T5HO lighting layout on 50x48 building?

[cobratom]

My total shop is 50 deep by 60 wide however a mezzanine with a office will be built on the North West side of the building leaving a space of 48 wide x 50 deep. Interior height is 17'6" to the trusses, so based on some recommendations I have seen Platonic Solid make, I purchased 8' T5HO fixtures (Lithionia TZR254T5HO) and I have purchased F54T5/XL/841/ECO 4100K Bulbs

Can anyone recommend spacings at this height? Ceiling is white steel liner, and the walls will be OSB painted white. Looking for right around 100 foot candles.


Thank you!

 

[matt_i]

I can't speak to the specific foot-candle issue but I would think 8 of them in that space would be quite bright. How many fixtures did you purchase?

 

[cobratom]

I can't speak to the specific foot-candle issue but I would think 8 of them in that space would be quite bright. How many fixtures did you purchase?

I have 20 of them so far. I was looking at 100 foot candles or so. I believe when Platonic Solid was doing designs, he called for something like 30 or so fixtures total.

 

[Geobound]

My total shop is 50 deep by 60 wide however a mezzanine with a office will be built on the North West side of the building leaving a space of 48 wide x 50 deep. Interior height is 17'6" to the trusses, so based on some recommendations I have seen Platonic Solid make, I purchased 8' T5HO fixtures (Lithionia TZR254T5HO) and I have purchased F54T5/XL/841/ECO 4100K Bulbs

Can anyone recommend spacings at this height? Ceiling is white steel liner, and the walls will be OSB painted white. Looking for right around 100 foot candles.


Thank you!

You still need to answer a few questions.

1) are you going to suspend these fixtures or mount them to the underside of the trusses at 17'6"?

2) do you have a preferred configuration of the light fixtures, or just whatever will work

3) Is your request to be with or without the future office?

4) Typically light levels are given at 2.5' off the floor, so do you want the 100 fc at workplane or floor level?

5) Do these fixture have reflectors on them by chance, or are they just the strip version?

Having said all that, if you were to go with the fixtures mounted to the underside of the trusses at the 17'6" using 7 rows of 5 columns, and generic reflectance value of the space, and the light levels taken on the workplane, then you would need 35 fixtures giving you 105 fc.

This of course doesn't take into consideration the new office, large tools, shelves or anything that will **** up light.

That is based on an empty room.

I hope that helps?

 

[cobratom]

You still need to answer a few questions.

1) are you going to suspend these fixtures or mount them to the underside of the trusses at 17'6"?
They will be mounted at about 17'4" (Underside of white metal cladding

2) do you have a preferred configuration of the light fixtures, or just whatever will work
No real Preference

3) Is your request to be with or without the future office?
The actual building is 50x60, so the 50x48 is the appropriate size.

4) Typically light levels are given at 2.5' off the floor, so do you want the 100 fc at workplane or floor level?

Standard workplane

5) Do these fixture have reflectors on them by chance, or are they just the strip version?

No reflectors, and they are the narrow kind of the bulbs are relatively close together

Having said all that, if you were to go with the fixtures mounted to the underside of the trusses at the 17'6" using 7 rows of 5 columns, and generic reflectance value of the space, and the light levels taken on the workplane, then you would need 35 fixtures giving you 105 fc.

This of course doesn't take into consideration the new office, large tools, shelves or anything that will **** up light.

That is based on an empty room.

I hope that helps?

This helps quite a bit. I really appreciate it. Answers to your questions in bold.

Thanks you!

 

[Geobound]

Sorry I guess you did answer one of the questions in your original post, but it was super late here I must have missed it??

Here is what I think you are asking for in the following pictures, and hopefully they will turn out.

The first picture shows you what it is I think you are asking for.

The second picture shows you the light levels that you would get on the workplane of the whole area EXCLUDING the light levels on the mezzanine floor.

The third picture will show you the light levels on the mezzanine floor only, and nothing on the other area.

I did it this way so that you can see what happens when you add the mezzanine in.

I figured it was a solid floor, but even if it's a slotted floor it will only ad a minimal amount more light to the space.

Things to note.

All the light fixtures are 8' fixture with 4 lamps in total per fixture, with the exception of the ones directly above the mezzanine and below the mezzanine.

These are still 8' fixtures, but with only 2 lamps per fixture.

If you can't find the fixture with the two lamps, and have to get the 4 lamps, then you would simply double the light levels in those two direct areas only to see that your light levels would be.

So for an example the mezzanine show it at 100fc (roughly) using the 2lamp 8' fixtures, so it would be 200fc should you make it a 4lamp 8' fixture. Now unless you plan on performing surgery up there I would say that was waaaaaaaay too much light.

