Commercial Outdoor Lighting

Commercial Outdoor Lighting

What is Outdoor Commercial Lighting?

Outdoor commercial lighting involves artificial light sources used in the exterior of commercial buildings such as offices, warehouses, parking lot lights, hospitals, and other types of lighting for commercial properties Specifically, they are implemented outdoors where very bright light is required during the day and night. These lights have been adopted in a range of industries to illuminate the environment, especially at night.

As such, outdoor commercial lighting offers several benefits to business owners and the people who work in or visit business premises. Lighting and Supplies also offers bulk outdoor lights price breaks!

Shop LED Lighting fixtures by application and industry.

Commercial outdoor lighting refers to the lighting systems used to illuminate outdoor spaces for businesses and other commercial properties. These systems are designed to enhance the visibility, safety, and aesthetic appeal of the property, as well as to increase the security of the area.

There are many different types of commercial outdoor lighting systems available, including traditional street lights, flood lights, spot lights, canopy light fixtures, and wall-mounted lights.

Street lights are typically used to light up roads, sidewalks, and parking lots, while flood lights are used to illuminate large open areas such as sports fields and parks.

Spot lights are used to highlight specific features or areas of a property, such as a statue or a sign, while wall-mounted lights or wall packs are used to provide illumination along the sides of buildings.

The choice of lighting system will depend on the specific needs of the property and the intended use of the space. For example, a sports field will require a different type of lighting than a parking lot or a sidewalk. The size and layout of the property will also be a factor in determining the appropriate lighting system.

One important consideration when selecting a commercial outdoor lighting system is energy efficiency. Many traditional lighting systems are not very energy efficient and can be expensive to operate. LED lighting systems, on the other hand, are much more energy efficient and can help to reduce operating costs. In addition, LED lights have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance than traditional lighting systems.

Another important consideration is security. Outdoor lighting can help to deter crime and increase the safety of the area. Properly placed and adjusted lights can help to eliminate dark areas and provide visibility for surveillance cameras.

In addition to selecting the appropriate lighting system, it is also important to properly install and maintain the lighting. This includes ensuring that the lights are properly aimed and adjusted to provide the best possible illumination, and that they are regularly cleaned and maintained to ensure that they continue to provide optimal performance.

Overall, commercial outdoor lighting is an important aspect of maintaining a safe and attractive property. By selecting the appropriate lighting system, ensuring proper installation and maintenance, and considering energy efficiency and security, businesses and commercial property owners can create a well-lit and inviting space for their customers and employees.

Benefits of Commercial Outdoor Lighting

The benefits of commercial outdoor lighting spread across illumination, security, aesthetics appeal, amongst others.

Let's dive into each:

1. Illumination

The most notable benefit of exterior commercial building lighting fixtures is their aid in illuminating large spaces.

These lights are of different types, shapes, and sizes, and as such, the choice of which is dependent on how well it will brighten the space.

For instance, there are LEDs, Metal halides, high-pressure sodium, etc. types of commercial lighting that can be used outdoors.

There are others that are suitable for tall or short buildings depending on the height of the building from the ground.

That being the case, people can still be productive during the day and at night thanks to outdoor lighting fixtures.

It’s also worthy to note that CCTV cameras can still pick up the events if the environment is well illuminated.

2. Security

The sun provides sufficient light during the day, which helps people to navigate easily.

It also gives them a sense of confidence as they move, park their vehicles, take a walk, etc.

Similarly, outdoor lighting helps people to feel secure in parking lots, hiking trails, or while taking a walk at night.

Employees can visit and leave offices at late hours and do so without a feeling like they are in harm’s way.

3. Aesthetic Appeal

Lights can also enhance the look of the areas they are used in.

Whether it is a bright light for parking lots or low light for watching movies in an open space, these lights can be used.

Commercial LED Lights

There are different types of outdoor commercial lighting, but LEDs have gained more popularity over the years.

These light sources are energy-efficient, and as such, they reduce energy consumption significantly in comparison to traditional lighting.

Similarly, LED commercial outdoor lightings are durable (providing up to 50,000 to 100,000 hours of uniform light); hence, they can be used outdoors for years longer than other artificial light sources.

Commercial building outdoor LED lighting, therefore, saves money in the long run despite the high cost of purchasing them.

