High bay/
Low bay lighting
What is high-bay lighting?
High-bay lighting is used in high-ceiling areas to light surfaces more than 15 feet away. Common high-bay applications include industrial manufacturing, gymnasiums, warehouses, and warehouse-type retailers. All lamps typically used in high-bay applications contain mercury, although some varieties – most notably high output T5s and induction fluorescent's – offer opportunities for mercury reduction.
We will design a system that meets the specific needs of your space and the financial parameters of the project.
High Bay & Low Bay Lighting Fixtures
Standard high bay or low bay fixtures normally use HID (High Intensity Discharge) bulbs which is a special type of lighting that is much more intense than most other light sources. Metal Halide is most commonly used for indoor application since it emits a bluish white bright light that is much more pleasant to the eyes than HPS.
High bay lighting fixtures should be used in areas where the bottom of the light fixture is more than 20 feet above the floor. Typical high bay fixtures have a 15 - 18" open reflector allowing for a more concentrated beam spread with a prominent downward component. High wattage sources in fluorescent and HID are usually required in order to properly illuminate the space.
Low bay fixtures should be used in areas where the bottom of the luminaire is less than 20 feet above the floor. Low bay fixtures are usually 22 - 28" in diameter in order to spread the light evenly. Low bay HID lighting fixtures have optical refractors that cover the lamp and reduce glare. Their widespread distribution improves vertical illumination and permits spacing's as much as two or more times their mounting height. In addition, they can be mounted up to 25' when high vertical illuminance is required. Fluorescent fixtures are also good for low bay lighting due to their excellent uniformity and relatively low lumen package compared to HID.
Until recently, high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting systems were considered the only option for illuminating high-bay spaces. Recent advances in fluorescent lighting systems now make these lower-cost systems more attractive choices for lighting spaces that have high ceilings.
Recently developed fluorescent HO (high output) systems offer a number of benefits. These include:
- higher light output per unit of electric power
- higher light output as lamps age
- better colour rendering
- energy-saving switching capability
- continued reliability when there is lamp failure (high-bay fluorescent systems usually have between four and six lamps per luminaire versus one for HID systems; fluorescent systems continue to provide illumination if a single lamp fails)
- less mercury for equivalent lighting service-years
- superior performance at higher temperatures.
