Traditionally lighting layout of any area despite being an essential hasn’t been given much thought until recently. As the world is progressing the needs are expanding and people are becoming more aware of how actions have a consequential effect. Lighting is one of the basic elements in our daily routine; in homes, offices, and other places it has been the basic accessory for any space to function. Over the past decade people are able to discern the need for bringing a balance in consumption and sustainability of essential resources.
It is an energy exchange and a huge requirement in all domestic, commercial and industrial zones. It provides ambiance, visibility and facilitates the work environment.
In most domestic and commercial spaces Fluorescent tubes are largely of use for illumination as they are a primary medium. These tubes are able to fit inside larger fixtures to meet the requirements of any area. There are many different types of fixtures which accommodate large commercial spaces such as departmental stores, offices, schools, gymnasiums, hospitals etc. Such type of fixtures are:
– Troffer lights
Troffer light fixtures are essentially for modular grid ceilings and are popularly of use in offices, schools and hospitals where the original ceiling design is modular. These ceilings feature a rectangular space for the fixture as it carries T8 or T12 tubes. They have mounting brackets which also allow different mounting options in case the space requires better lighting due to the difference in height of the ceiling.
– Shop lights
Shop lights are the most effective and economical source of lighting in all spaces. They feature one or more fluorescent tubes which are supported by an aluminum frame and can be installed in any space due to its versatile design features.
– Vapor tight lights
Vapor tight lights are another very convenient fixture for commercial lighting. These lights feature a tight aluminum frame which carries a fluorescent lamp/tube which is sealed by a gasket. These light fixtures are essentially for spaces where lighting is necessary yet the environmental conditions are largely harmful to the function of the fixture.
A vapor tight light fixture is Ingress protected against water, dust and chemicals. It can also withstand extreme or sudden changes in environment.
LED retrofit kits for traditional lamps
The process of introducing LED technology in place of traditional lamps has essentially been easier with the use of retrofit kits. LED retrofit tubes were originally manufactured in three types which could replace T8 and T12 fluorescent lamps. The three different UL listings certified the replacement for UL Type A, UL Type B and UL Type C fluorescent fixtures.
These are convenient for G5 and G13 bulb bases and are great at producing better illumination with little to no modification. To read more about LED tubes visit this link.
Nowadays for a variety of different fixtures across all spaces there are retrofit kits for decorative fixtures as well, for example, LED tubes can retrofit older troffer lights.
There are other retrofit options available like LED retrofit kits for recessed lights. For various fixtures various retrofit components are available which makes the upgrade process easier and efficient.
Benefits of upgrading with LED retrofit options
There are several advantages of upgrading older lamps with retrofit kits which are:
– Economical option
Retrofit kits are quite economical considering a little bit modification goes a long way. It is economical and cost lesser in comparison to installing a new fixture. These upgrades require technical assistance for modification and the result is longer lasting better and efficient output.
– Better lumen output
LEDs provide higher lumens in comparison to traditional options.This technology efficiently reduces the cost of energy consumption. They produce brighter and optimal lighting at relatively less power. The light is uniform, glare free and optimal for creating an energy efficient environment.
– Low maintenance cost
LEDs have a longer functional life than traditional options. They have a warranty period of around 5-10 years during which their maintenance costs are effectively lower. The cost of lighting can spike with unusual malfunction and can interrupt daily processes in a task based environment while LEDs retain their function even in emergency situations and also provide backup.
– Ambient lighting
Most LED retrofit kits allow a lot of room for customisation and a better lighting layout is easy to create. LED provides a lot of ambiance and enhances visibility due to higher lumen output. The customisation is easy as LEDs can produce warm yellow to cool white light on a kelvin scale ranging from 2500K to 6000K which is also termed as CCT ( correlated colour temperature). Few LED kits also allow switchable CCT options and the light is optimal due to higher Colour rendering Index. Overall the upgrade brings about the immediate effects in the appearance and ambiance of the surrounding, costs less and tends to be sustainable and effective in the long run. LEDs provide directional lighting as well so it can be well adjusted for illumination at various elevation levels.