Types of Outdoor Commercial Building Lighting Fixtures

Some commercial building lighting fixtures include wall packs, floodlight fixtures, sports lighting, area lighting fixtures, decorative poles/light fixtures, street lighting fixtures, and bollard lights.

1. Wall Packs

Wall packs are lighting fixtures that are installed into the wall or vertical surfaces directly, without a pole being used. They are suitable for outdoor spaces with heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement and can serve as surveillance lights. Wall packs also have a shatter-resistant glass that helps to protect the fixture from harsh weather.

In addition, these lights can feature photocells and motion detectors which helps to control the lighting. Wall packs can either be semi-cutoff or full-cutoff depending on the shape of their beam. For semi-cutoff wall packs, their light is projected laterally, while full-cutoff focuses their lighting in narrow beam downwards.

2. LED Flood Lights

LED Flood Lights come with an adjustable base and as such, their beam can be projected on an object. Also, LED area floodlights are used to illuminate the landscape for an extra layer of security or bring out specific architectural features. These lights can be used for wall washing or paired with motion sensors, photocells, and timers.

3. Canopy Lighting

Canopy lighting fixtures are installed underneath outdoor canopies in drive-through banks, gas stations, drive-through restaurants, etc. They are suitable for use outdoors since they are unaffected by the rain and resistant to vibrations.

4. Linear Lighting

Linear lighting is narrow and elongated and can be used in multistory parking areas. Their hermetic construction protects them from dust, moisture, and insects.

5. Pole-Mounted Lighting

These lightings are installed on poles in open parking lots, streets, underpasses, pathways, green spaces, loading docks, etc.

Pole-mounted lighting also has different light distributions such as type III, type IV or type V.

Their color temperature ranges between 3000K to 5000K which makes them suitable for decorative purposes.

Likewise, the lighting fixtures are built to have a wide beam that can provide sufficient light to cover the area below them.

In the same vein, lateral light projection is avoided to prevent glare for passersby and neighbors.

Outdoor Lighting Controls

Although you need bright light during the day and at night, lighting controls will help to lower your utility bills.

Therefore, some light controls you should consider are:

1. Dusk to Dawn Sensors – Photocells

A dusk-to-dawn photo control automatically turns off the light during the day depending on ambient light. This lighting control can save utility bills immensely.

2. Motion Sensors:

Motion sensors help to detect movement. These sensors can also help the light to turn on or move to a predefined higher level.

 

Lighting up your commercial garden

More businesses and commercial properties now feature beautiful gardens, soothing fountains and natural elements to create a welcoming place for visitors and a great place to work for team members. Your commercial landscape lighting plan can draw attention to your business from day to night and season to season.

To light up your commercial gardens and shrubs:

 

Why are LED Lights Great for Outdoor Use?

Let’s take a look at some specific reasons why LEDs are ideal outdoor lights:

1. Bright, Clear Light

Many legacy outdoor lighting fixtures use metal-halide or mercury vapor lamps. Those bulbs start out creating a clear, white light, but over time, they can burn down to a visible orange or even pink color.

LEDs, on the other hand, produce a consistent, clear, white light (depending on the CCT). As long as the diode is receiving electricity, it creates strong light.

Some LEDs even allow you to manually adjust the color temperature of the light, creating warmer mood lighting or brighter safety lighting as needed.

2. Energy Efficiency

Outdoor incandescent or metal-halide lamps burn hot (you know that if you’ve ever tried to change a bulb too fast), and heat is the enemy of efficacy. Hot lights put additional strain on wiring and circuits which burns out the filaments, creating unnecessary replacement costs and wasted energy.

LED technology transforms electricity directly into light using a semiconductor, which means there’s no waste heat created and nearly every watt of energy you put into that lamp is being used to create light.

3. Reduced Cost of Ownership

LED efficacy means you can create the same number of lumens (light) using much less wattage (drawn energy). That directly translates to savings on your monthly utility bill.

As we’ve said, LEDs run cool, so they don’t “burn” themselves out, which means you’ll significantly reduce the frequency of maintenance and replacement by switching to LEDs.

4. Variety of Styles

LEDs are increasingly available in a variety of different shapes and forms to meet both practical and decorative outdoor lightning needs. Let’s dive into some of the possibilities.

What Kinds of LED Lights Are Usually Used Outdoors?

A wide array of reliable, efficient outdoor LED lights are available on the market for commercial and residential applications. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular choices one at a time.

