Commercial LED Bay lights are among the most common lighting fixtures people utilize when illuminating industrial spaces, and they come in two types. You may have found yourself asking, “What’s the difference between high bay vs. low bay lighting?” Ceiling Height is the start for your selection.
High Bay
High bay lighting is right for you when you need to light spaces with mounting heights of 15 to 40 feet above the floor. They have specific designs that ensure the light they give off doesn’t dissipate by the time it reaches the floor.
High bay lights use common beam spreads of 90° and 120°. You may want to narrow a beam to light up the aisles between racking in a warehouse. This narrow beam helps create a higher lux level from the floor. Using the wider beam allows the light to cover larger open spaces, with broader light distribution patterns.
Because of the height requirement, high bay lights are best within spaces like warehouses, commercial buildings, retail centers, gymnasiums, and hangars. The higher the ceiling mount, the higher the Lumen output you will need. You can attach these lighting fixtures to your ceiling with chains or hooks.
Low Bay
Low bay lights are suitable for ceilings with heights less than 15 feet, typically between 12 and 15 feet. Low bay lighting requires a smaller lumen output because the light fixtures are closer to the floor than their high bay counterparts. Low bay lighting is most common in areas like garages, retail stores, workshops, or barns.
Does It Matter?
Yes, it does. Using the wrong lighting can have serious implications. If you opt for low bay lighting when your ceilings are over 15 feet tall, workspaces will be dim. Under lit areas can create hazards, which can then lead to accidents. On the other hand, if you get high bay lights when you need low bay ones you could create hazards as well, due to unnecessary brightness and glare. Matching your ceiling height to the wattage and brightness you need for your specific application – will result in energy efficient proper light distribution for your space.
Now that you have a better sense of what the difference is between high bay and low bay, you may find yourself in need of commercial high bay LED lighting. Revolve LED is here to help!
