The Impact of Outdoor Commercial Lighting Design

Public spaces have a need for outdoor commercial lighting so they can continue to cater their services to the general public long after the sun goes down. Unlike residential lighting, commercial lighting must stand up to the demands of a public environment.

These demands vary depending on the lighting's location and use but they must handle normal abuse and corrosion well.

Outdoor commercial lighting is a key selling point of any public space. A well lit space will attract more of the public to want to investigate the scene resulting in increased foot traffic and ultimately a highly successful commercial space.

It also adds to the space's image. A person's perception of a commercial space will determine whether or not they will go there.

A properly lit commercial space will make people curious and want to find out more of what they're missing out on.

Design is critical in lighting a commercial space. Since the owners of these spaces will not be the main users of it, keeping the costs low is important to staying within the budget proposed for the commercial project.

The larger the scale of the lighting project, the better the designer needs to understand the uses of the outdoor space.

The designer must decide on the best locations to place the lighting especially if he/she is limited on the number of fixtures that can be used. All while staying in line with the space's design and character.

He/She must be able to keep the traffic flowing throughout the site. Avoiding dark spots and allowing the light to flow will guide the publics movement and make people feel safe and secure.

A well designed outdoor commercial lighting scheme must make people feel comfortable. If there is adequate lighting in a space, people will feel comfortable approaching strangers. Thats how you know of job has been done well.

Keeping paths and steps lit properly adds to the feeling of security that people subconsciously need to feel.

If lighting a path, it helps to install commercial outdoor lighting fixtures that will spread light along the path as well as on the surrounding space.

The use of outdoor bollard lights provide a convenient way to provide path lighting to your guests and the surrounding spaces. Seeing beyond the surrounding foliage makes people feel more comfortable since they are able to spot anything hiding in there.

The designer must adjust the lighting intensity in order to keep the flow of light uniform and keep the flow of traffic moving.

Dark foliage requires more lighting because of the low reflective nature of the darker colors, while lighter colors reflect more light and therefore need less intense levels of light.

Entrances and exits should be distinctive. A well lit entrance or exit can be differentiated by the use of brighter lights, decorative fixtures, or a well lit sign.

Choosing an Outdoor Commercial Light Source

1) Mercury Vapor

2) Metal Halide

3) High-Pressure Sodium

4) Low-Pressure Sodium

Each lamp produces a distinct color output. This is mainly dependent upon the type of gas used inside the HID lamp.

Since the four HID light sources have very distinct color differences, its important to know exactly what they are going to be used for. Each distinct color will either enhance or detract from the overall appearance of the objects lit.

Dependent on the final result you want to create will determine what type of commercial outdoor lighting fixture you should install. Of course, even more important is the type of lamp that is being used within that light fixture.

HID Lamp Characteristics

Mercury vapor lamps are very appealing when lighting trees and greenery because they tend to exaggerate the plant's natural green color.

Metal Halide lamps are more commonly used because of the nice white light they produce. They are very versatile and great for lighting trees, highways, downtown areas, or shopping centers since their light is the closest to natural light of any of the HID lamps.

Metal Halide lamps tend to be difficult to color match precisely because of the the slight color variation from lamp to lamp. They also tend to have a lower lifespan than other HID lamps, somewhere between 6,000-20,000 hours of lamp life.

High-Pressure Sodium lamps are one of the most efficient and long lasting HID lamps available. They are mostly seen in parking lots, highways, and in street lamps because they produce a golden yellow color.

If you plan on lighting plants, trees, or any greenery for that matter high-pressure sodium lamps are not the way to go. Because of their golden yellow color they tend to make plants and greenery look stale and dull.

Low-Pressure Sodium lamps produce a very deep yellow light making them somewhat useless for most outdoor commercial lighting applications. Although they do have the longest lamp life and are the most efficient HID lamps available.

Outdoor Commercial Lighting Fixture Enemies

Commercial spaces require the right type of lighting suited to stand up to the challenges of a commercial environment.

The proper lighting fixture can produce a high lumen output suited for large outdoor lighting projects.

Highly trafficked public spaces can be your fixture's worst enemy so installing commercial lighting fixtures made to withstand this abuse is your best defense.

Weathering, basic wear and tear, and vandalism are all common enemies that your fixtures will face daily so choosing a fixture with all the right features will protect your lighting equipment for years to come.

6 things to look for in a Outdoor Commercial Lighting Fixture

2) Look for fixtures that can be easily aimed and make sure they come equip with a secure locking mechanism. Nobody wants to have to constantly re-adjust a fixture after its put into position especially if it's out of reach.

3) Having a strong and sturdy lens will save you the headache of having to replace expensive bulbs due to vandalism. Look for fixtures that have an impact-resistant lens.

4) Prevent your fixtures from being disassembled so make sure your fixtures contain a tamper-proof screw or any other feature that will prevent unauthorized disassembly.

5) Install lighting fixtures designed to stand up to substantial impact especially if they will be installed in a highly trafficked area.

6) Some fixtures such as commercial path lights, bollard lights, and post lights all need to be designed to withstand an ample amount of impact because they will be in consistent contact with people. Outdoor commercial lighting continues to evolve as technology changes and new lighting techniques and designs begin to take shape. Lighting designers must stay on top the the changing trends as they continue change the face of commercial lighting.