Designing LED lighting for industrial environments from warehouses and manufacturing plants to logistics hubs requires more than brightness. It means balancing lux levels, uniform light distribution, and energy efficiency while ensuring compliance with UK standards like CIBSE and BS EN 12464-1. Done right, correct industrial lighting enhances worker safety, productivity, and long-term operational costs.
With rising energy costs and stricter sustainability targets, businesses are under pressure to invest in smarter lighting systems. This guide explores the key principles of industrial lighting design from lux requirements and glare control to energy-saving technologies helping you make informed choices that improve working conditions while cutting long-term costs.
Industrial facilities such as warehouses, factories, and production plants rely heavily on effective lighting to maintain safe and productive working conditions. Unlike offices or retail environments, these spaces often operate around the clock, involve complex machinery, and require workers to perform detailed tasks in potentially hazardous conditions. Poorly designed lighting can lead to accidents, reduced efficiency, and costly downtime.
A well thought out industrial lighting design goes beyond simply illuminating a space. It ensures the right balance of brightness, uniformity, and colour rendering to support visibility and accuracy in daily operations. Proper lighting also contributes to employee comfort, reduces eye strain, and helps meet industry safety regulations. When paired with energy efficient LED solutions, it becomes a vital tool not only for compliance and safety but also for cutting operational costs and supporting long term sustainability goals.
Lighting in industrial environments must meet strict standards to ensure safety, accuracy, and productivity. In the UK and across Europe, the main guideline is EN 12464-1: Lighting of Workplaces – Indoor, which defines recommended illuminance (lux) levels for different tasks and environments. These standards help ensure that workers have sufficient visibility for their activities while minimising the risk of accidents and errors.
Below are some typical recommended lux levels for industrial applications:
In addition to illuminance, EN 12464-1 also highlights the importance of uniformity (avoiding dark spots or high contrasts), glare control, and colour rendering (CRI). These factors are just as important as brightness, ensuring workers can perform tasks accurately and comfortably.
By adhering to these standards, industrial facilities can create safer, more efficient environments while also demonstrating compliance with workplace regulations.
Designing lighting for industrial environments requires more than just meeting minimum lux levels. A well designed system improves safety, enhances productivity, and reduces energy consumption. Here are some of the key best practices to follow:
By combining these best practices with compliance to EN 12464-1 standards, industrial facilities can create safe, comfortable, and cost-efficient working environments.
At Nexis Lighting, we understand that every industrial environment has unique requirements. Whether it’s a warehouse, factory floor, or logistics hub our design process begins with a detailed assessment of the space, its tasks, and its operational demands. This ensures that our lighting solutions not only meet EN 12464-1 standards but are also tailored to your specific application.
Using lighting design software and our extensive experience, we create lighting layouts that prioritise uniform illumination, energy efficiency, and worker comfort. By integrating high performance LED fittings and where appropriate, smart control systems such as occupancy sensors or daylight harvesting, we deliver solutions that reduce operational costs while improving safety and productivity.
Our goal is to provide more than compliance. Wwe aim to design lighting systems that support long term performance, sustainability and measurable energy savings for our clients.
Effective lighting design is essential for creating safe, productive, and energy-efficient industrial environments. By following recognised standards, applying best practices, and using modern LED technology, facilities can reduce costs while improving the wellbeing and performance of their workforce.
At Nexis Lighting, we specialise in delivering tailored industrial LED lighting solutions that combine compliance, efficiency, and innovation. Whether you need to upgrade a warehouse, production line, or entire factory, our team of experts can help you design the perfect system to meet your needs.
Get in touch today at sales@nexislighting.co.uk
The recommended lux levels depend on the type of task and area. For example, general storage areas require 100–150 lux, workshops need around 300 lux, and detailed inspection tasks may need 750–1000 lux. Following EN 12464-1 ensures compliance with workplace lighting standards.
LED lighting is more energy-efficient, longer-lasting, and lower maintenance compared to traditional options like fluorescent or metal halide. LEDs are especially effective for high ceilings, warehouses, and 24/7 operations, helping to significantly reduce running costs.
Good lighting design improves visibility, reduces glare, and eliminates dark areas where accidents could occur. Proper illumination ensures workers can operate machinery, navigate spaces, and perform detailed tasks safely.
Yes. Smart controls such as occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, and dimming can be integrated into industrial LED systems. These features reduce energy waste, extend fixture lifespan, and provide greater flexibility in managing lighting.
The right solution depends on factors like ceiling height, the type of work performed, operating hours, and energy efficiency goals. Working with a professional lighting designer, such as Nexis Lighting, ensures that your system is tailored to your specific needs and fully compliant with standards.
Book your free site survey today and discover how LED lighting can save you money, enhance your space, and reduce your carbon footprint. Our experts will assess your needs and provide a tailored solution to brighten your space.
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