A little guidance please (shop lighting)

[fattony]

I have a customer who has a shop and he wants to make it brighter and Im stuck on suggestions, its a small shop with oak beams, he currently has 7 x 5ft twin fluorescents (58w) mounted in between the oak beams but obviously the beams are causing shadows.

I've done a rough drawing of the shop and wondered if anyone had any suggestions, the ceiling height is about 2m so the lights have to be mounted in between the beams.

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Thanks

 

[Johnmelad502]

Suspend lights on chains to lower them or fix them to the beams.

 

[fattony]

ceiling height is 2m so they cant come any lower

 

[NotHimAgain]

Given the low ceiling height I would be inclined to look at wall washers and up lighters - it would depend on colour schemes.

Would more specific task lighting (spot lights etc) help.

 

[Steve]

What about single T5 fluorescents between each beam. T5 make more light than T8s, and it would be spread out more. No shadows.

 

[RF Lighting]

Maybe using cat 2 fittings might help?

 

[conny]

Suspend lights on chains to lower them or fix them to the beams.

Lower them flush with the lower edge of the beam thereby eliminating the shadows.

 

[fattony]

Thanks for the replies, the fittings already have (what I know them as) CAT 2 diffuser - the tin reflective diffuser generally used in offices.

Wall lights not an option as the display cabinets are floor to ceiling.

Steve I'm not that familiar with fluorescents known as T5 and T8, are you thinking adding an extra single florescent where the beams have no lights in them - thats all I could come up with but just wasn't sure about having a fitting in between every beam but not a lot of options

 

[fattony]

Suspend lights on chains to lower them or fix them to the beams.

Lower them flush with the lower edge of the beam thereby eliminating the shadows.

Thats an option, good thinking

 

[Steve]

Steve I'm not that familiar with fluorescents known as T5 and T8, are you thinking adding an extra single florescent where the beams have no lights in them - thats all I could come up with but just wasn't sure about having a fitting in between every beam but not a lot of options

T5 and T8 refer to the diameter of the tube. T8 is the standard these days, but T5 are becoming more popular due to their higher efficiency. They are smaller tubes, but much brighter per inch². T5 fittings are only electronic, never switch-started - usually rapid start. T12 used to be popular - and are still used but only in 8ft fittings. My Grandad has a few T12 lamps still in service. But they are vastly inefficient compared to T5s.

I was thinking you could replace the old fittings with singles, and fit an extra single between each beam. Though I appreciate this isnt exactly gonna be attractive - it depends what sort of shop it is I guess.

 

[fattony]

Thanks, the existing tubes are the thinner type already, maybe dropping the light is the only option

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Cold cathode tubes fixed along the bottom edge of the side of each beam?

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Or if the beams are not of architectural/historical merit, and having taken structural engineering advice, cc tubes recessed into the bottom of them?

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[Stoday]

Metal halide uplighters.

 

[fattony]

Thanks guys you've given me some ideas and I can put forward some suggestions to the customer

 

[Steve]

Metal halide uplighters.

Did you know you can get warm white (3000k) metal halides? I didnt, until I started working at my new shop. Theres metal halide spots around the edges, I thought they were halogen until I saw them startup one morning.


Anyway, I digress.