Are you considering new warehouse lighting for your facility? In our latest blog we’ve put together everything that you need to keep in mind.
Why is it important to have the correct warehouse lighting?
Whether you have a storage facility, warehouse or logistics/distribution centre, it’s important that you have adequate illumination from your lighting. This will mean that it’s easy to identify and retrieve stored items, vehicles and workers will also be able to safely navigate through aisles and there will also be a minimised risk of damage and accidents too.
What level of minimum level of lighting do I need in my warehouse?
Did you know that warehouse lighting systems have a recommended level of light intensity that needs to be produced? This is measured by lux, and some examples of the required levels for different warehouse locations are referenced below, which depend on the type of building and work being carried out:
| Warehouse Location | Recommended Lighting Lux Level |
| Large item and bulk stores | 100 lux |
| Loading bays | 150 lux |
| Unpacking/sorting areas | 200 lux |
| Packing and dispatch areas | 300 lux |
What else do I need to consider for warehouse lighting?
When it comes to the electricity costs in all types of storage and logistics buildings and warehouses, lighting can account for up to 80% of this. Therefore, if a business chooses to invest in an energy saving warehouse lighting system, it’s possible for them to cut this figure by around 50 to 90%. Imagine what money could be saved on that basis, and what return on investment could be made too!
If your business is interested in cutting its electricity costs by replacing its warehouse lighting, here are the things that you need to keep in mind:
- Eco-friendly warehouse lighting options
There are several options available for eco-friendly warehouse lighting options. These include:
- Renewable energy (solar panels)
- Lighting timers
- LED lighting
- Lighting sensors
- Improving productivity and safety
When it comes to upgrading your warehouse lighting system, it’s important to ensure that it is designed correctly in order to avoid the following:
- Accidents: If the lighting isn’t of a good enough standard, personal injury or damage to valuable stock could occur as a result of accidents with fork lift trucks, reach trucks or side loads.
- Increased staff absenteeism: Poor lighting might mean that staff suffer from migraine and headaches, as well as eyestrain.
- Reduced working efficiency/productivity: If staff can’t see properly, this may mean that they find it difficult to identify products and pick orders etc.
- Maintaining your warehouse lighting
When it comes to maintaining your warehouse lighting system, these are the things that will help:
- High fixture positioning: You should ensure that the light fixtures are positioned as high as possible, as this will prevent damage from fork lift/cage vehicles and regular stacking/removal of goods.
- Even light distribution: It’s important to have reasonable uniformity across the warehouse floor, as this can stop large shadows or dark spots, light being wasted on top of racking, as well as protecting your forklift truck drivers from suffering high levels of glare/dazzle.
- Undertaking regular maintenance: You should clean your warehouse light fittings regularly to remove dust and debris, as this can damage them over time.
