What Are LED Light Classes & Divisions

LED light classes refers to a lamp or light source that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the source of illumination.

Worldwide, the use of LED lighting is increasing significantly each year.

The reasons are:

• LED bulbs use less energy than fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs. Indeed, LEDs use only a third of the power of compact fluorescent bulbs and about 30 times less power than incandescent light bulbs, while producing the same brightness.
• LED bulbs generate very little heat, so they are cool to the touch.
• LED bulbs last longer. Because there are no moving parts, no filament to break, no gas to escape and no heat to cause breakdown, LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs and 50 or more times longer than incandescent bulbs. They are also resistant to shocks and vibrations.
• LEDs are better environmentally. They use less power and they contain no mercury as compact fluorescent bulbs do, and no toxins to poison the environment.
• LEDs come in smaller sizes, broadening their usage into many new applications.
• LED lighting emits no ultraviolet light, so they don’t tend to attract bugs.
• The cost of LEDs is coming down, saving greatly on replacement costs.

How do LED Lights Work?

Before selecting an LED lighting distributor, understand there are three primary types of lighting familiar to consumers:

1. LED lights. LED lights are lamps or light sources that use a small light-emitting diode to emit light as electricity flows through it. The light produced by an LED can be any color and can be ultraviolet or infrared. LED’s are now found in a great number of consumer and industrial applications, including digital clocks and watches, the TV remote control device, television picture projection, traffic lights, and many more applications.
2. Incandescent lights. Incandescent lights are traditional lights that use a thin tungsten wire filament which is heated by electricity to a high temperature so that it glows with visible light. The filament is protected inside a glass bulb which is filled with an inert gas. Incandescent bulbs have been the most popular means of lighting since their first use in the late 1800s. 
3. Fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lights operate with electrodes that send an electrical current through a gas-filled bulb. The gas is pushed through the bulb creating an argon arc, and visible light is produced. The invention of compact fluorescent bulbs increased the energy efficiency and popularity of fluorescent bulbs versus incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs have higher luminous efficiency, longer life, a broader range of colors and more energy efficiency compared to incandescent bulbs. They are, however, more expensive and are more environmentally problematic when compared to incandescent bulbs or LEDs.

Industrial LED Lighting Classifications

Lighting, no doubt, is critical to the effective operation and safety of every manufacturing, warehouse or other industrial facilities.

Today, there are five types of industrial lighting in use:

1. Incandescent. The oldest and most common type, incandescent lighting is inexpensive and versatile for all types of lighting. Incandescent bulbs last 500 to 1,000 hours, and are not as energy efficient as other types of industrial lighting.
2. Fluorescent. Fluorescent lighting is highly durable and efficient. Compared to incandescent bulbs, they use about one-fifth of the wattage but last much longer, with a lifespan of 12,000 to 24,000 hours or more.
3. Halogen. Halogen lighting is produced using a wire filament inside a quartz tube containing a type of halogen gas. Halogen lights produce highly bright and white light that can be focused on a specific area. Halogen bulbs last longer than incandescent bulbs, but shorter than fluorescent bulbs, often lasting for about 3,000 to 5,000 hours. They can be used in very diverse applications.
4. High-Intensity Discharge (HID). This type of lighting utilizes a pressurized gas inside a tube through which an electric current is passed. This produces lighting that is highly powerful and is most often used for outdoor lighting and landscape lighting.
5. LED lighting. As previously noted, LED lighting has gained increased popularity for its high-efficiency and increased lifespan. Some bulbs, in fact, can last up to 100,000 hours. Not only are LED lights reliable and long-lasting, but they are also safe and environmentally friendly. LEDs are now used in many diverse applications including aviation lighting, automotive headlamps, advertising displays, traffic signals, horticultural grow lights, medical devices, streetlights, and even refrigeration lights.

LED commercial lighting applications include the following ways to light industrial spaces:

• Recessed lighting, hidden from view in the ceiling but allowing light to shine directly on surfaces below. This is an effective application due to LED lighting’s low heat emission and long life before replacement.
• Task lighting where lights are beamed onto specific workspaces. This is effective because the fixtures are easily installed.
• Track lighting, often mounted on ceilings or walls, which enables lighting adjustments to be made easily.
• Outdoor lighting that is used for security purposes or to highlight various areas of a commercial property. This includes “shoebox lights,” lights mounted on a pole as a parking lot or streetlight, wall-mounted lights and outdoor flood lights, illuminating a wide area such as pathways or landscapes.
• Business sign and facade lighting.
• Warehouse lighting that is used to provide more light for illumination, and to prevent glare for workers.
• Lay-in fixtures, provided as a replacement to recessed fluorescent lighting fixtures.
• Desk lamps, providing a bright and clear source of light for close-up work.
• Exterior canopy lighting.
• High mast and sports field lighting.

With this large array of lighting fixture and application choices, business owners and managers can also choose for their commercial lighting:

• The best lighting color rendition for the comfort and productivity of employees, or the comfort and experience of customers.
• The most appropriate brightness or dimness of the lighting for the facility.
• Direct or indirect lighting to provide attention to certain areas or to best illuminate the working space. 

Clearly, the advances made with LED lighting make it an ideal, durable and flexible solution for commercial lighting needs.

LED lighting offers a wide range of interior or exterior applications for office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities.

LED lighting offers cost-efficiency, low maintenance and natural lighting that benefits employees and the entire business enterprise.