The same thing applies with the area directly below the mezzanine.

Now also keep in mind that you will get contributing light from the other fixtures so those values are just rough light levels, and not bang on.

I strongly suggest that you look at a switching option for this garage.

The mezzanine should have it's own control, and I would even go so far as suggesting having a switch for every other fixture to help knock the light levels down.

The same thing with switching would apply to the whole garage really, but I will let you work out what system works best for you.

There is also the option of using dimming ballasts inside of those fixture, but considering the cost could be as much as $100.00 a fixture (depends on the ballast and the control desired), I wouldn't do it.

What would definitely consider though is using LED fixtures.

They come standard with a forward or reverse phase driver in them already, and can almost always be dimmed with a regular wall slider/rotary dimmer......although rotary dimmers look like ****.

You would have to read the specs on the fixture to make sure, just don't take my word for it as there are many different brands out there and not everybody does it the same way.

I hope that helps, and good luck.

 

[cobratom]

Sorry I guess you did answer one of the questions in your original post, but it was super late here I must have missed it??

Here is what I think you are asking for in the following pictures, and hopefully they will turn out.

The first picture shows you what it is I think you are asking for.

The second picture shows you the light levels that you would get on the workplane of the whole area EXCLUDING the light levels on the mezzanine floor.

The third picture will show you the light levels on the mezzanine floor only, and nothing on the other area.

I did it this way so that you can see what happens when you add the mezzanine in.

I figured it was a solid floor, but even if it's a slotted floor it will only ad a minimal amount more light to the space.

Things to note.

All the light fixtures are 8' fixture with 4 lamps in total per fixture, with the exception of the ones directly above the mezzanine and below the mezzanine.

These are still 8' fixtures, but with only 2 lamps per fixture.

If you can't find the fixture with the two lamps, and have to get the 4 lamps, then you would simply double the light levels in those two direct areas only to see that your light levels would be.

So for an example the mezzanine show it at 100fc (roughly) using the 2lamp 8' fixtures, so it would be 200fc should you make it a 4lamp 8' fixture. Now unless you plan on performing surgery up there I would say that was waaaaaaaay too much light.

The same thing applies with the area directly below the mezzanine.

Now also keep in mind that you will get contributing light from the other fixtures so those values are just rough light levels, and not bang on.

I strongly suggest that you look at a switching option for this garage.

The mezzanine should have it's own control, and I would even go so far as suggesting having a switch for every other fixture to help knock the light levels down.

The same thing with switching would apply to the whole garage really, but I will let you work out what system works best for you.

There is also the option of using dimming ballasts inside of those fixture, but considering the cost could be as much as $100.00 a fixture (depends on the ballast and the control desired), I wouldn't do it.

What would definitely consider though is using LED fixtures.

They come standard with a forward or reverse phase driver in them already, and can almost always be dimmed with a regular wall slider/rotary dimmer......although rotary dimmers look like ****.

You would have to read the specs on the fixture to make sure, just don't take my word for it as there are many different brands out there and not everybody does it the same way.

I hope that helps, and good luck.

You Sir, are awesome. Thank you. That is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for. However the mezzanine will be completely enclosed from the rest of the shop. it will be a 50'x12' box essentially with a full 17'6" wall, the mezzanine office area will be lit with led pot lights as it will be fully finished.

Does that change the spacing for the final row of lights that is really close to the mezzanine?

Thanks again! I owe you a beer (and it seems you may be close enough for me to actually provide)

 

[Geobound]

Well I don’t know what keeps happening to me, but I have typed this up several times and then it gets deleted when I post it??

So let’s try attempt #4. LOL……

I think I have a better understanding of what you are looking for, so lets try this.

Essentially you have 3 rooms that we are talking about.

The garage called 48 x 50 x 17.6
The storage area called 12 x 50 x 8.6
The mezzanine called 12 x 50 x 8.6

For the garage (now that I know it will be walled off), I have changed the direction of the fixtures for uniformity sakes, and reduced the fixtures.

You will still be getting the 100 fc +/- that you were looking for.

This is using the 8’ T5HO fixture with a total of 4 lamps per 8’ fixture.

The new quantity for this area would be 25.

You could reduce that further to 20 if you wanted to live with 85 fc?

You would simply drop out one entire row closest to the mezzanine, and spread the other fixtures out a bit more……..just an idea.

For the storage area beneath the mezzanine I am still using strip fixtures, but have reduced the lamp count per 8’ fixture by 2. Meaning that you only have 2 lamps per 8’ fixture.

