The key considerations when lighting warehousing and logistics applications are employee safety and energy efficiency whilst ensuring that operatives are able to quickly and accurately identify stock. Given the combination of both pedestrians and forklift trucks and the need for forklift drivers to manipulate pallets at height, adequate and uniform lighting is key to mitigating risk.
The majority of lighting designs focus on the lux level and uniformity on the horizontal plane, however this approach in warehouses can be counterproductive. Lux levels on the vertical plane are equally important to ensure that stock on racking is adequately lit aiding both forklift accuracy and safety and also allowing staff to easily identify stock and labelling thereby improving performance. The correct product for warehousing includes an optic designed to cast light on to the face of the racking. This often overlooked factor can disadvantage designs and luminaires which ensure that the face of the racking is well lit given this typically requires more luminaires and energy to achieve when compared to a product which is focused directly on the horizontal plane. It is also important to ensure that the luminaire is suited to all areas of the warehouse and has both optics and sensors which are optimised for both narrow racking aisles and open marshalling areas.
The use of sensors in warehousing applications is key to minimising energy consumption given variable levels of occupancy across the warehouse and seasonal changes in usage, as well as ensuring that energy savings from skylights are fully realised. Sensors should be programmed to dim to low level in periods of absence ensuring a constant low light level across the warehouse providing substantial energy savings whilst enabling pedestrians and vehicles to approach absent areas safely. The latest wireless sensors systems can enable grouped operation of luminaires further benefitting safety and user comfort, whilst also improving cost savings by automating emergency testing and fault reporting.