Stairwell Lighting Fixtures
In every industrial or commercial building over one story the stairwells will need lighting. LED stairwell lighting fixtures are underappreciated, but they are one of the most important lighting fixtures in the building.
Underappreciated But Well Featured
Let’s face it, these fixtures are primarily used in empty stairwells, they are rarely on at full power, they typically are just a simple linear strip, and they are most often utilitarian in design. Not too sexy, but they do the job. Like ATG’s fixtures, contemporary LED stairwell lighting fixtures have the following features:
- 2’, 4’ & 8’ lengths
- Selectable wattage & CCT settings
- Behind the lens motion sensors
- Emergency battery backup packs
- 0 – 10V dimming
- 100,000+ hours L70
- 10-year warranty
- DLC Premium
Important For Life/Safety Concerns
Stairwell lighting fixtures are one of the most important fixtures in a building because they address life/safety concerns. Under normal, everyday use these fixtures simply light a stairwell, but there is more to it than just “on” during the day and “off” at night. Integrated motion sensors allow the facility manager to program various lighting levels based on need and use. For example, the sensor can be programmed to turn off the fixture when there is no motion detected and turn the fixture on at 100% when motion is detected (people in the stairwell). After say 30 minutes, the fixture can be turned back off.
Another example addresses the use of cameras installed in the stairwells. In this case, the fixture can always be set to say a 30% light level to ensure the camera has enough ambient light to function properly. Note: the added benefit of using motion sensors as addressed above is that they save on energy costs. We already know in a retrofit application LED fixtures can typically save up to 66% in energy costs. With the use of motion sensors, the savings can be much more.
These fixtures really shine (pun intended) in an emergency. In the event of a fire as an example, people using the stairwells to exit the building will activate the fixture’s motion sensors and be able to see where they are going. Furthermore, if the electrical power is interrupted to the building the integrated emergency battery backup will engage keeping the fixture on typically for 90 minutes. With all of this said, please review your local building codes because they may require specific settings and uses. Also, the National Fire Protection Association addresses the use of these fixtures in sections 7.8.1.2.2 & 7.8.1.3.
A Final Note:
The topic of LED stairwell fixtures would be incomplete if we did not discuss Utility Rebates. Most utility companies in North America offer substantial rebates for LED fixtures. In some cases, the rebate dollars can pay for greater than half of the installed cost of the entire project. Please educate yourself on the utility rebates in your area and take advantage of them. If you do not, you are literally leaving money on the table!