This will still give you the desired 100 fc +/- that you were looking for.

The new quantity for this area would be 6

Now onto the office area of the mezzanine.

I have decided that you only need roughly 50 fc, as that’s more than enough light for any typical office.

In fact the offices are being designed now closer to 35 fc, but I realize that’s a choice preference, and task specific.

Anyhow………..

Since I don’t know what recessed LED fixture you were looking at, and what the aperture size you had in mind, I took a guess as to what I thought you might want?

I went with a 4” aperture with a black baffle (the internal part of the cone), and a white trim ring (the part that sits on the ceiling), using a lumen package of 900.
My calculations were again based on a standard light reflectance, and calculated at 2.5’ above finished floor. (desk height really).

So that would mean to get the 50 fc +/- that I am suggesting, you would need a total of 33 of the 4” 900 lumen LED recessed fixtures.

If you do want the 100 fc +/-, then simply double the quantity and rework the layout.

You of course can put these on a dimmer too, as pretty well all of this type of fixture comes with a forward/reverse phase dimming driver in them. (Again double check before you buy).

I picked this configuration because I am guessing that you will be getting your fixtures from a big box store, and this is likely the lumen package that they will carry.

You may be getting your light fixtures from an electrical distributor, so my choice of fixture could be wrong.

To do these lighting calculations I need something called an IES file (computer file), so I have picked the ones that I had that closely matched what you were looking for.

My calculations won’t be out a lot in either direction based on your fluorescent choice, but I just wanted to let you know in case you ran in with a light meter latter on and noticed that I was off a bit. LOL….

I think I have covered everything I wanted to tell you??

If I missed something let me know.

Good luck

 

[cobratom]

John,
This is awesome and spot on. Thank you very much!

Well I don’t know what keeps happening to me, but I have typed this up several times and then it gets deleted when I post it??

So let’s try attempt #4. LOL……

I think I have a better understanding of what you are looking for, so lets try this.

Essentially you have 3 rooms that we are talking about.

The garage called 48 x 50 x 17.6
The storage area called 12 x 50 x 8.6
The mezzanine called 12 x 50 x 8.6

For the garage (now that I know it will be walled off), I have changed the direction of the fixtures for uniformity sakes, and reduced the fixtures.

You will still be getting the 100 fc +/- that you were looking for.

This is using the 8’ T5HO fixture with a total of 4 lamps per 8’ fixture.

The new quantity for this area would be 25.

You could reduce that further to 20 if you wanted to live with 85 fc?

You would simply drop out one entire row closest to the mezzanine, and spread the other fixtures out a bit more……..just an idea.

For the storage area beneath the mezzanine I am still using strip fixtures, but have reduced the lamp count per 8’ fixture by 2. Meaning that you only have 2 lamps per 8’ fixture.

This will still give you the desired 100 fc +/- that you were looking for.

The new quantity for this area would be 6

Now onto the office area of the mezzanine.

I have decided that you only need roughly 50 fc, as that’s more than enough light for any typical office.

In fact the offices are being designed now closer to 35 fc, but I realize that’s a choice preference, and task specific.

Anyhow………..

Since I don’t know what recessed LED fixture you were looking at, and what the aperture size you had in mind, I took a guess as to what I thought you might want?

I went with a 4” aperture with a black baffle (the internal part of the cone), and a white trim ring (the part that sits on the ceiling), using a lumen package of 900.
My calculations were again based on a standard light reflectance, and calculated at 2.5’ above finished floor. (desk height really).

So that would mean to get the 50 fc +/- that I am suggesting, you would need a total of 33 of the 4” 900 lumen LED recessed fixtures.

If you do want the 100 fc +/-, then simply double the quantity and rework the layout.

You of course can put these on a dimmer too, as pretty well all of this type of fixture comes with a forward/reverse phase dimming driver in them. (Again double check before you buy).

I picked this configuration because I am guessing that you will be getting your fixtures from a big box store, and this is likely the lumen package that they will carry.

You may be getting your light fixtures from an electrical distributor, so my choice of fixture could be wrong.

To do these lighting calculations I need something called an IES file (computer file), so I have picked the ones that I had that closely matched what you were looking for.

My calculations won’t be out a lot in either direction based on your fluorescent choice, but I just wanted to let you know in case you ran in with a light meter latter on and noticed that I was off a bit. LOL….

I think I have covered everything I wanted to tell you??

If I missed something let me know.

Good luck

 

[Geobound]

Great, I'm glad I could help.

Be sure to post a picture when you are done.