Business sectors, such as logistics and warehousing, are currently operating round-the-clock to meet the demands of modern consumers. This is why adequate levels of lighting are needed all day and night – to make sure that workers are able to keep performing their roles safely without the risk of injury caused by poor lighting.
Tripping over discarded packaging and other kinds of debris, misjudging steps during parcel retrieval, and not seeing objects before falling over or into them are all common accidents that may occur in any workplace with poor lighting. So, facility managers and employers have a duty of care to make sure that the lighting not only offers enough levels of illumination but also are fit for purpose.
Numerous types of light fixtures are designed to be both durable and strong within industrial environments, but there are still several factors likely to impact the performance of the lighting fixtures. The 3 primary risks are harsh environments, interior power surges, and corrosion. Here are some of the ways that businesses can protect their light fixtures against these obstacles:
1. Using Protective Products
Industrial lighting fixtures should be regularly cleaned, ideally using a soft microfiber cloth and a small quantity of water. Still, corrosion and rust can and still do happen. Rust stains are usually tricky, if not impossible, to get rid of completely.
A great way to protect industrial light fixtures is by applying a specially designed protective film to minimize the build-up of dirt, rust, and grime, on light fixtures. By sealing light fixtures and reducing decay and corrosion, you can significantly extend the expected lifespan of industrial lighting and guarantee that good illumination is always achieved.
Using a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture levels in the air and avoid condensation on the fixture is another option for protecting industrial light fixtures. Dehumidifiers work by removing tiny particles of water present in some working environments and trapping them inside the unit where they are collected in a tank.
The tank fills with water as the particles are collected, ready to be emptied at regular intervals, making them especially useful for reducing the ingress of moisture into industrial light fixtures in industrial laundries, food production settings, along with any workplace where moisture or water is present.
Outdoor lighting, in many industrial settings, is just as important as indoor lighting.
Good outdoor lighting in busy logistics or haulage yards is important for both workers and vehicle drivers to stay safe at work. So, maintaining and protecting floodlights and security lights should be a key consideration for safeguarding the wellbeing of the workforce.
It is important to ensure that your outdoor lighting is checked regularly to make sure that sensors are functioning properly and there hasn’t been any ingress of dirt, dust, or moisture that may have a detrimental impact on the levels of lighting that the unit provides.
If your outdoor lighting is suffering from large amounts of water or debris ingress, it is possible to protect the outdoor lighting units by positioning them under a cover or canopy that will offer them some level of protection from the elements. However, it is important to check that the beam angle is adjustable in order to ensure that dark areas are not created after you reposition the light source.
It is also important to replace bulbs as part of any routine maintenance schedule. It is always advisable to have a stock of bulbs in hand in case one stops working unexpectedly since this can cause dark corners to quickly turn into health hazards if not addressed immediately.
2. Installing Surge Protection Devices
LED light fixtures are increasingly being used in commercial and industrial applications because of the cost savings that they can provide, as well as their commitment to implementing eco-friendly processes.
Still, LED light fittings need to be approached not just as lighting, but rather as electronic devices. While some have built-in surge protection, further protection is needed to negate the effects of interior voltage spikes that may cause long-lasting damage to the fixture.
One of the fastest, affordable, and most effective ways to protect your industrial LED light fixtures from surges is by installing surge protection device modules in the front of LED drivers. These protection device modules are a great solution to protecting light fixtures regardless of the setting.
LED drivers are not just cost-effective, they are also easy to install and can boost any business’s green credentials, which makes them a worthwhile investment for any business that wants to become or be considered environmentally-friendly.
3. Using Recessed Fittings
In harsh working environments, just selecting the right type of light fitting can help protect the fixture, extend the lifespan, and minimize the need for maintenance. If you choose the right lighting solution for your industrial site, the longevity of the light sources specifically created for industrial use and the new technologies that generate excellent illumination using far less energy make it possible to achieve cost savings.
Low profile light fittings, such as recessed emergency fittings, fit into the ceiling to add a natural level of protection for the fixture. This reduces the exposure of the light fitting to the surrounding environment, which can be especially beneficial as a protection strategy when installed in environments prone to high levels of debris or dust.
Several types of recessed fittings are available – including downlights, LED tubes, and halogen walkover lights – all of which are installed into a cavity for a low-profile fit.
Recessed lighting is also incredibly useful in warehouse settings since the lighting sits flush to the ceiling. This means the risk of hitting the light fixture and causing damage to any machines, light fixtures, or operators is minimized significantly.