Logistics areas and warehouses

Special light distribution curves can help provide enough light during an emergency in demanding spaces like warehouses and logistics areas. Large storage heights and floor space require smart solutions.

Areas where goods are stored and prepared for distribution have a certain specificity due to their dimensions. They often include high storage racks and require the use of vehicles for everyday tasks. This makes it necessary to use specific emergency lighting solutions that are different than in other applications.

 

Planning around possible difficulties

These spaces are most often occupied by small numbers of people who usually know their way around them. The main problem will lie in the large area of the room, which results in a long distance to the escape route. However, difficulties may also arise when a power failure occurs while motor vehicles are being driven in the facility.

 

Parameters and positioning

Depending on the design of the escape routes and open areas, we will use the classic lighting parameters described in the table below. The basic decision when it comes to lighting fixtures comes down to their positioning and placement.

 

Choosing the right height and light distribution

When the emergency lighting fixtures are placed at the same height as those used for general lighting, it is recommended to use light distribution curves that will allow us to achieve the appropriate lighting parameters at floor level. This includes narrow-beam (NB), elliptical-beam (ELB) and corridor (CR) light distribution variants. It’s also important to consider the regulations for the installation height of safety sign luminaires as well as the decrease in the visibility range that coincides with the increase in height.

 

EU guidelines require proper evacuation conditions for all occupied workspaces

Important emergency lighting design principles to remember about for logistics areas and warehouses:

  • escape routes
    in terms of the surface illumination of the floor at inclination change points, if any
  • emergency lighting
    that indicates the course of the escape route and various safety signs along its course, with particular emphasis on the range of visibility
  • lighting for points of emphasis
    such as first aid kits, firefighting equipment and panels

 

Emergency lighting requirements:

Type of emergency lighting  task / activity area

 Illuminance level (Emin) / Luminance level (Lmin)

Diversity ratio (Ud)

 Area

 Duration

 Time until 50% / 100% illuminance is achieved
Escape route lighting 1 lx 1:40 2 m on the floor 1 h 5 s / 60 s
Corridor level or direction change 1 lx Not applicable Within 2 m 1 h 5 s / 60 s
Exit signs on the escape route 2 cd/m2 10:1 Safety sign 1 h 5 s / 60 s
Lighting of points of emphasis 5 lx Not applicable Point of emphasis 1 h 5 s / 60 s