Industrial Lighting Techniques and New Developments

The energy crisis of the early seventies has had a drastic influence on both the application and development of light sources. This situation has forced us to examine old methods and search for new answers for improved efficiency. We can no longer operate on the premise that more is better. At lower light levels a lighting design is less forgiving. The current thrust in lamp and luminare design has been high efficiency. Tremendous effort has been expended to produce energy efficient sources that deliver better color, improved optical control, and reduced lamp size. Given that we must operate in this arena of heightened energy awareness and that lighting, by its very nature, becomes a prime candidate for reduction, we must not lose sight of the fundamental reason for lighting to provide the ability for us to see details to perform specific tasks. The heart of an industrial plant is the production area. A myriad of tasks must be accomplished. Lighting is installed for humans, not machines. The eye can only adapt to a degree and accommodate a variety of conditions; i.e., color, texture, etc. Higher light levels are required as an individual’s age increases. It has also been confirmed in many studies that light levels directly affect performance. People who have sufficient quantity and quality of illumination can accomplish their work faster and more accurately. A delicate balance lies between energy efficient lighting and under and over-lit spaces. This balance is with the fundamental lighting goal. Any formula to maintain this balance should include two vital factors: First, light output for levels and quality determined by proper task analysis and second, control by design which utilizes the best source and equipment available