Louvered fluorescent strips suitable for garage ?

[Westbank]

Hello,

I'm planning to install 8 x 96" T5 (tandem) fluorescent light fixtures in my 20' x 20' garage (ceilings are 10' high).

I'm looking for something different than the classic fluorescent strips you see in most garages.

I've stumbled upon a 96" louvered high bay fixture which I like
Here's a photo :

More information:
http://products.simkar.com/prd-info/product.asp?id=263&catid=50

Several companies are selling this model.

I was wondering if this model would be suitable for my garage. I know the louvers will affect the output of light (lower lumens) but will it be that bad ?

Thanks

 

[kbs2244]

It depends on the kind of work you are going to be doing.
Dust and fumes will collect on them.
But then, they will collect on bare bulbs also.

 

[Jsf721]

I coverd mybulbs with a plastic cover. To many times things go flying and if those break you can really hurt your eyes.

I was cutting a peice of gear track and the saw started melting the sliver I was cutting off the end. I was expecting it to hit the floor but the heat melted it to the spinning blade threw it across the room.

Could have just as easily hit the light fixture.

 

[2ManyProjects]

Hello,

I'm planning to install 8 x 96" T5 (tandem) fluorescent light fixtures in my 20' x 20' garage (ceilings are 10' high).

Bad idea.

Those are far too "intense" for such a small space, and especially for such low ceilings. You're concentrating far too much light into far too few sources. The result will be either VERY "spotty" uneven lighting, or gross overkill on the brightness, or both. You also sacrifice switching flexibility; but in this case, that problem pales by comparison to it simply being the wrong kind of lighting.

I'm looking for something different than the classic fluorescent strips you see in most garages.

As I've pointed to countless times by now...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-Light-Utility-Light-3348-2L32W-WRAP/100654395

They're cheap; they look half-decent; they can be strung together in more-or-less continuous "strips" when appropriate; the polycarbonate lens both helps to evenly distribute the light and provides impact protection; and the 4-foot size makes placing them where you really need them relatively easy. There's also a matching two-foot version:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...hite-Fluorescent-Light-Fixture-3324/202192968

if you need to fit into really tight spots, or fill out a specific-length run.

I've stumbled upon a 96" louvered high bay fixture which I like

With ten-foot ceilings, you do NOT want to even consider anything labeled "High Bay". Period.

I was wondering if this model would be suitable for my garage. I know the louvers will affect the output of light (lower lumens) but will it be that bad ?

You apparently misunderstand the function of those "louvers". They don't so much diminish the light output as direct it. Being "High Bay" fixtures, they are designed to tightly focus their output almost straight down; and those "louvers" help control (i.e., limit) "stray" output to the sides. This is exactly the opposite of what you want in a home garage with only 10-foot ceilings.