Vaulted Garage Lighting

[JCook5003]

Guys-

I'm in the process of building my 30x50 Shop, 30x30 of it will be enclosed for a garage. I'm using steel trusses and building a pole barn type structure. Here is a photo of how my trusses will look.



As you can see the ceiling will be vaulted. The sidewalls will be 12' to the truss and get higher to the peak. How are you guys handling hanging lights in a shop like this? EMT with junction boxes and chain? This is totally new to me.

Also at a 12' height with painted floor and white walls anyone have a recommendation on how many T8 lights I will need?

 

[D. Patina]

Bump cause I'm interested in this my self.

 

[lionsgarage]

Me 2! 30x20 addition with lighting needs.
Can't wait to learn more

 

[Radix2]

You guys gotta decide how bright you need it first. Then a tool like http://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/ Can tell you how many lights of which kind you need.

 

[ScD]

I used a total of 12, four tube T8 fixtures hung from chains in my 30X75 foot shop. It's nice and bright and I'm very happy with the results. My plans called for 6 fixtures but I doubled up on them and I'm glad I did.

 

[CombatNinja]

As stated twice already, it is going to be driven by what you are using the space for. A car detailing shop that you want to carry out full paint corrections in will require more lighting than a space to store 4-wheelers and a lawn mower. Tell us what you are going to do with it. Intended use would also drive how you install the lights. If you are going to be working down on the floor, suspending them around 12' might be the answer. If you are putting in a lift or work with long materials that need to be moved around, perhaps mounting them flush to the ceiling would be preferable. Not knowing what you want to do with the building, I generally don't like hanging lights. what is the point of all that space if you are going to render it useless by hanging lights all over?

 

[nomadskidoo]

What type "Roof"Insulation(R 12///R 17?) did you use?Thanks!

 

[matt_i]

Unless you want the finished look of EMT, for pure function, you can staple NM to the wood purlins and mount boxes also to the wood framing. I'd hang the lights from same purlins from jack ("birdfeeder" ) chain. Assuming the fixtures have short cords, they can plug into duplex outlets...or...hardwire if necessary.

I am not totally sure whether the lights should all hang at the same level/horizontal plane or be hung from equal length chains to follow the roof pitch somewhat. It probably depends how you are going to use the space. Closer to the floor would result in more light at the floor, but could of course be in the way.