If you’ve heard about high bay lights and are wondering what they are, or are considering adding high bay lights to a ceiling, here’s everything you need to know.
What is a high bay light?
A high bay light is a type of light fixture that’s used in buildings that have a ceiling higher than around 20 feet but lower than approximately 45 feet. Using a very strong light source with a high lumen output, high bay lights use reflectors that enable clear, uniform light to be channelled downwards and outwards to cover a large area, without any glare. This type of light can be attached directly to a ceiling or can hang from a ceiling using hooks, chains or a pendant.
High bay lights can be found in a wide range of buildings, but are most typically used in industrial and commercial spaces.
Do I need high bay lights? If you use a space that has a ceiling higher than 20 feet, then almost certainly you should look at getting high bay lights. If you opted for low bay lights, instead, in an area with a high ceiling, your space might not be given the adequate illumination it requires, which could compromise safe working, productivity and even the security of a premise.
How do I choose a high bay LED light?
When choosing a high bay light, it’s important to consider a range of factors to ensure you get the right kind of light for your space. Think about what you intend to use your space for. This will impact the kind of high bay light you should purchase.
For instance, you’ll need to think about what style of lighting you’d like. Options include bay lights, which are round or linear, as well as those that are architectural in style or even grid-mounted. Will you want the lights fixed to the actual ceiling or suspended by a chain or pendant?
Think about lighting options as well, which range from LED lights to fluorescent lights, induction lights or metal halide lights. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, so weigh these up before making any decisions. Many people choose high bay LED lights as they use less energy and are very durable, despite the initial high cost.
When deciding how many high bay lights you’ll need, this depends on the height of the ceiling and overall space.
One important thing to bear in mind is that the performance and the durability of the light source will greatly depend on the quality of the fixture design, so make sure to research the options available to you beforehand, so you choose one that will stand the test of time.
How much power do high bay lights use?
When considering how much power high bay lights use, you need to look at the lumen output, whilst taking ceiling height into account. For example, ceiling heights of less than 15 feet will only need lights that can reach 10,000 to 15,000 lumens. For ceiling heights of 15 to 20 feet, the light lumen needed should be 16,000 to 20,000, whilst light fixtures boasting 33,000 lumens will be required for ceiling heights of 25 to 35 feet.
If you’re wondering about how many amps a high bay light uses, this can depend on different types of lights. As a rough outline, a 2 foot, 160w LED linear high bay light has 1.325A with 120 voltage, and when the voltage is 277, this equates to 0.6038A.
Where can you use high bay lights?
High bay lights can be used in any location that has a ceiling higher than 20 feet. Typically, these kinds of lights are found in industrial and commercial premises, such as warehouses, factories, workshops and large retail spaces.
They’re also used in recreational spaces such as gyms and sports halls, as well as conference, event and community centres, indoor car parks, theatres and airports. High bay lights can also be used in garages, but make sure that the right type of lights is used in the right setting and spacing to ensure maximum illumination without any shadows.
          
When it comes to choosing how many lights to install, a lot depends on the size of the area and how much lighting overlaps on the ground you want. A small amount of lighting overlap is recommended to ensure there are no illumination gaps. As a general guideline, light installed at 20 to 30 feet high should be spaced out every 16 to 18 feet, while ceiling heights above 30 feet require 20 to 25 feet spacing of lights for optimum brightness.
FAQS
What’s the difference between low bay and high bay lights?
As mentioned, high bay lights are used for spaces that have a ceiling height above 20 feet. For those areas that have a ceiling height lower than 20 feet, low bay lighting is preferable. Both high bay and low bay lighting can be used in public and commercial spaces, although the low bay is more often found in domestic settings. Some buildings can choose to have a mixture of high bay lights and low bay lights. These are often referred to as multi-bay luminaires.
Do LED high bay lights get hot?
LED lights generate lower levels of heat compared to other light sources. High bay lights can be used in a wide range of environments and can withstand ambient temperatures of up to 50°C.
How long do high bay lights Last?
How long high bay lights last depends on the type and quality of light you’ve chosen. To give you a rough idea, a standard LED high bay fixture can last more than 25,000 hours.
What is the brightest LED high bay light?
You can find LED high bay lights that feature 30,000 lumens, which offer superior levels of brightness.