Lighting for steel RV garage/shop

socal77 · Jun 6, 2015

My RV garage/shop is up! :rocker:

It is a 44x56 steel building with 16' side walls. There are three bays, each accessed thru 14x14 roll up doors.

I can now turn my attention to lighting. I was thinking about using 8', 4 tube, T8 fixtures. Each bay would be on it's own switch so it could be turned on independently as shown on the drawing below.

I have no experience in lighting design so it is unclear whether this layout will produce sufficient, even lighting. Anyone have any suggestions or access to software that can evaluate this design?

Thanks in advance!

Platonic Solid · Jun 6, 2015

Recommend something similar to layout posted in post #21 and post #22 of Light Fixture Layout Collection thread.

socal77 · Jun 7, 2015

Platonic Solid said:
Recommend something similar to layout posted in post #21 and post #22 of Light Fixture Layout Collection thread.

Thank you Platonic Solid! I will update my layout drawing to this concept and see how it aligns with the purlin spacings. I noticed that the fixtures follow the 2:12 slope roof. Would it be better to chain mount the fixtures so they all were hanging at the 14' level? Are reflectors recommended?

I also looked at some of your other layouts (excellent work!) & noticed that many of them positioned the fixtures parallel to the vehicles. When is one preferable the other?

Thanks again!

Platonic Solid · Jun 7, 2015

socal77 said:
I noticed that the fixtures follow the 2:12 slope roof.

I assume people want to feel the full height of the space. The white insulation does a good job of reflecting so no reflectors are necessary.

socal77 said:
Would it be better to chain mount the fixtures so they all were hanging at the 14' level? Are reflectors recommended?

That depends on how you define "better". I would change to F32T8 fixtures at 14' height. The ceiling above will be darker, thus less reflected light. I would likely add reflectors with some % uplight, but would want to run a few simulations of the specific fixture before making a commitment.

socal77 said:
I also looked at some of your other layouts (excellent work!) & noticed that many of them positioned the fixtures parallel to the vehicles. When is one preferable the other?

Mounting/wiring convenience plays a major roll in this choice. I use the purlins in steel garages to keep installation costs down. Fixture + Bulb costs alone will be in the $2,000 arena. If your willing to spend more for optimum placement and wiring then a blend of both parallel to vehicle sides and perpendicular at front and back yields the most effective illumination.

Though not as tall as yours, here's a 40x60x12'(wall height) using F32T8 (CCT:4000K) that I haven't gotten around to posting:

socal77 · Jun 9, 2015

Platonic Solid said:
I assume people want to feel the full height of the space. The white insulation does a good job of reflecting so no reflectors are necessary.

That depends on how you define "better". I would change to F32T8 fixtures at 14' height. The ceiling above will be darker, thus less reflected light. I would likely add reflectors with some % uplight, but would want to run a few simulations of the specific fixture before making a commitment.

Mounting/wiring convenience plays a major roll in this choice. I use the purlins in steel garages to keep installation costs down. Fixture + Bulb costs alone will be in the $2,000 arena. If your willing to spend more for optimum placement and wiring then a blend of both parallel to vehicle sides and perpendicular at front and back yields the most effective illumination.

Though not as tall as yours, here's a 40x60x12'(wall height) using F32T8 (CCT:4000K) that I haven't gotten around to posting:

Thanks for the feedback. By "better", I was asking if the light would be more uniform & and if fewer fixtures would be needed if they were all suspended at 14' height rather than following the 2/12 roof slope.

I updated the layout using posts #21 & #22 as a guide as you suggested. I also added dimensions for the existing purlin locations. The first drawing assumes that the fixtures will mount to purlins, following the 2/12 roof slope. This layout results in all fixtures aligning with purlins but with a setback from the front & rear walls.

The second drawing also assumes purlin fixture mounting but using the first & last purlin. This gets more light adjacent to the front & rear walls. Not sure how effective the front row will be since it will be quite close to the roll up door drums. The center row of fixtures would fall between purlins & would require strut mounting.

Would either of these layouts provide appropriate & even lighting or should I be looking at another approach?

Would you recommend T5 or T8 fixtures?

Lastly, given the side wall height of 16', would a series of circular high bay light fixtures be more appropriate?

Thanks for your help!!

