A warehouse lighting upgrade should improve the way people work, not simply replace old fittings with brighter ones. Picking, packing, loading and vehicle movements all place different demands on the lighting. A useful design brief starts with those activities and the layout of the building.
Map the working areas
Give the designer a current racking plan and identify pedestrian routes, loading bays, packing benches and any areas where labels or small components must be read. Include planned changes to storage heights or aisle widths. The lighting needs to work with the final layout, not just an empty floor plan.
For example, a fitting positioned above the top of a rack may contribute little to the working face of the aisle. Ask how the proposed arrangement deals with shadows, glare and changes between daylight and artificial light.
Compare controls as well as fittings
Discuss occupancy patterns before specifying sensors or switching zones. An aisle used throughout the shift may need a different approach from an infrequently visited storage area. Ask how controls behave when staff or vehicles enter a zone and how settings can be adjusted after handover.
Request an energy comparison based on your operating hours and the proposed control strategy. Avoid treating a headline percentage saving as a forecast for your building. The assumptions should be visible, including existing wattage, hours of operation and maintenance requirements.
Include access and commissioning
High-level work needs coordination with stock movements and site traffic. Agree which aisles will close, where access equipment will operate and how the installation will be handed back safely. Electrical work should be planned and carried out by competent personnel.
At completion, review the lighting with the people who use the space. Record control settings, identify any snagging and obtain information on replacement components. Make sure emergency-lighting requirements are considered separately within the project scope.
Build a comparable enquiry
Send drawings, mounting heights, operating hours and photographs of the existing installation. State whether the project includes design, controls, installation and commissioning. MCN Mechanical & Electrical can discuss a warehouse lighting package built around your operation.
Further guidance: HSE: electrical maintenance guidance