Installing light fixtures for commercial use requires more than a little forethought. The first question to ask is what are the light fixtures expected to accomplish. The answer to this question will often relate to where the commercial lighting fixtures are placed. The lighting needs of a parking garage and that of a restaurant dining room are very different. Often a commercial electrician can give some insight and if an interior designer is being used he or she will definitely have an opinion.
Classification of light by its intended use is as follows:
General- General or ambient lighting is lighting whose purpose is to provide illumination to one’s environment. The degree of illumination will depend on where the lighting is being used. General lighting is not enough to read, or sew by and is just what most people consider normal background lighting.
Accent- Accent lighting is for decorative purposes and is used to focus attention on an element of interior or exterior design
Task lighting- Task lighting is used for reading, or doing any work where high illumination in a specific area is required.
Each of these classifications could be required in a commercial setting but the general or ambient lighting will be the most commonly used. Office buildings, restaurants, and shops all mostly use general lighting. When choosingcommercial lighting fixtures, the type of lighting required will play heavily in the decision making process and consulting with a commercial electrician at the beginning of the process will save time.
Other things to consider will be how well the fixture directs light where it is needed as well as the degree to which it avoids glare. Finally, the last consideration should be how the fixture looks. In some cases, it is desirous forcommercial lighting fixtures to attract attention while at other times it is preferable that they blend into the background.
Ensuring that the amount of light required from a fixture can be safely handled is one of the reasons using acommercial electrician is so important. The amount of heat produced by commercial lighting fixtures varies by type of lighting used. Halogen, for instance produces a lot of heat while LED lights produce very little. The amount of heat produced is not only a safety concern but also a matter of comfort. While a light strong enough to read a menu is important, restaurant patrons will not appreciate it if eating their meal turns out to be an uncomfortably warm experience. A good commercial electrician can foresee these problems as well.
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