How does commercial lighting differ from industrial lighting?

Unlike some products, with lights or lighting systems, what you see is not really what you get. A luminaire or light source that looks almost the same from a distance might be completely different when you open up the hood. Commercial lighting and industrial lighting should be carefully designed lighting systems created to suit the environment. And it’s important to choose professionals with experience in the right sector to achieve the best possible results for your property.

So, how does commercial lighting differ from industrial lighting?

Commercial lighting –Commercial lighting focuses on lighting effects. Basically this includes all types of businesses that aren’t manufacturing -hotels, restaurants, retail stores, warehouses, offices, hospitals, schools, condos. Public lighting on streets, bridges and government facilities is also typically included in this category. Commercial lighting can often be customized to create a specific feel or atmosphere in a commercial space. Commercial lighting can be used to convey a certain level of energy, trigger specific emotions, or increase productivity.

Industrial Lighting –While industrial lighting not only focuses on lighting effects, but also focuses more on its use scenes. These are lighting fixtures and bulbs used in manufacturing facilities – think factories - but these might also include lights used in specialized situations - as in those tough looking lights used in “hazardous locations” such as chemical plants, power plants, mines and refineries. Environmental factors dictate the high specification requirements for luminaires, and industrial lighting is particularly helpful for detecting or identifying hazards and other hazardous situations. The "brightness" of industrial lighting can also help manufacturing employees do their jobs more accurately. Industrial lighting also tends to be more energy efficient for manufacturing facilities of considerable size.

As a final takeaway, whether for commercial or industrial, key things to think about are: flexibility, energy efficiency and maintenance costs.