According to the DesignLights Consortium (DLC), high bay lighting refers to any interior lighting where the ceiling height is greater than 25 feet above the floor.  By contrast, low bay lighting refers to any interior lighting where the ceiling height is less than 25 feet. 

LED high bay and low bay products are available in round and linear versions, the latter of which is an ideal replacement for linear T8 and T5 fluorescent lighting.

For manufacturing and industrial environments that have historically been dominated by HID and fluorescent, LED linear high and low bay products (as well as other types of LED high bays) are popular solutions to save energy and cut costs. Here are a few reasons why:

• Powerful Lumen Output – with their powerful and directional illumination, LEDs can achieve the ceiling-to-floor lumen levels required in commercial and industrial applications. Minimum light output requirements are typically 10,000 lumens for ceilings over 25 feet high and 5,000 lumens for ceilings under 25 feet.

•  High Efficiency – LED high bay fixtures are often 30-50% more energy-efficient than their HID or fluorescent counterparts, which can be significant considering the long operating hours associated with many manufacturing, retail, and public arena settings. In addition, with many manufacturing/industrial settings ranging from 10,000 to 100,000⁺ square feet, annual energy cost savings can amount to tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

• Long Lasting – offering average rated lives of up to 100,000 hours with minimal lumen depreciation, LED high bays can last 3-5 times longer than their HID or fluorescent counterparts. For high-ceiling facilities where lights can be difficult to access – a process that can drain man-hours, require a special lift, disrupt operations, and create costly downtime – long-life LEDs reduce maintenance costs and concerns for the entire life of the fixtures.

• Environmentally Responsible – unlike HID and fluorescent technology, LEDs contain no toxic mercury and subsequently require no special (or costly) disposal procedures.

High-Bay Trends

LED high bays are delivering increased levels of performance/efficacy in increasingly smaller sizes and have become one of the most popular lighting products recognized by the DLC, enhancing their eligibility for utility rebates nationwide.  In addition, manufacturers are increasingly incorporating lensing into these fixtures to reduce glare and improve durability and are also engineering these fixtures to be controllable from the ground level.

Looking Ahead

The DOE’s recent “Energy Savings Forecast of Solid-State Lighting in General Illumination Applications” study predicts that LED solutions will populate over 85% of the nation’s high and low bay applications by 2035 based on the comprehensive benefits they deliver.

Litetronics is ready to support the market’s growing demand for LED high bays.  Litetronics offers a broad range of both round and linear LED fixtures and is excited to introduce its newest generation of LED Linear High and Low Bays, designed to provide outstanding light output and best-in-class LPW. Click the button below to learn more and download the spec sheet.