FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FLEXIBLE LIGHTING CONTROLS FOR INDUSTRIAL AREAS
Steve Marr, product and marketing director at CP Electronics L
ittle attention has been paid to lighting in factories and warehouses but quite often this type of environment will have the highest energy bills. The argument of value is no longer just energy savings but controllability. Steve Marr, product and marketing director at CP Electronics discusses how owners of industrial facilities, where lighting can account for more than 50 per cent of the total energy budget, need to carefully consider how they are lighting their buildings and how they can lower costs and maximise profits with flexible lighting controls.
When looking at a new lighting investment, operators of industrial premises have to look at ways of achieving efficient building operation through lower operating costs, reduced maintenance and downtime and a better work environment with improved safety. Whilst there are a number of ways managers and owners of warehouses can reduce their spend in terms of energy and costs, the quickest and most effective solution is to look at lighting control for a flexible solution that meets the different needs of industrial facilities, with adaptable systems that can easily be reconfigured. With the correct lighting control, not only will the installation costs be minimised but savings will be effective immediately – a fact which is difficult to overlook for any company.
One of the main considerations when implementing a lighting controls solution is the correct selection of the control device. Close consultation with the luminaire manufacturer is advisable as this ensures compatibility with the
selected product; this process may involve testing the proposed luminaire type with the control device. This type of environment is also an important consideration. Care needs to be taken when positioning and selecting control devices due to ambient temperature and how this may affect their operation and range. The number and positioning of devices is also crucial to ensure that there are no blind spots and that fork-lift trucks, lifting devices etc. can be detected by the control system as and when required.
The next step is to understand how and when the warehouse is in operation. For example, a 24-hour warehouse which is constantly occupied would benefit from some form of daylight control, which either switches the lights off or dims them down as ambient light increases. A warehouse that has occasional picking of items from aisles would achieve maximum energy savings by utilising some form of occupancy control on the lighting. Where a warehouse has several different shift patterns with different lighting requirements, a wired networked solution could be advantageous.
There are of course numerous additional factors which must be considered, such as the need for minimum levels of light for safety reasons. Perhaps the most important issue, however, is ease of use, almost negating any need for end- user intervention. One method is to follow the path set by offices using automated lighting and intelligent lighting controls. Intelligent controls can be easily and rapidly installed, recommissioned and adapted to changes with minimal disruption which is extremely important in a space that may
well be in constant use. The obvious benefit of wireless controls is that the existing power cabling to the luminaires need not be altered, and no additional control cabling is required which is ideal for retro-fit installations. The great thing about industrial spaces like warehouses and factories is that as they are open, wireless signal transmission is often excellent, without obvious obstacles like walls. Wireless communications is also beneficial as most warehouse and industrial installations will be at height, so there is no disruption from needing to pull new cables.
Occupancy detectors use PIR or microwave technology to detect the presence of a person and automatically control the lighting, ventilation or temperature of a room. Also known as presence detection, these indoor motion detection devices are a cost-effective way to save on energy bills and reduce the buildings carbon footprint. Warehouses benefit as vast spaces no longer have to be illuminated around the clock, as occupancy sensor technology turns lighting on only when required, in spaces that are in use.
A fully networked, integrated solution offers flexibility when controlling the system, the ability to run reports and analysis of the lighting and other controls. Owners can plan or find ways to optimise maintenance and identify potential problems whilst add-ons within a control system help to increase the energy savings. Integrated, networked control also allows problem solving, such as using lighting to address safety concerns.
CP Electronics
www.cpelectronics.co.uk
FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2020 43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