Platonic Solid · Jun 10, 2015

Just for the fun of it, here's a layout that provides extremely even shadow free light distribution and puts the fixtures where they need to be without regard to mounting cost or convenience.

Based on COOPER LIGHTING - METALUX SSF-232 IES file with 0.88 BF (Ballast Factor) Ballast.
You can significantly increase light output and maintain the even distribution by purchasing fixtures with higher BF options.

Fixture Qty = 71
F32T8 Lamp Qty = 142

Fixture Mounting Height = 14'

socal77 · Jun 11, 2015

Platonic Solid said:
Just for the fun of it, here's a layout that provides extremely even shadow free light distribution and puts the fixtures where they need to be without regard to mounting cost or convenience.

Based on COOPER LIGHTING - METALUX SSF-232 IES file with 0.88 BF (Ballast Factor) Ballast.
You can significantly increase light output and maintain the even distribution by purchasing fixtures with higher BF options.

Fixture Qty = 71
F32T8 Lamp Qty = 142

Fixture Mounting Height = 14'

Thank you for the optimized layout! That is a lot of lighting. I will price it out.

Do you think that either one of the purlin mounted layouts in post #5 is worth pursuing?

Just out of curiosity, what software package are you using for analysis?

Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it!!

Platonic Solid · Jun 11, 2015

socal77 said:
Would either of these layouts provide appropriate & even lighting or should I be looking at another approach?

Would you recommend T5 or T8 fixtures?

Lastly, given the side wall height of 16', would a series of circular high bay light fixtures be more appropriate?

This layout using T5 fixtures as you indicated if mounting to purlins following ceiling pitch. I'll run this through the Dialux software program for you this evening. I agree with you that the fixtures at the garage door are closer than I like. I also use AutoCAD to quickly get preferred location dimensions and photoshop for forum posting purposes.

Re. circular high bay fixtures: We'd have to test the specific circular high bay fixture and see, but lamp life usually makes them impractical unless you go Induction or LED - both of which are very expensive and generally intended for even higher mounting than you have.

Platonic Solid · Jun 11, 2015

Though I didn't redraw everything to deduct the 8" per wall from the overall 44x56 footprint as shown in your drawing, I would go with this plan.
The fixture rows near the garage doors and rear wall are hung at 15'6", all other fixtures are hung at 17'.

Platonic Solid · Jun 11, 2015

Ok, I deducted the 8" per wall which made it even better.

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socal77 · Jun 12, 2015

Platonic Solid said:
Ok, I deducted the 8" per wall which made it even better.

[/QUOTE]

Thank you Platonic Solid! That looks great!

A couple of questions to make sure I am interpreting the layout correctly:

1. Are the fixtures located on the purlin dimensions from my drawing?

2. Which fixture & bulb part numbers is this layout based on?

3. I assume that the groupings of 3, 4' fixtures could be replaced with 1, 8' tandem & 1, 4' fixture without changing the brightness or distribution. Is that correct?

Thank you sooooo much for your help!!

Platonic Solid · Jun 12, 2015

1. Are the fixtures located on the purlin dimensions from my drawing? Yes

2. Which fixture & bulb part numbers is this layout based on?
SSF-254-UNV-EBT1,
F54T5HO Lamp Qty: 90
Suggested lamp: Sylvania 20906 or 20949

3. I assume that the groupings of 3, 4' fixtures could be replaced with 1, 8' tandem & 1, 4' fixture without changing the brightness or distribution. Is that correct?
Yes.
SSF-254-UNV-EBT1 is 46" long
8TSSF-254-UNV-EBT1 is 92" long.

socal77 · Jun 13, 2015

Platonic Solid said:
1. Are the fixtures located on the purlin dimensions from my drawing? Yes

2. Which fixture & bulb part numbers is this layout based on?
SSF-254-UNV-EBT1,
F54T5HO Lamp Qty: 90
Suggested lamp: Sylvania 20906 or 20949

3. I assume that the groupings of 3, 4' fixtures could be replaced with 1, 8' tandem & 1, 4' fixture without changing the brightness or distribution. Is that correct?
Yes.
SSF-254-UNV-EBT1 is 46" long
8TSSF-254-UNV-EBT1 is 92" long.

Thank you sir!!!

Lighting for steel RV garage/shop

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