Commercial Outdoor LED Lights

Shoeboxes

LED shoeboxes are attached to light poles or the sides of buildings to provide light below. They are most commonly used in parking lots, office parks, and public spaces to create a safe, visible environment. Browse our Shoeboxes here.

Wall Packs

LED wall packs are bright, compact lights that attach directly to the sides of houses, offices, schools, and other buildings. Wall packs can be angled downward (as they might be above a garage or loading dock door) or faced outward (as they might be on a porch or entryway). See the many varieties of Wall Packs here.

Flood Lights

LED flood lights are designed to light the place up, delivering a bright, wide area of light from above. Flood lights are the gold standard for security and safety, as they provide maximum lumens at night. Flood lights can be driven by solar energy and be activated by motion sensors, making them even more energy-efficient.

Residential Outdoor LED Lights

String Lights

As their name implies, LED string lights are small individual lights strung together on a line. String lights pack a lot of light and personality into any space are extremely popular for decorating patios, fire pits, grill areas, porches, and so on. See our String Lights here!

Pathway Lights

LED pathway lights generally rest on or are stuck down into the ground to provide safe walking across landscapes, lawns, down outdoor paths, across driveways, and so on. Pathway lights are perfect for bringing an upscale look to your yard and improving safety without breaking the bank.

Bollards

An LED bollard is a decorative pillar or post that contains an LED lamp. Bollards are essentially like larger, more permanent pathway lights. They’re ideal for walkways or residential parking areas that are frequently used at night and require clear, striking lighting.

Bulbs

Bulbs can many times be used outdoors if covered and kept away from direct exposure to changin weather conditions. If you’re not looking to buy all new outdoor lighting fixtures, you can install energy efficient LED lightbulbs into your existing fixtures, just like you would a standard bulb, and reap many of the reliable, cost-cutting benefits of LED technology. Browse our large inventory of LED bulbs here.

What to Look for When Buying Outdoor Lights

Dawn-to-Dusk Functionality

One of the best ways to maximize your savings with LED lights is to make sure they stay off when you don’t need them. Dawn-to-dusk functionality uses a photocell to detect the presence of sunlight and keep your lamp switched off until the sun is down. If you’re looking to make the most of your outdoor LED investment, dawn-to-dusk lights are the way to go.

IP Rating

The IP rating is a two-digit number that represents a lamp’s resistance to dust and water. That might not mean a lot for indoor lights, but it’s absolutely essentially when it comes to shopping for outdoor LEDs.

The first digit of the IP rating represents resistance to dust, with 6 being the best. If you’re hoping to keep your LED bright and running smoothly for years to come, you want the first digit in your IP rating to be a 6, which will prevent dirt and dust from dimming your light or interfering with your circuitry.

The second digit of your IP rating represents resistance to water, with 8 being the best. Your outdoor LED light should have a score of at least 5 to prevent rain and elements from infiltrating your lamp; however, a score of 6 is required if you’ll be cleaning the area around the lamp with a power washer.

The short answer: rugged outdoor LEDs should have an IP rating of 65 or 66.

UL Safety Certification

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification is the gold standard for safety and efficiency in lighting. Any LED lamp or bulb bearing their logo has been through rigorous testing to guarantee its functionality, safety for human use, and great quality . Before you purchase any lights, check the package for the distinctive UL logo.

LEDs are perfect for residential, commercial, and industrial outdoor lighting applications because they reliably deliver the lumens people need to stay safe and do great work while also creating new opportunities through energy efficiency and reduced long-term cost of ownership. Whether you’re looking for functional security or decorative lighting, LED is the way to go. 

 

Top-Rated Commercial Landscape Lighting Distributor & Supplier

Lightingandsupplies.com is a lighting distributor of Indoor & Outdoor Commercial and Residential light fixtures and light bulbs. Based in the US, we carry the top LED lighting brands like EiKORAB LightingMaxLitenaturaLEDWestgate Lighting and more of the Top Lighting Manufacturers in the United States. We also carry a wide variety of Horticulture products by Hydrofarm, along with ceiling fans by RP Lighting+FansLightingandsupplies.com also provides rebate programs, expert lighting design advice, and lighting audits for large projects. As a wholesaler, authorized dealer and bulk distributor of lighting products, we take pride in our customer-focused 100% satisfaction guarantee and return policy. 

For more information, call 888-325-4448 or email: [email protected].