LED Parking Lot Lights Performance Specification

If you are planning to install LED parking lot lights at your facility you are likely to have a question or two in your mind regarding their performance specification. While all of us are aware of the fact that LED lights in your parking lot are energy efficient there are several things that would put you in a dilemma. Before we delve into this further we must mention that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) along with Better Buildings Alliance (BBA) has been constantly pitching for LED lighting in parking lots. In several reports that have been released over the last few years it has constantly reiterated the fact that installing LED (light emitting diodes) in place of HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting and help light up parking lots better and more efficiently. HIDs are gas-discharge arc lamps whereas LED convert electricity into light. HIDs require bulky reflectors to come up with best outputs but LED uses smart technology to produce even spread of illumination.

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Focus on High-Efficiency Lighting

The rising greenhouses gases along with the constantly increasing demand in per capita energy has led to a major re-thinking on how energy is being used and how this consumption can be reduced without compromising on the basic safety and security aspect in our lives. The Better Buildings Alliance has been working with stake holders at every level including industry suppliers and other lighting manufacturers in order to enable the launch of energy-efficient lighting products on the market. Parking lot lights have been one of the focus areas of this initiative and given the ease with which this has been implemented it is no surprise that the Alliance has had its focus on parking lot lights since 2012. In its report it has set the lighting requirements for your parking area and the specifications are as below –

MAIN PARKING AREA

Lighting Zone 2 – 50 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M) 0.25 fc (MVI)
Lighting Zone 3 – 0.75 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M) 40 fc (MVI)
Lighting Zone 4 – 00 fc (MHI) 10:1(UM:M) 0.50 fc (MVI)

PERIMETER PARKING AREA

Lighting Zone 2 – 20 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M)
Lighting Zone 3 – 0.40 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M)
Lighting Zone 4 – 50 fc (MHI) 10:1(UM:M)

FRONT AISLE

Lighting Zone 2 – 00 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M)
Lighting Zone 3 – 1.50 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M)
Lighting Zone 4 – 00 fc (MHI) 10:1(UM:M)

ENTRY DRIVES, LOADING AREAS & REAR DRIVES

Lighting Zone 2 – 20 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M)
Lighting Zone 3 – 40 fc (MHI) 10:1 (UM:M)
Lighting Zone 4 – 50 fc (MHI) 10:1(UM:M)

Fc stands for – Foot-candle
MVI stands for – Minimum Horizontal Illuminance
UVI stands for – Uniformity Minimum Vertical
UM:M stands for – Maximum: Minimum Illuminance

As a building owner you need to be aware of these specifications when it comes to selecting the LED parking lot lights that meet the minimum requirements in the guideline and at the same time also help you light up your lots in an efficient manner. And the knowledge of this specification goes much beyond meeting compliance requirements. You need to understand the fact that well lit parking adds to the look and feel of your building. In fact it is one of the most important elements that define the appeal of the building. By following the specification you would also be able to reduce energy costs and more importantly your carbon footprint. With exterior lighting accounting for an estimated 40% of energy consumption of a building it is important for you to choose LED lighting products as per specification.

Apart from the technical specifications it is also important for you to choose the right kind of LED parking lot lights. Here the color of the lights their lifecycle cost, standard lifespans and compatibility with existing controllers at your building also need to be considered. All these might sound highly Greek for you at the moment and this is where a reputable LED lighting contractor can help you. They bring in their expertise both in terms of meeting compliances and well as designing tailored lighting solutions for your parking lot. They’d carry out the initial surveys regarding your niche needs and go back to their drawing board and come up with a plan that is cost-effective, efficient and promises you energy savings in the long run.

As a modern business you need to be the change and adopting LED lighting is a step in the right direction. Most of the business has been opting for LED lighting over high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting to focus on efficiency and reducing energy use, particularly from lighting. If lack of proper lighting has already became a major crime deterrence, then you most likely need to investigate your lighting installations brightness levels. LED parking lot lighting protect your building and generates industry-wide savings. Efficiency of LED lighting gives the best opportunity to see subtle color contrasts on objects and surfaces. Ideal parking lot lighting shows you perfect visual conditions for automobile drivers and pedestrians. Other than the energy-efficient, many business owners find LED lighting useful in terms of durability, longevity and lower maintenance costs in the long run.

Summary: In this write-up we shall look at some of the things you need to keep in mind about LED parking lot lights performance specification.