000 hours before they need changing. This makes them more cost effective to run as you will not need to change the bulbs as often. You could also consider installing intelligent lighting systems which ensure no lights are ever left on by mistake. The systems use PIR’s (passive infrared sensor) motion sensors and pre-set timers to switch off unnecessary lights which are not being used, saving power and money running lights that are not required.
Things To Remember
Before you start the process of replacing any existing light fittings, it is a good idea to plan out where you want the new LED lighting to be placed. Especially if you are carrying out other updates to the warehouse. Make sure the new lights will not be covered by any racking or shelving and they are easily accessible for cleaning and maintenance. Also, consider introducing a light fixture cleaning and maintenance schedule to get the most out of your new investment. LED bulbs do last for a long time, but a dirty bulb or fixture will affect the quality of light they produce.
Think about where you need to direct the light. Your electrician can help you with this, but you need to have a conversation about it before installation. Different fittings can shoot light in different directions, so a proper in-depth chat with your electrician is necessary before work commences. At this point, you also need to discuss potential glare. Especially if any of your machine operators need to look up. As we mentioned above, safety is number one, and if your staff are blinded by new brighter light fittings while operating machinery you have a definite safety breach on your hands.
Switching your lights to LED fixtures can help you reduce running costs, improve productivity and safety. Perhaps it is time to make the change. If you want to find out about electrical installations we can provide, you can do right here.
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140130600858142