1. Check the Ceiling Height for High Bay Lighting
The most important of these 5 tips is to check the ceiling height for high bay lighting. For a ceiling to be considered high enough to require high bay lighting, it should be at least 16 feet or higher from the floor. If your ceiling is under the 16 feet mark, you can use ordinary shop lights or low bay lights rather than high bay light fixtures.
2. Check the Fixture Type
Once you have the ceiling height measured and know for a fact that your location needs high bay lighting, you are ready to shop. When looking for high bay light fixtures, you need to check that the fixture is specified as high bay. If you install regular lights instead of fluorescent or LED high bay lighting fixtures in the ceiling because you think the lumen count will be enough for the space, you will be disappointed. High bay light fixtures are designed with certain specifications, which include a high lumen output, reflectors to ensure downlight cast to the floor and other special considerations that make them the only suitable choice for higher ceilings.
3. Consider the Lumen Output of Each High Bay Lighting Fixture
The lumen output is how bright the fixture is, and it matters even more with high bay lighting fixtures. If you have higher lumens, you have a brighter light for your space. Since the fixture will be placed so high, you need a higher lumen count to ensure proper illumination reaches the floor. Correct lumen output will depend on your space, but high bay light fixtures are certainly the brightest choice for higher ceilings in need of powerful illumination.
4. Look at Different Fixture Types Based on the Space
While high bay light fixtures were once limited in their design options, the world of modern lighting has expanded quite a bit. There is now a range of high bay fixture types available, such as recessed troffers, recessed dome lights, mounted explosion proof lighting options and more. You should carefully consider the different types of high bay lighting products when choosing the right layout and look for your location.
5. Opt for LED High Bay Lighting Fixtures If Possible
There are lots of good reasons to choose LED high bay lighting fixtures over other high bay options on the market. For starters, LED offers some of the highest lumen outputs with the lowest watts of energy consumed. This means you get a powerful, bright lighting solution without spending a ton on utilities. LED also offers more options on important matters such as color temperature and color rendering indexes. Don't get us wrong — fluorescent high bay shop lights and other types are still great to use. However, LED fixtures will, ultimately, be the better long-term investment.
